Air Fryer Pecan Pie Bars
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Air Fryer Pecan Pie Bars are everything I love about pecan pie without the stress of making one from scratch. The air fryer bakes the buttery shortbread crust and filling faster than the oven, and once they set, you get firm, sticky, chewy pecan bars that are impossible to stop at just one.
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I make these for Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday cookie exchanges, and honestly any time I need a dessert that travels well and feeds a crowd. They deliver all the classic pecan pie flavor in bar form that slices cleanly and is so much easier to serve than a whole pie. Store them at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Pecan Pie Bars with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
Here’s everything you need to know to get these bars out of the air fryer perfectly gooey and set every single time.
Prep Your Pan and Make the Crust
Line a 9×9-inch air fryer-safe baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides so you can lift the bars out cleanly later. In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt, then cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
I always use my pastry cutter to work the butter in evenly, without overworking the dough. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan.
Air Fry the Crust
Air fry the crust at 350°F (180°C) for about 10 minutes, or until it’s lightly golden. Keep an eye on it toward the end since air fryers can vary.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
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Make the Pecan Filling
While the crust is hot, whisk the eggs, light corn syrup, packed brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla extract together in a large bowl until completely smooth. Stir in the chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the filling.
Pour and Air Fry
Pour the filling directly over the hot crust, spreading it to the edges. A flexible silicone spatula is great for scraping every last bit of that filling out of the bowl so nothing goes to waste.
Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the center is just set but still slightly jiggly when you gently shake the pan.
Cool and Slice
Cool completely in the pan for at least 2 hours before slicing. I set mine on a wire cooling rack to help the bottom of the pan cool evenly and speed things along.
Don’t rush this step, or the filling won’t hold its shape when you cut it.
Serve and Enjoy
Once fully set, lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and slice into even bars with a sharp knife. Serve them at room temperature or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side for an extra indulgent treat. Enjoy!
Once the bars are fully cooled and sliced, layer them in an airtight container lined with parchment paper, placing a sheet between each layer if stacking. They travel well at room temperature for short trips, but if you’re heading somewhere warm, tuck the container into an insulated casserole bag to keep the filling from getting too soft on the way there.
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cold butter cubed
For the Filling:
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups light corn syrup
- 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups chopped pecans
Instructions
- Line a 9×9-inch air fryer-safe baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for lifting.
- Mix flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold butter until crumbly, then press evenly into the prepared pan.2 cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 cup cold butter
- Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for about 10 minutes, or until lightly golden.
- In a bowl, whisk eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the pecans.4 large eggs, 1 ½ cups light corn syrup, 1 ½ cups packed brown sugar, 3 tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 ½ cups chopped pecans
- Pour the filling over the hot crust. Air fry for 15–20 minutes, or until the center is just set but still slightly jiggly.
- Cool completely in the pan for at least 2 hours. Slice into bars and enjoy!
Notes
- Keep your butter cold: Cold butter is what gives the crust its crumbly, shortbread-like texture, so don’t let it soften before cutting it into the flour mixture.
- Press the crust firmly and evenly: An uneven crust means uneven baking, so take a moment to use the bottom of a flat measuring cup to press it into a consistent layer.
- Don’t skip pre-baking the crust: Air-frying it before adding the filling keeps it from turning soggy under all that sticky pecan filling.
- Pouring the filling over a hot crust: Adding the filling while the crust is still hot helps the two layers bond and gives you cleaner slices once cooled.
- Watch the fill at the 15-minute mark: Every air fryer runs a little differently, so start checking at 15 minutes and pull the bars when the center is just set with a slight jiggle.
- Freeze bars individually for easy storage: Wrap each cooled bar in plastic wrap before placing them in a freezer container so you can grab just one or two at a time without them sticking together.
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Includes ad-free recipes like:
How to Store Leftovers
Once the bars have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen runs warm, pop them in the fridge instead, and they’ll keep well for up to a week without losing that gooey filling texture.
To freeze them, wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap and then place them all in a freezer-safe glass container to protect against freezer burn. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months, and you can thaw them overnight at room temperature whenever you’re ready to enjoy them again.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Pecan Pie Bars
A scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside one of these bars is the perfect choice if you want to turn them into a proper dessert. The cold, creamy ice cream against the warm, sticky pecan filling is a combination that’s hard to beat, and it beautifully balances the richness.
For something a little lighter, a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce works really well too. Strong black coffee or a warm mug of chai makes a wonderful pairing if you’re serving these at brunch or an afternoon gathering, since the bitterness cuts through the sweetness of the filling.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
If you loved these bars, you’ll also enjoy these other easy air fryer dessert recipes.
