Description
Homemade pecan pie bark blends classic Southern dessert flavors into a crisp, addictive treat. Buttery caramel, toasted pecans, and graham cracker base combine for an irresistible sweet snack you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml) pecan halves, roughly chopped
- 1 cup (226 g / 2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 13 graham crackers
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease with butter for effortless removal.
- Base Layer: Create a seamless foundation by arranging graham crackers across the entire baking sheet, trimming edges to ensure complete coverage.
- Caramel Creation: In a medium saucepan, combine butter, dark brown sugar, pecans, and kosher salt. Heat over medium temperature, stirring continuously until reaching a rolling boil. Maintain boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning and achieve even caramelization.
- Flavor Infusion: Remove caramel from heat and swiftly incorporate vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly to distribute flavor uniformly.
- Assembly and Baking: Pour hot caramel over graham cracker base, spreading evenly with a silicone spatula to ensure complete coverage. Transfer to preheated oven and bake 10-12 minutes, monitoring for golden-brown edges and small bubbles indicating proper caramelization.
- Cooling and Serving: Remove from oven and allow bark to cool completely at room temperature, enabling caramel to set and become crisp. Once hardened, break into irregular, bite-sized pieces for serving.
Notes
- Prevent Burning Carefully: Constant stirring while boiling prevents sugar from scorching and creates smooth, even caramel.
- Check Caramel Color: Golden-brown edges and small bubbles signal perfect caramelization, avoiding bitter or burnt flavors.
- Smooth Spreading Technique: Use a silicone spatula for uniform caramel coverage, ensuring every graham cracker piece gets coated evenly.
- Cooling is Crucial: Complete room temperature cooling helps bark become crisp and allows caramel to set perfectly, enhancing overall texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking, Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 246
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg