Crunchy Pecan Bars: A Blue Ribbon Delight! 🏆🍪
Get ready to embark on a delightful culinary journey with Marilyn Martell’s award-winning recipe, straight from the pages of her renowned cookbook “County Fair Prize Cookies,” first published in the baking glory year of 1975. These Crunchy Pecan Bars have stood the test of time and consistently earned blue ribbons at state fairs, making them a treasured treat for cookie enthusiasts. 🌟
🕒 Total Time: 1 hour
👩🍳 Prep Time: Quick & Easy
🔥 Cook Time: Low and Slow at 275°F
Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter 🧈
- 1 cup sugar 🍚
- 1 egg yolk 🥚
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 🌿
- 2 cups all-purpose flour 🍪
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon 🎨
- 1 1/2 cups pecans 🌰
- Sugar (for sprinkling) 🍬
- 1 egg white (for brushing) 🥚
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 63
- Fat Content: 4.3g
- Saturated Fat: 1.8g
- Cholesterol: 9.7mg
- Sodium: 19.2mg
- Carbohydrates: 5.8g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Sugar: 2.9g
- Protein: 0.7g
Yield: 72 Cookies
Instructions:
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Preheat Oven: Begin this delightful journey by preheating your oven to a cozy 275°F (135°C). Don’t forget to give a little love to your jelly-roll pan by generously buttering it, ensuring the perfect golden embrace for your Crunchy Pecan Bars.
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Creamy Bliss: In a large bowl, channel your inner baking maestro and cream together the butter and sugar until a cloud-like lightness and fluffiness grace your mixture.
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Eggstravaganza: Add the golden richness of an egg yolk and a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the bowl, and mix with joyous enthusiasm until every ingredient dances in harmony.
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Spice It Up: In a separate medium-sized bowl, join forces with the flour and cinnamon. This dynamic duo is the secret to the flavor explosion that awaits.
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Unleash the Flour Power: Gradually sift the flour mixture into the creamy concoction. Feel the dough come to life under your hands; embrace the magic of transforming simple ingredients into a stiff and glorious dough.
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Pan Perfection: Spread this dough masterpiece evenly in your buttered jelly-roll pan, ensuring that every corner is graced with the promise of pecan paradise.
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Egg White Elegance: In a small bowl, beat the egg white until it’s a symphony of perfection. Spread this elegant creation over the dough, creating a canvas for the pecan masterpiece that follows.
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Pecan Perfection: Sprinkle the pecans generously over the canvas, and then, for that extra touch of sweetness, lightly shower them with sugar. It’s the kind of artistry that leaves taste buds applauding.
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Baking Ballet: Slide your creation into the preheated oven and let it perform its baking ballet for about 1 hour or until set. The aroma filling your kitchen will be the overture to a masterpiece in the making.
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Diamond Dance: As soon as the bars are out of the oven and still warm, cut them into 2 x 1″ bars or elegant diamond shapes. This step is crucial for ensuring the perfect texture and presentation.
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Cooling Crescendo: Gently transfer these golden delights from the baking sheet to wire racks. Let them cool, and as they do, witness the magical transformation from warm and inviting to irresistibly crisp.
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Hide and Seek: While these Crunchy Pecan Bars are known for their delectable crispiness, they also have a hidden talent—they keep well. That is, if you manage to resist the temptation to devour them all in one sitting. 😉
So there you have it, a recipe that not only boasts a rich history of blue ribbons but also delivers a symphony of flavors and textures that will make your taste buds sing. Marilyn Martell’s Crunchy Pecan Bars are more than just cookies; they are a celebration of baking mastery that you can recreate in your own kitchen. Get ready to savor the sweet taste of victory with every delicious bite! 🌈🍽️
