Carolina Butter Pecan Cake Bars

Description

A delicious twist on a Southern favorite! Serve cold.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 ½ cups pecan pieces
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon butter extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 6 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 11 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ⅔ cup butter, softened
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk, or more as needed

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
  2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small
  3. heavy skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and cook until toasted
  4. about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  5. Combine white sugar and 1 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs
  6. one at a time
  7. beating well after each addition. Beat in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and butter extract.
  8. Combine flour
  9. baking powder
  10. and salt in a bowl. Add to creamed butter mixture alternately with milk
  11. beating just until combined. Fold in pecans. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
  12. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean
  13. 25 to 30 minutes.
  14. Beat confectioners’ sugar
  15. cream cheese
  16. 2/3 cup butter
  17. 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  18. and almond extract in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in enough milk to give frosting a spreadable consistency.
  19. Divide hot cake in half and chop 1 half into a large bowl. Stir in 1/4 of the frosting. Repeat with remaining half
  20. stirring in an additional 1/4 of the frosting. Spread mixture back into the baking pan; press flat with your fingers. Spread remaining frosting over the pressed cake mixture.
  21. Refrigerate until firm
  22. 3 to 4 hours. Cut into bars.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 3 hrs 50 mins

Servings: 12

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