Best Pecan Pie Bars Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my pecan bars runny? ›

Why Are My Pecan Pie Bars Runny? If your bars are runny, it's likely because they weren't baked long enough or the oven temperature wasn't hot enough. You need to ensure that the bars are in the oven long enough (at the right temperature) to allow the filling to set up properly.

Pour the filling mixture over the pecans, then gently place the whole pecans in concentric circles on the top, taking care not to press too hard, which will cause the nuts to sink into the filling.

A pecan pie is essentially a custard pie, and a liquid center is almost always the result of underbaking. The Karo Classic Pecan Pie recipe calls for baking the pie for 60 to 70 minutes at 350 degrees.

A cooled and lightly wrapped pecan pie can be refrigerated for up to four days, which means you can bake your pie well in advance of when you plan to serve it. You can use this same approach for a purchased pie or refrigerate it in its original packaging.

The filling continues to cook and will fully set as the pie cools, so giving a pie plenty of time at room temperature before serving is important.

Try a light spray of cooking oil or line the pan with parchment paper if it's a persistant problem. If you have followed a popular pie crust recipe it should not stick. A lightly greased pan with veggie Crisco may solve the problem if the sticking is with your pan not errors in your recipe.

One potential risk of making a translucent custard, like pecan pie filling, is that it might not set properly, leaving you with an unappetizingly runny slice. Once you've noticed the problem, the only solution is to protect the crust and pop the pie back in the oven.

Pecan pie has a somewhat similar set of issues—the filling can crack, the bottom can be under-baked, the filling can seep under the crust, and the nuts can be soggy. Like the pumpkin pie, the filling will crack if the pie is over-baked or cools too quickly.

Although it can be served warm, pecan pie is best when it's completely set. Very often, I'll make my pecan pie the night before Thanksgiving; by the next day, it's perfect.

The edges should be set but the center should wobble a bit, kind of like gelatin. Cook pecan pie too much and it'll crack and be dry. Underbake it and it will be watery and runny. You want to cook pecan pie to an internal temperature of 200°F.

Should I bake the bottom pie crust first? ›

But the one surefire way to make certain your pie's crust will be golden brown, crisp, and delicious — just as appealing as its filling — is to prebake it. That's right: bake the bottom crust first, before adding the filling.

Choose the Right Rack in the Oven

Which rack you use in the oven can help ensure a crisp crust. Baking the pie on a lower rack will concentrate heat on the bottom of the pie and help the crust crisp.

This pie is essentially a custard pie that means a runny center is a result of under baking. Most recipes suggest baking your pie for at least 60 to 70 minutes at 350 degrees to get the perfect pecan pie. However, depending on the oven, a pie can take more than 75 minutes.

jiggle in the center when it's ready to take out of the. oven. If it's still liquid-like in the middle, it's too soon.

You will know your pecan pie is done cooking when you can gently shake the pie dish and see that the center of the pie is not overly jiggly and the outer edges are set. If the pie jiggles a lot when you gently shake the pan, continue cooking it until the center is a little more set.

The Jiggle Test

Of course, you also want to know how to tell if pumpkin pie is done without slicing a crack or poking a hole in the filling. The best way is to gently shake it: When the pie is done, it will jiggle just slightly in the center; however, your pie should not be liquidy in any way.