Pecan slices

These were one of those pleasant baking surprises  One of those ones where you know you are going to like it, its not too experimental or controversial. Then you taste it and it is just wow?

These bars, for me, are one of those bakes and it is an exceedingly good job that I was taking them into work as I literally could have sat an eaten the entire pan.

Theses slices are similar to brownies, they do not have that really dense fudginess that comes from the chocolate, they are much lighter. They do however have a flaky top and an absolutely delightfully chewyness. The flavour is a very moreish butterscotch sort of flavour and the pecans add a nice contrasting nutty crunch.

They also take no time at all to make, so have I tempted you?

Pecan slices 

110g butter
350g light brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla paste/extract
2 eggs
170g plain flour 
100g pecan nuts, chopped

Preheat the oven to 170C/150C FAN and grease and line a brownie pan, or similar.

Gently melt the butter then combine with the sugar in a large bowl. No need for electric mixers, a good old fashioned spoon is perfect. Add the baking powder and stir to combine, follow with the vanilla.

Lightly beat the eggs and add to the bowl, stir until they are well incorporated. Add the flour ~1/3  at a time and make sure it is fully combined before adding the further increments. Finally stir in the chopped pecans.

Tip the mix into your prepared tin and smooth the top. It may not look enough in a standard brownie pan, but trust me it will rise up as it bakes.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, Keep an eye on it towards the end of cooking time. Mine took the full 25 minutes. Leave to cool completely in the tin before cutting into bars.

These went down very well at work. I would suggest making them to share unless of course you have more self control than me and can bear to keep them in an airtight tin for 5 days or so.