Chess Bars with pecans are a nutty twist on a classic Southern dessert. The batter consists of your basic pantry staples, like melted butter, flour, and brown sugar, so you can make them anytime. Then, we add in some pecans for a little crunch. These bars are baked in the oven and cut into squares for a dessert bar like no other.
Homemade Chess Bars with Pecans
Unlike traditional chess bar recipes that use yellow cake mix made with cream cheese and powdered sugar, this recipe is more like a blondie but softer, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
The secrets to the bars’ delicate texture is beating egg whites to stiff peaks and gently folding them into the batter. This step helps create a fluffier, more tender crumb, giving the bars a lightness that balances perfectly with the rich, buttery flavor.
You get that deep, comforting sweetness from the brown sugar and the nutty crunch from the pecans, which add just the right amount of texture.
These chess bars are perfect for parties, potlucks, or any time when you need a simple yet irresistible dessert. If you want a dessert bar without nuts, try gooey carmelitas, they’re simple to make.
My mother-in-law calls these snickerdoodles and trust me they are nothing like a snickerdoodle. There’s not even cinnamon in the recipe, it’s a mystery. But you can understand my surprise when she offered me, what I thought was going to be a cinnamon sugar cookie and got one of these.
While not a snickerdoodle, they are amazing, and a recipe I just had to pass on. They might look like a gooey butter cake bar, but they are not near as sweet.
Why You’re Going to Love Chess Bars
- Simple: These bars use basic pantry staples, so they’re perfect for whipping up whenever you need a quick dessert and don’t have time to go to the store.
- Chewy: The brown sugar and melted butter give these bars a dense, chewy texture.
- Not too sweet: While these have sugar in them, they are not as sweet as some dessert bars. They go perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea.
- Perfect for sharing: This recipe makes 32 servings, so it’s perfect for bake sales or giving out to friends and family.
Ingredients you probably have in your Pantry
- Pantry staples: You’ll need light brown sugar, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, eggs, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and vanilla.
- Pecans: Finely chopped, all Southern cooks have a bag or two of these in their pantry or freezer.
How to Make Chess Squares
Step One: Prep the Pan and Oven
Line your baking dish with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray. Preheat the oven so it’s ready to go.
Step Two: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, beat together the sugars, melted butter, and egg yolks until smooth and creamy.
Step Three: Combine Dry Ingredients
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, then gently stir them into the wet ingredients. Don’t overmix!
Step Four: Fold In Egg Whites and Pecans
Whip the egg whites into stiff peaks, then carefully fold them into the batter along with the pecans.
Step Five: Bake
Pour the batter evenly into the pan and bake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool before slicing.
Recipe Variations
- Nuts: If you don’t have pecans, you can use chopped walnuts instead for a different flavor.
- Add-ins: Feel free to add in some white chocolate chips, regular chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, toffee bits, or anything else you like to dress up these bars. I think pecans are all they need.
- Butter: You can brown the butter for a nuttier flavor.
Chess Bars Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Butter: Melted butter gives these bars a nice, gooey texture.
- Cool: Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting. The center will continue to set after removing from the oven.
- Mix: You can use a hand mixer and a large bowl or an electric mixer.
Storage Tips
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Let them come to room temperature before eating.
Don’t Forget!
Like and review this post – it helps our website grow so we can give you more delicious Southern recipes!
Ingredients
- 2 cups light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 16 tablespoons butter melted
- 4 eggs separated
- 1 ¾ cup flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325º. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with parchment paper and lightly spray the sides with cooking spray.
- In a stand mixer add brown sugar and granulated sugar and melted butter. Beat until combined. Add the egg yolks and beat on medium speed until creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture, beating just until combined. Don’t overmix.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form, 3-5 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter. Add the pecans and fold them in. Place the batter in the prepared pan, even the surface with an offset spatula and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the top is browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before cutting.
Notes
- Pecans are phenomenal but not necessary.
- These can be stored at room temperature, but to stay fresh, freeze after a few days.
