Christmas Pecan Pie Bars ("Romance Cookies") - FOOD PHOTO SHOOT

gringalicious (78)in #photography • 6 years ago (edited)

Hey guys, it's almost Christmas!

I'm so excited about all that's going on and of course I've been doing tons of baking.

Today I wanted to share a family favorite I love to bake every holiday season.

Okay, but you’re probably all curious what these are. So, technically these are cookie bars and not just cookies, but I figured it was close enough to qualify for the list and they are so good that I just had to share.

They fit onto a cookie tray and that’s what matters right? These are kind of like what would happen if you turned a pecan pie into a cookie bar (and personally I'm a much bigger fan of cookie bars than pie tbh).

My mom used to make these multiple times every year but I specifically remember her making them for an annual couples Christmas party with friends from the church I grew up attending in TN. Her and Dad went to it every year and also every year these bars were requested by many. The recipe is from a cookbook from the same church and was called Romance Cookies, so that’s what they’ve always been called in my family.

I’m not sure if they are so named because they can spark romantic feelings between people eating them or because you fall in love with the cookie bars themselves with every bite. Either way, this recipe is a keeper. I mean, it’s stayed around for at least my entire lifetime so that should say something about how memorable it is. It’s basically like a pecan pie with coconut, on a buttery shortbread base, in the form of a bar. What’s not to love about that?

Hope you guys are enjoying December as much as I am and taking time to celebrate what the season is truly about, God’s perfect gift!

Romance Cookie Bars (Pecan Pie Bars)

Pecan pies are a classic during the holidays, but have you ever imagined what they'd be like in a cookie bars form? These "Romance cookie bars" are a timeless family favorite.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 24 bars

Ingredients

Bottem Layer:
1 cup 2 sticks Miyoko's "butter" (or any dairy free butter), cut into pieces
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
Top Layer:
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk
1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch or organic cornstarch
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans or favorite nut
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut flakes
powdered sugar for dusting top

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and grease a 13x9 inch pan with butter. Beat butter until creamed then add sugar, salt, and flour and mix well. Press dough into prepared pan and bake for about 10 minutes until very lightly browned on top. Remove from oven and cool while you mix topping.
Beat coconut milk, coconut oil, and brown sugar together well. Add vanilla, soda, starch, and flour and mix just until combined. Mix in pecans and coconut flakes and scrape the mixture gently over bottem layer and use a spatula to carefully smooth. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes until it barely jiggles when pan is nudged. Remove and cool completely. Once cooled, then sprinkle top with powdered sugar. Cut into bars and serve.

ALL CONTENT IS MINE AND ORIGINAL! All of these food photos were taken with my Nikon D750 and my favorite Lens, the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G. You can find out more in my INTRO POST.