This simple dessert makes for a perfect sweet breakfast treat too. Iced maple pecan bars are made with boxed cake mix, maple syrup, and chopped pecans. Every bite is packed full of fabulous fall flavors that you’re going to simply adore.
Inspired by the recipe I found in a very old cook book, this recipe came together quite well and I am so happy to share it with all of you. It’s a perfect recipe for those cold weather mornings when you want to bake something to warm up the house instead of turning on the heater.
Easy Cake Mix Pecan Bars
Made simply and quickly, this recipe is one you won’t soon forget. The end results are a fabulous bite of a sweet and nutty dessert that goes well with your morning coffee or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Minimal ingredients. No one enjoys recipes that call for hundreds of different ingredients. This recipe only asks for a handful of them and they’re simpler ingredients like boxed cake mix, butter, and pecans. If you have those on hand already then you already have most of what you need!
- Minimal prep work. Thanks to the box of cake mix we can have a shortbread-like crust and thick filling with very minimal prep. this means your dessert can go into the oven more quickly and you can be snacking even sooner.
- With or without icing. If desired you can add a wonderful powdered sugar icing over the top of these bars for an added burst of sweetness in every bite. That said, these bars also taste incredible without the icing so it’s up to you whether or not you actually want to include it or not.
Ingredients
Cake mix: The base of this recipe is 1 15.25-ounce-sized box of yellow cake mix. You can use any brand, and please note that we only want the dry stuff as we will not be following the directions on the box.
Butter: You will need 1/3 cup of melted butter for this recipe. You can use salted or unsalted butter.
Eggs: 4 eggs will be needed for this recipe, divided up throughout the steps.
Syrup: You will need 1/2 cup of your favorite maple syrup.
Brown sugar: Add 1/3 cup of packed brown sugar for a sweet result.
Flavoring: Adding in 1/2 teaspoon of maple extract will really help to flavor this dish well, but you can use vanilla if you already have it on hand.
Nuts: You can use 1 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts for this tasty treat.
Icing: If desired, you can add a tasty and simple icing over the top of these bars. This will be made using 1 cup of powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of melted butter, and a tablespoon or more of milk depending on how thick you want the icing to be.
How to Make Iced Maple Pecan Bars
Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a 9×13 or half bakers pan with cooking spray.
The recipe is divided into 2 parts, the crust and the topping.
First, measure out 2/3 cup of the cake mix and put it in a small mixing bowl. This will eventually be the topping, but just set aside for now.
Crust
Pour the remaining cake mix into another small mixing bowl and add 1 of the eggs and the melted butter. Mix well with a rubber spatula and press into the prepared pan.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.
Topping
While the crust is baking, add in the remaining 3 eggs to the cake mix previously set aside.
Whisk in the brown sugar, maple syrup and flavoring.
Once the crust has baked, pour the topping over it, sprinkle on the chopped nuts and return back to the oven for an additional 15-18 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool.
Add Icing (optional)
If you’d like to add an icing, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 TBSP melted butter and about 1 TBSP milk. Add in milk until you reach the desired consistency- I like mine a little firm, so I don’t add much milk in at all.
Transfer to a small bag, snip the corner and ice the bars however you’d like.
When to Serve Maple Pecan Bars
These tasty little squares are perfectly ideal for the autumn weather months. Made with a fall favorite flavor like maple, they can easily be a seasonal treat. Still, they’re just as delicious for breakfast any day of the year because maple is so popular on many breakfast foods (like pancakes and waffles!)
Enjoy!
Iced Maple Pecan Bars
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix 15.25 oz
- 1/3 cup butter melted
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp maple flavoring or vanilla
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp milk (plus more if needed)
- 1 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 or half bakers pan with cooking spray.
- The recipe is divided into 2 parts, the crust and the topping. First, measure out 2/3 cup of the cake mix and put it in a small mixing bowl. This will eventually be the topping, but just set aside for now.
- Pour the remaining cake mix into another small mixing bowl and add 1 of the eggs and the melted butter. Mix well with a rubber spatula and press into the prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.
- While the crust is baking, add in the remaining 3 eggs to the cake mix previously set aside. Whisk in the brown sugar, maple syrup and flavoring.
- Once the crust has baked, pour the topping over it, sprinkle on the chopped nuts and return back to the oven for an additional 15-18 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool. If you’d like to add an icing, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 TBSP melted butter and about 1 TBSP milk. Add in milk until you reach the desired consistency- I like mine a little firm, so I don’t add much milk in at all. Transfer to a small bag, snip the corner and ice the bars however you’d like.
Nutrition
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How long are maple pecan bars good for?
You can keep these bars stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. For best results, I recommend eating them within 3-5 days because they may dry out a bit after that.
Can I freeze maple pecan bars?
Yes, you can freeze these bars in an airtight container for up to 3 months. You can do this with or without the icing, but I recommend freezing already sliced bars (in serving sizes) on a baking sheet for 2 hours before layering them in a tightly sealed container with parchment paper between the layers to help prevent sticking. Then simply place them onto the counter to thaw before serving and enjoy.
Check out these other delicious dessert recipes that you’re sure to enjoy!
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Made with boxed cake mix, chopped pecans, and maple syrup this tasty dessert is super easy and quick to make. Serve this iced maple pecan bars recipe up for a sweet Fall breakfast or a nice after dinner dessert with ice cream and you’re in for a real treat every time.
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