Pecan Shortbread Bars

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more
• all-purpose flour, for preparation (spooned and leveled)
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350f line an 8-in square baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on all sides.
• 2 in a food processor, pulse pecans until finely chopped. transfer to a bowl and set aside. in processor blend four, sugar, butter and salt until moist clumps form. add reserved pecans; pulse 2 or 3 times, just to blend.
• 3 press dough evenly into the bottom of prepared pan. if dough is sticky, dip fingers into flour. with a floured fork, prick dough every 1/2 inch. bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes.
• 4 cool 5 minutes in pan. use foil overhang to lift shortbread from pan onto cutting board. with a serrated knife, carefully cut warm shortbread into 18 bars (6 rows by 3 rows). remove from foil; cool bars completely on a rack before serving.