Derby Pie Bars

Derby Pie was one of the things I probably ate most often in culinary school because it was such a fan fave that everyone seemed to make it whenever they got the chance. Years later it’s still a favorite of mine!

If you’ve never had a Derby Pie, just imagine biting into a chocolate chip cookie warm out of the oven. That texture is basically the entire dish and it is wonderful! As yummy as it may be, the pie itself isn’t much of a looker so I thought adapting it to a bar version would maybe make things a bit more visually appealing. (And I must say I think I was right!)

The Crust
While a Derby Pie would usually be made with a traditional pie crust, for this bar version I’ve swapped it out for a sweet dough crust that is more along the lines of a sugar cookie consistency.

The Filling
The filling for these bars begins with a layer of pecans and chocolate chips. You’ll then make a filling similar to that of a chess pie and pour that atop the nuts and chocolates.

What you’ll need for the crust:
– 4 Tablespoons butter, room temp (1/2 stick of butter)
– 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons white sugar (75g)
– 1/4 cup brown sugar (50g)
– 1 egg yolk
– 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1 cup flour (120g)
– 1 Tablespoon milk

What you’ll need for the filling:
– 1/2 cup chocolate chips, plus more for topping
– 1/2 cups roughly chopped pecans, plus more for topping
– 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
– 1 egg yolk
– 1/4 cup corn syrup
– 1/4 cup white sugar (50g)
– 1/4 cup brown sugar (50g)
– 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

What you’ll do:
– Preheat your oven to 350F and line a square baking dish with parchment.
– Make your crust by creaming together the butter and sugars. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and beat until full combined.
– Crumble your crust into an even layer in your prepared baking dish. Using your hands or the bottom of a flat cup, press the dough down into the pan.
– Top with the chocolate chips and pecans and place in the fridge to chill while preparing the rest of the filling.
– Whisk together the remaining ingredients of the filling and evenly pour over the nuts and chocolate. Use a small spatula to spread out if needed. Top with additional nuts and chocolate if desired.
– Bake for about 35 minutes or until the filling has set.
– Allow to come to room temperature before cutting into 8 bars.
– ENJOY!