These Eggless Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars pack all the cozy, caramelized flavor of classic pecan pie—without the pie fuss or the eggs. After years of testing allergy-friendly desserts, I can promise this one delivers everything you love about the original: a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread crust and a gooey, nutty filling that’s rich and irresistible. They’re easy to make, travel beautifully, and bring that special, homemade touch to any fall gathering or holiday dessert table.
Oriana’s Thoughts On The Recipe
If you’ve ever wished you could bring that nostalgic pecan pie flavor to the table without the stress of making an actual pie, these bars are for you. When my daughter was diagnosed with an egg allergy, I made it my mission to re-create all those beloved holiday desserts in a way that felt just as indulgent—only safer and simpler.
This Eggless Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars recipe is one of those “tested until perfect” ones I’m truly proud of. The brown butter crust gives every bite a toasty, nutty depth that makes people stop and say, “Wait… these are egg-free?” Whether you’re baking for your family, your kid’s school party, or just a cozy night in, these bars bring all the magic of pecan pie—no rolling pin required.
Why You’ll Want to Try My Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need, Substitutions & Notes
Scroll down to the recipe card for all the details, including measurements and instructions.
For The Brown Butter Shortbread Crust
- Unsalted Butter: The base of the crust—browning it adds a rich, nutty flavor that sets this dessert apart from traditional pecan bars.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the crust just enough and helps create a tender texture.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the buttery notes and adds warmth and depth to the shortbread.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and stability to the crust while keeping it crumbly and delicate.
For the Eggless Pecan Filling:
- Golden Flaxseed Meal & Water: Mixed together, they form a flax “egg,” which helps bind the filling while adding a subtle nutty taste.
- Corn Syrup: Gives the filling that classic gooey texture found in pecan pie and helps hold everything together.
- Brown Sugar: Deepens the flavor with caramel notes and enhances the pecans’ natural sweetness.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the buttery, nutty flavors.
- Ground Cinnamon & Ground Nutmeg: Add cozy warmth and spice, making each bite taste like fall.
- Cornstarch: Helps thicken the filling so it sets properly once baked and cooled.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and a velvety texture to the filling.
- Heavy Cream: Makes the filling silky smooth and adds a luscious, creamy touch.
- Pure Vanilla Extract (or Vanilla Paste): Adds depth and complements the brown sugar and pecans beautifully.
- Pecans: The star of the show! They bring crunch, warmth, and that unmistakable pecan pie flavor.
This recipe is naturally egg, dairy, wheat/gluten, peanut, soy, sesame, fish, and shellfish-free, making it suitable for most dietary needs, but always check labels for hidden allergens.
- Dairy: To make this recipe dairy-free, you can easily swap out the dairy ingredients for non-dairy alternatives.
- Butter: Substitute butter with dairy-free butter substitutes. Miyoko’s Creamery Organic Vegan Butter, Trader Joe’s brand vegan butter, and Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks are my favorite butter substitutes for baking. For the best flavor, use a vegan butter that tastes good. Use sticks or blocks, not tub (spreadable) butter.
- Heavy Cream: You can use a non-dairy cream, such as Silk, Country Crock Plant Cream, or Califia Farms.
- Wheat/Gluten: Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free, all-purpose flour blend. Look for a gluten-free flour blend specifically formulated for baking, as it will have the right combination of flours and starches to mimic the texture of wheat flour. My favorite is Better Batter Original Blend. I also like Doves Farm Freee Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour, but this blend does not contain xanthan gum, so you need to add 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum per cup (140 g) of gluten-free flour blend.
- Nuts: Replace pecans with sunflower seeds to make it nut-free.
Process Overview: Step-by-Step Photos
Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).
Step 1 – Brown the Butter
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Melt your butter in a light-colored skillet over medium heat. Keep stirring as it melts and starts to foam. After about 5–8 minutes, you’ll notice little brown bits forming at the bottom and a delicious nutty smell—that’s your cue! Take it off the heat right away and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
Step 2 – Make the Crust
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In a large bowl, mix the brown butter with sugar, vanilla, and salt. Then stir in the flour until everything comes together. -
Press this dough evenly into your prepared pan—it’ll be soft and buttery. Bake it for 15 minutes, then let it cool a bit while you get the filling ready.
Step 3 – Mix the Pecan Filling
In a small bowl, combine the golden flaxseed meal and water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it thickens up—it should look a little gel-like. This will help the filling set beautifully without using real eggs. Grab a medium bowl and mix together the flax “egg,” corn syrup, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, melted butter, heavy cream, and vanilla. Once everything’s smooth and glossy, fold in the chopped pecans so they’re coated in all that sweet, gooey goodness.
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In a small bowl, combine the golden flaxseed meal and water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it thickens up—it should look a little gel-like. This will help the filling set beautifully without using real eggs. Grab a medium bowl and mix together the flax “egg,” corn syrup, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, melted butter, heavy cream, and vanilla. Once everything’s smooth and glossy, fold in the chopped pecans so they’re coated in all that sweet, gooey goodness. Pour the pecan mixture evenly over the warm crust. If you love a sweet-salty contrast, sprinkle a little sea salt on top.
Step 4 – Bake
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Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the center looks set but still has a tiny jiggle. If it starts to brown too much, loosely cover it with foil.
Step 5 – Cool and Slice
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Once baked, place the pan on a wire rack and let it cool completely—this part is key for neat slices. When it’s cool, lift the bars out using the parchment overhang and cut them into squares. Enjoy every rich, nutty, buttery bite!
Recipe Tips For Success
➤ Potential Recipe Challenges & Pro Tips:
- Overbrowning the butter: Brown butter adds flavor, but it can quickly go from golden to burnt. Pro Tip: Keep a close eye on the butter as it cooks—stir often and remove from heat as soon as it smells nutty and turns amber brown.
- Soggy crust: The crust can soften if the filling is added while it’s still too hot. Pro Tip: Allow the crust to cool slightly before pouring in the filling so it sets nicely and stays crisp.
- Runny filling: If the filling doesn’t set properly, it may be due to underbaking or too little cornstarch. Pro Tip: Bake until the filling looks slightly puffed and the edges are set. It will firm up more as it cools.
- Cutting messy bars: Warm bars can fall apart when sliced. Pro Tip: Chill the bars completely before cutting for clean, beautiful slices.
- Toasting the pecans before mixing them in enhances their flavor and adds extra crunch.
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and clean edges.
- Don’t skip cooling time—these bars need time to set properly for the best texture.
- A sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top adds a delicious sweet-salty finish.
Variations & Additions
- Chocolate Drizzle: Add a drizzle of melted dark chocolate on top once the bars have cooled for an extra decadent touch.
- Maple Twist: Replace the corn syrup with pure maple syrup for a deeper, woodsy sweetness.
- Spiced-Up Version: Add a pinch of ground ginger or cloves for a cozy holiday vibe.
- Salted Caramel Pecan Bars: Swirl a few spoonfuls of caramel sauce into the filling before baking.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
Store: Keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Freeze: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try These Egg-Free Pecan Recipes Next!
Recipe Card
Eggless Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars
These Eggless Brown Butter Pecan Pie Bars have all the cozy, caramelized flavor of pecan pie—without the fuss or the eggs. With a buttery shortbread crust and a gooey, nutty filling, they’re rich, easy to make, and perfect for any fall or holiday dessert table.
For The Brown Butter Shortbread Crust:
For Eggless Pecan Filling:
You can find step-by-step photos above in the post and/or right here on the recipe card. They’ll walk you through the process and make everything super clear! Just click the camera icon button below on the right to show or hide them. Turn them off before printing if you prefer a cleaner copy!
Make the Brown Butter Shortbread Crust:
Make the Pecan Filling:
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Mix the golden flaxseed meal and water in a small bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes until thick and gelatinous.
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Combine flaxseed mixture, corn syrup, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, butter, heavy cream, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Fold in the chopped pecans.
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Pour the pecan mixture evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the top with sea salt, if desired.
Bake:
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Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the center is just set. If the center still jiggles, bake for a few more minutes; if you notice the bars starting to puff in the middle, remove them immediately. If the top is getting too brown as it bakes, loosely cover it with aluminum foil. Remove from the oven, set on a wire rack, and allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.
Storing: Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freezing: These bars freeze beautifully! Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. They’ll keep for up to 2 months.
Corn syrup: Corn syrup and starch are the ingredients that hold this eggless pecan filling together. I have no substitution suggestions yielding the same texture, moisture, and flavor. Corn syrup is a must in traditional pecan pie. However, if you have some negative thoughts about corn syrup, you can try using golden cane syrup instead or glucose.
Food Allergy Swaps:
This recipe is naturally egg, dairy, wheat/gluten, peanut, soy, sesame, fish, and shellfish-free, making it suitable for most dietary needs, but always check labels for hidden allergens.
- Dairy: To make this recipe dairy-free, you can easily swap out the dairy ingredients for non-dairy alternatives.
- Butter: Substitute butter with dairy-free butter substitutes. Miyoko’s Creamery Organic Vegan Butter, Trader Joe’s brand vegan butter, and Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks are my favorite butter substitutes for baking. For the best flavor, use a vegan butter that tastes good. Use sticks or blocks, not tub (spreadable) butter.
- Heavy Cream: You can use a non-dairy cream, such as Silk, Country Crock Plant Cream, or Califia Farms.
- Wheat/Gluten: Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free, all-purpose flour blend. Look for a gluten-free flour blend specifically formulated for baking, as it will have the right combination of flours and starches to mimic the texture of wheat flour. My favorite is Better Batter Original Blend. I also like Doves Farm Freee Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour, but this blend does not contain xanthan gum, so you need to add 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum per cup (140 g) of gluten-free flour blend.
- Nuts: Replace pecans with sunflower seeds to make it nut-free.
Recipe Tips For Success:
➤ Potential Recipe Challenges & Pro Tips:
- Overbrowning the butter: Brown butter adds flavor, but it can quickly go from golden to burnt. Pro Tip: Keep a close eye on the butter as it cooks—stir often and remove from heat as soon as it smells nutty and turns amber brown.
- Soggy crust: The crust can soften if the filling is added while it’s still too hot. Pro Tip: Allow the crust to cool slightly before pouring in the filling so it sets nicely and stays crisp.
- Runny filling: If the filling doesn’t set properly, it may be due to underbaking or too little cornstarch. Pro Tip: Bake until the filling looks slightly puffed and the edges are set. It will firm up more as it cools.
- Cutting messy bars: Warm bars can fall apart when sliced. Pro Tip: Chill the bars completely before cutting for clean, beautiful slices.
➤ Extra Tips:
- Preheat the oven. Preheat it for at least 15 -20 minutes before you start, to give it plenty of time to reach the ideal recipe temperature.
- Measure the ingredients correctly. In my opinion, a kitchen scale is always the best option.
- Line the baking pan with parchment paper so it’s easier to lift out the bars for slicing.
- Toasting the pecans lightly before adding them to the filling can enhance their flavor and crunch.
- If you want a touch of salted caramel flavor, add a pinch of sea salt on top of the filling before baking.
- Know Your Oven. Every oven is different, so baking times must always be taken with a grain of salt. Oven thermostats can be wildly off, affecting baking time, so keep an eye on yours.
➤ Variations & Additions:
- Chocolate Drizzle: Add a drizzle of melted dark chocolate on top once the bars have cooled for an extra decadent touch.
- Maple Twist: Replace the corn syrup with pure maple syrup for a deeper, woodsy sweetness.
- Spiced-Up Version: Add a pinch of ground ginger or cloves for a cozy holiday vibe.
- Salted Caramel Pecan Bars: Swirl a few spoonfuls of caramel sauce into the filling before baking.
Calories: 633kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 7gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 276mgPotassium: 243mgFiber: 6gSugar: 28gVitamin A: 457IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 3mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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Oriana Romero
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