Pecan Pie Bars (with a Secret Ingredient)

Make Shortbread Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut a piece of parchment to fit the bottom of a 9″ x 13″ baking pan, and extend 2 inches on each short side. (This insures super- easy removal for even cutting.) In a large bowl, add the flour, cold butter – cut into tablespoons, sugar and salt.
Use a pastry cutter (or two knives) and cut the butter into the flour until it is the size of large peas. Use a wooden spoon or your fingertips to bring the dough together.
Press crust mixture evenly onto bottom of the ungreased pan. Bake about 20 minutes until light golden brown. Remove from oven.

Make Pecan Filling:
In a medium sized pot, add Lyle’s Golden Syrup, coconut palm sugar, butter and maple syrup. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar, reduce the heat to a bare simmer. Stir for one minute, take off the heat, add sea salt, vanilla and flour. Whisk in. When no longer hot, add the eggs, one at a time – whisking until smooth.
Add the pecans, mix in.
Pour evenly over the partially baked crust. Smooth the top.
Bake for 24 – 28 minutes until the center feels firm. Do not overcook.
The bars will continue to cook a bit when removed from the oven (the filling contains the perfect amount of flour to thicken the filling.)

Cool the bars. Remove with the help of the parchment paper to a cutting board. Cut into even squares.

These bars freeze very well!! Wrap well, then add to a container with a tight seal.