Cinnamon Pecan Shortbread Bars

If the perfect slice of cinnamon toast met Pecan Sandies, these Cinnamon Pecan Shortbread Bars would be the result.

This is a tender shortbread, filled with pecans, and then generously topped with cinnamon sugar.

I brought a double batch of these shortbread bars along on our camping trip last weekend and they kept beautifully for four days at room temperature.

They were a perfect snack with a cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon.   Almond Bars

Shortbread Baking Tips

Baking the shortbread in a pan and then slicing it into bars, makes this a very easy dessert. This recipe doubles perfectly and fills a large baking sheet, or jellyroll pan.

Placing a sheet of parchment on top of the dough will make it easier to press/roll the dough and spread it across the pan. Remove the parchment from on top of the bars before sprinkling with cinnamon and pecans.

While baking, do not allow the bars to actually brown at all. If they brown, they will be much more crunchy than desired, once they cool. The goal is a very soft shortbread texture.

Coconut Chews, Classic Chocolate Chip Blondies, and Almond Bars are a few more of our favorite desserts that transport well and stay fresh for days.

As with many of the recipes here, both a traditional recipe and a gluten-free recipe are included. Simply swap the gluten-free ingredient list for the all-purpose flour in the recipe below and you’ll be good to go.

Check out all of the gluten free recipes for your holiday baking needs!

Cinnamon Shortbread Bar Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan with butter, or line with parchment paper.
2. Sift together the flours, baking powder, and salt. Cream together the butter and the sugar. Add the egg and the vanilla extract and mix until light and fluffy. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mix until combined. Add the pecans and stir again to distribute.
3. Press the dough into the bottom of the greased pan. Press with your fingers or a pastry roller to smooth the top of the dough. Sprinkle the top of the dough generously with cinnamon sugar and then with chopped pecans and very lightly press them into the top of the dough.
4. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until just barely beginning to brown around the edges.
5. Let them cool in the pan for 15 minutes and then cut into bars. If they are too soft to cut, let them cool for a few more minutes. Remove them carefully to a wire rack to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

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Cinnamon Pecan Shortbread Bars {traditional and gluten free recipes}

3 from 4 votesSavePinPrintReviewPrep Time: 20 minsCook Time: 18 minsTotal Time: 38 minsCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanServings: 18 -24 small bars

Ingredients 

• ▢2 cups all-purpose flour *
• ▢1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• ▢1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢1/2 cup butter room temperature
• ▢1 cup sugar
• ▢1 egg
• ▢1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢1/2 cup chopped pecans

TOPPING INGREDIENTS

• ▢3 tablespoons sugar
• ▢2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ▢1/2 cup chopped pecans

GLUTEN FREE ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS

• ▢1 cup brown rice flour *
• ▢3/4 cup oat flour *
• ▢1/2 cup tapioca starch *
• ▢1/4 cup potato starch *
• ▢3/4 teaspoon xanthan gum *

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13 pan with butter, or line with parchment paper. Sift together the flours, baking powder, and salt.
• Cream together the butter and the sugar. Add the egg and the vanilla extract and mix until light and fluffy. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mix until combined. Add the pecans and stir again to distribute. 
• Press the dough into the bottom of the greased pan. Press with your fingers or a pastry roller to smooth the top of the dough.
•  Sprinkle the top of the dough generously with cinnamon sugar and then with chopped pecans and very lightly press them into the top of the dough.
• Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until just barely beginning to brown around the edges.
•  Let the bars cool in the pan for 15 minutes and then cut into bars. If they are too soft to cut, let them cool for a few more minutes.
• Remove them carefully to a wire rack to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Enjoy!