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These butter pecan bars are such a simple treat that starts with a box of cake mix and a bunch of tasty pecans!
My husband and I just celebrated our tenth anniversary. I know! Ten years! And I haven’t killed him yet!
Or, maybe it should be: Ten years! And he hasn’t killed me yet!
Or how about: Ten years! And we’re both still alive!
Yeah. I think that last one sounds about right.
How about a little engagement story? Oh, I know, you don’t care how I got engaged, but this is quick and it involves food. Kinda.
You see, my husband and I started dating when I was 16 and, well, I was pregnant not too long after I turned 17. A month or so after our sweet baby boy was born, my husband proposed.
We were driving home from somewhere and he just drove right past our apartment.
“Uh, honey? I think you missed your turn,” I said, ever so politely to him. And, okay, maybe I was irritated. How did he forget where we lived? Also, I was barely 18 with a newborn baby. Everything irritated me.
“I’m just heading to the store for some ice cream,” he replied in a weird tone of voice.
“We don’t have room in the freezer for anymore ice cream! We have lots of ice cream at home!”
“But we don’t have Butter Pecan ice cream! I want Butter Pecan!” he whined. And, okay, so maybe he didn’t whine. Maybe he just stated this in his manly voice.
I proceeded to go on about how Butter Pecan was the worst ice cream flavor ever. In the midst of my rant about ice cream flavors that were not chocolate based, he turned into the parking lot of a golf course that I had worked at the previous summer and parked right where I had told him I loved him for the first time.
“Uh, honey, what the heck are you doing?”
“I think we’ve got a flat tire.” he said in that weird tone of voice that I would one day come to realize was his LYING VOICE.
We both got out, he dropped to one knee, and he proposed.
The end!
I’m sorry. That was long and boring, wasn’t it? Well, let me make it up to you with these amazing Butter Pecan Squares. See? See how I tied it all together?
To see how to make this butter pecan bars recipe, watch the video below!
I have since matured a wee bit (both in terms of food and just in general) and I’ve come to realize that anything with the name Butter Pecan is pretty darn delicious. These bars are no exception. They are so buttery, so rich, so sweet, so full of delicious flavor that they will just blow your mind.
They might even have you running around sharing your engagement story with the internet! They’re powerful, is what I’m sayin’.
The original recipe called for a box of yellow cake mix, but while I was standing in front of hundreds of box mixes, the Golden Butter cake mix jumped right off the shelf and begged me to take it home. I think it knew that it would fit right in at my house full o’ butter.
Enjoy these at room temperature with a fork or eat ’em with your hands right out of the fridge. Either way, they’re amazing.
Check out my homemade brownies, Nutella brownies, and whipped icing for more dessert ideas!
Butter Pecan Squares
Ingredients
- 1 box Butter cake mix 18.25 ounces
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, 1 egg, butter, and pecans. Mix well.
- Press into a greased 9x13 pan.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, 2 remaining eggs, and the powdered sugar until well combined. Pour over the crust.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set. It should be gooey, but not runny.
- Cool completely before cutting, 1-2 hours. Store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information:
Margie McGee says
I don’t know what brand cake mix you are using because I can’t find it in an 18.25 oz box anywhere.
Karly Campbell says
Cake mixes, like most products, have shrunk considerably the last few years. This recipe should still work fine with a smaller box or you can buy two boxes and measure out what you need.
Margie McGee says
You have got to be kidding about buying 2 boxes. Can’t you just readjust you recipe to include the changes? After all it is your recipe.
Karly Campbell says
At some point yes, but honestly, the size of products change often and the time involved in keeping all of our recipes up to date and the website running smoothly is a lot. It’s not as simple as me just dropping everything when someone asks about a recipe so that I can go retest it again.
It is my recipe, but it’s also available to you for free – no obligation for you to use it. You can use it as is, test it yourself with less cake mix, or skip over the recipe if it’s not one that suits you.
Lisa Bigon says
Google Cake Mix Up sizer. I add it to any cake mix no matter if it’s for a cake or bars or cookies. Basically flour, sugar, baking powder and soda. If you don’t then recipes using a cake mix will not come out right. The boxes are now 13.5 oz! I wish they would give the consumer the choice to pay more.
Sharion Tipler says
Karley, y just found the butter pecan squares recipe and I want to try it. I’m not sure if the pecans should be toasted? It looks great
Karly Campbell says
We did not toast the pecans, but you definitely can if you like!
Mandy says
I made these and they were delicious!! I froze them and they came out great!!!
Mandy says
Could these be frozen?
Karly says
I think they would freeze well, but I haven’t tested it myself.
Mandy says
Could I make this in muffin tins?
Karly says
Hmm, I’m not sure how easily they’d pop out. I’ve never tried.
Mandy says
Think I’ll stick with the pan. Thanks Karley.
TJ says
Try putting the pecans in a food processor and then add them to the cream cheese mixture instead.
Chris Kendall says
Made these for a retirement party. It’s a good thing I made 2 trays of them because they were vanishing! Everyone loved then. So easy but delicious.
Bobbi McMillen says
A very cute and romantic story. Anxious to try these butter bars.
Valerie says
I added maple extract to the crust and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture…super yum
Diana Clower says
Hi Karly, I liked your engagement story. This is the same recipe I use to make what I call a Butternut Cake, only without the pecans. It sounds yummy with the pecans too. I’ll have to try it that way sometime. Thanks for all the great recipes! Diana
Karly says
Thanks, Diana!
MrsSW says
Thanks for your prompt reply.
MrsSW says
Hi Karly – have you made this since the cake mix manufacturers reduced the package quantity?
Thanks, Sheila
Karly says
I’m not sure – I don’t know when the packages were made smaller. I think it should work either way.
Joyce Roberts says
I MADE THIS RECIPE, I JUST BOUGHT 2 BOXES AND MEASURED OUT WHAT I NEEDED, IT TURNED OUT REALLY GOOD!!@
Natividad says
Hello,
Can you please tell me if you think this could also be done with a gluten free cake mix?
Thank you,
Natividad
Karly says
I don’t have any experience with gluten free mixes, so I really can’t say. Sorry. 🙂
Natividad says
No problem, I’m going to try it, and see what happens.
Kathi says
Is a “Butter” cake mix a brand of cake mix like Betty Crocker or a flavor like chocolate?
Karly says
It’s a flavor of cake mix. You can use yellow if you can’t find the butter, but it’s generally not tough to find.
Kathi says
Thank you
T says
Hi, I prepared the butter pecan squares for a New Years Eve gathering. This dessert is absolutely delicious! The crowd is still talking about the dish. They want me to make it again. It’s very easy to prepare. I wish I had a square right now.
Karly says
So glad they were such a hit!