Ginger Pecan Bars Recipes

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Gradually add flour, mixing until blended. Pat into an ungreased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-22 minutes or until golden., In another small bowl, beat the eggs, brown sugar, corn syrup and salt until smooth. Pour over crust; sprinkle with pecans. Bake 40-45 minutes longer or until set. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.

Steps:

• Make the dough: Crack the egg into a measuring cup and beat it with a fork. Add enough cold water to measure 1/3 cup. Transfer 1 tablespoon of the egg mixture to a small covered container and reserve it in the refrigerator for brushing the crust before baking.
• To make the dough in a food processor, combine the flour, sugar and salt in the work bowl and pulse two or three times to combine. Add cubed butter, then pulse until the mixture has formed lima bean-size pieces. Drizzle in the egg mixture and pulse just to combine, taking care not overprocess.
• To make the dough by hand, put the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add cubed butter, then mix it in with your hands, pinching and squeezing with your fingers (or use a pastry blender) until the largest pieces are the size of peas. Drizzle in the egg mixture a little at a time, mixing until the dough starts to come together.
• Dump the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and squeeze it once or twice to form a ball. (Add a few drops of water if needed to help the dough come together.) Flatten into a disk, cover in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
• Make the filling: Set aside 1/2 cup pecans for the topping. Put remaining 1 cup pecans in a food processor with the sugar and process until finely ground. (If you've made the crust in a food processor, don't bother washing it out.) Pulse in the butter, egg, bourbon, vanilla, ginger, allspice and fine sea salt until smooth. Chill for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days, until the mixture is cold and solid.
• Place a piece of parchment paper on a work surface. Unwrap the dough and place it in the center of the paper. Top with another piece of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into an 11-inch round. (It can be ragged at the edges.) Leaving the dough sandwiched in the parchment paper, transfer it to a rimmed baking sheet.
• Remove the top piece of parchment paper from the dough. Spoon the pecan mixture onto the dough circle, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Top with reserved whole pecans. Gently fold the pastry over the filling, pleating to hold it in. (Casual folds are fine: The aim is to make sure the filling stays in the tart.)
• Put the galette, uncovered, in the refrigerator for another 20 minutes (and up to 1 hour). It should be cold and firm to the touch when you put it in the oven.
• As the galette chills, heat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Brush pastry with reserved egg mixture. (Add a little water if it thickened as it sat.) Sprinkle the pastry very lightly with flaky sea salt and very generously with maple sugar.
• Bake the galette for 25 to 35 minutes, until the crust is golden brown. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting. Serve warm or at room temperature, with whipped cream or ice cream.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place nuts in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets. Toast until nuts are fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through cooking. Meanwhile, combine sugar, salt, and ginger in a small bowl, and set aside.
• Combine honey, 2 tablespoons water, and oil in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, and add roasted pecans. Cook, stirring once or twice, until all of the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to a bowl, add sugar mixture, and toss until well combined. Spread nuts in a single layer on a sheet of parchment paper to cool. These pecans may be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week.