Description
These Charleston Chewies are the perfect Southern dessert—rich, chewy, and loaded with buttery caramel flavor from brown butter and brown sugar. Topped with toasted pecans, these easy-to-make bars are an irresistible treat!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups chopped roasted pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Brown the butter: In a light-colored skillet, melt butter over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook for 5-6 minutes until it turns a golden brown with darker flecks. Remove from heat immediately.
- Mix the batter: In a large bowl, combine brown sugar and browned butter. Stir well.
- Add eggs and vanilla, whisking until smooth.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined.
- Fold in roasted pecans.
- Prepare the pan: Grease a 9×9-inch metal baking pan with non-stick baking spray or butter.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until edges are crispy and pulling away from the sides (the center will remain soft).
- Let cool for 30 minutes, then slice into bars.
Notes
- Brown butter adds extra depth—watch it closely to prevent burning!
- For extra crunch, sprinkle coarse sea salt on top before baking.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 115mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg