Chewy Cashew Bars

If you like pecan pie, you will love these.  They are very fast and easy to make.  A great treat for the holidays if you want more than just pie.  But beware, they will go fast!  The recipe I followed called for pecans, but having none and an abundance of cashews I thought I would give it a shot.  I am glad I did.  So is my husband as he just took 5 or 6 bars upstairs, (after already sneaking one earlier!) 

Crust:

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 jellyroll pan with aluminum foil.

2. Combine flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut the cold butter into cubes and add to flour mixture. Toss and use a pastry blender to cut butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles crumbs the size of peas. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press into a smooth crust. Poke several holes in the crust with tines of a fork. Bake about 18-20 minutes until light golden brown.

Filling:
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 T unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla

3. In a large bowl, beat eggs and add sugar, corn syrup, butter, and vanilla. Whisk together until smooth. Stir in cashews (I reserve a handful to sprinkle on top after it has started to set.)
 
4. Pour filling into pre-baked crust. Return to oven to bake for about 20 minutes until filling is set. Cool on a wire rack until completely cool. Use foil to lift bars out of pan and cut into squares.