Amaretto Pecan Pie Bars

From Kristi's Kitchen

Ingredients:

For crust:

2 sticks unsalted organic butter, softened

2/3 c. coconut palm crystals

2 2/3 c. soft whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon sea salt

For topping:

1 stick (½ cup) unsalted organic butter

1 c.coconut palm crystals

1/3 c. coconut nectar

2 tablespoons organic half-n-half

3/8 tsp. sea salt

2 c. chopped pecans

3/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 tsp. almond extract

2 organic eggs, beaten

Directions:

-Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper creating a 2 in. lip all the way around the pan

-Process crust ingredients in food processor until crumbly.

-Press the crust into the lined pan and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.

-While the crust bakes, prepare the filling by combining the 1st 5 topping ingredients in a saucepan and stir over medium heat. Simmer the mixture for 1 minute, then stir in the vanilla, almond extract.

-Temper the eggs with a small amount of the topping mixture and then combine them into the whole mixture

-Fold in pecans

-Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the pecan filling over the hot crust spreading it to cover the entire surface.

-Return the pan to the oven and bake an additional 20-23 minutes.

-Remove the pan and allow the bars to fully cool in the pan.

Use the parchment overhang to lift out the bars and transfer them to a cutting board. Peel off the parchment, slice into bars and serve.