Salted Caramel Pear Pie Bars: The Fall Dessert We Can't Stop Craving

For as long as I can remember, pear pie has always been my favorite over apple. It’s not that I dislike apple pie (I mean, who could?), but there’s something about the delicate, almost floral taste that pears lend to a gooey pie filling. Plus, pear pie was the first kind of pie I ever learned to make.

My great-grandmother had an Anjou pear tree in her backyard, and when I was a kid, it became my responsibility to gather bags and bags of pears once they hit the ground. It was a job I took great pride in. We'd share some of the fruit with neighbors and bake pies for the family with the rest. That’s how my baking journey began — right in GG’s kitchen, making pear pies.

Even without the sentimental connection, I’d still consider pear pie slightly better than apple, but who knows? To be honest, I’m not sure I would have ever even thought about using pears in a pie if it weren’t for those afternoons spent with GG. Sure, it’s easy enough to swap pear slices for apple slices in a pie, but it seems like many people have never even considered pear as the star of a cozy, spiced autumn pie. If that sounds like you, I highly recommend you try pears in a traditional pie format. You could take your favorite apple pie recipe and simply swap in pears, or give a classic pear pie recipe like this one a go.

As much as I adore a classic pear pie, today we’re putting a twist on it by turning it into pie bars. Anyone who knows me well knows I’m a big fan of pie; however, I can admit that pie bars have some definite advantages over a traditional pie. Here are just a few reasons I’m more likely to reach for these Salted Caramel Pear Pie Bars than a double-crust pie this holiday season.

Forget About Complicated Dough

Even for bakers who are totally comfortable making a basic pastry dough, it still takes a certain finesse to get it just right. And even if you do everything by the book, factors like the temperature of your kitchen, the humidity in the air, and whether or not the baking gods are on your side can still leave you with dough that’s less than ideal — not smooth, not pliable, not easy to work with.

But that's not the case with these pie bars. Let your stand mixer (or a hand mixer, if you prefer) bring together the buttery, shortbread dough — and that’s basically all there is to it. You’ll use the same dough for both the crust and the streusel topping. As long as you chill it as directed, it’s a breeze to work with.

No Need to Worry About a Soggy Bottom

It’s a well-known challenge when it comes to fruit pies: we all dream of that perfect flaky, sturdy crust, but often end up with a soggy bottom that can’t handle the juicy filling. Sure, you could blind bake the crust, which helps, but it's an extra step you might not always want to deal with.

With these pie bars, you won’t have to worry about that. The thick, cookie-like crust is baked until golden brown before adding the pear filling (this ensures it cooks through and prevents sogginess). And since the dough is so easy to handle, all you have to do is press it into the pan with your fingers — no need for flour-dusted counters, a rolling pin, or pie weights.

Clean Slicing and Serving, Every Time

You’ve probably heard the old baking saying: The first slice is always the messiest. Slicing a pie can sometimes be a tricky and messy task. While it’s true that looks aren’t everything, there are times (like at special gatherings) when you want every slice to be as picture-perfect as it is delicious.

Since the fruit filling is evenly spread across the surface and the risk of soggy crust is eliminated, pie bars tend to be much less messy. Every slice comes out looking perfect. This also makes them a breeze to share.

Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Pear Pie Bars

Pure Indulgence

Pie bars take indulgence to a whole new level. (Especially these, thanks to that salted caramel topping.) What sets them apart is the buttery shortbread cookie crust, a soft and tender alternative to the usual rolled-out pie dough. When you're craving something extra decadent, these bars definitely hit the mark.