Jane's Pecan Pie Bars

1 package yellow cake mix
1 cube butter -- melted
1 large egg
FILLING:
3/4 cup dark corn syrup -- (can use light)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°. Set aside an ungreased 13 X 9 pan.

Place the cake mix, melted butter, and egg in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 2 minutes. Stop machine and crape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. The batter should come together in a thick dough. Using your fingertips, press the crust mixture evenly over the bottom and 1/2" up the sides of the pan, smoothing it out until it is smooth. Place the pan in the oven.

Bake the crust until it just begins to brown, 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside. Leave the oven on.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Place the corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla in the same bowl used to prepare the crust, and with the same beaters. Blend with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined, 1 minute. Stop the machine, scrape the sides of the bowl down with a rubber spatula, and fold in the pecans until well distributed.

Pour the filling over the baked crust and spread with the rubber spatula so that the filling covers the entire surface. Place the pan in the oven.

Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling just starts to set, 22 - 25 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool, 30 minutes.

Cut into 24 bars. Remove the bars from the pan with a metal spatula and serve.


NOTES : Jane always gets requests for these bars. She always doubles the batch and puts it in a bigger pan because she has to give them to so many people.