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Sugar Pie Squares

December 8, 2022 by thedomesticrebel | 4 Comments

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a trio stack of sugar pie squares on a white plate on top of a green dish cloth with a milk jug in the background

These Sugar Pie Squares are buttery, gooey, caramelly and absolutely DIVINE!

Each year, I make something that totally blows me away and this year, these Sugar Pie Squares may have knocked the socks clear off my feet. Lemme tell you, they are very humble looking but the flavor will send you into another orbit. Seriously mind-blowing.

When a recipe is kind of basic and straightforward like this (aka, doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles like candy and sprinkles and blah blah blah) I recommend using the highest quality ingredients you can find. That means high quality butter, pure vanilla extract. Splurge for the good stuff because you can really tell the difference!

Sugar Pie Squares

I tore this recipe out of a magazine but I cannot remember what magazine it came from. All I know is it was delicious and will definitely go in our family’s rotation year after year!

a trio stack of sugar pie squares on a white lacy plate against a light pink background

First, we’ll begin with the crust. The crust has a few simple pantry ingredients, including:

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Cold, cubed butter
  • Pure vanilla extract

We’ll pulse it all together in a food processor to make things really easy and then pat it into the bottom of a parchment-lined baking pan. Bake it off for a few and then work on the filling.

The filling is equally as easy as the crust. We’ll simply whisk together some brown sugar, heavy whipping cream (adds so much delicious richness), eggs, butter, cornstarch (to thicken the filling and maintain structure during and after baking), pure vanilla extract, and salt. Pour it over the crust and return the pan to the oven to finish baking.

The center may still jiggle a little, and that’s okay – but it shouldn’t be sloshing in the pan. The bars will be bubbly and caramelly brown and smell like HEAVEN on Earth. But you absolutely must *sad face* wait for them to cool and chill at least 6 hours. I promise, they are worth their wait and then some.

The result is a bar with a shortbread like crust and a gooey, caramelly, brown sugary, absolutely divine filling that will make you roll your eyes back into your head. It’s that good.

Enjoy!

a plate of sugar pie squares on a light background with a milk bottle in the background

sugar pie squares stacked on a white plate and a green towel
Print Recipe

Sugar Pie Squares

These Sugar Pie Squares look humble, but are absolutely mind-blowing in the flavor department! Buttery, gooey, caramelly squares of total heaven on a shortbread crust. A must make!
Prep Time6 hrs 10 mins
Cook Time35 mins
Total Time6 hrs 45 mins
Course: Bars, Dessert
Cuisine: Dessert
Servings: 16 squares

Equipment

  • Food Processor recommended

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tbsp granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the Filling:

  • 1½ cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 2 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° degrees F. Line an 8-inch square light metal baking pan with parchment paper, extending the sides of the parchment paper over the edges of the pan. Spray the parchment lightly with cooking spray; set aside.
  • For the crust: In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, and salt and pulse until just combined. Add in the cold, cubed butter and vanilla extract and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from oven, but leave oven on.
  • Meanwhile, make the filling while the crust bakes. In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, heavy whipping cream, melted butter, cornstarch, vanilla extract and salt until well combined. Pour over the crust.
  • Bake until the top is set but only slightly jiggly in the center, about 25-30 minutes. It should not be sloshing around in the pan but if it jiggles a little bit, that's okay. Bubbling around the edges and deep coloring are normal. Let cool completely at room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at LEAST 4-6 hours or until set before cutting into bars.

Notes

Because this recipe is so simple and doesn't use any fancy extra add-ins like candies or sprinkles, I like to splurge for higher quality ingredients like creamery butter and pure vanilla extract to really let those flavors shine.

a closeup of a sugar pie square with a bite missing from it

These Sugar Pie Squares are going to be a HIT with your family as well, I just know it!

Craving more sugar? Check out this recipe!

a piece of chocolate peppermint chess pie topped with whipped cream and candy cane pieces on a white plate

Chocolate Peppermint Chess Pie

sugar pie squares photo collage

Have a super sweet day!

xo, Hayley

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Comments

  1. Courtney says

    December 22, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    Hi there! These look delicious!! I want to make these for our gathering tomorrow and I don’t have whipping cream, could I use half and half in this recipe as a substitute?? Thanks!

    Reply
    • thedomesticrebel says

      December 22, 2022 at 6:55 pm

      Hi Courtney, I have not tried this with half and half so I cannot say for sure, but it should work okay.

      Reply
  2. Sue Pagel says

    February 16, 2023 at 12:15 pm

    This looks YUMMY!!! I know it wouldn’t be as good, but do you know if swerve and almond flour can be used to make a diabetic friendly version would work?

    Reply
    • thedomesticrebel says

      February 19, 2023 at 6:06 pm

      Hi Sue, I have not tried making a GF version but it should work!

      Reply

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About me

Welcome to The Domestic Rebel! My name is Hayley and I am the 31-year old writer, photographer, recipe developer, taste-tester and creator of this blog. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by my little slice of sprinkly, butter-laden heaven on the interwebs. If it wasn’t apparent, I like to bake… a lot. Read More…

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