The Sweetest Mini Pecan Pies Recipe for Cozy Baking Days

Crafting these delightful mini pecan pies brings pure joy to your kitchen adventures.

Sweet southern charm meets bite-sized perfection in this irresistible dessert.

Crisp pastry shells cradle a rich, gooey filling that melts deliciously on your tongue.

Pecans roasted to golden brown deliver a nutty crunch that elevates every single bite.

Minimal ingredients and simple steps make this recipe accessible for bakers of all skill levels.

A hint of vanilla and caramel undertones create a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Grab a mixing bowl and let’s turn ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary treat that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

What Makes Mini Pecan Pies So Good

• Effortlessly Impressive: These mini pecan pies are a show-stopping dessert that looks professionally made but requires minimal baking skills, perfect for home cooks wanting to wow their guests.
• Quick Weekend Treat: With just 30 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of baking, these bite-sized delights can be whipped up in under an hour, making them ideal for spontaneous sweet cravings.
• Crowd-Pleasing Portion Control: Mini size means everyone gets their own perfectly portioned pie, reducing mess and allowing guests to enjoy multiple flavors without feeling overly indulgent.
• Versatile Party Favorite: These tiny treats work brilliantly for holiday gatherings, potlucks, bridal showers, or casual weekend desserts, appealing to both kids and adults with their cute presentation and classic pecan flavor.

What You Need For Mini Pecan Pies

• All-Purpose Flour: Base for creating a crisp and tender pie crust, choose unbleached for best texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and controls gluten development in the dough.
• Cold Butter: Provides flakiness and rich flavor, must be very cold for best results.
• Ice Water: Helps bind the dough together without developing too much gluten.

• Brown Sugar: Adds deep, caramel-like sweetness to the pie filling.
• Corn Syrup: Creates a smooth, glossy texture and prevents sugar crystallization.
• Egg: Binds the filling and provides structure, room temperature works best.
• Melted Butter: Adds richness and helps blend filling ingredients smoothly.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings warm, classic flavor to the pie filling.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.

• Pecans: Provides crunch and nutty flavor, best when freshly chopped and high-quality.

How To Make Mini Pecan Pies At Home

Step 1: Craft the Flaky Crust

Grab a mixing bowl and combine your flour with a pinch of salt. Slice cold butter into tiny pieces and blend it into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or fork until the texture resembles sandy crumbs. Splash in ice-cold water, one spoonful at a time, until the dough starts to stick together like a happy family. Shape the dough into a smooth disk, wrap it snugly in plastic wrap, and send it to chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.

Step 2: Prepare the Pie Shells

Fire up your oven to a toasty 350F (175C). Take out your rested dough and roll it out super thin, aiming for a delicate sheet. Grab a round cookie cutter or even a drinking glass to create perfect circles. Gently press these dough circles into a mini muffin tin, molding them into adorable little pie cups with slightly ruffled edges.

Step 3: Whip Up the Gooey Filling

• Brown sugar
• Corn syrup
• Egg
• Melted butter
• Vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Fold in chopped pecans, stirring until everything is beautifully combined.

Step 4: Bake Your Bite-Sized Treasures

Carefully spoon the nutty filling into each mini pie shell, being careful not to overflow. Slide the tin into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the filling looks set and the edges turn a gorgeous golden brown. Let these little darlings rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then gently coax them out to cool completely on a wire rack.

Helpful Hints For Mini Pecan Pies

• Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate pie crust for at least 30 minutes to prevent shrinking and ensure a flaky, tender texture during baking.
• Prevent Overfilling: Use a tablespoon measure to distribute filling evenly, stopping just below the crust rim to avoid messy overflow and ensure clean, professional-looking mini pies.
• Choose Quality Pecans: Select fresh, crisp pecans and toast them lightly before chopping to enhance their rich, nutty flavor and add extra depth to the filling.
• Create Consistent Sizes: Use a round cookie cutter or glass with the same diameter to cut uniform dough circles, guaranteeing even baking and professional appearance.
• Cool Completely Before Serving: Allow mini pies to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to prevent soggy bottoms and maintain perfect crust crispness.

How To Store Mini Pecan Pies The Right Way

• Refrigerate these delightful mini pecan pies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Layer them carefully between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate shape.
• Freeze the pies for longer storage by wrapping each one individually in plastic wrap, then placing them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
• Thaw frozen mini pies overnight in the refrigerator before serving, and give them a quick 5-10 minute warm-up in the oven to restore their crisp crust and gooey filling.
• Pro tip: Keep the pies at room temperature for no more than 2 hours to ensure food safety and preserve their optimal texture.

What Goes Well With Mini Pecan Pies

• Pair with Caramel Bourbon Cocktail: A smooth, rich bourbon-based drink with caramel notes perfectly complements the sweet pecan filling, enhancing the dessert's nutty and buttery flavor profile.
• Match with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Serve these mini pies alongside a scoop of creamy vanilla bean ice cream, creating a delightful temperature contrast and adding a luxurious, cool creaminess to the warm, crisp pastry.
• Serve with Strong Black Coffee: The robust, slightly bitter notes of black coffee cut through the sweetness of the pecan pies, providing a balanced and sophisticated dessert experience that highlights the pie's rich caramel undertones.
• Accompany with Spiced Chai Latte: The warm, aromatic spices in a chai latte (like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger) beautifully echo the nutty, sweet characteristics of the mini pecan pies, creating a harmonious and comforting pairing.

Ways To Switch Up Mini Pecan Pies

• Chocolate Pecan Mini Pies: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the filling and sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top before baking for a rich chocolate flavor.
• Maple Bourbon Pecan Mini Pies: Replace corn syrup with pure maple syrup and add 1 tablespoon of bourbon to the filling for a sophisticated adult version.
• Coconut Pecan Mini Pies: Mix 1/4 cup shredded coconut into the pecan filling and sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top after baking for extra texture.
• Salted Caramel Pecan Mini Pies: Drizzle homemade or store-bought salted caramel sauce over the cooled mini pies for a decadent sweet-and-salty finish.

Common Questions About Mini Pecan Pies

• What makes these mini pecan pies special?

These bite-sized treats capture all the rich, classic pecan pie flavor in a perfectly portable form. They’re ideal for parties, gatherings, or when you want a small sweet indulgence without cutting a full-sized pie.

• Can I make the pie crust ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the pie crust dough up to 2 days in advance. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to roll and cut the dough for the mini pies.

• How do I prevent the pie crust from getting soggy?

The key is to use cold butter and handle the dough minimally. Chilling the dough before rolling helps create a flaky, crisp crust that won’t absorb too much moisture from the filling.

• Are these mini pecan pies good for people who don't like big pieces of nuts?

Yes! Chopping the pecans finely ensures you get the delicious nutty flavor without large chunks, making them more appealing to those who prefer a smoother texture.

Mini Pecan Pies Recipe

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4.9 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Bite-sized southern charm shines through these Mini Pecan Pies, delivering classic holiday sweetness in one perfect handheld morsel. Sweet buttery pastry cradles rich caramel-like pecan filling, promising delightful indulgence you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

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Pecans:

• ¾ cup chopped pecans
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup corn syrup (light or dark)

Dough Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2–3 tablespoons ice water

Filling and Seasoning:

• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Prepare the pastry foundation by combining flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Utilize a pastry cutter to incorporate cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse, crumbly texture.
2. Gradually introduce ice water, blending until the dough coheres into a unified mass. Shape the mixture into a compact disk, encase with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for half an hour to firm up.
3. Heat the oven to 350F (175C). Extract the chilled dough and roll it out to a delicate, thin layer approximately 1/8-inch thick.
4. Employ a circular cutter or drinking glass to create precise dough rounds. Gently press these delicate circles into mini muffin tin cavities, molding them to form petite pie shells with delicate edges.
5. Craft the luscious filling by whisking brown sugar, corn syrup, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt in a separate bowl until thoroughly combined and smooth.
6. Fold chopped pecans into the liquid mixture, ensuring even distribution of the nutty elements throughout the filling.
7. Carefully ladle the pecan mixture into each prepared pie shell, filling to about three-quarters full to prevent overflow during baking.
8. Slide the muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust and set filling.
9. Remove from the oven and allow the mini pies to rest in the tin for 10 minutes, enabling them to stabilize and cool slightly.
10. Gently extract the delicate mini pies from the tin, transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Notes

• Choose cold butter for a flakier, more tender pie crust that melts perfectly in your mouth.
• Add water gradually to prevent the dough from becoming too wet or sticky, which can make the crust tough.
• Pre-chill the dough to relax the gluten and ensure a more delicate, crisp texture when baked.
• Use a light touch when pressing dough into the mini muffin tin to avoid creating dense, heavy crusts.
• Toast pecans briefly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and add depth to the filling.
• Consider using maple syrup instead of corn syrup for a more natural, rich sweetness.
• Swap out regular flour with gluten-free flour blend to make these mini pies celiac-friendly.
• Reduce sugar content by using a sugar substitute or cutting the amount by one-third for a less sweet version.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 23 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg