Easy & Delicious Mini Pecan Pies: Your Perfect Make-Ahead Holiday Treat
There’s something truly special about the holidays, and for many, that means indulging in classic desserts. These delightful Mini Pecan Pies are not only incredibly easy to make but also offer the incredible convenience of being prepared ahead of time, making them an absolute lifesaver during busy festive seasons. Perfectly portioned and utterly irresistible, they are the ideal sweet bite for any gathering, especially a joyous Thanksgiving feast or a cozy Christmas celebration. Imagine a table laden with delicious food, and then a platter of these charming individual pecan pies, ready for guests to simply grab and enjoy. They encapsulate all the rich, nutty, and sweet flavors of a traditional pecan pie, but in a charming, bite-sized package that’s less messy and much more appealing for mingling.
As the holiday season draws near, the quest for the perfect dessert often begins. While grand, full-sized pies certainly have their place, there’s a unique charm and practicality to mini desserts that makes them truly shine. These Mini Pecan Pies represent the culmination of our holiday pie series, following up on beloved classics like this delicious pumpkin pie recipe. We’re embracing the miniature because, let’s be honest, you simply can’t go wrong with a grab-and-go sweet treat. They offer all the warmth and comforting flavors of a traditional pecan pie, but in a format that encourages sharing and easy enjoyment. Whether you’re hosting a large family gathering or a smaller, intimate dinner, these mini pies are designed to impress without adding extra stress to your baking schedule.
One of the most significant advantages of these mini pecan pies is their excellent freezer-friendly nature. This means you can whip up a batch (or even a double batch!) well in advance, store them, and simply thaw them when you’re ready to serve. This is a game-changer for holiday meal planning, allowing you to focus on other dishes and enjoy precious moments with your loved ones without being tethered to the kitchen. I’ve made sure to include detailed notes within the recipe below, guiding you through the best practices for freezing and thawing, ensuring that your make-ahead efforts result in perfectly fresh-tasting pies every single time. This feature alone makes them an indispensable addition to your holiday baking repertoire.
The foundation of any great pie is its crust, and these mini pecan pies are no exception. You have the flexibility to choose between a convenient store-bought pie crust or the satisfaction of making your own from scratch. While a pre-made crust certainly saves time, don’t shy away from the homemade option if you’re looking for an extra touch of culinary pride. If you’re new to making pie crusts, I assure you it’s a rewarding process that’s much simpler than it seems. I’ve previously shared a comprehensive guide with everything you need to know in this post for how to make your own pie crust. Once your dough is ready, whether homemade or store-bought, you’ll roll it out to an even thickness and then use a 3-inch cookie cutter to create 12 perfect circles. If you don’t own a cookie cutter, a standard drinking glass with a similar diameter works just as effectively – simply press down and twist to create neat, round cutouts.
A crucial tip for success with these mini pies: when placing your dough circles into the muffin cavities, ensure that the dough comes up the sides just slightly. This creates a neat “cup” for your filling and helps prevent any overflow during baking. You might find that you need to gently stretch each piece of dough a little before settling it into the muffin tin, especially if your dough is a bit stiff. Taking this extra moment will ensure that the rich pecan pie filling remains perfectly contained within each individual pie crust, preventing sticking and maintaining that beautiful, classic pecan pie shape. Proper crust placement is key to both the aesthetics and the structural integrity of your mini masterpieces.
Next comes the heart of the pie: the luscious pecan filling. In a mixing bowl, you’ll combine the simple yet magical ingredients – light corn syrup, brown sugar, melted unsalted butter, a lightly beaten egg, and a touch of vanilla extract. Whisk these together until they are thoroughly blended and smooth, creating the perfect base for our star ingredient. Finally, fold in the chopped pecans, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. This combination creates a rich, sweet, and nutty filling that bakes up beautifully. Once your filling is ready, retrieve your muffin pan with the prepared crusts from the refrigerator.
Now, for another important tip: carefully fill each dough-lined muffin cavity with approximately one tablespoon of the pecan pie filling. I cannot stress enough the importance of not overfilling. It might be tempting to pile in a bit more, but if the pecan pie filling spills over the edges of the dough during baking, it will create a sticky, caramelized mess in your muffin pan, making removal incredibly difficult. Aim for the level shown in the picture above – the filling should sit neatly within the confines of the dough, not exceeding its height. This careful attention to detail ensures a clean bake and perfectly formed mini pies that are easy to remove and even easier to enjoy. The result will be individual pecan pies with a crisp crust and a perfectly set, deliciously gooey filling.
This recipe is designed to yield 12 charming mini pecan pies, making it perfect for a small gathering or a thoughtful homemade gift. However, if you’re planning a larger celebration, such as a holiday party or a big family reunion, you can very easily double the recipe to accommodate more guests. Just be sure to use two muffin pans or bake in batches. These delightful treats are guaranteed to be a hit, offering all the classic flavors of pecan pie in a convenient, individual serving. Whether served warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or at room temperature with a dollop of whipped cream, they are sure to bring smiles and satisfy any sweet tooth. Enjoy the process of baking and, most importantly, savor every bite of these irresistible mini pecan pies!
Mini Pecan Pies
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Ingredients
- 1 pie crust store-bought or homemade
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F.
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On a lightly floured surface, roll the pie dough out into a 12-inch circle. Using a 3-inch cookie cutter (or glass), cut out 12 circles from the dough. Place each piece of dough in each muffin cavity of a 12-count muffin pan, making sure each piece comes up the sides just a little bit (you may need to stretch the dough just a bit). Transfer the muffin pan to the refrigerator while you making the filling.
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In a mixing bowl, mix together the corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract until fully combined; then mix in the chopped pecans. Remove the muffin pan from the refrigerator. Evenly distribute the filling (about 1 full tablespoon) between all 12 muffin cavities, making sure the pecan pie filling does not come up over the edges of the dough.
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Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes or until the filling is set. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Carefully remove the mini pecan pies from the muffin pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Do you love the charm and convenience of mini pies as much as we do? If so, you’re in for a treat! We’ve got a couple more irresistible mini pie recipes that are perfect for fall entertaining, holiday dessert tables, or simply enjoying a delightful small indulgence. These recipes are just as easy to make and offer unique flavor profiles that complement any occasion. Expand your repertoire of individual desserts with these fantastic options!
More Mini Pie Delights
Mini Apple Pies: These adorable Mini Apple Pies are a celebration of autumn flavors. Each little pie features a tender, flaky crust brimming with a simple yet incredibly flavorful homemade apple pie filling. They’re the perfect dessert to capture the essence of fall in a convenient, individual serving, making them a fantastic addition to any seasonal spread.
Mini Pumpkin Pies: No Thanksgiving table is complete without pumpkin pie, and these Mini Pumpkin Pies offer all the classic comfort in a perfectly portioned size. This easy recipe uses a muffin pan to create individual pies that are ideal for holiday gatherings. They’re quick to prepare, beautiful to display, and offer that quintessential pumpkin spice flavor everyone loves.
