Irresistible Pecan Tassies: The Ultimate Guide to Perfect Mini Pecan Pies for Your Holiday Table
Pecan Tassies, those delightful miniature pecan pies, are an absolute must-have for any holiday gathering or festive occasion. These delicious bite-sized treats offer all the rich, buttery, and nutty flavor of a classic pecan pie, but in a perfectly portable, individual serving. Their charming size makes them an ideal addition to elaborate cookie trays, a beautiful accent for your holiday dessert spread, or a thoughtful component in homemade gift packages. Simply dress them up in mini paper cupcake liners, and they’re ready to impress. Often affectionately called “miniature pecan pie cookies,” Pecan Tassies bring a touch of traditional warmth and irresistible sweetness that perfectly complements other finger food desserts on your holiday table. This guide will walk you through creating these iconic treats, ensuring every bite is a taste of pure holiday joy.
Why This Pecan Tassies Recipe is a Holiday Baking Essential
In the bustling holiday kitchen, efficiency and impact are key. While a traditional pecan pie is undeniably a beloved classic, this pecan tassies recipe offers a compelling alternative that truly maximizes your efforts. These miniature treats provide the same rich, decadent flavor profile as a full-sized pie but in a much more manageable and versatile format. Here’s why this recipe consistently delivers:
- Perfect Portion Control: Each pecan tassie is a single-serving delight, eliminating the need for slicing and serving. This makes them incredibly convenient for gatherings, potlucks, and busy holiday events, ensuring every guest enjoys a perfect bite.
- Effortless Elegance: Unlike some intricate holiday desserts that demand elaborate frosting or fussy decorations, pecan tassies are inherently elegant. Their rustic charm, combined with the golden crust and glistening pecan topping, requires no extra adornment, saving you valuable time during the busiest baking season.
- Ideal for Gifting: The individual size and sturdy nature of these mini pecan pies make them perfect for edible gift boxes and bags. They travel well and are a much-appreciated homemade treat for friends, neighbors, and teachers. Their festive appearance makes them a beautiful presentation on any cookie tray.
- Simplified Baking Process: This recipe streamlines the baking experience. The cream cheese dough is remarkably easy to handle and creates a tender, flaky crust that contrasts beautifully with the gooey pecan filling. You don’t need to roll out a full pie crust, which often intimidates novice bakers.
- Big Flavor in a Small Package: Despite their size, these pecan tassies pack a powerful punch of flavor. The combination of toasted pecans, brown sugar, vanilla, and a hint of almond extract creates a deeply satisfying and aromatic experience that truly captures the essence of holiday baking.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Pecan Tassies
Crafting the perfect pecan tassie relies on a harmonious blend of simple, high-quality ingredients. The magic happens when these components come together to form both a tender, flaky crust and a rich, gooey filling. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need to gather:
- For the Cream Cheese Crust:
- Salted Butter: Softened to room temperature, butter is crucial for a tender, flavorful crust. Using salted butter adds a subtle depth of flavor that complements the sweetness of the filling.
- Cream Cheese: Also softened, cream cheese is the secret ingredient for an exceptionally flaky and delicate crust. It imparts a slight tang and helps create that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundational dry ingredient, providing structure to the crust.
- For the Irresistible Pecan Filling:
- Large Egg: At room temperature, eggs bind the filling ingredients together and contribute to its rich texture and slight puff during baking.
- Light Brown Sugar: This provides the signature sweetness and molasses notes, ensuring the filling is moist and chewy.
- Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer that deepens the sweetness and brings warmth to the overall profile.
- Almond Extract: While optional, a touch of almond extract elevates the pecan flavor and adds another layer of complexity to the filling, creating a truly gourmet taste.
- Pinch of Sea Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors in the filling.
- Chopped Pecans: The star of the show! Using toasted pecans is highly recommended as it intensifies their nutty flavor and adds an extra dimension to the tassies. You’ll divide these between mixing into the filling and sprinkling on top for a beautiful finish.
Gathering your ingredients and ensuring they are at the correct temperature (especially the butter, cream cheese, and egg) will set you up for success. You can find all precise measurements, ingredient quantities, and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card located at the very end of this comprehensive guide.
Mastering Pecan Tassies: A Step-by-Step Baking Guide
Creating these delightful pecan tassies is a straightforward process, even for novice bakers. The key to success lies in following each step carefully and allowing the dough adequate chilling time. Below, you’ll find detailed, visual instructions accompanied by helpful tips to ensure your mini pecan pies turn out perfectly every time. If you prefer to jump straight to the full recipe card with all measurements and a printable option, simply click here to jump to the recipe at the bottom of this post.
These step-by-step photos and instructions are designed to guide you visually through the process. For the complete, printable version of this recipe, including exact measurements and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Prepare the Tender Crust: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened salted butter and cream cheese. Using a hand mixer or a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat these ingredients together until the mixture is wonderfully light and fluffy. This aeration is crucial for a tender crust.
- Incorporate the Flour: Gradually beat in the all-purpose flour. Continue mixing until the dough comes together, pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl, and forms a cohesive ball. Be careful not to overmix, which can lead to a tough crust.
- Chill the Dough: Scoop the prepared dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Gently shape it into a log. Wrap the log tightly in the plastic wrap and roll it until it measures approximately 12 inches in length. This log shape will make slicing much easier later. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour. Chilling is essential as it firms up the butter and cream cheese, making the dough easier to handle and preventing it from sticking when you press it into the muffin tin. It also helps create a flakier crust.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Muffin Tin: While the dough chills, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). Generously spray a mini muffin tin with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking, ensuring easy removal of your baked tassies.
- Whisk Together the Flavorful Filling: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the room temperature egg, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract (if using), and a pinch of sea salt until well combined and smooth. The brown sugar should be fully dissolved for a uniform filling.
- Add Half the Pecans to Filling: Stir in half (about 1/3 cup) of the chopped, toasted pecans into the filling mixture. This ensures a nutty flavor throughout the entire filling.
- Slice the Chilled Dough: Remove the chilled dough log from the refrigerator. Using a sharp knife, slice it into 24 even pieces, each approximately 1/2 inch thick. Uniform slices will result in evenly sized tassies.
- Form the Crusts: Take each dough slice and press it firmly into the cavities of the prepared mini muffin tin. Use your fingers or a small wooden tart tamper (or the back of a small spoon) to press the dough evenly into the bottom and up the sides of each muffin cup, creating a shallow cup for the filling. Don’t worry if it’s not perfectly uniform, the cream cheese dough is forgiving.
- Spoon in the Filling: Carefully spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of the pecan filling mixture into each dough-lined muffin cup. Ensure the mixture is divided as evenly as possible among all 24 crusts to ensure consistent baking.
- Top with Remaining Pecans: Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup of chopped pecans evenly over the tops of the filling in each tassie. This adds a beautiful visual appeal and a delightful crunch to the finished product.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake the pecan tassies in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the cream cheese crust edges begin to turn a light golden brown and the pecan filling appears puffed up and set in the center. The filling should no longer jiggle significantly when gently shaken.
- Cool Completely: Once baked, remove the muffin tin from the oven. It is crucial to allow the tassies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to remove them. This allows the filling to fully set and prevents the delicate crusts from breaking. Once cooled, they should pop out easily.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pecan Tassies
While the signature flaky cream cheese crust is wonderfully easy to make and provides an unparalleled tender texture, you certainly have options if you’re looking for a shortcut or a slight variation. You can use a store-bought refrigerated pie crust, often found in the dairy section, or a pre-made box mix. Simply unroll or prepare according to package directions, then press small portions into your mini muffin tin. Keep in mind that the flavor and texture will be slightly different from the homemade cream cheese version, which is known for its unique melt-in-your-mouth quality.
For an enhanced nutty flavor and texture, consider mixing finely ground pecans directly into the crust. To do this, use about 1/2 cup of pecans and process them in a food processor until they resemble a fine meal. When preparing the crust, reduce the all-purpose flour to 3/4 cup and mix the ground pecans and flour together before incorporating them into the softened butter and cream cheese mixture. This small tweak adds an incredible depth of flavor right into the foundation of your tassies.
These delightful mini pecan pies are surprisingly robust and store exceptionally well, making them perfect for preparing ahead of time. For short-term storage, place your cooled pecan tassies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will maintain their freshness and delicious texture for 3 to 4 days. If you’re looking to extend their shelf life, or if you’ve made a large batch for future enjoyment, refrigeration is an excellent option. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, pecan tassies can last for up to 2 weeks. This makes them an ideal solution for holiday baking when you want to get a head start on your treats.
Absolutely! Pecan tassie cookies freeze beautifully, which is fantastic news for holiday prep or simply having a sweet treat on hand. To freeze them, ensure they are completely cooled after baking. Then, individually wrap each tassie in freezer paper or waxed paper. This step helps prevent freezer burn and keeps them fresh. Once wrapped, place the individual tassies into a heavy-duty zipper freezer bag or an airtight freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to 4 months without significant loss of quality. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply remove the desired number of tassies from the freezer and allow them to thaw at room temperature for an hour or two. They will taste as fresh as the day they were baked!
Pecan Tassies are a baker’s friend when it comes to make-ahead convenience, which is especially helpful during busy periods like the holidays. The dough for the crust can be prepared entirely ahead of time. After you’ve mixed and formed the dough into a log, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep well for 3 to 4 days. When you’re ready to bake, simply retrieve the chilled dough, slice it, and press it into your muffin tin before adding the freshly prepared filling. This allows you to split the baking process into two manageable sessions, reducing stress on baking day.
No, you don’t absolutely have to use almond extract if you’re not a fan or don’t have it on hand. The pecan tassies will still be delicious with just vanilla extract. However, the combination of both vanilla and almond extracts is a secret weapon for many bakers; it creates a more complex, nuanced, and truly irresistible flavor profile that beautifully complements the richness of the pecans. If you omit the almond extract, you can simply increase the vanilla extract slightly (e.g., use 1 teaspoon of vanilla instead of 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon almond) to maintain a robust flavor. Experiment to find your preferred balance!
Toasting pecans is a simple yet incredibly impactful step that elevates their flavor from good to outstanding. When pecans are toasted, their natural oils are released, intensifying their nutty aroma and deepening their flavor profile. This process brings out a richness and a slight caramelization that simply isn’t present in raw pecans. To toast them, spread the chopped pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350-degree Fahrenheit (175°C) oven for 8-10 minutes. Watch them carefully, as nuts can go from perfectly toasted to burnt very quickly. You’ll know they’re ready when they become fragrant and begin to lightly brown. Immediately remove them from the hot pan after toasting to prevent them from continuing to cook and burn.
Pecan Tassies are specifically designed to be “mini” pies, so a mini muffin tin (also sometimes called a mini cupcake pan) is essential for achieving their signature bite-sized shape. Standard-sized muffin tins would result in much larger treats, changing the desired texture and portioning. Ensure your mini muffin tin has at least 24 cavities for this recipe to yield the specified number of tassies. Always remember to grease the cavities thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray, even if your pan is non-stick, to guarantee easy release after baking and cooling.
Using softened butter (and cream cheese) is critical for the success of the crust in this pecan tassies recipe. Softened butter creamed with cream cheese creates a light, airy, and uniform base that becomes tender and flaky when baked. If your butter is too cold, it won’t cream properly, resulting in a dense, crumbly dough that is difficult to work with and a tougher crust. If it’s melted, the dough will be greasy and impossible to shape. To quickly soften butter, you can cut it into smaller pieces and leave it at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, or gently warm it in the microwave in 10-second bursts until it’s pliable but not melted.
Beyond their charm and delicious flavor, Pecan Tassies represent the quintessential taste of the holiday season. They offer the comforting familiarity of classic pecan pie and pecan pie bars, yet in a format that’s perfectly suited for sharing, gifting, and enjoying in moderation. Whether you’re hosting a grand Thanksgiving feast, preparing for a cozy Christmas gathering, or simply craving a sweet, nutty treat, these mini pecan pies are guaranteed to become a cherished part of your holiday baking repertoire. Their ease of preparation and impressive presentation make them a true win-win for any festive occasion.
Explore More Festive Holiday Sweets
If you’re looking to expand your holiday baking horizons beyond these delightful pecan tassies, we have a curated collection of festive treats that are perfect for sharing with family and friends. From decadent brownies to classic cookies, these recipes will add even more sweetness to your celebrations.
- Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- Strawberry Christmas Trees
- Chocolate Turtles
- Christmas Tree Brownies
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Candied Pecans
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
I absolutely love spending time in the kitchen, experimenting with new flavors, and perfecting classic recipes to share with all of you! To make sure you never miss out on a delicious creation, I offer a convenient newsletter delivered right to your inbox every time a new recipe is posted. Simply subscribe here and start receiving your free daily recipes, bringing culinary inspiration directly to you!
Pecan Tassies
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
Crust:
- ½ cup salted butter softened
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Filling:
- 1 large egg room temperature
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Pinch of sea salt
- ⅔ cup chopped pecans toasted
Things You’ll Need
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Hand mixer
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Mini muffin tin
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Mixing bowls
Before You Begin
- If you don’t care for almond extract you can replace that with vanilla, but the combination of both is delicious.
- You can mix ground pecans into the crust mixture for some extra texture and flavor. Use 1/2 cup of pecans and process in food processor until finely ground. Reduce the flour to 3/4 cup. Mix ground pecans and flour together before mixing into butter/cream cheese mixture.
- If you like to prep, the dough can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days before pressing into muffin tin.
- Toasted pecans add an extra level of flavor. Toast pecans in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until fragrant and they begin to lightly brown. Remove from the pan immediately so the pecans do not continue toasting or burn.
Instructions
Prepare the Crust
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In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer (or standing mixer) to beat together softened butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy.
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Beat in flour until dough pulls away from sides of the bowl and forms a ball.
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Scoop the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, forming the shape of a log. Wrap the log in the plastic wrap and roll until the log is 12 inches long. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Prepare the Filling
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.
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In a small bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt.
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Stir in half (1/3 cup) of the chopped pecans into the filling mixture.
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Remove the chilled dough log from the refrigerator. Slice into 24 even slices, approximately 1/2” thick each.
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Press each slice of dough into the cavities of the muffin tin. Use your fingers or a small wooden roller to press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the muffin tin.
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Spoon approximately 1 teaspoon of filling into each muffin cup. The mixture should be divided evenly among the 24 crusts.
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Sprinkle the other 1/3 cup of pecans over the tops of the filling.
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Bake for 20 minutes or until the crust begins to turn light brown and the filling puffs up and sets.
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Allow tassies to cool completely before removing from the pan.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.