Mini Pecan Tarts have got all the gooey, caramel‑sweet richness of classic pecan pie, but tucked into a buttery, handheld shell that disappears in two bites. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or those afternoons when you just want something homemade without committing to a full pie, these tiny tarts deliver big flavor with minimal effort.
If you want some more different pie ideas, try my Turtle Brownie Pie and my Strawberry Jello Pie. Both are easy and delicious.
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Why this Pecan Pie Tarts Recipe is a Keeper
I love these mini pecan pie tarts because they’re the perfect treat to serve at Christmas. They’re so delicious, easy to make and work as both a dessert and appetizer.
- Bite-Sized Dessert: Perfect for parties, cookie trays, and holiday gatherings.
- Classic Flavor: These bites have a rich pecan pie filling with a buttery crust.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Bake them early and store until ready to serve.
- Easy to Serve: No slicing required. It is one of the reasons I love pecan pie bites.
What is the Difference Between Pecan Pie and Pecan Tarts?
The main difference is their sizes. A full sized pecan pie is usually 8 or 9 inches, while these tarts are only a couple inches.
What Reader’s Are Saying…
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“These came together so much quicker than I expected. And boy were they a hit! Thank you for the delicious and easy recipe!”
~ Glenda
Ingredient Notes for Mini Pecan Tarts
This pecan butter tarts recipe uses just a few simple ingredients you can easily find at the store.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Pie Crust: Use either a store-bought pie crust or a premade, homemade pie crust.
- Corn Syrup: Corn syrup is the key ingredient to getting that classic gooey texture.
- Pecans: Again, feel free to use pre-chopped pecans from the store, or chop your own whole pecans at home.
Variations and Substitutions to Make Pecan Tassies
Mini gooey pecan pies are super flexible. Switch it up to make it with other flavors.
- Add Chocolate: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips into the filling.
- Maple Flavor: Replace some sugar with maple syrup for a richer taste.
- Add Bourbon: A small splash can add extra depth to the filling.
- Use Toasted Pecans: Toasting pecans enhances their nutty flavor.
Special Equipment Needed for Pecan Tartlets
This mini pies recipe doesn’t require anything fancy, but a couple things can make them more appealing. You will need a little cooking spray or melted butter to grease the pan.
- Mini Muffin Pan: This pan creates the perfect size tart shells for bite-sized pecan pies.
- Cooling Rack: A wire rack helps the tarts cool evenly so the crust stays crisp.
How to Make Mini Pecan Pie Tarts
This great recipe comes together in just 3 quick and easy steps. They’re so good, it’s a great one to make for hosting.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Prep the Dough: Roll out the pie crust into a circle so that it’s a little bigger. Use a circle cookie cutter to cut out 24 circles out of the dough. Stretch the circles slightly and place them in a muffin pan. Let chill in the fridge.
- Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the egg, corn syrup, brown sugar, butter, salt and vanilla. Take the dough out of the fridge and fill each cup about halfway with the filling.
- Top and Bake: Top each tart with chopped pecans and bake in the preheated oven until the crust is golden brown. When done, let them cool and remove them with a knife.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Pecan Tarts Recipe
To streamline your baking process, there are some ways you can prep in advance.
- Prepare the Dough Early: Make the crust dough ahead and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Bake in Advance: Make the tarts a day or two in advance and store them in an airtight container.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Pecan Butter Tarts
Change up these tarts by making them more traditionally, or larger.
- Use Tart Pans: Instead of muffin tins, bake the tarts in mini tart pans for a more traditional look.
- Bake Larger Tarts: Use a standard muffin pan to create slightly larger pecan tartlets.
Store Pecan Pie and Use Leftover Pecan Pie Tartlets
- Storing: After they have cooled, store pecan pie tart in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Reheating: Warm briefly in the oven if you prefer them slightly warm.
- Using Leftovers: Layer into parfaits, make a quick bread pudding or chop the tarts and fold into a simple custard (milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla) or oatmeal.
- Apple Crisp Shortcut: Crumble leftover tarts over sliced apples tossed with cinnamon and a little sugar.
Common Questions About This Pecan Tassies Recipe
If the pecan filling overflowed, you probably filled the dough cups too much. Make sure to only fill them halfway to avoid bubbling over.
Tarts are done when the pie crust is golden brown. Baking time is usually 30 minutes.
Yes, all of those options are fantastic mix-ins. Top the mini pies with a powdered sugar, cream cheese and butter frosting, a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Expert Tips for Making Mini Pecan Pie Desserts
- Fill Carefully: This is no different than a traditional pie. Leave space so the filling doesn’t overflow over the pastry crust.
- Cool Completely: This helps loosen the tarts release from the pan easily.
- Toast Pecans: Lightly toasted pecans add extra flavor.
- Serve With: Serve pecan pie tartlets with Cinnamon Chocolate Latte on top or alongside Mini Apple Pie Bites.
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Mini Pecan Pies
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Ingredients
- 1 Store-bought pie crust
- 1 large Egg, slightly beaten
- ½ cup Light corn syrup
- ¼ cup Light brown sugar, packed
- 1 Tablespoon Unsalted butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt, or sea salt
- ½ teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup Pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉.
- Roll out the pie crust into a round circle. You will just want to roll it out a little bit wider than it already is.
- Using your cookie cutter, cut out 24 circles. You may need to reroll the dough to use all of the dough and to get the 24 you need.
- Stretch out the dough a little bit with your fingers and place the circles into the mini muffin pan.
- Place the muffin pan into the fridge while you are preparing the filing to keep the dough cold.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add in the egg, the corn syrup, the brown sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla. Mix well.
- Once the filing is ready, remove the muffin tin from the fridge and using a cookie scoop or teaspoon, spoon the filing into each tart. Only fill the tart about ½ full.
- Once you have filled all of the tarts, top each of them with the pecans. You can add more or less of the chopped pecans.
- Then place the Mini Pecan Tarts into the oven and bake 20 to 30 minutes. They will be done once the crust is golden brown.
- Let them cool and then carefully remove with a knife from the pan.
Christina’s Notes
- Dark Brown Sugar: If you prefer a richer, molasses-like flavor, swap out the light brown sugar for dark brown sugar.
- Make your own Dough: While store-bought pie crust is convenient, making your pie crust from scratch adds a homemade touch to the best pecan pie recipe.
- Toppings: You will love pecan pie with a dollop of whipped cream, cream cheese or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra layer of indulgence.
- Use Mini Muffin Tins: Make the traditional pecan pie in a greased mini muffin pans.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
Luv pecan pie but I live alone so 1 regular pie is too much. These little tartlets are perfect size! I keep a few & give rest to neighbors. Tastes delicious and so easy to make. 👍😘
I often find pecan pie too sweet to finish a whole piece, so these mini pecan pies are perfect! They’re delicious and satisfy that pecan pie craving!
These came together so much quicker than I expected. And boy were they a hit! Thank you for the delicious and easy recipe!
Wow are these good. They are practically addictive. I’ll have to make some for family during the holidays!
My family agreed that this pecan pie recipe was a perfect addition to our table on Thanksgiving, I am definitely making this again!