Check out this adorably delicious Mini Pecan Pie Tarts Recipe! These mini pies are the perfect portion-sized dessert that everyone will enjoy! And the best part? This simple dessert has less calories than a full size pecan pie but still has all the delicious flavor, buttery crust, and crunchy pecans that you expect from a classic pecan pie!
That sweet and gooey texture of pecan pie is quite addictive, right? We’ve found that while we COULD devour an entire pie in one sitting, eating mini tarts are just as fun and satisfying. Plus, this means that we can have another one later and enjoy that flavor and taste again and again without all the extra guilt that usually comes with it.
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With a cook time of less than 25 minutes resulting in 24 delicious tarts, this sweet treat would be perfect for parties, holidays, or quick and small snacks for the kids.
Why You’ll Love This Mini Pecan Pie Tart Recipe
- Bite size perfection- you’ll love these little pies.
- Tastes just like traditional pecan pie!
- Quick way to feed a crowd and look adorable on a holiday party dessert table.
Mini Pecan Pie Recipe Ingredients
Get more information on these ingredients and when you’ll use them in the recipe card below.
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Shortening
- Cold water
- Pecans
- Vanilla
- Corn syrup
- Brown sugar
- Eggs
- White sugar
Tools To Make Pecan Tartlets
Measuring Cup
Mason Jars for Serving
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Spatula for Stirring
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Stand Mixer
- SUPERIOR FUNCTION: Delivering power, precision and performance, our stand mixer features a 5.5-quart capacity with a 500-watt motor, die-cast metal construction, and 12-speeds that allow for nuance and excellence in performing a variety of preparation tasks
Dough Hook
- Replacement K45DH dough hook compatible with K45 K45SS KSM90 KSM150 KSM75 KSM95 KSM100 KSM103 KSM110 KSM154 KitchenAid 4.5/5.0 quart bowel tilt head stand mixers. Please check the product size before you buy it.
Plastic Wrap or Bees Wrap
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Mixing Bowl
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Rolling Pin
- Adjustable rolling pin evenly flattens dough to ensure uniform baking
- Solid beech construction with etched pastry-width measurement guide
- 1/16, 1/6, 1/4, and 3/8-inch removable discs make it simple to roll to a desired thickness
- Great for pizza and pie crusts, tarts, cookies, and more; hand-wash for best results
- Measures 2-1/2 by 16-1/2 by 2-1/2-inch
Muffin Pan
- READY, SET, BAKE: Everyone loves a good, warm muffin in the morning, and it's never been easier than with this 12-cup non-stick muffin pan. This pan can also be used to make a dozen cupcakes to brighten someone's day
Dough Cutter
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How To Make Texas Pecan Pie Tarts
- In the stand mixer, mix four and salt together.
- Then add in the shortening and use a fork, pastry cutter or your hands to help work it into the flour mixture. Your dough will start to resemble small crumbs.
- Attach your dough hook and blend on low. Add in 1/4 cup ice water (but do this 1 Tablespoon at a time until a dough ball forms. The dough will be sticky and firm. If it’s still dry, keep adding ice water if needed.
- Use beeswax wrap or plastic wrap to cover your dough ball and put it in the fridge.
- Then add the pecan pie filling ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix together until it forms a custard and set it aside.
- Flour a flat surface, get your dough from the frige and unwrap it. Roll out the dough using a rolling pin until it’s thin enough for pie crust. If it starts to break or has holes, it’s too thin.
- Use a dough cutter or biscuit cutter to cut dough into circles. These will be your tart shells.
- Spray muffin pan with cooking spray and add the dough circles to the pan, pushing to cover the side of each hole with the dough. Repeat for each dough circle into the muffin pans.
- Add 1 and a half Tablespoons of the pecan pie filling mixture to each dough circle tart and bake for 25 minutes at 350F.
- Let cool before serving and enjoying.
Variations and Tips and Tricks
Use phyllo dough– If you don’t have time to make the crust, you can make the filling and put it inside phyllo dough cups instead. This is a super cute and fun way to make a mini dessert.
Drizzle syrup– for a sweeter pie, drizzle some maple syrup on the mini tarts.
- Using your hands to mix in the shortening to make the crust is so much fun to do. It’s like a comforting sensory activity that results in feeding your tummy.
- Make sure to let the little tarts cool all the way as they’re going to be super hot. They’ll also thicken up a bit as they cool, too.
- Use a food processor to chop up the pecans if you only have whole ones or want finer ones.
- It’s best to use a mini muffin tin or a small tart pans for these small pie tarts, but if you only have a full size muffin tin, that can still be used.
- For more of a full size dessert, enjoy a few of these delicious mini pecan pies with a small scoop of ice cream.
- If short on dough cutters, you can use a round cookie cutter.
- These pecan tassies are commonly served as a Thanksgiving dessert or during the holiday season, but would be lovely on any holiday table.
What Is The Texas State Dessert?
Did you know the official dessert of Texas is a Pecan Pie?! Why not celebrate your love for Texas by making these adorable mini pecan pies.
These mini pie tarts are perfect for serving at parties, work get togethers or work luncheons and are just a fun thing to enjoy in general.
Mini Pecan Pie tarts can also be called Mini Pecan Pie Tassies.
Like recipes from Texas? Then you’ll love this Texas Cowboy Stew made in the Instant Pot!
Do You Have To Refrigerate Pecan Tarts?
If you want to put them in the fridge, you can. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. It’s totally up to you. Leaving them out covered at room temperature is great for a short term storage solution.
Should Pecan Pie Be Served Warm Or Cold?
Most people actually prefer to eat their pecan pie at room temperature. It’s really totally up to what you prefer.
We’ve enjoyed these tiny tarts when they’re warm and again later when they’re cooler. Both ways were delicious. But we think the best way to chomp on these little pecan pies is still warm.
How Can You Tell Pecan Pie Is Done?
Since you’re not really cooking an entire pie, you’ll have to pay attention to the tarts individually. Once they’re done baking, the centers should be pretty solid, with possibly a slight jiggle. The jiggle should go away as the pie cools and starts to become thicker.
How Long Are These Pecan Tarts Good For?
These tiny desserts should be stored in an airtight container, like a Mason Jar, and should last about 3-5 days.
Honestly, our tarts never last more than a day or two. They’re always devoured in such a short time, it’s hard for us to say how long they’d stay fresh.
Other Delicious Pie Recipes To Try
- Rant Worthy Instant Pot Apple Pie Filling – A simple and easy way to make a homemade apple pie fast!
- Mini Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pie Desserts – Talk about a cute and fast treat!
- Simple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Recipe – Love the flavor of pumpkin/? You’re going to love this!
- Yummy Air Fryer Cornbread – Perfect to pair with chili or other stews and soups you’ll enjoy before making these pecan tarts.
Texas Pecan Pie Tarts
Equipment
- MInin Muffin Pan
Ingredients
To make the crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup shortening
- 6 Tablespoons cold water
Pecan pie filling:
- 1¼ cups chopped pecans
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup + 1 Tablespoon corn syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup sugar, granulated
Instructions
- In the stand mixer, mix four and salt together.
- Then add in the shortening and use a fork, pastry cutter or your hands to help work it into the flour mixture. Your dough will start to resemble small crumbs.
- Attach your dough hook and blend on low. Add in 1/4 cup ice water (but do this 1 Tablespoon at a time until a dough ball forms. The dough will be sticky and firm. If it’s still dry, keep adding ice water if needed.
- Use beeswax wrap or plastic wrap to cover your dough ball and put it in the fridge.
- Then add the pecan pie filling ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix together until it forms a custard and set it aside.
- Flour a flat surface, get your dough from the frige and unwrap it. Roll out the dough using a rolling pin until it’s thin enough for pie crust. If it starts to break or has holes, it’s too thin.
- Use a dough cutter or biscuit cutter to cut dough into circles. These will be your tart shells.
- Spray muffin pan with cooking spray and add the dough circles to the pan, pushing to cover the side of each hole with the dough. Repeat for each dough circle into the muffin pans.
- Add 1 and a half Tablespoons of the pecan pie filling mixture to each dough circle tart and bake for 25 minutes at 350F.
- Let cool before serving and enjoying.
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Keep On Sippin’ On Something Sweet
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Gary
Friday 17th of February 2023
These are pecan Tassies of British origin, also popular in Canada