Mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies

Whether you want to call these mini pecan pies or giant pecan tassies, they are the perfect little pre-portioned dessert for holiday gatherings (or for keeping in your freezer for when you want a little treat). But the best part is that these Mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies are incredibly easy, so if you’re intimidated by pie baking, this is an excellent place to start. Pecan pies tend to be a little too sweet for me, so I added a little bitter dark chocolate to balance the extremely sweet caramel-y filling. I also experimented with adding a pinch of flakey sea salt to the top of a couple of the pecan pies, which was quite delightful! 

Want more holiday food? Check out our Holiday Recipes category.

Mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies

What Kind of Chocolate Should I Use?

I used a 70% dark chocolate made by Moser Roth (sold at Aldi). If you want to go darker you can, just be mindful that the darker you go the more bitter it gets. The chocolate I used comes in a package with five mini bars, 25 grams each, and I used three out of the five. You can use more or less as you see fit.

How to Store the Pecan Pies

You can keep these Mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies in the refrigerator for up to four days, or, once completely cooled, place them in a freezer bag and freeze up to four months.

Mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies

These easy Mini Pecan Pies studded with dark chocolate make the perfectly balanced and pre-portioned dessert for all of your holiday gatherings. 

Crust

• 8 Tbsp salted butter, room temperature ($0.75)
• 4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature ($0.60)
• 1 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour ($0.13)
• 1 Tbsp sugar ($0.02)

Filling

• 75 grams dark chocolate, divided ($1.19)
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten ($0.26)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar ($0.36)
• 1 Tbsp metled butter ($0.09)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract ($0.14)
• 2/3 cup pecan pieces ($1.69)

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Beat together the butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Once combined, add 1 cup flour and beat again until combined. The mixture may look dry and crumbly, but should stick together when squeezed with your hands. Form the mixture into a ball, adding an extra tablespoon or two of flour if it becomes too sticky.

2. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. The easiest way to do this is to first divide the dough into four equal-sized pieces, then divide each of those into three. Roll each piece into a ball, then place each one in the well of a regular-sized muffin tin (NOT a mini muffin tin). The muffin tin does not need to be greased.

3. Use your fingers to press the dough balls into the bottom and up the sides of the muffin tin wells. It’s okay if the dough does not reach the very top of the well. Make sure to press it deep into the corners, to avoid rounded thick corners. Place a dime-sized piece of chocolate into each of the shaped pie crusts. I used about 50 grams of the chocolate in the bottom of the pies, and the rest was used to drizzle on top after baking.

4. To make the filling, add the beaten egg, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and pecans in a small mixing bowl. Stir to combine, avoiding beating the mixture too much or causing frothy air bubbles. 

5. Spoon the mixture evenly between each of the pie crusts. The filling will only fill each pie crust about half way, but will puff up as it bakes. Once filled, place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.

6. Once the pies are baked, melt the remaining 25 grams of chocolate. You can melt it using a microwave, heating for 15 seconds at a time and stirring well after each heating, until melted, or by placing a small bowl over a double boiler. Once melted, drizzle the chocolate over each pie. 

7. Allow the pies to cool completely, then use a small knife to gently lift them out of the muffin tin.

Step by Step Photos

Start by preheating the oven to 350ºF. Beat together 8 Tbsp (one stick) of room temperature butter and 4 oz. of room temperature cream cheese until they are evenly combined.

Add 2 cups all-purpose flour and beat again until the mixture looks loose and crumbly. 

Although the dough may look dry, it should stick together when squeezed with your hand. Shape the dough into a ball, adding another tablespoon or two of flour if it becomes too sticky.

Divide the dough into 12 equal-sized pieces. The easiest way to do this is to first divide it into four equal pieces, then divide each of those into three pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, then place each one in a well of a regular sized muffin tin (not a mini muffin tin). Use your fingers to press the dough into the bottom and  up the sides of the wells. Make sure to press it deep into the corners to avoid rounded thick corners. This will help it extend further up the sides, too. Place one small dime-sized piece of chocolate in the bottom of each pie crust.

Next make the filling. In a bowl combine one slightly beaten large egg, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 Tbsp melted butter, 2/3 cup pecan pieces, and 1 tsp vanilla.

Stir these ingredients together with a spoon, trying to avoid vigorous beating or causing it to get frothy or form too many air bubbles.

Spoon the filling into each of the shaped pie crusts. It will only fill each one about half way, but it does puff up as it bakes.

Bake the Mini Pecan Pies for 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.

Melt the remaining 25 grams dark chocolate either by microwaving in a small bowl for 15 seconds at a time, stirring well each time until it’s melted, or by placing the bowl over a double boiler. Once melted, drizzle the chocolate over each mini pecan pie.

Allow the mini Dark Chocolate Pecan Pies to cool, then use a knife to gently lift them out of the muffin tin. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for four days, or freeze for four months.

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