Pecan Tassies are easy mini pecan pie cookies made with a few ingredients that come together quickly! Make multiple batches swiftly to gift!
Snowball Cookies, Butter Pecan Cookies, and these Pecan Tassies all have the perfect holiday ingredient, pecans, for your Holiday Cookies. These bite sized treats are great for gifting to neighbors, co-workers, family and friends.
Why You’ll Love These Cookies?
- Only 9 simple ingredients and they bake quickly so it’s an easy recipe to double or even triple.
- They can be made ahead of time so you have less stress during the Holiday season!
Sabrina’s Pecan Tassies Recipe
These tassies are often referred to as cookies, so you can technically classify them as that. These are usually served around Christmas, but you could also put them out for Easter too. If you start serving these regularly, you’ll begin to get requests for them at all of your family gatherings.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened and divided
- 4 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 1 cup flour
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup brown sugar , packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup pecans , very finely chopped
Instructions
- Beat together the 8 tablespoons (be careful to reserve 2 tablespoons here) butter and cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy then add in the flour until just mixed, remove from the stand mixer and refrigerate for an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and grease your mini muffin tins well.
- To the stand mixer add the remaining butter, egg, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and pecans and mix on low speed until combined.
- Divide the dough into 24 pieces and press into your muffin tins using a handle of a wooden spoon or similarly shaped tool wrapped in saran wrap to shape a well inside the dough in each muffin tin cavity, then fill with 1 teaspoon of pecan filling and bake for 20-22 minutes.
- Cool for 15 minutes before carefully removing from the muffin tins, running a knife around them if needed to loosen them first.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Sabrina’s Tips
If I am having having trouble pressing the dough into the muffin tin, I roll the dough out and cut out circles with a cookie cutter, then lay the circles into the tin. This ensures that each tassie is uniform in thickness and in size, resulting in a more evenly baked cookie.
Table of Contents
About this Recipe
Pecan Tassies are the perfect dessert to make during on the holidays. They’re basically the bite-sized version of pecan pie, with flakey crusts and a sweet creamy filling, made in a mini muffin pan so you can make a big batch of these at once. You can also make larger versions using a regular-sized non-stick muffin pan. See the directions below in the Variations section. If you are looking for other pecan favorites to make during the Holiday season try my Pecan Pie Muffins, Slow Cooker Candied Cinnamon Pecans, and Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Pie!
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, there are several ways that these tassies can be made ahead of time. First, you can prepare just the shell pastry up to a week in advance and store it in the fridge. You could also wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Be sure to pull it out the night before you are going to use it. Once they are fully baked, they will last in the fridge for up to two weeks, as long as they are stored in an airtight container. Or store your tassies in a freezer safe container with layers of parchment in between each layer. If you are pulling them from the fridge or freezer, you can warm them back up in the oven.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Measure your flour carefully, as adding too much can make these crumbly.
- Make sure your pecans are finely chopped. You can put them in the blender and use the pulse function in 1-2 second increments. Make sure to stop before it turns to pecan butter.
- Grease your muffin tin, or use little ungreased cupcake liners to make them easier to remove from the tin and serve.
How to Store
- Serve: You can keep Pecan Tassies at room temperature for up to a week. Cover and keep in a cool, dry place.
- Store: Keep these Tassies fresh longer and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Warm in the microwave or bring to room temperature to serve.
- Freeze: Freeze these mini pies for up to 2 months in a airtight container with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or in the oven at 300°F to serve.
Ideas to Serve
These Pecan Tassies would be a great homemade gift to give during the Holidays. Add them to your Christmas Cookie Box or find an inexpensive gifting container, line it with parchment and add the Tassies inside. Be sure to let them know they will last longer if they are refrigerated. You could also include the ingredients and the instructions on the tag so that the recipient can now make them on their own.
Variations
- Pie Filling: You can try other pie filling instead of pecan, try apple or cherry. You can also use the crust from this recipe to make mini cheesecakes.
- Cream Cheese: You can use Neufchatel cheese instead of cream cheese, which is basically a lower fat version of cream cheese, without any flavor difference.
- Brown Sugar: This recipe calls for brown sugar which adds a lot of the signature flavor, but white sugar will work in a pinch if that’s all you have.
- Adult Version: Add a splash of bourbon to the filling for an adult version of these pecan pies.
- Decoration: Save some larger pecan pieces to press into the top of each tassie for decoration.
- Mix-ins: Add some mini chocolate chips or dried cranberries to the filling in this tassies recipe, and to the top for some fruity or chocolate pecan pie flavor!
- Full Sized Tassies: Increase the recipe amount to 1.5 times what it currently is. Divide the dough to fit in 12 full size muffins tin holes. Add about 3 tablespoons of filling for each one. Bake at 325°F for 24-28 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before trying to remove them.
Related Recipes
More Delicious Pecan Desserts
Photos used in a previous version of this post.
Can these be frozen?
Freeze: Freeze Pecan Tassies for up to 2 months in a freezer safe bag with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or in the oven at 300 degrees to serve.
excellent making them for years,,,,,,
Yum! Love this spin off pecan pie!
These are my favorite!!!!! I make this recipe all year-round!
These are so delicious! I usually find a full slice of pecan pie to be far too sweet, so these little bites are just perfect.
This pecan tarts is addictive, can’t stop eating
How long can they stay refrigerated?
They will keep fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for about two weeks.
Why does the pecan filling get a hard crust on top
The top of the Tassies that’s exposed to the heat caramelizes and hardens to make a sweet, crunchy layer on top!
Sabrina,
I’ve made these for 20 years using non-stick mini muffin tins. I’ve never been very successful with them not sticking in the tins. I refrigerate my dough prior to forming them in the tins. I’d make them more if that process was less onerous. I end up soaking the tins overnight to release the baked on dough. Any advice?
Have you tried greasing your muffin tin, or use little ungreased cupcake liners to make them easier to remove from the tin and serve?
Excellent Pecan Tassies,,,,,,,,I make them every year, my family begs for them,,,,,,
Thank you Sabrina
Excuse me what else can I use instead of cream cheese do I have to put cream cheese
Hi Jose,
Some recipes call for sour cream instead of cream cheese. If you’re looking for a dairy substitute there are a variety of vegan cream cheese options.
Sabrina
I love the look and idea of these but do you think I could add a little corn syrup to make it more gooey like a pecan pie?
I was so looking forward to these. I very carefully measured everything but when they came out of the oven at 22 minutes they were very brown on the top and not done on the bottom. When I tried to remove them from the pan they fell apart. I expected them to be more like a cream cheese pie crust but these were very bread like. They were basically mini pecan muffins except without the gooey filling because that baked into the muffin. Terribly disappointed.
These are fabulous! My m also made these at Christmas every year, after she passed I had her recipes and one yr I took this recipe w/ me to the store, and lost it !!! I was mad at myself !And then along came the internet !!! I make them at Christmas now and they are a huge hit. Sending my brother some and and I”m wondering about freezing them, what do you think about that ??
My mom made Pecan Tassies every year for Christmas, but I’ve never given them a try. Tried your recipe and REALLY loved them! Only thing is I had to bake them SO much longer. The crust did not seem to brown. They taste fabulous. Thank you for posting the recipe!
Thoughts on baking this as bars in an 8×8 brownie tin? Making sure the dough goes up the sides of the pan a bit on all sides? If so, would you bake crust for a few min and then fill and finish baking? Or just bake the whole thing for longer? Thanks!
Can thee be baked in mini cupcake papers???????
Easy to make and excellent! I’m always looking for something new and these were a pleasant surprise!
Thanks, Fred! Glad you enjoyed them!
I just made these pecan pie tassies. They are delicious!!! The 1 tablespoon of vanilla is correct. I baked them for 20 minutes. Next time I’ll bake them for a few minutes more. I like the crust a little crispier or done. I’ll make this recipe again and again. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback, Maggie.
Do I use all purpose flour or self rising?
I used all purpose flour for this recipe. Enjoy!
These are great and so easy to make. A big hit.
Thanks, Gina!
No way is 1 tablespoon of vanilla correct. Check your recipe.
I think there’s a typo in the vanilla quantity? Should this be Teaspoon Not tablespoon? My dough did not turn out – it was underdone and the topping was burning?
What temperature were you cooking the cookies at? It burned at 325? Would love to help troubleshoot. And no I love the flavor of the vanilla and pecans and tested it at 1 teaspoon, 2 teaspoons and 1 tablespoon and the tasting group LOVED the 1tbsp batch best. More expensive (especially with how expensive vanilla is now) but the taste testers weren’t even close on their feelings. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Sabrina,
If I’m making these in normal-sized muffin/cupcake tin (I don’t have minis), what adjustments do you think I should make to baking temp and/or temperature? Thx!
If you’re doing 12 large ones I’d say try for the same time at 350 degrees, but that is a pure guess since I haven’t tested it. I wouldn’t want to ruin your holiday meal. I think 350 would work well for you it’s just a matter of the timing. Start checking at 20 minutes by watching it without opening the oven door. When you see it looking less soupy and the edges browning you’re good to go. Wish I could give you better timing on it. Good luck! Happy Thanksgiving!
Where is the recipe for the dough?
The recipe card is at the bottom of the post and includes ingredients and instructions to make these cookies. Enjoy!
I must be blind, I just spent 10 minutes looking for the dough recipe and don’t see a recipe card at the bottom anywhere. The entire recipe that I can see does not tell the dough recipe? Would be great if you just put the entire recipe in the instructions, and could someone please forward me the rest of the recipe? Would love to try these! Thank you!
Hi! The dough is made in the first line of instructions. :Beat together the 8 tablespoons (be careful to reserve 2 tablespoons here) butter and cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy then add in the flour until just mixed, remove from the stand mixer and refrigerate for an hour.
they are great and tasty how much of the dough did you put in each pan thank you
My daughter is having a dessert bar at her wedding next weekend. I was thinking of making these ahead of time. Can they be frozen? Thank you!
They’ll last up to a week at room temperature. You can place them in the fridge to extend the life a bit but might dry out a little once stored cold.
Hi. Can I use this recipe for pecan tassies filling? If yes, what would be the bake time using a 24 cup mini muffin pan? I will be using the Trader Joe’s pie crust For the tasssies. Also, for the cup cake, can I use gluten free all purpose flour and substitute vegan butter? Same measurements? Thank you.
You can use the filling part to use for the pre-made pie crust. For mini muffins, you may need the same oven temp and bake time but I would check the package of the TJ pie crust for additional directions. I’ve not used any other substations for this recipe so if you decide to try, I’d love to know what worked for you. Thanks!
Hey there!
I am about to try your recipe but I do have a question. Within instructions #1 it states “be careful to reserve 2 tbsps here”; reserve for what?
Thanks!
So sorry, your question got snagged in my spam filter. The remaining 2 tablespoons of butter are added into step 3.
How much Bourbon would I add? Do I still put in the vanilla?
I’d say about 1/4 cup and keep the vanilla too. I hope you enjoy them!
20 tbs is equivalent to 1 and a quarter cup
Can I mix ground walnuts with the ground pecans? I do not have the needed amount of pecans. This recipe sounds like the recipe I lost 30 years ago and looking forward to trying this recipe.
Certainly! Let me know how it turns out!
Nobody asked me, but I’ve made these tiny tarts with nuts other than pecans in the past. One of my grandsons is allergic to most nuts, but can handle hazelnuts, and they are delicious in this recipe. I’ve used almonds, too, but with white sugar instead of brown.
Sounds delicious!
I don’t have a stand mixer, can I use a hand held electric mixer?
Definitely!
I think I will double the recipe so can anyone tell me what 20 tbs of butter would be? 1/4 cup maybe?
It would equal 1 1/4 cup. Hope this helps!
You got me at pecans, that is my favorite nut ever. This dessert looks like the perfect sweet bite. I need one =)
This is definitely a perfect fit for you!
Oh, my! I love pecans and your pecan tassies look so good! Looks like an easy recipe with few ingredients. My favourite sort.
Easy peasy!
Just pinned these babies! The sound divine and my family LOVES pecan treats. The pecan pie is always the first to go during the holidays. 🙂
Thanks for the pin, Valentina! Enjoy!
Oh I love delicious dessert favorites that are made mini! They totally help with portion control!
Yes, sometimes just a taste is all you need.
These look so delicious and perfect with a cup of coffee! I love pecan anything!
Enjoy!