Pecan tassies are bite-size mini pecan tarts with a cream cheese pastry shell and a sweet center filled with crunchy pecans.
What’s in a Pecan Tassie? A lot of deliciousness is what’s in a Pecan Tassie. I love Pecan Pie; however, it is so sweet that I can’t eat a whole piece. These little mini pecan tarts are a bite of pecan pie. That’s right, one bite and the tart is gone. No feeling guilty because you didn’t finish your piece. No sugar crash because you ate the whole piece. Now – go ahead and have a second piece. It is still fewer calories than a tiny piece of Pecan Pie.
Key Takeaways:
- Miniature Treat: Pecan tassies are bite-sized versions of pecan pie, perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth without the sugar overload.
- Cream Cheese Pastry Shell: The crust is made with just three ingredients—cream cheese, butter, and flour—for a flaky, rich texture.
- One-Bite Wonder: Their small size means you can enjoy one (or two!) without the guilt of eating a whole slice of pecan pie.
- Simple Equipment: A mini muffin pan and optional mini tart shaper make the process easier but aren’t essential.
- Easy Dough Handling: No rolling needed—just chill the dough, roll into balls, and press into molds.
- Don’t Overbake: For best results, bake until the edges and center are just set; overbaking leads to dry, hollow centers.
Overview
Pecan Tassies are delightful, bite-sized treats that capture all the flavor of a classic pecan pie in a mini, guilt-free portion. Made with a rich, flaky cream cheese pastry and filled with a sweet, crunchy pecan filling, these little tarts are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without overindulging. They’re easy to make and require just a few simple ingredients for both the crust and the filling. Ideal for holidays, parties, or afternoon cravings, pecan tassies offer the perfect balance of texture and sweetness in every single bite. With the right tools—like a mini muffin pan and tart shaper—these treats come together effortlessly, making them a must-try for any home baker.
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What Equipment Do I Need To Make Pecan Tassies?
You don’t need some special items to make these tassies. However, they take less time and are more manageable with a couple of items.
Mini Muffin Pan: Make the Tassies in a regular muffin pan. Made in the mini muffin pan, they are perfect for one bite per tart!
If you use a regular muffin tin, double the filling and dough used in each tart.
Mini Tart Shaper Tool: This is an excellent tool that fits perfectly into the mini tart molds. Pampered Chef makes the shaper. Click Here for the shaper tool. If you don’t have the shaper, the tart shells are easily shaped by hand. Press the dough onto the bottom and sides of each mold with your fingers. The shaper is also in Shop My Kitchen.
How Do I Make Pecan Tassies?
There are two parts to making a pecan tassie: the crust or shell and the filling.
Let’s discuss the crust. The crust is mostly butter and cream cheese, giving it a soft and flaky texture. There are only three ingredients: butter, cream cheese, and flour. Mix them, chill, and the dough for the crust is ready to use. Lastly, press the dough into the mini muffin pan molds. No rolling, no worry about overworking the dough. Just roll a ball of dough, press, and fill. So easy!!!
Now it’s time to fill the Tassie. The filling is sugar, egg, and nuts. Don’t pulverize the nuts when you chop them. Break them into smaller pieces and put half of them into the tarts. Mix up the filling ingredients and fill the tarts with the filling. Leave room for the rest of the nuts to go on top. I usually have some filling left over. If you don’t want to waste this extra filling, add some pecans and bake in a ramekin with the Pecan Tassies.
Don’t overbake the Tassies. The center and the outside edges of the pastry firm should be set. If you over-bake the Tassies, they will be dry and hollow inside instead of soft and slightly gooey.
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FAQ:
Q: What is a pecan tassie made of?
A: A pecan tassie is made with a cream cheese and butter crust, filled with a mixture of chopped pecans, sugar, and egg.
Q: Can I make pecan tassies without a mini tart shaper?
A: Yes! You can shape the crust by hand using your fingers to press the dough into the mini muffin pan.
Q: What happens if I overbake the tassies?
A: Overbaking will make them dry and hollow inside. Bake just until the center and edges are set.
Q: Can I use a regular muffin pan instead?
A: Yes, but you’ll need to double the amount of dough and filling per tart to account for the larger size.
Q: Is the filling supposed to be gooey?
A: Slightly! The ideal texture is soft and gooey in the center with a set edge.
Q: What can I do with leftover filling?
A: Mix in extra pecans and bake the filling in a ramekin for a bonus treat!
Pecan Tassies
Equipment
- This page contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click a link, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you
- mini muffin pan
- mini tart shaper
Ingredients
Cheese Pastry
- 3 oz cream cheese(85g)
- 4 oz butter(113g) (1 stick)
- 1 cup flour(120g) 4.25 ounces all-purpose
Filling
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup brown sugar(160g)
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
- salt pinch
- 1 cup pecans(114g) coarsely broken
Instructions
- To adjust the portions, click on the number of serving, and a slider will pop up. Adjusting the slider up or down will automatically calculate the amount needed for each ingredient.
- Preheat oven to 325° F.
Cheese Pastry
- Let the cream cheese and butter soften at room temperature and then blend together.
- Mix in the flour to form a soft dough. Chill 1 hour
- Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place in an ungreased mini-muffin pan.
- Press the dough evenly against the bottom and sides of each mold.
Pecan Filling
- Beat together the egg, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla, and salt until just smooth.
- Place half of the pecans in the pastry-lined mini-muffin molds.
- Add the egg mixture and top with the remaining pecans.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until filling is set. Cool before removing from pan.
