Description
Southern mini pecan pies blend classic Southern hospitality with sweet, nutty charm. Crunchy pecans nestled in buttery crusts promise a delightful dessert experience that leaves you craving more.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¾ cup (105 g) chopped pecans
- ¼ cup corn syrup (light or dark)
- 1 ¼ cups (156 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (113 g or 1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2–3 tbsps ice water
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pastry Creation: Blend flour and salt, then incorporate cold butter using a pastry cutter until the mixture achieves a sandy, crumbly consistency.
- Dough Formation: Add ice water gradually, kneading until the dough forms a cohesive ball. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes to enhance texture and manageability.
- Preparation and Shaping: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Roll out chilled dough to a thin 1/8-inch thickness, then cut circular shapes and delicately press into mini muffin tin cavities, forming elegant pie shells.
- Filling Development: Whisk brown sugar, corn syrup, egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl until smooth and homogeneous. Gently fold in chopped pecans, ensuring even distribution of nutty elements.
- Baking Process: Fill pie shells three-quarters full with pecan mixture, avoiding potential overflow. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the crust turns golden and the filling sets.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow mini pies to rest in the tin for 10 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before presenting these delectable treats.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Control: Keep butter extremely cold when making pastry to ensure flaky, tender crust texture. Freeze butter for 15 minutes before cutting into flour for optimal results.
- Precise Dough Handling: Avoid overworking pastry dough to prevent tough, dense crust. Mix just until ingredients combine, stopping when dough holds together.
- Filling Consistency Check: Ensure filling reaches smooth, glossy state before adding pecans. Whisk ingredients thoroughly to prevent lumpy or separated mixture.
- Strategic Filling Technique: Use a small ladle or spoon to fill pie shells, stopping at three-quarters to prevent messy overflow during baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 211
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg