Mini Pecan Pies

Everything you love about pecan pie packed into a few small bites!  I took my basic pie crust recipe, rolled it out and cut 1/2" circles from the dough.  I then put each circle into an ungreased mini muffin pan, spreading the dough up the sides as much as possible.  For the filling I also used a basic recipe, just your regular old pecan pie filling recipe and filled each little pie crust with 2 tablespoons.  They baked in the oven for about 25 mins until the tops were slightly golden brown.  I let them cool for a few minutes in the pan then removed them with a spoon and placed each one into a mini muffin paper for easy serving.  I chose to make mini pecan pies rather than a larger traditional pie because I was shipping them to my family in New York.  I needed to make desserts that were easily transported and these were a perfect idea!  The result was very much like your normal pecan pie; a crunchy, nutty exterior with a gooey, sweet interior.  Simply delicious!  I like to call these "dessert hor dourves" because they are easily passed out to guests and consumed without the use of utensils.  They are a perfect dinner party dessert and easy as pie to make!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 Pie Crust- store bought or homemade 

Filling:

2 cups light brown sugar

1 egg

2 tsps vanilla extract

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup light corn syrup

6 tbsps butter, softened

2 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• In the bowl of a stand mixer combine sugar, egg, vanilla, salt, corn syrup and softened butter.
• Stir in chopped pecans.  Set aside while rolling out the pie crust dough.
• Roll out pie crust to about 1/4" thickness.
• Using a 1/2" round biscuit cutter, cut out as many rounds as possible.  Continue to re-roll out dough and cut out rounds until you have used all of the dough.
• Place rounds into an ungreased muffin tin and push dough up the sides as much as possible.
• Take 2 tbsps of your pecan filling mixture and place on top of the dough.
• Bake for about 25 mins or until the tops of the pies are light golden brown.
• Let cool for a few minutes before removing from the pan.
• Place into mini muffin papers (optional) and serve!
• Top with whipped cream if desired!
• Enjoy!!!