Last December, I was planning our holiday cookie exchange and wanted something impressive but manageable to make in bulk. My neighbor mentioned pecan tassies those adorable bite-size pecan tarts she'd been making for thirty years. Four hours later, I had trays of golden, buttery mini pecan pies that disappeared faster than any other cookies at the exchange, with three people asking for the recipe before the party even ended.
The cream cheese pastry cups combined with sweet pecan filling creates the most elegant southern pecan desserts that taste like individual pecan pies without the work. Whether you need holiday cookie tray recipes or want impressive pecan tartlets recipe for special occasions, these traditional southern tassies deliver bakery-quality results with surprisingly simple technique.
Why You'll Love This Pecan Tassies
These mini pecan pies have rescued countless holiday gatherings when I needed desserts that looked impressive and tasted amazing without requiring me to make full-sized pies that serve eight people when I need portions for twenty-five guests at cookie exchanges, potlucks, or family parties. The bite-size pecan tarts format means guests can try multiple desserts without committing to large slices, making them perfect for events where variety matters more than quantity of any single item. I love that this philadelphia cream cheese pecan tassies recipe uses a simple cream cheese pastry that's more forgiving than traditional pie dough.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Pecan Tassies
- Ingredients You'll Need For Pecan Tassies
- How To Make Pecan Tassies Step By Step
- Smart Swaps for Your Pecan Tassies
- Pecan Tassies Variations
- Equipment For Pecan Tassies
- Storing Your Pecan Tassies
- Top Tip
- Why This Recipe Works
- FAQ
- Holiday Baking Perfected!
- Related
- Pairing
- Pecan Tassies
Ingredients You'll Need For Pecan Tassies
See Recipe Card Below This Post For Ingredient Quantities
For the Cream Cheese Pastry:
- Cream cheese, softened
- (1 stick) butter, softened
- All-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt
For the Pecan Filling:
- Packed brown sugar
- Egg
- Butter, melted
- Vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Chopped pecans
- Pecan halves for topping
Optional Add-ins:
- Orange zest
- Mini chocolate chips
- Bourbon
- Cinnamon
How To Make Pecan Tassies Step By Step
Make the Cream Cheese Pastry:
In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy with no lumps – about 2 minutes with an electric mixer. Add flour and salt, mixing on low speed just until dough comes together and no dry flour remains visible. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky, which is correct. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days – chilling makes the dough easier to handle and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
Shape the Pastry Cups:
Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin or spray with baking spray. Divide chilled dough into 24 equal portions (roughly 1 tablespoon each) and roll into balls. Press each ball into a muffin cup, using your thumb or fingers to press dough up the sides creating a cup shape with thin, even walls – you want the dough to reach the top edge of the cup. Work carefully to avoid thick bottoms and thin tops which create uneven baking. If dough becomes too soft and sticky while working, refrigerate the pan for 10 minutes.
Make the Pecan Filling:
In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla, and salt until smooth and well combined – no sugar lumps should remain. Stir in chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout the filling mixture. The filling will be thick and syrupy, coating the pecans completely.
Fill and Bake:
Spoon about 1 tablespoon of pecan filling into each pastry cup, filling almost to the top – the filling will puff slightly during baking but won't overflow if properly portioned. Top each tassie with a pecan half pressed gently into the filling for classic presentation. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is set with a slight jiggle in the center – it will firm up completely as it cools. Don't overbake or the filling becomes hard rather than chewy.
Cool and Remove:
Let tassies cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes until firm enough to handle without falling apart. Use a small offset spatula or butter knife to carefully lift each tassie out of the pan – they should release easily if properly greased. If any stick, run a knife around the edges to loosen. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing. The filling will be very hot initially and needs cooling time to set properly into that characteristic chewy texture.
Smart Swaps for Your Pecan Tassies
Different Nuts:
- Walnuts → Pecans (similar but different flavor)
- Mixed nuts → All pecans (variety)
- Pecans + chocolate chips → Plain pecans (chocolate pecan tassies)
- Almonds → Pecans (more delicate)
Pastry Variations:
- Regular pie dough → Cream cheese pastry (less forgiving)
- Puff pastry squares → Cream cheese (flakier, different texture)
- Graham cracker crust → Pastry (no-bake option)
Sweetener Options:
- Dark brown sugar → Light brown (more molasses)
- White sugar → Brown sugar (less molasses flavor)
- Maple syrup → Brown sugar (different character)
- Honey → Brown sugar (floral notes)
Pecan Tassies Variations
Chocolate Pecan:
- Add mini chocolate chips to filling
- Drizzle with melted chocolate
- Double chocolate option
- Decadent upgrade
Bourbon Pecan:
- 1 tablespoon bourbon in filling
- Vanilla bourbon if preferred
- Southern classic
- Adult party favorite
Salted Caramel:
- Flaky sea salt on top
- Extra butter in filling
- Sweet-salty perfection
- Modern twist
Maple Pecan:
- Replace half brown sugar with maple syrup
- Maple extract instead of vanilla
- Fall flavors
- Vermont-inspired
Equipment For Pecan Tassies
- 24-cup mini muffin tin
- Electric mixer (or strong arm)
- Small offset spatula for removal
- Wire cooling rack
- Mixing bowls
Storing Your Pecan Tassies
Room Temperature (3-4 days):
- Store in airtight container
- Separate layers with parchment
- Keep away from moisture
- Best texture at room temp
Refrigerator (1 week):
- Airtight container essential
- Bring to room temp before serving
- Pastry may get slightly soft
- Still delicious
Freezer (3 months):
- Freeze in single layer, then bag
- Thaw at room temperature
- Quality maintained perfectly
- Make ahead for holidays
Top Tip
- Make sure cream cheese and butter are truly room temperature before mixing – cold ingredients won't incorporate smoothly and create lumpy dough. Press pastry cups with thin, even walls rather than thick bottoms which create uneven baking and doughy centers. Don't overfill – use about 1 tablespoon filling per cup, filling almost to the top but not overflowing. Let tassies cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before attempting to remove them or they'll fall apart, but don't wait until completely cool or the filling sticks to the pan.
Why This Recipe Works
These pecan tassies succeed because the cream cheese pastry creates tender, flaky cups that stay crisp even when filled with moist pecan mixture, unlike traditional pie dough which often becomes soggy in small portions exposed to filling for extended periods. The cream cheese adds tang that balances the sweet filling while the fat content creates tender texture without requiring the careful handling and rolling that makes pie dough intimidating for many home bakers.
The mini muffin tin format eliminates structural challenges of full-sized pies where filling can overflow or crust can shrink away from edges. The small portion size means each tassie bakes quickly and evenly, and the high ratio of crust to filling creates better texture balance than large pies where thick filling layers can be cloying. The individual portions also mean you don't need to worry about neat slicing or serving logistics.
FAQ
How long can you keep pecan tassies?
Pecan tassies keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days, refrigerated for up to 1 week, or frozen for 3 months. Room temperature storage maintains the best texture with crisp pastry and chewy filling. Refrigerated tassies should be brought to room temperature before serving for optimal texture and flavor.
How to keep pecan tassies from sticking?
Prevent sticking by thoroughly greasing mini muffin tins with butter or baking spray before adding dough. Let tassies cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes until firm but still slightly warm before removing. Use a small offset spatula or butter knife to gently lift each one out, running it around the edges if needed. Properly greased pans and correct cooling time prevent most sticking issues.
Can you freeze pecan tassies in the freezer?
Yes, pecan tassies freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Freeze baked tassies in a single layer until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw at room temperature for 2-3 hours before serving. You can also freeze unbaked filled tassies and bake from frozen, adding 5 minutes to baking time.
Can you freeze tea time tassies?
Yes, tea time tassies (another name for pecan tassies) freeze excellently. Follow the same method as above – freeze in single layer, then bag. They maintain quality for 3 months frozen. Thaw at room temperature and they'll taste freshly baked. This makes them perfect for holiday advance preparation.
Holiday Baking Perfected!
Now you have all the secrets to creating these incredible pecan tassies that prove holiday baking can be elegant, impressive, and genuinely enjoyable without requiring you to possess professional pastry skills, spend entire weekends in the kitchen, or stress yourself into exhaustion trying to achieve Pinterest-perfect results that may not even taste good despite looking beautiful. From the hidden chocolate chip surprise that elevates these from "nice" to "best I've ever had" to the molasses substitution that saves last-minute trips to the store, this recipe shows that simple techniques executed properly with quality ingredients beat elaborate preparations attempted hastily without proper understanding every single time.
Elevate your holiday cookie tray with treats that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Our Healthy Tiramisu Cookies Recipe In 30 Minutes offer timeless elegance with their golden, buttery perfection, while Best Lemon Cheesecake Recipe bring a playful burst of jam-filled sweetness that’s always a crowd favorite. For a nutty, indulgent option, our Healthy Apple Pie Recipe In 30 Minutes a rich, gooey filling atop a tender crust, making them easy to share and impossible to resist. Together, these treats create a festive spread that will delight every guest and make your holiday gatherings truly unforgettable.
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Pairing
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Pecan Tassies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add flour and salt, mix to form dough, then chill 1 hour.
- Preheat oven. Divide dough into 24 portions, roll into balls, and press into mini muffin cups. Chill if soft.
- Whisk brown sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla, and salt. Stir in chopped pecans.
- Spoon filling into pastry cups, top with pecan halves, and bake 20–25 minutes until golden and set.
- Cool in the pan, remove carefully, transfer to wire rack to cool completely before serving.
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