Friday, October 9, 2009

Pecan Pie Bites

If only pecan pie bites could actually make me feel better! They're delicious but they are no cure for a cold. I probably shouldn't have made these but at least I wasn't as sick as I am now. Who knows, maybe it was the darn pecan pie bites with all their butter and sugar that weakened my immune system and actually caused my sickness. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it was sweets that got me feeling so bad. I made these for a funeral. There was about a million other desserts that were made for this shindig too and I basically ate sweets all day. Thursday was national dessert day, so I justified my sweet tooth by saying I celebrated a day early. The funeral was pretty sad, I felt a tad bit awkward because I didn't really know the dearly departed. I just felt sad for my brothers and sister, it was their dad. Confusing? Oh well.

Since then my sickness has only progressed. When I decided to stay home (again) from school today, I was considering that maybe I'd be able to make this Texas Jalapeno Cranberry Bread I've been dying to make since I saw it on the Cookie Madness blog. After just getting up to go to the bathroom, I don't think I'll be doing much today. I basically feel like death. Well, I'm stationed to my couch, still watching the Early Show that has been on since fricken 7:00 am, waiting for Alton Brown to finally come on. I love him and I will wait the 3 hours it takes for this stupid show to feature him!!



Pecan Pie Bites

makes 40 - 45 tartlets

For the Crust:
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

For the Filling:
6 oz. pecan halves
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
2 tbsp. bourbon
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
untoasted pecan halves
sea salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare mini muffin pan (I brushed it with safflower oil).
Cream 2 sticks butter and brown sugar for the crust in a bowl until blended.
Add the flour and salt; mix until sandy (the dough will seem dry)
Press 1 tbsp. dough into each well of the muffin tin, shaping it up the sides.
Prebake for 8 minutes or until lightly golden around the edges.
Remove the shells from the oven and pat the bottoms down with fingers or a spoon. Set aside
Toast 6 0z. pecan halves and chop or crush. Set aside.
Whisk sugar, brown sugar, eggs, syrup, butter, bourbon, vanilla, salt, and crushed pecans together in a bowl.
Pour 1 tbsp. filling into each shell.
Top each tartlet with a pecan half.
Bake for 15 minutes or until set and crust is browned.
Sprinkle with a bit of salt, then let cool in pan for 15 minutes. Remove.

  • The only issue I had with this recipe was crushing the pecans. Next time I would just buy crushed pecans instead of ending up with uneven chucks of nuts in the tarts. Also, I think you could easily sub whole wheat flour for the all-purpose in this recipe because instead of a softer crust, you'd end up with a crispier, denser one. It would also add a nutty dimension of flavor! I'll have to try it.

2 comments:

  1. Yummm. I need these. Pecan pie is my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Laura,

    Thank You for entering the Bake Up Summer Sweets Contest. I hope you are given the opportunity to own a new KitchenAid mixer so you can whip up your orange tartlets recipe with ease.
    Thank You and Good Luck!
    The Beso Team
    http://www.beso.com/style-director-contest/bake-up-summer-sweets

    ReplyDelete