Mini Pecan Pie Bites!!

When my sister and her husband came out for Thanksgiving, he referred to pecan pie as puh-kahn pie.  Jessica and I both jumped on that quickly and said....no, no....it's pee-can pie.  

Flash back a couple of weeks...I was at my parent's house reading through their "Our State" magazine and saw the most genius idea and recipe I think I've ever seen.  Pecan pie BITES. Miniature pecan pies!!

I made them this week and they are not only insanely delicious....they are insanely easy to make.  My only regret is that I didn't double the recipe.  (Next time....next week.)

Here is the recipe from the magazine written beautifully by chef Lynn Wells.

Yield: 2 dozen.

3 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Combine cream cheese, ½ cup butter, and flour in mixing bowl; mix well. Cover dough and chill 1 hour. Roll dough onto floured surface. Cut into 3-inch rounds and place in small muffin tins, pressing dough about ½ way up the sides. 

In a bowl, combine brown sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, egg, and vanilla; mix well. Spoon sugar mixture into each muffin cup and sprinkle with pecans. Bake at 325° for 20 to 30 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

We had planned to take these treats to our neighbors, but that plate ^ was emptied ridiculously fast.  So we'll be making these again to actually give out.

The cutest little baker ever.