Pecan Pie Cookies
With a flaky crust and sweet nutty pecan filling Pecan Pie Cookies are like tiny pies, but bite-sized and easy to make!
This post is sponsored in conjunction with 2020 #ChristmasCookies Week. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of these recipes. All opinions are mine.
I love the Pecan Pie Cookies featured today–and they always take me back to my first real job. Yes, your first grown-up job is always special. You get some real responsibilities, start to support yourself and no one checks to make sure you didn’t oversleep!
But for me, it was special in a surprising way. Whenever we had celebratory food days (especially at Christmas), people didn’t go the grocery for a deli tray, they made something unique. As a result, I came away with a ton of great recipes! Including these Pecan Pie Cookies.
It was a fringe I never expected. I still remember tasting the cookies, like little pecan pies—and how much I loved them! But I figured they had to be hard to make. In my 23-year-old brain, pie was hard, and these were beautifully flakey like pie, so…
I asked for the recipe anyway and was amazed. You simply mix up the crust ingredients any old way and press into mini-muffin cups. How easy is that!
And when I tried them, success was truly that simple.
I guess it’s only fair that some parts of grownup-ing are easy! They’ve been a tradition ever since.
Now, the pecans in this recipe came from a family run business called Millican Pecans. I learned of the company for a spring baking promotion and have been buying from them ever since. Halves, ground, pralines, oil, pecan butter… all yum! Yes, I bought so much this summer, they even sent me a thank you note! If this looks like something you’d like to try, check out the giveaway below!
I’m also baking pecan fingers on Friday so stay tuned. Yes, pecans make for the best holidays!

Pecan Pie Cookies
Ingredients
Crust:
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup flour
- 3 ounces cream cheese
Filling:
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 Tablespoon butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Mix crust ingredients and shape into 24 balls. Press each into the cup of a mini-muffin pan, working upwards to form a cup.
- Mix filling ingredients. Put about 1 teaspoon into each cup, filling about ¾ full.
- Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until edge is slightly browned. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Nutrition
Welcome to #ChristmasCookies week where more than 25 bloggers are sharing cookie recipes perfect for your holiday celebrations. Hosted by Ellen from Family Around the Table, Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures and Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks, we invite you to check out all the recipes. Follow along on Pinterest.
Monday Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Amaretti Snowball Cookies by Our Sutton Place
- Bourbon Pecan Snowballs by Leftovers Then Breakfast
- Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Cappuccino Crinkles by West Via Midwest
- Cherry Garlands by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
- Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Books n’ Cooks
- Chocolate Sugar Kisses by An Affair from the Heart
- Christmas Confetti Amaretti Cookies by The Spiffy Cookie
- Christmas Mouse Shortbread Cookies by Palatable Pastime
- Christmas Pinwheel Cookies by Lemon Blossoms
- Cinnamon Chip Holiday Spice Cake Mix Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Cinnamon Pecan Snickerdoodles by Daily Dish Recipes
- Classic Butter Spritz Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies by Frugal & Fit
- Hermit Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Honey Spice Oatmeal Cookies by Family Around the Table
- Melting Snowman Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Pecan Brown Sugar Cookies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pecan Pie Bars by Eat Move Make
- Pecan Pie Cookies by Art of Natural Living
- Peppermint Chocolate Cookies by Swirls of Flavor
- Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Devour Dinner
- Peppermint Patty Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Peppermint Shortbread Cookies by Simply Inspired Meals
- Raspberry Jam Cookies by Making Miracles
- Reindeer Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
- Soft Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles by Jersey Girl Cooks
- Toffee Bars by That Recipe
- White Chocolate Cranberry Crinkle Cookies by Blogghetti
- Lower Sugar Loaded Yogurt Bowl
- Meringue Christmas Trees Two Ways
My favorite pie in a cookie! You can’t go wrong with that! I can’t wait to try them, they look amazing!
Oh yeah! Little bites of pecan pie are DA BOMB! They look scrumptious.
These are like little bites of heaven. Definitely will not last in my house.
I made something similar once, but they looked a mess when done (but tasted great). Will need to use a recipe from an expert (you).
This is so festive, perfect for the coming Christmas season. Definitely will keep this one and make it near that day. Thanks!
I hope you enjoy Raymund!
My guys can’t have tree nuts and this looks like the perfect way that I can try pecan pie and then share the rest with other family!
If you ever want to reduce the size of a pie Jolene, there is a 6 inch anchor hocking pie dish that first pretty much exactly 1/3 of a full pie recipe. That’s how I’m getting my pie variety this year!
My daughter would love these. I think I would like the better than actual pecan pie too.
I still plan to do both but this made me realize that for the big crust lovers, these would be perfect!
We call these tassies. I love your pecan pie version. So right for the holidays!
You know the actual name when I got this was “Nut-filled Cookies” but I wanted it as descriptive as possible for everyone skimming through zillions of internet recipes 🙂
Not sure where you leave a comment about a favorite Christmas cookie for your contest, but mine is a snowball cookie with peppermint candy cane filling and dark chocolate topping.
I plan to make your pecan cookies. Years ago my sister’s in-law made these and I loved them. Have not had them in forever and a day. Can’t wait to make your version and nice story about making them!
That cookie sounds amazing Anne! Hope you enjoy these!
Love this miniature version of pecan pie…less guilt…but still loads of delicious pecan flavor!
Yes, I am trying to NOT gain 4 lbs like last year 😉
My grandma always made cookies like these for the holidays. Sweet childhood memories!
Weren’t those cookie trays wonderful!
My recipe is a little different than yours. I’m anxious to try your version.
I saw that there was another in the list. Always fun to compare!
Pecan Pie has always been my favorite and I can’t wait to try these bite size cookies. So cute and fun.
I’m making both this year! Enough with deprivation!
These are just the cutest little bite sized treats ever – they’d be so perfect on any holiday dessert tray!
Holiday dessert tray–what a beautiful vision Rebekah!
My grandmother used to make these every Christmas. Thanks for the recipe!
Isn’t cookie nostalgia the best?!
I actually have these on my list of Christmas cookies for this year! They look and sound amazing.
Thanks Heather! They really are practical in the year of smaller holidays. Not that that’s going to stop me from making a pecan pie 🙂