Mini Pecan Pies

 MINI PECAN PIES
Printable Recipe

Pie Crust 

• 6 oz cream cheese 
• 1 cup butter, softened 
• 2 cups flour 

 Pie Filling

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla 
• 1 3/4 cups pecans, chopped 

(Preheat oven to 325 degrees & grease 24 tart tins or muffin cups and set aside).

Making Crust

1. In a medium mixing bowl cream together cream cheese & 1 cup butter until light & fluffy. Blend in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, forming a smooth dough.

 

2.  Roll into 30 equal balls & press one into each greased tin so it lines the 

bottom & sides, like a pie crust. 

3. Or you can roll out the crust & use a cutter or cup to cut out circles.

Make Filling 

1. In a medium mixing bowl cream together 1/4 cup butter & sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs & vanilla until thoroughly blended.

2. Chop pecans into small-medium pieces.

 

3. Fill each lined tin 3/4ths full. Mixture will rise as it bakes.

4. Top each pie with a spoonful of chopped pecans & sprinkle some brown sugar on top. 

5. Bake for 25 minutes at 325, or until lightly browned. Let cool in tins, then use the end of a table knife to flip each tart out of its tin. 

Plate Finished Product 

STORY BEHIND THE DISH

I love baking for the holidays & pecan pies are my Mom's favorite! I personally have never been a huge fan of pecan pies but there tiny treats are amazing. This is no skinny dish, but everything is good in modification :) 

MODIFICATIONS

  If you do not like pecans or have a nut allergy, you can always top with brown sugar & rolled oats as you would for a standard apple crisp topping.

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

 PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKES 
Printable Recipe 

• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 large eggs
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin purée, not pie filling 
• Cinnamon cream cheese frosting

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F & place the rack in the middle. 
Line 2 muffin pans with paper liners.

2. Place the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, baking soda, & salt in a large bowl & whisk to break up any lumps; set aside.

2. Place the sugar & measured oil in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle or whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until the sugar is incorporated, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer & scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

3. Return the mixer to medium speed, add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, about 1 1/2 minutes total mixing time. Reduce the speed to medium low, add the pumpkin, & beat until just combined, about 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

4. Turn the mixer to low speed, slowly add the flour mixture, & beat until almost completely incorporated, about 1 minute. Remove the bowl from the mixer and fold in any unincorporated flour at the edges with a spatula, making sure to scrape to the bottom of the bowl.

5. Fill the muffin wells three-quarters of the way (about a 1/4 cup). Place the muffin pans side by side in the oven and bake for 12 minutes. Rotate the pans front to back and side to side & bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean, about 10 minutes more.

6. Remove the cupcakes & let them cool.

7. Frost when cool with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting, 

use a bag to pipe or just spread with a knife.

Plate Finished Product

8. Decorate with No-Cook Fondant or sprinkles. 

STORY BEHIND THE DISH

I love baking for the holidays & the fall is a great time to work the oven on overtime. I have made many different sweet treats around Halloween, but these tasty things are delicious! 

MODIFICATIONS

  The cake recipe should not be modified to stay true to a spice cake, but the frosting & the decorations can be modified to fit taste & creativity.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Printable Recipe

 

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

4 cups confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese & butter until fluffy. 

2. Add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla & cinnamon.

3. Beat until smooth. 

Plate Finished Product

4. Frost cupcakes. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 2 dozen.

STORY BEHIND THE DISH

Cream cheese frosting is always a hit, but adding cinnamon is a great twist to spice up a traditional frosting.

MODIFICATIONS

  You can add food coloring or other flavors to this frosting. If cinnamon is not your thing you can just remove it from the recipe.

Easy No-Cook Fondant

EASY NO-COOK FONDANT

Printable Recipe

 

•  1/3 cup softened butter
• 1/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 lb sifted powdered sugar

1. In a large mixing bowl, blend together butter, corn syrup, vanilla & salt on medium speed with a paddle attachment until smooth & well-combined. To flavor, add extracts or oils during this step.

 

2. Add the powdered sugar all at once, & mix on slow speed, gradually increasing speed to medium until well-combined. The mixture should gather together in the bottom of the bowl & be smooth to the touch.

3. The fondant can now be rolled into balls to use immediately or stored for later use. Store in a cool dry place, wrapped tightly & placed in an airtight container.

4. To color, knead a small amount of your desired food coloring into the ball of fondant & work with hands until thoroughly combined.

5. Roll fondant out to a thin sheet on a thin cutting board or wax paper 

& cut with cookie cutters.

6. When pieces are cut, use a food safe paint brush with some edible glitter or frosting to decorate.

STORY BEHIND THE DISH

I love to decorate & be creative when I bake, but I have not been a huge fan of fondant, the process can be messy & time consuming. This no-cook recipe is a great way to be playful & original with your baking creations. 

MODIFICATIONS

  You can add any flavor or color to this recipe. Also use any type of design & technique.