Description
These muffins taste like mini pecan pies — buttery, rich, gooey centers with a slightly crisp top. No crust needed! Perfect for holidays or sweet cravings.
⏱ Time
Prep: 10 minutes
Bake: 20–25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
🍽 Servings
12 muffins
🛒 Ingredients
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1 cup chopped pecans
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1 cup brown sugar (packed)
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½ cup all-purpose flour
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2 large eggs
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½ cup melted butter
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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Pinch of salt
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2️⃣ Grease muffin tin well (very important).
3️⃣ Mix brown sugar + flour + salt.
4️⃣ Stir in pecans.
5️⃣ In another bowl, whisk eggs + melted butter + vanilla.
6️⃣ Combine wet and dry ingredients.
7️⃣ Fill muffin cups about ¾ full.
8️⃣ Bake 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
9️⃣ Cool 10 minutes before removing.
🍯 Texture Tip
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Slightly underbake for gooey center.
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Bake full time for more cake-like texture.
📊 Approx Nutrition (Per Muffin)
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Calories: 240–260
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Carbs: 22g
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Fat: 18g
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Protein: 3–4g
🔢 Estimated WW Points (Per Muffin)
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Blue: 9–11 points
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Green: 10–12 points
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Purple: 9–11 points
(Pecans + butter increase points.)
💡 Lighter Version Ideas
✔ Use light butter
✔ Reduce sugar to ¾ cup
✔ Replace half butter with unsweetened applesauce
✔ Make mini muffins (portion control)
🧊 Storage
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Room temp: 2–3 days
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Fridge: 5 days
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Freezer: 2 months
Why They Taste Like Pecan Pie (Food Science)
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Brown sugar → creates that caramel-like, gooey center
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Butter + eggs → make a custard-style filling texture
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Very little flour → keeps them dense and rich (not fluffy like cake)
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Pecans → add crunch + natural oils for that classic pie flavor
That’s why they feel more like mini pecan pies without crust.
🔥 Texture Control Guide
Gooey center (pie-like):
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Bake 18–20 minutes
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Center should slightly jiggle
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Cool completely before removing
Cake-like texture:
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Bake 23–25 minutes
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Add 1–2 extra tablespoons flour
Extra crunchy top:
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Sprinkle chopped pecans + 1 tsp sugar before baking
🍁 Flavor Variations
🥃 Bourbon Pecan – Add 1 tbsp bourbon
🍫 Chocolate Chip – Add ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
🍯 Maple Pecan – Replace 2 tbsp sugar with maple syrup
🥥 Coconut Pecan – Add ¼ cup shredded coconut
🍂 Pumpkin Spice Version – Add ½ tsp cinnamon + pinch nutmeg
💪 Make Them Healthier
✔ Reduce sugar to ¾ cup
✔ Replace half butter with unsweetened applesauce
✔ Use coconut sugar
✔ Make mini muffins for portion control
✔ Add 1 tbsp chia seeds for fiber
You can reduce calories by about 40–60 per muffin with swaps.
📦 Storage & Make-Ahead
Room temp: 2–3 days (airtight)
Fridge: 5–6 days
Freezer: Up to 2 months
To reheat:
Microwave 10–15 seconds for gooey center again 🔥
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Not greasing pan well (they stick easily)
❌ Overmixing
❌ Overbaking (they dry out fast)
❌ Removing too early from pan
Tip: Let them cool 10–15 minutes before removing.
📊 Lower-Calorie Version (Example)
Using:
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¾ cup sugar
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¼ cup light butter + ¼ cup applesauce
Approx per muffin:
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Calories: 180–200
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WW: ~6–8 points