Freshly Baked Pecan Pie Muffins
These pecan pie muffins combine the buttery, caramel-like filling of a classic pecan pie with the soft, tender texture of a freshly baked muffin. They’re especially delicious warm from the oven, when the centers are gooey and the toasted pecans are fragrant.
Ingredients
For the muffins
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- ¾ cup chopped pecans
For the pecan pie filling
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup corn syrup or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or lightly grease it. - Mix the dry ingredients.
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. - Mix the wet ingredients.
In another bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, and milk until smooth. - Combine.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir just until combined. Don’t overmix—the batter should remain slightly thick. - Add the pecans.
Fold in the chopped pecans. - Make the pecan filling.
Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup or maple syrup, melted butter, egg, vanilla, salt, and chopped pecans. - Fill the muffin cups.
Add a spoonful of muffin batter to each cup. Place a small spoonful of the pecan filling in the center, then cover with another spoonful of batter. Don’t fill the cups more than about ¾ full. - Bake.
Bake for approximately 18–23 minutes, until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the muffin portion comes out mostly clean. - Cool briefly.
Let the muffins rest in the pan for about 5–10 minutes before transferring them to a rack.
The best part
Serve them warm, preferably with a little butter or a drizzle of maple syrup. The combination of soft muffin, gooey brown-sugar pecan center, and crunchy toasted pecans makes them taste remarkably like a miniature pecan pie.
Tip: Toast the pecans for a few minutes before adding them. It intensifies their flavor and makes the muffins even more fragrant.
