Southern Pecan Pie Muffins
These Southern Pecan Pie muffins have only 5 ingredients and taste just like a pecan pie in muffin form! A sweet treat that everyone absolutely loves!
THESE AREN’T YOUR AVERAGE MUFFINS!
What happens you can take the flavors of a pecan pie and put them into a muffin? Magic. Magic happens. I love pecans in general but you go and put them into something sweet and I am in heaven. And these Southern Pecan Pie Muffins are deceptively easy but outta this world good.
CAN I USE OTHER TYPES OF NUTS?
Of course! This will work with pretty much any kind of nut – walnut or macadamia nuts are good substitutions. They truly taste like a pecan pie that has been made into a muffin. Now, these are more like dessert muffins and not so much like breakfast muffins. They don’t rise up high. They are slightly dense and taste wonderful warm or at room temperature. Make them. Eat them. You won’t regret you did!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- all-purpose flour
- light brown sugar
- pecans
- eggs
- butter (not margarine)
HOW TO MAKE SOUTHERN PECAN PIE MUFFINS:
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Place 9 cupcake paper liners into regular muffin pan and spray each of the liners with nonstick cooking spray. In a bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and pecans until mixed well.
In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until foamy.
And then add melted butter. Stir well. Combine the egg mixture with the flour mixture.
Stir until moistened.
Spoon the batter into the cups. You will need to fill them to almost full. There is no leavening agent (like baking powder or baking soda) in these to make them rise real high.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes (it took closer to the 25 minute mark in my oven.) Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Optional: About 15 minutes into the cooking time, take them out and sprinkle the top with chopped pecans OR place a pecan half on the top. This makes for a nice topping and lets everyone know exactly what is in this muffin.
You can also make these into mini-muffins. Just decrease the cooking time by about 5 minutes or so. Also, these seem to bake up best in metal pans, not stoneware baking pans.
CRAVING MORE? GIVE THESE RECIPES A TRY!
Originally published: September 2013
Updated & republished: July 2019
Southern Pecan Pie Muffins
Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 large eggs
- 11 Tablespoons butter (about 1 1/3 sticks) melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Place 9 cupcake paper liners into regular muffin pan and spray each of the liners with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and pecans until mixed well.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until foamy and then add melted butter. Stir well.
- Combine the egg mixture with the flour mixture. Stir until moistened.
- Spoon the batter into the muffin cups. You will need to fill them to almost full. There is no leavening agent (like baking powder or baking soda) in these so they won't rise up at all.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes (it took closer to the 25 minute mark in my oven.) Optional: Around the 15 minute mark, pull them out and sprinkle with chopped pecans or place one pecan half on each one, then put them back into the oven to finish baking. (This is just for aesthetics and not necessary).
- Bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Video
Notes
- You can also make these into mini-muffins. Just decrease the cooking time by about 5 minutes or so.
- I almost hesitate calling these muffins since they don’t have a typical muffin texture and don’t rise high like a muffin. They are a bit more dense and have an amazing pecan pie texture that just happens to be in the shape of a muffin.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Just made these, and they are fabulous. Thank you for such an easy delicious recipe.
Thank you so much Diane for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Love these muffins, my husband said they were the best muffins he ever had
I just made these and they are amazing!!!! I sell Pampered Chef and I used my mini bite brownie pan with no paper, just sprayed with Pam, and they popped right out. They are so yummy!!!
I cooked these for 25 minutes and the middle was very soft, almost raw. Is this the way they’re supposed to be? They tasted wonderful!,
Yes
I’ve seen I can buy cooking sprays from Amazon here in Italy, but they cost between €10 and €20 a can (!). In any case, I haven’t seen any with flour in them, as some people have recommended. I can’t decide whether to buy some, but if I do, would a “plain” oil one be OK?
Donna, a plain one would be okay. Do you have any of those little natural oil pump spritzers there? The kind where you add oil to the container, then pump air into it and then it will spritz for you? I mean, if all else fails, I guess you could just gently wipe a light oil inside each muffin with your finger.
Hi! I live in Italy, and we don’t have cooking spray over here, although I believe I saw an olive oil spray once (which wouldn’t be good). There’s definitely no Crisco; in fact, we don’t “grease” baking pans and cookie sheets: we *butter* them.
Anyway, my question is, what will happen if I don’t spray the paper liners? Will the muffins stick and break apart when we try to peel off the paper?
Hi Donna – yes they will. 🙂
It is critical that you spray the inside of the paper cups. These wonderful muffin bd, made big or mini, will definitely stick to the cups & when you try to remove the muffin will turn to large crumbs.
Can they be made using an alternative flour? Gluten Free diet.
Hi Penny! I have no experience at all with other types of flours. I’m so sorry! Maybe some others on here can let you know if they’ve tried it with gluten free alternatives. If you try it yourself, I’d love to know how it turned out for you! 🙂
One of the BEST recipes ever! Thank you so much. I almost like it better than my beloved pecan tarts that inspired this search. I did need to take about 35 minutes in the oven, but just kept checking with the tooth pick. So no biggie. They turned out perfect.
Woo hoo! Yay Brooke – I absolutely love hearing that! They are kind of addictive – ha! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
I wonder how they would be using self rising flour
Can I make 6 jumbo muffins for this and if so, how should I adjust temperature and cook time?
Thank you,
Joelle
These muffins are awesome I have made them for brunch and my whole family loves them I am making them as a dessert today for Christmas dinner. Yummy!!
Replacement for real butter? Unsalted and add salt? Do you have to use liners?
These are very delicious ! Can’t eat more than 2, as they have soo much butter. My co-workers also thought they were delicious. I would make them again, but try to figure out a less buttery version. Just too much butter for me
Can I double the recipe ? Trying these for the first time tomorrow
This is an excellent recipe for anyone on a low sodium diet. (Levening agents, baking soda and baking powder are incredibly high in sodium.). The taste and texture is wonderful!
Can these be frozen?
Is it only 1/2 cup of flour? Can I add baking powder? They sound delicious!
I made this for my husband. He loved them. Now I have to make 50 for his coworkers. Lol. I love the 5 ingredients!!
The video shows you add salt, but the written recipe does not. Should salt be added?
Does anyone know how I can adjust this recipe for high altitude baking? There are so many different “tips” and suggestions for altering recipes at high altitude but it’s hard to tell which tips would be best for this recipe. I live in Denver and don’t want to waste these ingredients and have muffin bricks but I’m definitely craving these Muffins! 🙂
Awesome! They were so easy to make and everyone loved them… thanks!
So glad they were a hit!
Made them tonight Loved them. Will be making them again.
So glad you enjoyed them 🙂
OMG! These are so wonderful. My husband loves pecan pie, and he loved these. He told me to add this recipe to my favorites. So easy and fast to make. Thank you!
You are so sweet to come back and let me know Brenda! I am not even kidding when I say I could make these every. single. week. Ha!
Just double checking, only a half cup of flour, is that correct? sounds like a great muffin. Thanks.
I made these today. They were SO easy and tasted awesome. I have a question, though. I used the muffin paper liners and sprayed them and baked like instructed. When I took them out there was a lot of butter in the bottom of each tin. Also, they stuck to the paper liners. I'm hoping they loosen up after they cool. Did I do something wrong?
Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much for this recipe. I made them and took them to work and everyone loved them!
These are amazing! Making them for Christmas brunch, but sure that won't be the last time!
My favorite muffin!! I have used these in my catering for years!! Always asked for the recipe.
These are the BOMB ! My grandbabies LOVE these
Did you use the liners? Any problems with sticking? I'm making 3 batches of these tomorrow. 🙂
These are the BOMB !
Do you have to use the liners? Thanks, Keri
I baked these tonight to go along with our White Chicken Chili—both new recipes…..and both keepers! The muffins were a delicious sweet addition alongside the spicy chili. My only issue was that they stuck pretty badly in the muffin liners even though I did spray them with Baker's Joy. I think next time I will skip the liners and just spray the pan.
I had the same problem. They must be eaten while warm or the paper would not budge off the muffin. I was thinking maybe a silicone pan would work. I love the taste.
Sending this in the Thanksgiving Box to my pecan pie loving son @ law school. Thanks!
gonna try this for thanksgiving….. always have to bring pecan pies, maybe they'll like these also
I made these and they were delicious…just like pecan pie! Thank you 🙂
i love your site and recipes. I wonder, could I use the large Texas size muffin tins. Would temp or time need modified? Since these are sweet, dense, and nutty, it lends me to want vanilla bean ice cream on top of one split into quarters in a bowl. Just thinkin'……..
I regularly have a Texas banana nut muffin this way with ice creame and a whole banana sliced on it for breakfast.
Brandi…I love your recipes…Pecan pie is my second fav pie…banana cream is my first…I am going to try your banana pudding cheesecake…I'm sitting here drooling! Bet you could join an apple muffin with this and it'd be great…
Thank you for letting me know! I'm working on it!
I've made these for years. It's definitely a FAV for the holidays. So easy too. I've taken them to many parties, and have been asked to take them to other parties! =) SO delish…I agree, it's hard to imagine there's only 5 ingredients. Yours look great and your tutorial is beautiful, as always.
Thank you for this amazing recipe and all the other recipes you post! You are just wonderful and so is your site. These muffins are soooo good and I doubled the recipe so I could share with my Dad and a new neighbor. I love how you answer comments and questions on here and keep in touch with everyone. Well done Brandie!! Marylou from Wyoming
Marylou, what a sweet comment! Thank you so very much! I can't always promise I'll answer right away but I do try to get back to everyone as quick as possible. Your comment made my day – thank you!
My girls love pecan pie, and I like the flavor but not the texture…this sounds like the perfect compromise!
I love these and make them all the time. I make them for friends too, they rave about them. ♥
I have everything in the pantry but pecans. I might try to hold out until I get some or try it with walnuts. Thanks! 🙂
Karen, I love pecans and walnuts so for me, either one would work 🙂
I absolutely love these muffins. They are delicious. I made them a few weeks ago.
I totally believe that these 5 ingredients can make some yummy muffins!
I love the recipes but I have a question? Is there a chance you could have a picture in the Printable recipe put in? Sometimes, what I make is what the picture looks like that determines what I make. If it looks appetizing, then I am more apt to make it than not. It is just a thought. I can't wait to try this one for sure!
Thank you for the input Norma! I am looking into changing different printable recipe formats and programs. I will definitely keep your comment in mind if I make a switch to a different print program. 🙂
AND the recipe box too, please! Thank you!
Can you make this in a bundt pan?
I haven't tried it. It should work but I think you'd just have to be careful about the cooking time.
Pecan pie in muffin form?! Love it!