Looking for something different to serve this holiday season? How about some Pecan Pie Truffles! Easy to make and reminiscent of the classic pecan pie, these nutty truffles fly off the table faster than you can say “pecan”.
Our readers love fun twists on a classic pecan pie. For example, you can make this layered Pecan Pie Cake or give these delicious Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars a try this holiday season!
Easier than Pecan Pie
How do you feel about Pecan Pie?
Some of my friends say they can’t imagine Thanksgiving without it.
Then I have those folks in my circle who take a hard pass on Pecan Pie and skip straight for the Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie or the Pumpkin Cheesecake.
These truffles, along with being a little different than your typical holiday dessert, are the perfect compromise.
Pecan Pie bar lovers get the nutty crunch and caramelized taste of the traditional pie. Chocolate addicts like me get their fix.
Plus, truffles make a great handheld dessert option! No plates or utensils required.
Ingredient Notes
- Pecans – You’ll need pecans to create the body of the truffle AND extra pecan halves for topping each one. Toast the pecans for best flavor!
- Corn syrup – Karo light corn syrup, along with brown sugar, makes these taste just like everyone’s favorite pecan pie, while helping the nuts hold together.
- Wafer cookies – Nilla wafers or a similar vanilla cookie are perfect
- Candy coating – I use both chocolate melting wafers and vanilla wafers for dipping the truffles to give them some variety. You can use all chocolate or all vanilla if preferred.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1. Make the truffle centers
Pulse the pecans and the cookies in a food processor to form crumbs. Mix the crumbs with the corn syrup, brown sugar and vanilla in a bowl using a spoon.
STEP 2. Freeze
Scoop this filling by the tablespoon on to a parchment lined baking sheet. Use your hands to form each scoopful into a smooth ball shape. Freeze for 30 minutes or until firm.
STEP 3. Dip
Melt the candy wafers in separate bowls. Use a toothpick to dip the frozen truffle centers into the candy coating. I did half of them in the vanilla and half in chocolate.
While the chocolate is still soft, top each truffle with a pecan half (to cover the toothpick hole).
STEP 4. Set
Put the dipped truffles back on the baking sheet and let set until the chocolate is firm! Enjoy immediately or transfer them to an airtight container.
Recipe FAQs
This is normal! Use your hands to press the mixture together as you’re forming the truffle balls. The corn syrup get sticky from the warmth of your hands and help the balls hold together.
I have yet to find any ingredient that works as well as corn syrup, both for mimicking the flavor of classic pecan pie recipes and for holding the truffles together.
Nope! While I like truffles cold, you can definitely keep these at room temperature and they’ll be just fine.
More Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
- Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Pecan Pie Brownies
- Homemade Turtles
- Pecan Pie Bars
- Pecan Pie Bundt Cake
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItPecan Pie Truffles
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups pecans
- 1 cup vanilla wafer cookies
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 10 ounce Ghirardelli white chocolate wafers
- 10 ounce Ghiaradelli dark chocolate wafers
- 40 pecan halves
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse pecans and cookies until fine crumbs. Pour into a large bowl. Add brown sugar, corn syrup and vanilla extract. Mix with a spoon until fully combined.
- Using a one tablespoon scoop, drop scoops onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet (that is freezer safe). Once all scoops have been formed, roll each scoop into a nice smooth ball with your hands. Transfer baking sheet to freezer for about 30 minutes.
- When ready, melt white chocolate and dark chocolate wafers in separate bowls according to package directions.
- Using a toothpick, dip cold truffle into either vanilla or chocolate. Tap on side of bowl to remove excess. Place back on parchment paper, remove toothpick and top with a pecan halve (to cover the toothpick hole). Repeat until all truffles are dipped.
- I like to work in two stages. It’s easier if the truffles remain very cold. So I do half of them while the other half is still in the freezer. Then I work on the second half.Store truffles in an air tight container for up to 10 days. I like them best served cold, but room temperature is delicious too!
Notes
- Crumbly: When making the truffles, the mixture will be crumbly. Use the heat from your hands to bring the truffle together by rolling it between your hands (will get sticky).
- Make ahead: You can keep the truffle centers frozen for a couple of days before dipping in the chocolate. If you’re making the centers ahead of time, transfer them to a container once set to avoid a “freezer burn” taste.
- Work in batches: The chocolate sets up much quicker if the truffle centers are still ice cold from the freezer. I like to work in two batches. Dip half the truffles in the chocolate coating while the other half stays in the freezer. Then repeat with the second batch.
- Toast the Pecans: for best flavor, use our guide on how to toast pecans, prior to assembling!
- Storing: You can store these either in the fridge to enjoy cold OR at room temperature, tightly covered. I love them best cold! Enjoy within a week for best flavor and texture.
- See blog post for more tips and tricks.
Nutrition
I promise that these creative Pecan Pie Truffles will be the talk of the holiday gathering this year! Bite sized desserts don’t get any better than this.
These look delicious!! I found your site on Pinterest! I’d love an invite to your Pinterest board ***Desserts- sweets & treats*** I’d love to participate! My Pinterest board is http://www.pinterest.com/martic/boards/.
Thank you!
Marti
I am totally pie crust challenged – so these are perfect!
Thank you Heather!
Could a substitute the corn syrup for Maple or Golden syrup? Corn syrup isn’t readily available in Australia. These look so so delicious!!
I’ve never used golden syrup before, you may want to google a substitute for corn syrup and see if that works. Maple syrup is too strong flavored for this recipe!
People who make such candies always amazed me! It is so tender work to create such unusual and tasty candies. I usually buy them but this time I want to try to make them for my lovely family by myself.
These are so easy, you can do it!
love these!! Pinning 🙂
Thanks Sarah 🙂
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
These are great for a Pecan pie fix when making a pie isn’t an option. Plus they’re very portable!
Thanks again!
You are very welcome!
These look so awesome! Pie crust and I aren’t the best of friends either…I can do it, but I don’t like to. I usually just opt for the store bought! These truffles…now these I need to try. They look and sound incredible. I even have a big bag of pecans leftover from the pie I made 🙂
Gotta love Pillsbury pie crust. My BFF when it comes to pies….
Chances are pretty good that I could pop a few of these in my mouth!
I am trying SO hard to not bust out the xmas music on my pandora stations: I keep trying to last until the day after Thanksgiving but YOU ALL MAKE IT SO HARD! :p heehee but pecan pie truffles are just what the doctor ordered for Thanksgiving dessert!
Just. Give. In.
Join the cool Christmas club 😉
Aimee, you have really out-done yourself with these truffles. I love how they are pecan pie wrapped into a small bite sized candy. I love Christmas too, and sometimes wish I could skip the Thanksgiving decorations and jump right into Christmas!
Do it! Just do it!!
I love the ingredients you used in these. I can’t wait to try them. Also, I think it’s hilarious your husband hasn’t noticed the Christmas decorations!
Oh…..believe me….the husband noticed. I was just nice enough to not say anything 🙂
Love that you made your name “THE HUSBAND” hahahaha!! And you did NOT notice 😉
Yep, I’m crust challenged as well. It’s the amount of butter and the time commitment that scare me off:) The idea of using my food processor (LOVE that thing!) and pecans and cookies and karo … wow, that sounds incredible! I can see why truffles are so popular! And I’m super jazzed for Christmas too! Can’t wait for everyone else to join the party! 🙂 (we do have the rule of no Christmas until after Thanksgiving … I’m singing and decorating in spirit;)
What a fun variation to pecan pie! These will be perfect to add to gifts for the holidays!
Yum! I’d love to try these with the vanilla candy coating.
You are right, IT IS ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS BABY! At my work we have to place our XMAS order in July and thats when I start planning menus/advertising…etc!! So it is a long time coming for me and I absolutely cannot wait to decorate!! We decorate both restaurants though so I spend about 20 + hours decorating myself, that might go easier if I could pop some of these truffles though!! Truffles are one of my favorite things because they are “popable” so I don’t feel bad eating 5 😉
These look delicious! I love the idea of a pie in a truffle. I’ve yet to try making a true pie crust (other than graham crackers) – so scary!
I agree with Nancy … love pecan pie … these are so much easier to handle! Thank you 🙂
eeeeeeeeeeee I love Christmas! And I love these lil morsels!
Aimee these are so great! Perfect for holiday parties when you want to use these traditions flavors but not have to worry about slicing pieces of pie! People can just grab and pop them in their mouths!!
Thanks Nancy. I mean really, who doesn’t love truffles?!?
What a great idea! I’m also pie crust challenged. I’m glad I’m not alone and that I can make these tasty truffles instead! Yummm
No you are definitely not alone! Ha!