Think of these tasty little tassies as your own personal pecan pie. They're both salty and sweet, with a hit of oaky bourbon. Whole-grain rye flour adds the perfect touch of sour to the shortbread-like crust, while toasted pecans do double duty in the crust and in the maple-splashed filling. As if that weren't enough to jingle your bell, we drizzle warm bittersweet chocolate over each bite to ensure maximum satisfaction.
How to Make It
To prepare crust, preheat oven to 350°F.
Generously coat a 24-cup mini muffin pan with baking spray. Beat oil, 2 tablespoons butter, powdered sugar, milk, and cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Process 1/3 cup pecans in a food processor until finely ground. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Add flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt to food processor; pulse 5 times. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat just until combined. (Mixture will be crumbly.) Knead in bowl until dough comes together, 3 to 4 times. Shape dough into 24 balls. Place balls in cups of prepared muffin pan; press dough into bottom and up sides of cups to form shells. Bake 5 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.
To prepare filling, whisk together brown sugar, maple syrup, bourbon, eggs, 1 tablespoon butter, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Stir in 2/3 cup pecans. Spoon about 1 tablespoon pecan mixture into each tart shell. Bake 18 minutes or until filling is puffed and browned. Cool 20 minutes in pan on a wire rack.
Microwave chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH until chocolate melts, about 45 seconds, stirring every 15 seconds. Run an offset spatula around edges of tarts to loosen; remove tarts from pan. Drizzle chocolate evenly over each tart.