Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- 1 (3-ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
- 1 stick of margarine or butter, softened
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- A dash of salt
For the Filling:
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of margarine or butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- A dash of salt
- 1 cup of chopped pecans
Directions:
Making the Crust:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, margarine (or butter), all-purpose flour, and a dash of salt.
- Blend the ingredients together until a smooth dough forms.
- Divide the dough into 24 equal portions and shape them into small balls.
- Gently press each dough ball into the bottom and along the sides of 1 3/4-inch muffin tins, ensuring there are no holes in the pastry shells.
Preparing the Filling:
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, brown sugar, melted margarine (or butter), vanilla extract, and a dash of salt. Mix until well combined, but avoid overbeating to prevent the tops from becoming too crusty.
- Evenly distribute the chopped pecans among the pastry shells.
Assembling and Baking:
- Pour the prepared filling into each pastry shell, filling them approximately 2/3 full.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Bake the pecan tartlets in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are set and slightly golden.
- Allow the tartlets to cool for a brief moment before carefully removing them from the muffin tins.
- Transfer the pecan tartlets to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy your delicious homemade pecan tartlets!