Holiday Recipe Spectacular - Desserts - Pecan Pie Tarts

Yes, Trina's pecan pie recipe is a winner!  But I wanted to propose an alternate option.  No longer will your guests feel the need to take on a whole slice of pecan pie.  Let's be real, this will allow everyone to say they only want one...then feel free to indulge in another by popping one in their mouth while nobody is watching.  These individual mini pecan pies are decadent and easy to bake!

Pecan Pie Tarts


1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie (or Pillsbury pie crust)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
5 tablespoons dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
cool whip

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease 8 3-inch tart tins.
2. Roll out pastry and cut 8 5-inch circles (I use a shot glass for perfect circles). Fit pastry circles into greased tart tins.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, butter or margarine, corn syrup, and vanilla extract. Mix well, then stir in pecans. Pour an equal amount of mixture into each pastry-lined tart tin.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until pastry is golden brown and filling is set.  Top with cool whip.

Original Recipe
Photo Credit

Holiday Recipe Spectacular - Dessert - Apple Dumplings

Another one of my childhood faves!  This was probably my most requested dessert when I was growing up.  Love it!  Especially because you got your own individual dumpling, it was all yours!  This recipe goes way back to my great-grandmother in Kentucky.  My mom's mom would make them, then my mom and now I can make them on my very own-cute, right!  It's such an easy recipe, but what an impressive show it would make when you hand each of your guests their very own warm apple dumpling!  It'd look like it took hours to prepare-and just for them!  You're the best hostess ever!!

Mother and Mom's Apple Dumplings
•2 cups peeled, pared and sliced tart apples (or 1 16 oz. can apple slices)
•1 pkg. pie crust mix (for two pies)
•1 cup sugar
•1/2 t cloves
•1 t cinnamon
•1/2 t nutmeg
•1 cup milk
•1/4 c flour
•Cool Whip

Prepare pie crust sticks as directed. Roll out into 8 equal squares. Place two T apple slices on each and fold up each corner. Place in greased baking pan and dot with butter. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. (For fresh apples, bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes). While cooling, prepare cinnamon sauce. Mix sugar, spices and flour together and gradually stir in milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Spoon warm sauce over dumplings and top with Cool Whip or fresh whipped cream.

Holiday Recipe Spectacular - Dessert - Angel Cherry Pie

For as long as I can remember, this has been my dad’s favorite dessert.  My mom, an amazing baker, has always perfected the  meringue (click here for more of her recipes).  Though I have done well with the coloring of the meringue, I cannot make it look as pretty as her work of art along the rim. 

Meringue Shell

• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 t cream of tartar
• 3/4 c sugar

Heat oven to 275 degrees. Click here for more info on making the perfect meringue. Beat egg whites until quite stiff. Gradually add cream of tartar and sugar, beating until stiff and satiny. Spread about 2/3 of meringue over bottom and sides of well-greased 8" pie plate. Drop remaining meringue in mounds along rim of plate. Bake 1 hour or until shell is light brown and crisp. Cool on rack.

Cream Cheese Filling

• 1 3oz. package cream cheese
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1/ 2 t vanilla
• 1 c Cool Whip
• 1 c mini-marshmallows
• 1 can cherry filling

Beat softened cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla. Fold in Cool Whip and marshmallows. Spread cherry filling on top. Refrigerate until serving.