pecan pie, baking a difference, and a giveaway

I’m so excited to be sharing this post with you all today.

As you know, I’ve been involved for quite some time with the wonderful organization No Kid Hungry, through my participation in the NYC  Bake Sale (you can read earlier posts of mine here and here).

This year Fleischmann’s Yeast, Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Baking Mixes and Karo Syrup have launched the “Baking a Difference” campaign to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry, to help end childhood hunger in America through the power of baking. The message is powerful, and heartbreaking:

One in five children in the U.S. struggle with hunger, and cannot rely on having access to the daily nutritious food they need to grown and thrive. 

To inspire people to make a difference for No Kid Hungry when they participate in the “Baking A Difference” campaign, Fleischmann’s Yeast, Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Baking Mixes and Karo Syrup have partnered with America’s Test Kitchen and Joy Wilson of the fabulous Joy the Baker blog, to create unique recipes and encourage more bakers to “bake a difference”.

The “Baking A Difference” campaign will culminate in Spring 2014 with an e-cookbook featuring recipes from Joy the Baker, along with recipe images from bakers across the country.

How can you get involved?

Bakers can participate in the campaign via the “12 Days of #BakingADifference” promotion on Facebook in December. Share your recipe images of Fleischmann’s Yeast and Karo Syrup recipes using the #BakingADifference hashtag at Facebook.com/FleischmannsYeast and Facebook.com/KaroSyrup, for a chance to be included in the e-cookbook.

To help you get started I have a fabulous – and I mean FABULOUS! – baking prize pack to give away to one lucky reader!

baking a difference giveaway

Valued at $75 it includes everything pictured here:

A pair of mini oven mitts and a premium stoneware pie dish from Sur La Table
A set of “pinch” bowls from Trudeau
A pie server from OXO
(5) boxes of Fleischmann’s Simply Homemade Baking Mixes
Fleischmann’s Yeast
Light & Dark Karo Syrups

As for me, I knew just the recipe I wanted to share – in fact, I can’t believe I haven’t posted it already, as it’s a holiday staple around here!

mini pecan pie cups

While I love traditional pecan pie at the holidays, I REALLY love these mini pecan “cups”.

How cute are they? These bite-sized beauties are perfect after a big meal. And the cream cheese dough is not only delicious, but a dream to work with too – no rolling required!

mini pecan pie cups

mini pecan pie cups

mini pecan pie cups

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment sharing YOUR favorite holiday dessert! Be sure to include your e-mail address if it’s not already linked to your comment. The giveaway is open through Sunday, November 24th at 5 p.m. EST. The winner will be chosen at random, and announced on Monday, November 25th.

To learn more about the Baking A Difference campaign and get the latest recipes and baking tips, visit Facebook.com/FleischmannsYeast, Facebook.com/SimplyHomemadeMix, Facebook.com/KaroSyrup and Pinterest.com/BeABetterBaker.

Good luck and thanks so much for participating! Update: Annie is the lucky winner! Thanks for participating!

Mini Pecan Pie “Cups” (makes 24)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 25-30 minutes

(1) 3-ounce package cream cheese
1/4 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup flour
3/4 cup chopped pecans, plus 24 whole pecan halves
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup Karo Syrup (light or dark)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, very soft

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 24 mini-muffin tins.

In the bowl of a mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter and flour till incorporated. Press an even amount of dough into the prepared muffin tins – chill in the fridge while preparing the filling.

Mix the chopped pecans, egg, vanilla, brown sugar and Karo Syrup in a medium bowl. Spoon mixture evenly into the shells. Top each with a pecan half.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or til shells are pale golden. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

(print this recipe)


This delicious recipe brought to you by Sheri Silver
https://sherisilver.com/2013/11/21/mini-pecan-pie-cups-bakingadifference-giveaway/

Note: I was sent a complimentary gift pack, along with one to give away, from Karo Syrup and Fleischmann’s Yeast in exchange for posting a recipe and the information in this blog post. No other compensation was received. All comments and opinions are, as always, completely my own.

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27 Comments

  1. Susan H on November 21, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Those look great! I love the cream cheese crust idea. We make mini pumpkin pies (same idea) every year. Then my daughter makes an apple pie, while my son and I make a coconut cream pie. That one is my favorite because we put a layer of semisweet chocolate on the bottom of the crust first. 🙂

  2. LACY on November 21, 2013 at 10:02 am

    This is so great! One of my favorite’s is dixie pie. It’s a pecan pie with a layer of chocolate chips in the bottom! 🙂

  3. Stefanie on November 21, 2013 at 10:02 am

    My favorite holiday treat will always be cookies. A close second is either NY cheesecake or ricotta cheesecake.

  4. Sandy on November 21, 2013 at 10:29 am

    7 layer pie is a family favorite 😉

  5. Jenna C on November 21, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    Okay, I adore pecans, and so pecan pie is a fave! Funny thing is I never tried it until I was dating my now hubby 🙂

  6. Maggie on November 21, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Pecans…drool

  7. Kelly D on November 21, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    My favorite holiday dessert is pumpkin pie.

  8. Lindsay on November 21, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    My mom made pumpkin cheesecake bars one year and they remain my favorite to this day…so decadent! I have a total sweet tooth though, so anything peppermint at this time of year gets me.

  9. manda on November 21, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    My mother’s pecan pie.

  10. Lisa on November 21, 2013 at 6:38 pm

    My grandma’s pumpkin pie is my favorite holiday treat

  11. steph on November 21, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    I am not a “sweets” person, but I eat a ton of sweet potato casserole around the holidays. For breakfast, as dessert as a side dish….

  12. meredith on November 21, 2013 at 10:05 pm

    Great recipe! I wonder if I can figure out a GF version 🙂 My favorite holiday dessert is my chocolate silk pie, I make it every year and can not wait to make it again.

  13. Kirsten on November 21, 2013 at 10:28 pm

    oh for me, it’s pumpkin pie every time. I always have to have just a bite of the pecan pie though, so this recipe might be just the trick!

  14. Leslie on November 22, 2013 at 9:15 am

    I can’t wait to try these! I’m kind of famous for pies in general, with pumpkin and pecan being my specialties. I’m not sure I can choose a favorite!

  15. TC on November 22, 2013 at 9:21 am

    My favorite holiday dessert is sweet potato pie! However, my family disagrees with me. lol!

  16. livivua on November 22, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    my favorite holiday dessert is cheesecake

  17. Melissa T on November 22, 2013 at 10:02 pm

    My favorite recipe this time of year is for date pinwheels. My husband is already begging for them!

  18. Mahdi on November 23, 2013 at 4:14 am

    My favorite holiday dessert is homemade chocolate chip cookies. I always put a little extra sugar in them so they’ll be lacey, thin and crispy, yet soft in the middle!

  19. most lovely things on November 23, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    Caramel apple pie has always been my favorite, but your individual pecan pies look perfect. I love that they are bite size and cream cheese crust…yum!

  20. Maggie M on November 24, 2013 at 11:42 am

    Homemade pumpkin cheesecake!

  21. Debra Lee on November 24, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    Pumpkin Roll has to be my most favorite!

  22. Alexis K. on November 24, 2013 at 6:12 pm

    Spritz cookies and pecan pie are my favorite.

  23. Sarah on November 24, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    My aunt makes a delicious fig chocolate roll/ cake. Its a tradition that she makes it for my mother who always shares it with me to sneak a bite or two…or three. Maybe more =D

    SMorris1000@comcast.net

  24. Jill Hartley on November 25, 2013 at 11:33 am

    My favorite is my mom’s chocolate cream pie. SOOOOO delish.

  25. Calli on November 26, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    apple pie is my favorite!

  26. Wanda on December 18, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    Omg just got through eating these like a half hour ago & my family LOVED them! Such a wonderfully delicious light & flaky crust!! Thank you soooo much & I will be making these aplenty!! Oh & Happy Holidays!!!

    • sherisilver on December 19, 2013 at 6:35 am

      Yay! I’m so glad – that crust is a keeper, right?? Happy Holidays to you too! 🙂

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Hi! I'm Sheri!

Welcome to my little corner of the web where you’ll find easy, delicious recipes, the best kitchen hacks and simple tips for turning your home into a clean haven that is free of toxins. So glad you’re here!