Pecan Pie Shots
If you love pecan pie but don’t love the fuss of rolling crusts or waiting for a full pie to bake, these festive little Pecan Pie Shots are about to become your new holiday party trick.
These shots deliver the same cozy, caramel-maple goodness in a fun, miniature, no-bake format — perfect for gatherings, dessert boards, or satisfying a sweet craving in just a few bites. And if you’re browsing for other celebration-ready shots, check out my Apple Pie Shots, Pumpkin Pie Shots, and Eggnog Pudding Shots.
As a dietitian and lifelong dessert tinkerer, I am always dreaming up ways to enjoy beloved classics with better-for-you ingredients and easy techniques. These poppable mini pies rely on oats, chopped pecans, a pinch of cinnamon, as well as maple syrup to create that signature sticky-sweet filling… no stovetop, no sugary caramel, no corn syrup, no pastry hassles. Just a quick microwave, a little stirring, and you have a perfectly gooey base ready to spoon into shot glasses.
Why these shots sleigh the holidays
- Big pecan-pie energy, for tiny effort: No crust, no baking, no fancy equipment.
- Wholesome ingredients: Oats, maple, vanilla, cinnamon, pecans… all the holiday hits.
- Perfect for parties: A handheld dessert everyone can grab and enjoy with a mini spoon.
These are the kind of sweet bites that make the season feel extra special — cheerful and incredibly fun. Can’t wait for you to try them and share them with your favorite people!
Try my Pecan Pie-Stuffed Dates next!
Pecan Pie Shots
Ingredients
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup quick oats
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon maple extract, or flavor
- ½ cup water
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Whipped topping*, garnish
Instructions
- Combine ingredients (except whipped cream): In a small microwave-safe bowl or ramekin, mix together the oats, pecans, water, maple syrup, vanilla extract, maple extract, salt, and cinnamon.
- Microwave: Microwave for 1 minute, then stir — the mixture will look liquidy; that’s expected. Microwave for 1 additional minute until it thickens. Take it out, give it a good stir and allow the mixture to sit for about 15 minutes so it can thicken further into that gooey pecan-pie–style texture.You can also toss the ingredients into saucepan let it come to a slow simmer and then turn off the heat. It thickens pretty quickly!
- Build the shots: Add a tablespoon or two of the filling to a shot glass. Garnish with a squirt of whipped topping and a sprinkling of finely chopped pecans.
Are the nutrition facts for one or two tablespoons of filling? You mention in the instructions to scoop one or 2 tablespoons in the cup.
Hi Valerie! The nutrition facts are for 1 shot, which includes the 2 tablespoons of filling and a portion of the toppings. Enjoy! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Joy,
My two girlfriends, who are both fabulous cooks and bakers, love pecan pie. I can’t wait to make this for our next friend’s dinner! I am also loving your quick, easy and healthy 3-4 ingredient recipes!
Thank you so much! Happy Holidays to you!
Terry
Hi Terry! Thank you so much for your kind note. Joy is so glad to hear that you love her recipes and are excited to share them with your gal pals! Enjoy and happiest holidays to you and yours! — Eliza (Team Joy)
How many servings does the recipe make? It sounds delicious & so much healthier than my pecan tarts.
Hi Karlin! This recipe yields 8 shots, which is 8 1-shot servings. That said, These are small, portion controlled servings, so depending on the nutrition you’re aiming for, you can enjoy 2-3 per person! You can always double the recipe by clicking on the 2x in the recipe card. If you give it a shot (pun-intended), let us know what you think! — Eliza (Team Joy)
Can I sub old fashioned oats for quick? I have old fashioned, and not a lot of storage for another canister.
Yes! the texture may be slightly coarser, and you may need some extra time in the microwave (on the second round), but it will definitely work with old-fashioned rolled oats! Hoping you enjoy this one 😉