DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you. Please read my policy page!
These delicious Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites are an adorable twist on classic Southern pecan pie with a crunchy pecan graham cracker crust and a decadent pecan-caramel glaze on top.
These adorable Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites are a nod to my Southern roots. They pack all the buttery, nutty goodness of classic pecan pie but are turned into a dense, tangy cheesecake with a deliciously nutty crust. If you love pecan pie, you’ve got to try this recipe! Gluten-free Option.
These cute Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites are a fun twist on my love for Southern food and all things pecan pie! They bring that buttery goodness you crave but in a dense, tangy cheesecake with a tasty nutty crust.
The cheesecake is smooth + creamy, while the crunchy graham cracker crust adds a delightful texture. Topped with sweet, gooey pecan pie filling loaded with chopped pecans and a dollop of whipped cream if you’re feeling fancy, these bites are truly irresistible!
Classic flavors of pecan pie in a fun, bite-sized format.
The perfect combination of textures—from creamy to crunchy!
They’re easy to make + perfect for sharing at gatherings or as a delicious snack.
They can be made ahead of time!
Whether you’re a fan of cheesecake or pecan pie, these bites are sure to satisfy your cravings!
How to Make Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites
There are three steps in this cheesecake bite recipe: the crust, the cheesecake filling, and the pecan pie topping. Don't worry though, each component is simple to put together and so satisfying!
Ingredients
Crust
Graham crackers. Provide a sweet, sturdy base for the crust. Use GF graham crackers for a GF option.
Toasted pecans. If you like a richer, more buttery crust, you can add more pecans and reduce the amount of graham crackers accordingly.
Brown sugar. I always recommend organic sugar. Brown sugar adds a new layer of caramel flavor to the crust.
Ground cinnamon. This adds just the right amount of spice to balance the buttery pecans.
Butter. Unsalted is best so you can have better control of the flavor. I am a big fan of the Organic Valley brand!
Pecan Cheesecake Filling
Cream cheese. Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened to room temperature for easy blending.
Vanilla extract. A hint of vanilla highlights the natural buttery flavor of pecans.
Eggs. Use room-temperature eggs so that your cheesecake filling doesn't break when it's mixed.
Low-fat sour cream. This adds tons of delicious tangy flavor to the mix.
Sea salt. I love the play of salty and sweet here!
Cinnamon. Again, just a dash adds the perfect amount of warming spice without overwhelming the nutty flavor of pecans.
Pecan Pie Topping
Toasted pecans. Toasting the nuts brings out their naturally rich flavor and creamy texture.
Brown sugar. Brown sugar is bolder tasting and can stand up well to pecans. However, you can substitute white sugar for brown if that's what you have on hand.
Organic heavy cream. This helps keep your pecan sauce moist and gooey.
Unsalted butter. If you only have salted butter, omit the added salt.
Cinnamon. For an extra dash of comforting spice.
Sea salt. This adds a delicious salted caramel-like flavor to the topping.
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR BAKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THESE CHEESECAKE BITES!
Here, I’ve curated a list of baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods, especially with this Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites recipe. Everything from my fave loaf pan, wooden spoons, parchment paper, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Tips for Making The Perfect Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites
AVOID THOSE LUMPS!
Always, ALWAYS soften your cream cheese at room temperature for a minimum of 30 minutes to ensure that it can be fully smooth when you beat it in an electric mixer.
COMBINE CAREFULLY + SLOWLY.
Be sure to add in the eggs ONE AT A TIME and always keep the mixer's speed on low to avoid over-mixing. A light mix always does the trick!
USE THE RIGHT PAN.
I find that using the correct baking pan helps to make a great cheesecake as well. I like using the traditional cheesecake pans that pop out at the bottom for whole cheesecakes. When making cheesecake bites, I prefer lining the pan with cupcake liners for ease.
ALWAYS ADD A WATER BATH.
I like to add a small pot of water on the lower rack of the oven while I bake my cheesecakes, cakes, cupcakes, etc. However, you can always add your cheesecake pan within another pan that has a small amount of water as your bath. Either way, it keeps in the proper moisture and helps everything to bake nicely.
KEEP THE OPENING OF THE OVEN DOOR AT A MINIMUM.
Yup, that's right. No quick peeking every few minutes. Every time that the oven door is open, it causes your cheesecakes to inflate from the sudden shift in temperature. That's why it's imperative to end the baking of your cheesecakes by turning off the oven and cracking open the oven door slightly for a few minutes before removing them from it entirely.
DO THE WOBBLE, WOBBLE TEST!
When checking to see if your cheesecake is done, always do the jiggle test to ensure that it only jiggles slightly in the middle. Don't worry---while it cools, the trapped heat will continue to cook the center nicely.
COOL, COOL, AND COOL!
Lastly, be sure that it is FULLY cooled before covering. This avoids condensation from forming. Once fully cooled at room temperature, you're free to refrigerate it for an hour (uncovered) and then you can place foil or plastic wrap over it after that.
How Do You Know When The Cheesecake Is Done Baking?
When the edges look set and are slightly pulling away from the pan, and the center has a gentle jiggle when you shake it, it's likely done. You can also do the toothpick test: insert one into the center, and if it comes out with a few moist crumbs, it's ready. Just remember, it'll continue setting as it cools, so a slightly underdone cheesecake is better than an overdone one.
Can I Make These Bites Into A Regular Cheesecake?
Absolutely! You can easily turn these Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites into a regular cheesecake by pouring the cheesecake mixture into a greased springform pan instead of using individual portions.
Just remember to adjust the baking time, as a full cheesecake will take longer to bake—start checking for doneness around 50-60 minutes, or until the center is set but still slightly jiggly. Once it’s baked, allow it to cool and then chill in the refrigerator before serving.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake BitesQ + A's
HOW TO STORE?
Leftover Cheesecakes can be stored (tightly wrapped) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For best results, keep cheesecakes in the freezer until the night before you’re ready to serve. Defrost by refrigerating.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Absolutely! This is a great make-ahead dessert! They need to chill for at least an hour, but it's even better if you make it the day ahead of time and let it firm up in the fridge. Just be sure to tightly wrap the cupcake pan in plastic wrap. You can assemble just before serving.
How can I make these bites gluten-free?
Simply use gluten-free graham crackers for the crust, and make sure all other ingredients are gluten-free as well.
How to make toasted pecans?
Add chopped pecans to a baking sheet and toast them in the oven (400 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10-15 minutes, tossing them halfway to ensure that browning is even on both sides.
More Creamy Cheesecake RecipesTo Try
If you love these Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites recipe, you'll love my other delicious cheesecake recipes!
If you tried these Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
These delicious Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bites are an adorable twist on classic Southern pecan pie with a crunchy pecan graham cracker crust and a decadent pecan-caramel glaze on top. This homemade teat is perfect for every occasion, or just snack time!
1cupGraham crackers, chopped(About 7-8 Graham cracker sheets!)
½cuptoasted pecans(Add more if desired; just reduce Graham Crackers amount)
2Tbspsorganic brown sugar
1teaspoonground cinnamon
3Tbspsunsalted butter, melted
CHEESECAKE FILLING:
12ozs.organic cream cheese, softened at room temp. (That’s 1 ½ packs!)
½cuporganic brown sugar
3Tbspsorganic all-purpose flour
2tspsvanilla extract
2largeorganic eggs, room temp.
3Tbspslow-fat sour cream
1teaspoonground cinnamon
½teaspoonground nutmeg
¼teaspoonsea salt
'PECAN PIE' TOPPING:
1cupchopped toasted pecans(See Notes!)
¼cuporganic brown sugar
3Tbspsunsalted butter
2-3Tbspsorganic heavy cream
½teaspooncinnamon
pinch ofsea salt
Instructions
PECAN GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 12-cavity cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
Grind the pecans + graham crackers, until almost finely ground (it’s OK to leave a few medium chunks, if your’e a lover a little crunch!). Combine the Pecan-Graham cracker mixture, cinnamon, brown sugar and melted butter in a small bowl and mix with a spatula until well incorporated.
Divide the mixture between the cupcake liners (about 2 Tbsps per well) and press down into the bottoms with your fingers (focusing on the middle) to ensure that it’s perfectly covering the bottom and sides (like a deep well).
Bake the crusts for about 5 minutes and then remove from oven and allow it to cool until you’re ready to use.
CHEESECAKE FILLING:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix together on low speed: the cream cheese, brown sugar, and flour until combined. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl if needed.
Next, add the vanilla extract and the first egg and beat slowly until mostly combined. Then add the remaining egg and mix until well combined, still mixing everything on low speed. Now, add the sour cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt and continue mixing.
Change mixer attachment to a whisk and beat on medium-high speed for 1-2 minutes or so until completely smooth and lump-free. NOTE: DO NOT OVER-MIX. Be sure to stop once the batter becomes smooth.
Add a small amount of filling to each cupcake liner (about 2 Tbsps), repeating until all batter is used.
Bake the cheesecakes for 16-18 minutes, then turn off the oven and allow them to sit in the oven for another 5 minutes with the oven door halfway open to avoid cheesecakes from deflating. NOTE: When baking, I always prepare a medium pot with water and add it to the oven as well, to keep cheesecake temperature even and to add moisture.
Remove cheesecakes from the oven and allow them to continue to cool for another 25-30 minutes or until at room temperature coolness, before putting them in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
In the meantime, make your 'pecan pie' topping.
'PECAN PIE' TOPPING:
In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add the butter and brown sugar, stirring until it begins to bubble. Add in the cinnamon, heavy cream, and salt and whisk until well combined. Add in the toasted pecans and stir until pecans are fully coated. Once done, remove from heat and let cool (at room temperature) so that the sauce thickens, about 5-6 minutes.
Once cooled, remove the cheesecake from the fridge and remove cupcake liners. Top cheesecakes with the 'Pecan Pie' topping along with whipped cream. NOTE: let the sauce further 'set' as both the topping + cheesecakes continue to cool. You can add cheesecakes back to the refrigerator for a few minutes to aide in this.
Grab a bite and enjoy.
Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
STORAGE: Leftover Cheesecakes can be stored (tightly wrapped) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For best results, keep cheesecakes in the freezer until the night before you’re ready to serve. Defrost by refrigerating.
TOASTED PECANS: Add chopped pecans to a baking sheet and toasting them in the oven (400 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10-15 minutes, tossing them halfway to ensure that browning is even on both sides.
HOMEMADE WHIPPED CREAM: In the bowl of an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whip the organic heavy cream (2 cups), using the whisk attachment for 4-5 minutes, until fluffy peaks begin to form. NOTE: When it begins to thicken after the first 2-3 minutes, gradually add in 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt.
My little sister made these for Thanksgiving and they were fantastic! I demanded the recipe & just made them tonight and MAN!😋 DELISH! Thank you so much for the great recipe!
Hi!
I made this recipe to serve at Thanksgiving with my in-laws tomorrow. I followed the recipe and am slightly disappointed. My cheesecakes came out slightly tough and rubbery. They taste delicious but the texture is definitely off. After much research I believe this was due to the tip to beat the batter for an additional 5 mins. with a whisk attachment. Apparently over mixing is a common, yet easily avoided mistake when it comes to cheesecakes. Is there something else I might have done that would have caused this?
Hi! I'm so sorry to hear that these bites didn't turn out great! Yes, you are correct about the over-mixing and I've since changed it to 1-2 minute instead. Usually, when making cheesecake, I like to add a small pot of water underneath to ensure that they maintain moisture. Other than that---everything should turn out!
LOVE THIS RECIPE?
LET US KNOW!
My little sister made these for Thanksgiving and they were fantastic! I demanded the recipe & just made them tonight and MAN!😋 DELISH! Thank you so much for the great recipe!
Hi Shelbie! Yay!!! I'm so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed these cheesecake bites! Thanks so much for giving them a try! 🙂
Hi!
I made this recipe to serve at Thanksgiving with my in-laws tomorrow. I followed the recipe and am slightly disappointed. My cheesecakes came out slightly tough and rubbery. They taste delicious but the texture is definitely off. After much research I believe this was due to the tip to beat the batter for an additional 5 mins. with a whisk attachment. Apparently over mixing is a common, yet easily avoided mistake when it comes to cheesecakes. Is there something else I might have done that would have caused this?
Hi! I'm so sorry to hear that these bites didn't turn out great! Yes, you are correct about the over-mixing and I've since changed it to 1-2 minute instead. Usually, when making cheesecake, I like to add a small pot of water underneath to ensure that they maintain moisture. Other than that---everything should turn out!
Do you use mini cupcake pans or regular size?
Hi Anastasia! I use a standard cupcake pan! 🙂
Before or after cooling* in the refrigerator?
Do you add the topping before or after the bourbon the refrigerator?
Hi Natasha! It's based on your preference, however, I normally add the toppings after they are refrigerated. 🙂
YUM! These cheesecake bites look and sound so delicious! I love the combination of cheesecake and pecan pie ♥
Thanks so much, Natalie! They really are the perfect combo if you love both!
Serioulsy?! Pecan pie and cheesecake in a bite-sized dessert? I'm in! Oh and I love how you've made it small, so it's almost guilt-free, right?!
Yes! We all need a guilt-free version of our faves, right? Haha!
I just love mini desserts! They're so perfect when you just need a little something sweet!
I couldn't agree more, Liz!
What a decadent dessert! These will be perfect for my sister's baby shower tomorrow!
They really are decadent and the perfect bite-size for any event!
Oh wow what a genius idea!
Thanks so much, Amy!