Pecan Pie Truffles Recipe (2024)

Recipe from “VegNews Holiday Cookie Collection”

Adapted by Tara Parker-Pope

Pecan Pie Truffles Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 30 minutes, plus 2 hours' freezing
Rating
5(3,432)
Notes
Read community notes

These festive truffles from Hannah Kaminsky, a columnist at VegNews Magazine, combine the rich flavors of pecan pie under a thin layer of smooth chocolate. (To make these vegan, be sure to use vegan dark chocolate.) Like traditional rum balls, these offer a slightly alcoholic kick, so be sure to monitor any underage guests. —Tara Parker-Pope

Featured in: Well's Vegetarian Thanksgiving 2010

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Ingredients

Yield:24 truffles

  • cups pecans, toasted and finely chopped
  • 1cup graham cracker crumbs (from about 8 whole graham crackers)
  • 1cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • ½teaspoon salt
  • 2tablespoons maple syrup
  • ¼cup bourbon
  • 1teaspoon vanilla
  • 7ounces dark chocolate

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (24 servings)

177 calories; 12 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 5 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 17 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 2 grams protein; 69 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Pecan Pie Truffles Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    In a medium bowl, stir together pecans, graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and salt until well combined. Add maple syrup, bourbon and vanilla, stirring thoroughly. Use your hands to make sure the mixture becomes fully incorporated.

  2. Form mixture into walnut-sized balls, then place on a cookie sheet and freeze for 2 hours.

  3. Step

    3

    In the top of a double boiler or in a medium stainless steel bowl set over a pot of gently simmering water, melt chocolate (we recommend tempering the chocolate, but if you don't, they'll still be delicious, just a bit messy). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip the frozen balls into the melted chocolate, then place onto prepared baking sheet. Let sit for 15 minutes or until firm.

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3,432

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Cperks

A note to other unexperienced truffle makers: I had trouble rolling them into balls because they were so sticky until I realized that if I wet my hands they wouldn't stick and roll into very nice balls.

Heath

I made these Thanksgiving morning and served them that afternoon. They were a big hit, but I found the bourbon flavor to be a bit overwhelming. However, I had a few left over, and the following day the bourbon flavor had mellowed out. I enjoyed them much more the following day. I recommend making them the day before you plan to serve them.

Have made this four times,

Combine maple syrup, bourbon, 2 tablespoons of butter and sugar & salt in a small glass bowl and microwave it twice 30 seconds each time. This will dissolve the sugar and reduce the grittiness. Pulse half the pecans after toasting with the graham crackers. Makes a smoother mixture. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon Use a # 40 cookie scoop balls.Freeze and double dip into 10 oz of chocolate plus 2 tablespoons solid fat such as coconut oil. Sprinkle with a few grains of course sea salt

tom

A quarter cup of bourbon is nothing. I would be more concerned that kids ate a half pound of sugar!

Jo Ann Henderson

I thought these little nuggets were pretty good. Personally, I like their boozy quality. I agree that the brown sugar made the texture a little grainy, but that can be eliminated by the use of agave or honey as a sweetener instead. I thought they lacked richness that a couple table spoons of melted butter might add. The butter will eliminate the crumbliness (after refrigerating) when rolling. Upscale alternative to rum balls.

JamesDJ

I just had a fantasy: melt a stick of unsalted butter in a pan over medium heat, then put in all the ingredients (except chocolate) and cook until everything is blended and a bit of the alcohol has burned off. Then scrape into a bowl and refrigerate for a couple of hours until the mixture is cool and set. Then, using a small spoon or melon baller, form into balls, freeze the balls, and then perform step 3. I don't have a kitchen so please someone try this and tell me about it.

fatatita

you could substitute orange juice for the bourbon

Sara

My assumption when I first read this recipe was that it needed melted butter to help bind the filling so I added 1/2 cup to the nut mixture. I used the maple syrup but I think honey would be better. And since I'm not a fan of Bourbon I omitted it. I was short on time and only refrigerated the balls for 30 minutes before dipping them in the chocolate and that was fine. My results were excellent.

Kay Kay

I also felt it needed butter however I thought browning the butter would give it an extra kick and it did. DELICIOUS! I increased the crumbs slightly and added a quarter cup of browned butter.

Maria

Combine maple syrup, bourbon, 2 tablespoons of butter and sugar & salt in a small glass bowl and microwave it twice 30 seconds each time. This will dissolve the sugar and reduce the grittiness. Pulse half the pecans after toasting with the graham crackers. Makes a smoother mixture. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon Use a # 40 cookie scoop balls.Freeze and double dip into 10 oz of chocolate plus 2 tablespoons solid fat such as coconut oil.

Shane

These are really wonderful and easy to make. If you're concerned about the alcohol do what I did - add the nuts to the mix directly from the oven, immediately after you mix in the alcohol. The heat burns off the booze while leaving the flavor. These will now be a household staple in our home.

Alyce Mantia Price

I made these with Biscoff wafers and the spiced flavor was fabulous!! Otherwise I made them exactly as posted.

Margaret

Iv'e made something similar a few Christmas' ago using Digestives (A British cookie) instead of Graham crackers . . . Just divine & the perfect hostess/host gift!
For gluten-free, just use any plain sweet gluten-free cookie.

MTM

These are delicious - raves all around. BUT does anyone have a hint for making the chocolate a little thinner so the coating goes more smoothly. I saw one recipe for tempering chocolate that called for adding fat. Does anyone have a solution.

And, like many others, 7 oz. is about half of what is needed.

Yassmeen

These have been a staple of my Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners since I first tried them a few years back. I always make a double batch to share. SO GOOD! And I agree with another poster who noted you should wet your hands when rolling the truffles--way less messy and more manageable that way. I think it also helps if you pulse the pecans and graham crackers very finely.

Cindy

Fun to make and delicious. My first attempt at candy making! Took others' advice: Biscoff Biscuits instead of Grahams, butter, food processor. Doubled the recipe with some being dark choco and other milk choco. Experimented with some orange and orange liquor but the lavor got lost. Mine weren't as pretty as the picture but not back for a novice.

Mina

Delicious! I pulsed all of the pecans with the graham crackers. They are a little gritty--next time, I'll try melting the sugar with the bourbon and maple syrup beforehand. Added coconut oil to the chocolate. The amount in the recipe was just about perfect--the last two truffles didn't get a full coating, but I decided those were my chef's treat. I used the narrowest bowl I had to maximize the depth (and therefore, the usable amount) of the chocolate. Half a recipe made 22 truffles.

Nat

Just made these and fell in love. Ended up making a few adjustments that worked great. I used ginger beer to replace the bourbon, as I do not like the taste of bourbon. I didn’t have maple syrup so I used honey, which while sticky did help hold the balls together. And we had speculoos cookies around for the holidays so we used that instead of graham crackers-I loved the spice that it gave the cookies. A great recipe that will be sticking around in this house.

Barbara

We loved these pecan balls. However we all felt they should be called bourbon balls. We couldn't taste the pecans or graham crackers. It was easy to make. I will try them again without the bourbon to see if they have more of the pecan pie taste.

Cooking in Flagstaff

These are a go- to favorite around the holidays! Boozy, nutty and delicious!

Sumati

Underwhelmed. Mine are kind of messy and irregular, but I don't mind that. Just too awfully sweet. Maybe I'm just not a truffle person.

josephine

I wish the recipe had said to keep out a few pecan bits out so you can add them to the top of the truffles like the photo shows. I added all of them into the mixture before I realized I should’ve kept some out.

Dolly

I learned how to temper chocolate for this recipe. I found it impossible to “dip” the frozen balls into the bowl of chocolate without them falling apart and cooling the chocolate too quickly causing the need to reheat which didn’t work well with the cookie grit in it. I would try these again but would spoon the hot chocolate over each one rather than trying to dip again.

Carol

Really liked these, but used about half the brown sugar that the recipe called for. Still PLENTY sweet! Also, tempered the chocolate as per the video and only had enough for 17 balls. Next time I will buy 10 0z of chocolate.

chris

I have substituted espresso (either regular or decaf) for the bourbon to accommodate a family member who dislikes the taste of alcohol. I’ve used a Nespresso machine, but I suspect instant would also work.

Andrew

I made two batches - one as written (plus 1 tsp of cinnamon) and one using some of the tweaks I read about in the comments. The regular one was far better. Other comments talk about the grittiness of the sugar and the booziness of them...but those are the best parts! I’ve had them in my fridge for about a week now and I definitely feel like they’ve gotten better the longer they sit, so I’ll try to make these in advance next time.

Stacey

I replaced the bourbon with apple cider to make a more kid-friendly version, and it turned out great. I love the bourbon version better, but a reasonable swap for those looking.

Stacey of the North

Add 1/4 cup browned butter, and melt the sugar in the butter. Also chop 1/2 of the pecans finer after toasting.

GC

One more thing....Also doubled the amount of chocolate to two bars, total 8 oz. This made enough for dipping without worrying about any chocolate lost through splatters, etc. Set up an assembly line and relax with the dipping....

GC

These are delicious! Nobody could stop eating them! Very rich but taste special!!! Made as directed except added a little extra bourbon (maybe 1/2 cup total) and extra maple syrup to help everything stick together. I would call these pecan bourbon "balls" not "truffles" as that is more what they are but they are great! Also, used chopsticks to dip them in chocolate, worked really well. The chocolate drips right off and you can just place the balls down to dry. Yum! Highly recommend!

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Pecan Pie Truffles Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What do pecan truffles taste like? ›

The pecan truffle is desirable because it has a distinct flavor (nutty and earthy) and is currently more affordable than most imported truffle species (i.e., $10–$20 versus $69–$225 per ounce).

How much are pecan truffles worth? ›

As time goes on and more people grow pecan truffles to harvest commercially, I'd wager the price will stabilize and find an equilibrium market price around $20 per oz or $300 per pound comparable with other budget truffles like Tuber brumale and Tuber mesentericum.

What time of year do pecan truffles grow? ›

Pecan truffles are produced over the course of many months in the southeastern United States but are strongly dependent on soil moisture. If conditions remain moist, fruiting often continues through the fall until December.

Where to find pecan truffles in Georgia? ›

In south Georgia, we find them in association with pecan trees, although they can be found in association with other species of trees such as oaks. They can be anywhere around the tree, although most abundant between the drip line and the trunk of the tree.

What is the closest taste to a truffle? ›

Black Trumpet Mushrooms

Referred to as, "the poor man's truffle", it only makes sense that a black trumpet mushroom would be a common replacement for black truffles. " Although the flavor of black trumpet mushrooms is far from identical to truffles, they do possess truffle-like subtleties.

Is a truffle a nut or a mushroom? ›

Truffles are the edible spores that grow on an underground fungus in the family Tuberaceae. They're often confused with mushrooms, but they're technically not the same species — mushrooms grow above ground, while truffles grow underneath the surface.

How much is 1lb of truffles? ›

Prices vary depending on the market, but white truffles can cost $4,000 per pound, and black truffles, like the ones shown above, can cost anywhere from $300 to $800 per pound. Why do these lumpy, strange-looking tubers command such a price?

Where do truffles grow in the United States? ›

In the United States, edible truffles are collected in the forests of Oregon and Washington. In Europe, most truffles are collected in France and Italy. Truffle hunters in Italy and France use pigs and mixed-breed dogs to sniff out truffles. Dogs are preferred to pigs because pigs love to eat truffles.

Why do people pay so much for truffles? ›

The reason behind such high costs is the scarcity of the produce, truffles are seasonal, extremely difficult to grow, and take many years to cultivate. They also have a short shelf life. Truffles require a very specific climate to grow and require lots of oak trees, that's why they're often found in woodland.

Why are truffles hunted at night? ›

Truffles are easier to find at night. There's less noise to distract the dogs, and the soil aerates at night, allowing truffle fumes to waft up more strongly.

How can you tell if a tree has truffles? ›

Look for darkened exposed dirt around the base of trees.

If truffles are present, a “brûlée” effect may make the ground look burnt, rough, and darker than surrounding areas because their existence prevents vegetation from growing.

Why are truffles so hard to find? ›

Truffles: hard to forage but even harder to grow.

Unlike most mushrooms, which grow on decomposing organic matter, truffles grow in a symbiotic relationship with the roots of trees. In order to produce truffles, a germinating tree seed must be inoculated with the truffle fungus even before it's planted.

How much do pecan truffles go for? ›

However, the pecan is not its only symbiote. Formerly considered nothing more than a nuisance by pecan farmers, the pecan truffle has been gaining in popularity as an edible mushroom in recent years and can fetch over $160 per pound at market.

What do pecan truffles smell like? ›

Pecan truffles have a firm and springy texture, and when mature, the fruiting bodies release a rich, pungent aroma with buttery, earthy undertones. The truffles should feel firm and fresh feel when ripe and will impart a nutty, decadent, and earthy flavor.

What state has the best truffles? ›

Most truffle cultivation in the United States happens around Oregon (known for the Oregon Black Truffle) and the rest of the Pacific Northwest. Typically, black truffles are most commonly grated and used as toppings on lux dishes or as ingredients in sauces.

What does a truffle taste like to eat? ›

Truffles are known for their earthy, umami-rich flavor and heady, musky aroma. Their flavor is sometimes compared to mushrooms, although truffles are more intense and complex in taste and far more fragrant. The exact profile varies by variety, season and quality, incorporating nutty, garlicky or floral notes.

What is the tastiest truffle? ›

Italian white Alba are the most sought-after truffles in the world as they offer the most incredible scent and taste, they are only available during a certain time of year and have a distinct aroma that contrasts with the slightly more common black varieties.

Which truffle has the most flavor? ›

In terms of taste, they are earthy, nutty, woody, garlicky, shallot-like, and incredibly pungent. White truffles are the most coveted of all because of their deep fragrance and powerful flavour, and of course, because of their rarity. Unlike black truffles, white truffles have proven impossible to domesticate.

What is truffle tasting? ›

Truffles have a distinct flavor that is both earthy and mushroom-like, but it's a much more intense flavor than you'd get from your average mushroom.

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