Description
Sweet chocolate pecan pie balls invite chocolate and pecan lovers into a delightful Southern dessert experience. Rich, bite-sized treats combine classic pie flavors in an elegant no-bake confection you’ll crave after each memorable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup pecans, finely chopped
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 2 cups semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
Binding Ingredients:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
Flavoring and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) coconut oil or shortening
Instructions
- Pulverize graham crackers into fine, uniform crumbs using a food processor or rolling pin, ensuring no large chunks remain.
- Transfer crumbs to a spacious mixing bowl and incorporate finely chopped pecans, creating a textural base for the confection.
- Gently fold powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla extract into the crumb mixture, stirring until ingredients are thoroughly distributed.
- Create a silky chocolate mixture by melting chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe vessel, stirring between brief heating intervals to prevent scorching.
- Pour the molten chocolate and butter blend over the crumb mixture, integrating caramel sauce to develop a rich, cohesive texture.
- Using lightly greased palms, sculpt the mixture into compact, uniform spheres approximately one inch in diameter, working quickly to maintain consistency.
- Arrange the nascent confections on a parchment-lined tray, then refrigerate for a minimum of sixty minutes to solidify their structure and enhance flavor melding.
- Once chilled and firm, elevate the presentation by optional chocolate dipping or caramel drizzling, transforming these delectable morsels into an elegant sweet treat.
Notes
- Choose graham crackers with no added sugar for a lower-sugar version that still maintains delicious flavor.
- Keep hands slightly damp when rolling balls to prevent sticking and create smoother, more uniform shapes.
- Pulse nuts finely to ensure even distribution and prevent large chunks that might disrupt the ball’s texture.
- Refrigerate for up to a week in an airtight container, allowing flavors to meld and develop deeper richness.
- Swap graham crackers with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs for dietary restrictions.
- Add a pinch of sea salt on top before chilling to enhance chocolate and caramel flavor complexity.
- Toast pecans briefly before chopping to intensify their nutty, roasted profile and add depth to the overall taste.
- Use dark chocolate for a more intense, less sweet version that balances perfectly with caramel’s sweetness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 186
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 9 mg