Satisfy your sweet tooth and treat guests to a delicious dessert perfect for the holidays: Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie Bites. These individual little treats use coconut sugar, coconut milk, and chopped pecans!
The most delicious caramel pecan pie bites recipe
When Thanksgiving and the holidays roll around, there's one dessert that always comes to mind as the classic must-have: pecan pie. Between the textures, flavors, and glazed pecan layer, it's a hit no matter the crowd.
But this year, let's shake things up! Rather than sticking with the same old, try these chocolate caramel pecan pie bites. These individual bite-sized pieces taste like classic pecan pie with an added touch of caramel deliciousness. They're the perfect addition to a buffet-style dessert setup, and they make a great sweet tooth-satisfying bite to enjoy while watching a game!
Ingredients in chocolate caramel pecan pie bites
You'll need only six ingredients to bring these pecan pie bites to life. Start with some coconut milk, and then grab your coconut sugar, salt, pecans, and chocolate!
- Coconut milk: First up, we'll use 1 13.5 oz can of coconut milk. This ingredient contributes flavor while also helping us achieve the proper "dough" consistency.
- Coconut sugar: We'll add sweet flavor with 1 cup of coconut sugar.
- Salt: Next up, add ¼ teaspoon of salt to give the bites a delicious taste.
- Pecans: You can't have pecan pie bites without pecans, which makes 1.5 cups necessary. Chop them up before adding to the mix.
- Chocolate chips: As for the chocolate portion, you can use either 1 cup of chocolate chips or a chocolate bar.
- Sea salt: Last but not least, flakey sea salt makes the perfect finishing touch!
Tools needed to make this recipe
When it comes to kitchen tools, this recipe only requires four (plus measuring cups). You'll need a baking sheet, parchment paper, saucepan, stirring utensil, and ¼ tsp, ½ cup, and 1 cup sized measuring cups.
How to make this caramel pecan pie recipe
You can expect this recipe to take about 10 minutes of hands-on prep time in addition to 30-40 minutes of hands-off simmering.
To begin, add the coconut milk, coconut sugar, and salt to a saucepan and bring to a boil. These ingredients will become the caramel!
Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mix simmer/bubble for 30-40 minutes. It should never be a rapid boil, but it should always have bubbles. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
Once the mixture starts to get smooth and thick, turn off the burner and pour the caramel into a glass jar to cool.
Let the caramel cool on the counter for one hour, and then add it to a bowl with the chopped pecans. Mix well.
Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to add the pecan caramel mixture to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Use about 2 tablespoons for each bite, and stack the mixture up so the bites aren't so flat.
Place the bites in the freezer for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, melt the chocolate in the microwave and add about 1 tablespoon to each pecan caramel. Top with flaky sea salt and freeze for another 30 minutes before serving.
How salted caramel pecan pie bites are healthier
When it comes to this chocolate caramel pecan pie recipe, I made a few healthier ingredient swaps.
Coconut milk
First, I used coconut milk in place of dairy milk! This is a super simple swap to make and it tastes great when paired with the sugar. Don't worry, it doesn't taste too coconut-y!
Coconut sugar
Next up came the coconut sugar. This was used in place of granulated sugar for a healthier, more natural alternative.
Substitution Tip
Wondering how you can switch things up? You have options!
- Coconut sugar: Feel free to swap in regular sugar for coconut. Use a 1:1 ratio.
- Pecans: If you want to switch up the nuts, peanuts or walnuts will work well!
- Chocolate: Finally, chooclate can be switched with white chocolate or peanut butter chips.
Storing leftovers
Leftover bites can be kept in the refrigerator or freezer. If you'd like to enjoy them down the road, they'll store well in the freezer for up to 3 months!
If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!
Enjoy some more holiday classics with these delicious recipe ideas.
- Turkey Shepherd's Pie
- Oven Roasted Honey Carrots
- Healthier Sweet Potato Casserole
- Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.
Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie Bites
Ingredients
Method
- Bring coconut milk, coconut sugar, and salt to a boil in a saucepan.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer/bubble for 30-40 minutes. It should never be a rapid boil, but should always have bubbles. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
- Once it starts to get smooth and thick, turn off burner and pour caramel into glass jar to cool.
- Let cool on counter for 1 hour, then add to a bowl with chopped pecans and mix well.
- Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, add about 2 tablespoons of pecan caramel mixture to parchment lined baking sheet. Stack mixture up so it isn't so flat.
- Place in freezer for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, melt chocolate in microwave and add about 1 tablespoon to each pecan caramel. Top with flaky sea salt and freeze for another 30 minutes before serving.
- Store in fridge or freezer!
Eliza says
These were amazing! I kept the coconut milk and sugar on boil for about 5 minutes before putting it down to a simmer and it gave me the perfect consistency! These taste like the store bought turtles! Thanks Erin😊
Erin says
Hi Eliza, so glad you loved the bites!!
Domi says
Didn’t not come out as expected. Made these with some high hopes but they didn’t come out like the pictures at all. They were soggy and would melt the moment they were taken out of the freezer. Also I recommend changing the time for the appropriate 4 hours needed. Wish I would have realized prior to starting.
Erin says
Hi Domi, I'm sorry that you did not like the recipe! I've heard tons of good things about this one, bummed it didn't work out for you!
Whittney says
Delicious! I used used heavy cream instead of coconut milk and it turned out perfectly. I would suggest including the cooling of the caramel and the freezing in with said cook time, so in the future, others that make this can allot time accordingly.
Erin says
Hi Whittney, I am so glad you loved them and made them your own!!
Megan J says
I do not foresee these lasting the night! Every time I open the fridge, I eat another. Super yummy!
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you enjoyed them! Might need to make more soon then!!
Cindy says
This looks soooo good!!! Will be adding this one to my list!!
Erin says
Hi Cindy, yay let me know how they come out for you!!