Easy Recipe Pecan Pie minis

I was explaining to someone the other day how I love to bake.  He asked me if I would be willing to bake a pecan pie for his significant other's birthday.  He wanted the kind with the whole pecans, and nobody had them around our area.  I told him I had not made one before, but I would be willing to find a recipe and try.  I told him to come by the house and I would give him a sample.

One problem with that theory...I don't eat pecan pie.  I asked my guinea pig husband if he liked pecan pie and he said NO in no uncertain terms.  Hmm..what to do?  Who is going to tell me if the pie tastes good?

I decided instead of making a full-sized pie, I would make little individual sized pies so I could shop for more opinions.

I found a recipe from Paula Deen for the pie...
1 cup sugar 
3 tablespoons butter, melted 
1/2 cup dark corn syrup 
3 large eggs, beaten 
1 1/2 to 2 cups pecan halves 
2 tablespoons good-quality bourbon (I left this part out in my pie)
1 (9-inch) deep-dish pie shell, unbaked

In a medium bowl, stir together the sugar and melted butter. Add the corn syrup, eggs, pecans, and bourbon, and stir until all ingredients are combined. Pour mixture into an unbaked pie shell, and place on a heavy-duty cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, and continue to bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until pie is set. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack

I thought they looked pretty good.  I still had the problem of who would try them.  I turned to Facebook armed with this picture and these words..."I have 6 more of these left.  First one to comment gets them."  Problem solved!  I had a willing participant within 5 minutes.  Luckily, she gave me a glowing review!  

The real pie will be due at the end of the month.  I hope his family enjoys the pie.