There’s just something magical about the combo of rich pecans and smooth chocolate that makes these treats unforgettable. That’s why I’m excited to share my Pecan Pie Balls with Chocolate Coating Recipe—a perfect blend of nutty crunch and sweet indulgence that feels like a special occasion in every bite.

A white plate holds eight round chocolate-covered balls, each topped with small red, green, and white sprinkles. One ball is cut in half and placed in front, showing a light brown inside with pieces of nuts. The chocolate coating is smooth and shiny, slightly melting at the bottom edges. The background has a white marbled texture with soft, out-of-focus silver decorations and a red ornament. Sprinkles are scattered lightly on the plate and surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Pecan Pie Balls with Chocolate Coating Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Pecan Pie Balls with Chocolate Coating Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I truly enjoy whipping up these pecan pie balls because they’re deceptively easy but taste like you spent hours in the kitchen. Plus, they’re no-bake with just a bit of chilling time, making them a fantastic last-minute treat that impresses everyone.

Perfect bite-sized treats: These balls give you all the flavors of pecan pie in a neat, portable package that’s great for parties or snacks.
No baking required: You just mix, chill, shape, and coat—saving you time and oven space for other dishes.
Customizable chocolate coating: Whether you want classic milk chocolate or festive white chocolate with sprinkles, you’re in control.
Impressive yet simple: These look fancy but are easy to make, making you look like a kitchen pro with minimal effort.

A white plate holds seven round chocolate-covered balls with a smooth, glossy dark chocolate layer topped with small chocolate sprinkles. One ball at the center is cut in half, showing a crumbly golden nutty filling inside. The plate sits on a white marbled surface scattered with some chocolate sprinkles and pecans. Around the plate, there is a small white bowl filled with chocolate sprinkles and a glass jar filled with whole pecans. The overall look is neat and colorful with a mix of dark brown, golden, and white tones. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in the Pecan Pie Balls with Chocolate Coating Recipe plays a tasty role. From the crunchy pecans to the rich maple syrup and melty chocolate, these flavors and textures create a perfectly balanced treat. Here’s what I use and why:

Flat lay of a simple white ceramic bowl filled with finely chopped pecans, a small white bowl of golden maple syrup, a small white bowl of light amber karo syrup, a small white bowl with golden melted butter, a small mound of light brown graham cracker crumbs on the clean white marble surface, a neat pile of rich brown packed brown sugar, a small white bowl with dark glossy chocolate melting discs, a few whole pecans, and a scattering of colorful holiday-themed sprinkles artfully arranged, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Pecans: Fresh chopped pecans give you that signature crunch and nutty flavor essential to pecan pie.
Graham cracker crumbs: They add body and just a little hint of sweetness, helping bind the mixture together.
Brown sugar: Provides deep caramel sweetness that pairs perfectly with pecans.
Maple syrup: Adds natural sweetness and that cozy, woodsy flavor that makes these extra special.
Light Karo syrup: Helps keep the mixture sticky and cohesive, so your balls hold their shape well.
Salted butter: Adds richness and smoothness, rounding out the flavors.
Almond extract: A little boost of nutty, fragrant flavor that complements the pecans.
Rum extract: Brings warm, toasty notes that elevate the taste closer to classic pecan pie.
Chocolate melting discs: These melt beautifully and harden with a shiny finish—perfect for coating your balls smoothly. I usually use Ghirardelli.
Holiday-themed sprinkles (optional): Adds fun color and festive flair if you’re making these for a special occasion.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about the Pecan Pie Balls with Chocolate Coating Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. Whether you want them a little sweeter, or maybe swap out flavors, it’s surprisingly flexible and forgiving.

Variation: I’ve sometimes swapped the rum extract for vanilla when I’m out, and honestly, it still comes out delicious—just a bit sweeter and less boozy.
Chocolate flavors: White chocolate or even festive colored melts make these pop during holidays.
Diet-friendly tweaks: For a dairy-free option, try coconut oil instead of butter and ensure your chocolate coating is vegan-friendly.
Nut swaps: If pecans aren’t your fave, chopped walnuts work well too.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Pecan Pie Balls with Chocolate Coating Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Filling Ingredients Thoroughly

I start by combining the chopped pecans, graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, maple syrup, Karo syrup, melted butter, almond extract, and rum extract in a large bowl. I like to use a wooden spoon for this since it’s sturdy and helps mix everything evenly. Once combined, I cover the bowl with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for at least two hours or even overnight if I have time. This chilling step is key to firming up the mixture so the balls hold together perfectly.

Step 2: Shape Into Tight Balls

After chilling, I wet my hands with warm water to keep the mixture from sticking and scoop out the mixture using a 2-inch cookie scoop. Then, pressing gently but firmly, I shape each scoop into tight balls. This technique really helps compact the balls so they don’t fall apart later when you dip them in chocolate. I set them on a parchment-lined sheet and keep going until all the filling is used.

Step 3: Melt the Chocolate Smoothly

While the balls are resting, I melt the chocolate discs in a medium bowl following the package directions. I’ve found that stirring the chocolate until it's silky smooth makes all the difference when coating. If you don’t have melting discs, I’ll share a handy trick down below on alternatives.

Step 4: Dip and Decorate

Using a fork, I gently dip each pecan ball into the melted chocolate, rolling it around carefully so it’s fully coated but doesn’t break apart. Then, with the fork, I lift the coated ball out and set it gently back on the parchment paper. If I want, I sprinkle on festive holiday sprinkles at this stage while the chocolate is still wet. Finally, I refrigerate the whole tray uncovered for about two hours so the chocolate hardens up shiny and firm.

Top Tip

I’ve made these pecan pie balls plenty of times, and after a few trial runs I realized a few simple tricks that make the biggest difference in taste and texture:

Wet your hands for shaping: Keeps the sticky filling from clinging, making shaping smoother and faster.
Don’t skip chilling: The refrigeration firms up the mixture so your balls hold their shape perfectly during dipping.
Use good-quality chocolate melts: They melt evenly and harden with a great shine—won’t crack or dull the finish.
Handle dipped balls gently: The coating is delicate when wet, so use a fork and place them softly on parchment to avoid cracking.

How to Serve Pecan Pie Balls with Chocolate Coating Recipe

Garnishes

For me, a simple dusting of holiday-themed sprinkles always brightens the look—and it’s fun to customize for the season. Occasionally, I like to add a tiny drizzle of white or dark chocolate over the coated balls for that extra pretty touch. A pinch of flaky sea salt on top before the chocolate sets also works wonders to balance the sweetness.

Side Dishes

I find these pecan pie balls pair beautifully with a cup of coffee or a nice dessert wine for an indulgent snack. They also work great alongside scoopable dips like vanilla bean whipped cream or cinnamon-spiced mascarpone if you want to get fancy at a party.

Creative Ways to Present

One year I arranged the pecan pie balls on a festive platter dusted with cocoa powder and scattered fresh rosemary sprigs for a piney aroma. Another time, I popped each ball into decorative mini cupcake liners, which made them so easy to grab at a holiday gathering—plus it added a splash of color. You can really dress these up or keep it casual!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once made, I store any uneaten pecan pie balls in a single layer in an uncovered container in the fridge. They stay fresh for about five days. Keeping them uncovered helps the chocolate stay crisp and prevents sweating, so they taste just as amazing the next day.

Freezing

You can absolutely freeze these! I wrap each ball individually in plastic wrap, then store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month. When I want one, I let it thaw in the fridge overnight—it keeps that lovely texture without condensation messing up the chocolate coating.

Reheating

Since it’s a no-bake treat, reheating isn’t necessary, but if you like your pecan balls a bit softer, just take them out of the fridge about 15 minutes before serving to come to room temp. This brings out their full flavor and softness perfectly.

Pecan Pie Balls with Chocolate Coating Recipe