~from Savoring Time in the Kitchen
Makes 2 dozen (You will want to double this recipe - believe me!)
3 oz cream cheese (I use the lower-fat Neufchatel cheese), softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1-1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons softened butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/3 cup chopped dark chocolate
In a stand mixer, blend softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in flour until blended. Remove dough and cover with plastic wrap and chill for about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 325F.
Shape dough into 2 dozen, 1-inch balls. Place in un-greased mini-muffin tins and press evenly against bottom and sides of pan. If you have a handy, dandy, tamper tool, it will simplify that task!
Filling:
Beat together eggs, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of softened butter, vanilla and salt just until smooth. Place a small amount of chopped, dark chocolate on the bottom of each dough cup. Add half of pecans over the chocolate and add egg mixture to the top. Sprinkle with remaining pecans.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until filling is set. Cool before removing from pans.