Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

Published: by Dina

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Quick and easy stovetop Candied Pecans are the perfect sweet and crunchy snack. Top them over your favorite salad, or even gift them for the holidays.

We love serving these pecans over our spinach pomegranate salad or our spinach strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing.

Candied Pecans Recipe (1)
Table Of Contents
  • Candied Pecans Recipe Details
  • What You’ll Need
  • Add-ins and Substitutions
  • How to Make Candied Pecans
  • Recipe Tips
  • FAQs
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Make These Candied Pecans in Advance
  • More Deliciously Nutty Dishes!
  • Full Recipe Instructions

Candied Pecans Recipe Details

These Candied Pecans are simple, yet so scrumptious. I love how versatile they are, perfect for salads, desserts, or even as a gift.

  • TASTE: These treats are sweet, buttery, and nutty. They have a delicious balance of flavors.
  • TEXTURE: The pecans are tender on the inside, but the outside is crunchy with a shell of caramelized brown sugar.
  • TIME: This is super quick, only taking about 6 minutes to make.
  • EASE: These Candied Pecans are so easy, you can make them with almost no effort at all.

What You’ll Need

Candied Pecans Recipe (2)

Add-ins and Substitutions

  • Add some spice- If you like the combination of spicy and sweet, add some cayenne pepper to the pecans for a little kick.
  • Substitute white sugar- This is commonly used to make Candied Pecans and works just as well. Brown sugar adds a richer flavor, but for sweetness, white sugar is fine, too.
  • Add egg whites- This can be used as a binder to hold the sugar and spices to the Candied Pecans. If you are adding powers, like cayenne, cinnamon, etc., this is helpful.
  • Substitute another nut- While pecans are a favorite, this recipe works for lots of other nuts, such as walnuts, peanuts, almonds, and more.

How to Make Candied Pecans

  • Combine the ingredients. Take out a medium-sized saucepan and add in the pecans, butter, and golden brown sugar.
  • Caramelize the pecans. Bring the heat to medium and allow the butter to melt. When the brown sugar begins to dissolve and caramelized, take it off the heat. I like to lay the pecans flat on a sheet of parchment paper to cool.

Pro Tip:Keep an eye on the caramelization, being careful to take the pecans off the heat before the sugar begins to burn.

Candied Pecans Recipe (3)

Recipe Tips

  • Choose raw pecans- These are not toasted or roasted, so they will be softer and absorb more flavor. They will also be less likely to burn since they have not been pre-cooked.
  • Use chopped or halved pecans- The smaller the pieces, the more surface area they will have. This means they will get even more coating of butter and sugar for a sweeter nut.
  • Be careful they don’t burn- Butter and sugar can burn pretty quickly, so keep an eye on the pecans. As soon as everything has dissolved and they begin to caramelize, cut the heat.
  • Separate them to cool- To avoid the pecans clumping together as they cool, lay them out on parchment paper and separate them to cool individually.
Candied Pecans Recipe (4)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans sticky?

The outside of the candied pecans should be hard and crunchy, almost brittle like. If they are more sticky, that probably means the sugar didn’t reach a high enough temperature during the caramelization process.

What is the difference between praline pecans and candied pecans?

Praline pecans are a type of candied pecan that uses dairy, such as milk, cream, or evaporated milk, in addition to the sugar and butter.

Serving Suggestions

These homemade Candied Pecans can be eaten on their own or used as a topping. Here are some delicious ways to serve them.

  • Salads: Add them to your favorite salads, such as Spinach Pomegranate Salad or Broccoli Cranberry Salad Recipe.
  • Cheese board: These Candied Pecans are a great addition to a platter like this Charcuterie Board (Cheese Board) VIDEO. Or try it with this Farmer’s Cheese.
  • Dessert: Top your favorite desserts with these nuts. Try them with Nutella Cake, Pumpkin Cheesecake (VIDEO), or Easy Ube Ice Cream.
Candied Pecans Recipe (5)

Make These Candied Pecans in Advance

Make ahead: You can make these weeks in advance as long as you store them in an airtight container to keep them from going stale.

Storing: For best taste and freshness, store these tasty snacks in an airtight container, such as a glass mason jar or a vacuum-sealed plastic container. They will keep for 2-3 weeks at room temperature.

Freeze: If you place these Candied Pecans in an airtight container in the freezer, they will last for over 18 months.

More Deliciously Nutty Dishes!

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down.

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Full Recipe Instructions

Candied Pecans Recipe (10)

Candied Pecans

Quick and easy stovetop candied pecans are the perfect sweet and crunchy snack. Top them over your favorite salad, or even gift them for the holidays.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: condiments

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 1 minute minute

Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 163kcal

Author: Dina

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 cup pecans chopped or in halves

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 2 Tbsp golden brown sugar, and 1 cup of pecans into a medium saucepan.

  • Bring the heat to medium and stir all the ingredients together.

  • Once you see the sugar begin to dissolve and bubble, remove it from the heat. This should take a few minutes.

  • Carefully transfer the hot candied pecans onto a sheet of parchment paper to cool.

Notes

Keep an eye on the caramelization, being careful to take the pecans off the heat before the sugar begins to burn.

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 128IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

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Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!

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Comments

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  1. Rich Wall says

    Candied Pecans Recipe (13)
    Excellent and healthy treat. Love all of your recipes keep up the great work.

    Reply

    • simplyhomecooked says

      Thank you Rich! That means so much!

      Reply

Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking? ›

The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts. How do you fix candied nuts that are too soft and sticky? You can place them back into the oven for 5 to 15 minutes or until they dry out more. They will continue to firm and dry out as they cool.

How long will candied pecans stay fresh? ›

How long will candied pecans keep? They will keep for up to two weeks in an airtight container at room temperature, at least three weeks in the refrigerator, or up to two months in the freezer. No matter where you store them, keep in a tightly sealed, airtight container.

How to prepare pecan nuts? ›

Here are the steps to do so!
  1. Pre-heat the oven to its lowest setting. ...
  2. Place pecans in a single layer on a parchment lined baking tray.
  3. Bake at 170° for 45 minutes, or until fully dry all the way through. ...
  4. Allow them to cool completely.
  5. Eat right away, or store in an air tight container for up to a year!
Jul 12, 2018

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? ›

Praline pecans are just one variety of candied pecans. These pecans have a tasty coating or glaze and are also referred to as flavored pecans.

How to keep candied nuts from sticking together? ›

Toss nuts- Every 10-15 minutes during baking to prevent them from clumping together and to allow them to become crispy and crunchy. Use egg whites- Or else your nuts might get soft after a few days. To bring them back to a crispy texture, just spread them on a cookie tray and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Why are my candied pecans grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing.

How can you tell if pecans are rancid? ›

Fresh pecans have a distinct aroma, characterized by their sweet, nutty scent. They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.

How long do pecans last in a ziplock bag? ›

Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months. They can be refrigerated up to 18 months and frozen for about three years.

Do pecans go bad if not refrigerated? ›

In-shell pecans can be stored at room temperature for a short period of time. Keep in a refrigerator, if so desired, to keep for longer than 4 months. If pecans need to be stored for more than a year, either in the shell, cracked, or shelled, they have to be placed in the freezer.

Why do you soak pecans in water? ›

Improvement in Taste

After a couple of hours, much of the dust, residue, and tannins from the skins are released into the water and the nut emerges with a smoother, more palatable flavor. You'll notice that soaked walnuts do not have that astringent, mouth-puckering taste to them.

Can you eat pecans right off the tree? ›

No, you cannot eat the green nuts that fall off prematurely from the trees as they've still not ripened. Only those nuts that ripen fully by Fall (and hence ready to harvest) are worth eating as they have the rich invigorating flavor you normally associate with nuts.

How many cups is a pound of pecans? ›

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

Why won't my pralines get hard? ›

The simple answer is that there is too much moisture in your candy. One or more factors could be contributing to this problem. In hard candy making, it is important to cook all the water out of the sugar/corn syrup/water mixture.

Is pecan candy good for you? ›

Being that pecans are the main ingredient; the snack contains essential vitamins & minerals, can aid in long-term heart health, can be enjoyed by gluten intolerant consumers, can provide a high number of antioxidants, and can supply a large amount of protein & fiber.

Do pralines go bad? ›

They never go “bad,” but after a week or so the sugar starts to crystalize and they lose the characteristic snap that you enjoy when biting them. Our Creamy Pralines are more fudge-like and they will last for up to eight months from production.

Why are my pecans sticky? ›

The real culprits behind the honeydew are aphids. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that suck sap from plant leaves. Many species of aphids exist and attack various plants, but two types of aphids attack pecan trees and secrete honeydew, the yellow pecan aphid and the black-margined aphid.

What causes stick tights on pecans? ›

Scab infections of the shucks may also produce “stick tights,” a condition in which the shuck does not separate from the nut during harvest. Symptoms of powdery mildew are most obvious when the nuts become covered with a white, fuzzy growth on the surface (Figure 3).

What is the best way to store candied nuts? ›

Storage Instructions: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. Freezing Instructions: They freeze well in an air-tight container for up to two months.

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

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