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!

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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

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.

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

How do you fix sticky candied pecans? ›

The pecans only take a few minutes to cook. If you walk away or don't stir constantly they could burn. The nuts will be sticky at first before they cool. If the glazed pecans remain sticky after cooling, transfer the baking sheet to a 325ºF oven for 5-15 minutes, or until they harden.

Do you refrigerate candied pecans? ›

Candied pecans will keep tightly sealed in an airtight container for one to two weeks. They will keep for at least three weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator and may be frozen for several months.

Why won't my pralines get hard? ›

If you beat too long, the candy will seize and start to crumble. If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky.

How do you soften pecan pralines? ›

Since the problem is mostly that the sugar in the pralines gets hard and crystallized, you might try softening them the way you'd soften hard brown sugar. Place a terracotta sugar saver in the container or something else that's slightly damp, like a few slices of apple or a slice of fresh bread.

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.

How long will candied pecans keep? ›

How Long Do Candied Pecans Last? Store your candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. If you give them as a gift, be sure to include storage instructions.

Do candied pecans go bad? ›

If you don't plan on eating your candied pecans right away, you may want to consider storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Refrigeration can keep the pecans fresh for up to three months, while freezing can extend their shelf life for up to six months.

Why won't my candied nuts dry? ›

If your nuts don't harden fully, that means the sugar wasn't cooked long enough and didn't caramelize. Cook the nuts longer next time!

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

Why are pecans bad for dogs? These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

Why are my candied nuts 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. Avoid stirring it before it changes its color.

How many cups are in a pound of pecans? ›

Measurements and Substitutions

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.

Can you reheat candied pecans? ›

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

Once they thaw, they may be a bit soft but pop them into the air fryer, and they'll get nice and crunchy again. REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: To reheat, pop the pecans into an air fryer at 275°F for 5 to 10 minutes.

Can you store pecans in mason jars? ›

Pecans (and almost any food) can be preserved in Mason jars. This method frees up your freezer space, and there is no freezer burn.

Does praline mean candied? ›

praline, is a firm combination of almonds and caramelized sugar. These candied almonds can be ground into a powder called "pralin" that is used to fill the Belgian chocolates.

What's the difference between glazed and praline? ›

A: Glazed pecans have a rough sugary coated appearance and use about twice the amount of sugar as our praline pecan with no flavor added. The praline pecan has a smooth shiny appearance, with half the sugar of the glazed pecan and praline pecan flavor is added.

What are praline pecans made of? ›

French settlers brought the original recipe—which consisted of individual almonds coated in caramelized sugar—to Louisiana, where chefs substituted locally abundant pecans for the almonds and added cream to make what is now known throughout the South as pecan pralines.

What are the two types of pecans? ›

A native pecan often has thicker shells and smaller nuts, while improved varieties tend to have more delicate shells and larger nuts. Another clue in identifying different pecan varieties is the nut shape and kernel appearance.

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