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Candied pecans are one of the easiest ways to dress up a salad or vegetable dish. Candied nuts are great for snacking and perfect for adding to your charcuterie board.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe.
Candied pecans are easy to make in only a few minutes with just three ingredients. They are crunchy and sweet, great to eat on their own or perfect to add to your favorite salad. You can even use them to dress up vegetables like sweet potatoes, green beans, and asparagus. They taste just like candy!
Ingredients Needed
- Pecans. Use whole pecans or pecan halves.
- Granulated sugar, brown sugar or maple syrup.
- Butter, salted
How to make candied pecans
- Melt butter and sugar in a pan over medium heat until it begins to bubble and turn golden brown.
- Add in pecans and stir to coat.
- Stir constantly until sugar has caramelized. You do not want the sugar to burn.
- Pour coated pecans onto a piece of foil, baking sheet or parchment paper.Â
- Spread into a single layer using a wooden spoon.
- Allow to cool.Â
- Break apart as needed and place into an airtight container until ready to use.
Tips from leigh Anne
- You can use this method to sugar any of your favorite nuts. Almonds and walnuts are a couple of my favorites.
- Feel free to add your favorite seasonings to the sugar mixture as well. Ground Cinnamon is a common choice. Cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cumin and paprika is fun if you like a little spice. Add about 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of spice per cup of nuts.
- If your nuts are sticky after cooling, slide the foil or parchment paper onto a cookie sheed and bake at 325°F for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.
Pair Candied Pecans With:
- A cheese board.
- Cheese Ball
- Relish Tray
- Your favorite salad
- Add to vegetable dishes such as sweet potatoes, green beans or brussels sprouts.
- Toss them on ice cream or chop them up and add them to the top of any apple or pumpkin dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can candied pecans be frozen
Yes. Cool pecans completely and place in an airtight container and freeze for up to two months.
Do candied pecans need to be refrigerated?
No. They will keep for up to a month in an airtight container at room temperature. There is no need to store in the refrigerator.
Can I use any kind of nut?
Yes, this process will work with any kind of nut you prefer. I have done it with almonds, peanuts and walnuts too.
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Candied Pecans Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup nuts whole or chopped
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp butter
Instructions
- Melt butter and sugar in a frying pan, stir until it begins to bubble and darken around the edges.
- Add in nuts and stir to entirely coat nuts with mixture. The sugar may seize up a bit but that is o.k. – continue stirring and it will melt.
- Continue stirring as sugar caramelizes and coats nuts.
- Remove from heat when nuts are coated with sugar mixture. Spread in a single layer on a piece of foil and allow to cool.
- Store in an airtight container.
Tips & Notes:
- You can use this method to sugar any of your favorite nuts. Almonds and walnuts are a couple of my favorites.
- Feel free to add your favorite seasonings to the sugar mixture as well. Ground Cinnamon is a common choice. Cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cumin and paprika is fun if you like a little spice. Add about 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of spice per cup of nuts.
- If your nuts are sticky after cooling, slide the foil or parchment paper onto a cookie sheed and bake at 325°F for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.
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