Homemade Candied Pecans are perfect for snacking or as a holiday gift for friends and family. These pecans are generously coated in a cinnamon sugar mixture that is both sweet and salty, with an amazing aroma.
You’ll love this recipe because it’s made with simple ingredients. These crunchy, sugar-coated nuts are incredibly delicious, and to be honest, it’s hard to stop once you start the first bite.
While pecans are great for candying, they’re not the only nuts you can turn into caramelized delights. You can also use different nuts like walnuts, and pistachios or experiment with fruits or even pretzels.
So if you’re searching for a sweet gluten-free treat that’s crowd-pleaser or a great topping for your salads, this recipe is for you!
Easy Candied Pecans Recipe – Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You can have your very own candy in 4 easy steps!
- Candied nuts are crunchy and sweet, you can use them to garnish cakes, ice cream, desserts, and even salad!
- You extend the shelf life of food by candying.
- There are other food items you can turn into candy.
Ingredients To Make Pecan Candies
- 2 heaping cups of pecan halves/pieces
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp sea salt
How To Make Candied Pecans
- Get a baking sheet and line it up with wax paper then set aside. Put a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat, add the brown sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla, water, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring the sugar mixture to a gentle simmer, and only whisk the caramel once it has reached its deep amber color.
- Simmer for a few minutes until the sugar has melted and is no longer grainy. Stirring to make sure there are no clumps of sugar left.
- Add the pecans and gently toss them in the caramel until they are well coated.
- Turn the heat off, and spread the pecans on the prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can leave them in clusters, or spread them in a single layer for bite-sized pieces. Allow the pecans to cool to room temperature and harden before serving or storing them.
Notes:
What Is Candying And Why Do We Do It?
Candying is a cooking and food preservation technique in which fruits, nuts, or sometimes even vegetables are coated with sugar syrup and then dried.
This process creates a sweet and often slightly crystallized or glazed exterior, while the interior of the food remains preserved and moist. It is commonly used to enhance the flavor and shelf life of various foods, and it is particularly popular for fruits and nuts.
This cooking method is not limited to fruits and nuts; it can also be applied to other foods like ginger, flowers (such as crystallized violets or roses), and even some vegetables for culinary purposes.
The process allows for the preservation of these foods while enhancing their sweetness and flavor.
Tips, Variations, And Substitutions
🥜 Cashew, almonds, walnuts – you can create candied walnuts, almonds, or other nuts that you may want to use. You can even do this with peanuts.
You can also leave them in clusters or a single layer and let them cool on a baking sheet. They are great for giving crunch and sweetness to salads or eating them for an easy and delicious snack.
🥜 Sliced fruits – Things like apples, pears, bananas, and generally other fruits that can hold their shape when they are tossed in caramel can be used.
🥜 Berries – Strawberries, blueberries, and other berries can be candied as well. This will have a great balance of sweet and tangy flavors.
🥜 Cayenne pepper – This will give a bit of heat and spice to your candies. It will add a new dimension of flavor to your already sweet and salty snack. Be aware of the amount of cayenne you use as it can make the candy too spicy for kids.
🥜 Table salt – This variety is a household staple and is readily available. If you don’t have fine sea salt then you can use regular salt instead.
🥜 Maple syrup – This adds another layer of sweetness to the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use the oven to bake this candy. You can use egg whites to help coat the nuts and then toss them in a sugar mixture. Read the tips, variations, and substitutions section for clearer instructions.
Yes, you can! Aside from pecans, you can use whatever variety of nuts you have on hand. Fruits and berries can also be candied.
You can add a crunchy, nutty, and sweet element to your salad if you want. Aside from salads, you can also add this to cakes, ice cream, cupcakes, or other sweet treats you can think of.
Holiday Candied Pecans Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cup pecans heaping cups, halves/pieces
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- 1. Get a baking sheet and line it up with wax paper then set aside. Put a saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low heat, add the brown sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla, water, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring the sugar mixture to a gentle simmer, and only whisk the caramel once it has reached its deep amber color.
- 2. Simmer for a few minutes until the sugar has melted and is no longer grainy. Stirring to make sure there are no clumps of sugar left.
- 3. Add the pecans and gently toss them in the caramel until they are well coated.
- 4. Turn the heat off, and spread the pecans on the prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can leave them in clusters, or spread them in a single layer for bite-sized pieces. Allow the pecans to cool to room temperature and harden before serving or storing them. (Note)