Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

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These candied pecans are not only easy to make, but they’re also a delicious snack. Make them for your next get-together with friends or family gathering.

Candied Pecans Recipe (1)

I highly recommend reading this entire post before you begin preparing the recipe. However, if all you want is the list of ingredients with full directions, please either click on the jump-to-recipe button above or scroll to the bottom of this post.

Easy Pecan Recipe

Pecans are so much fun to cook with and eat! They provide a lot of texture, protein, fiber, and depth of nutty flavor to keep you coming back for more.

I have quite a few wonderful pecan recipes—all of them super easy. For example, these roasted pecans only require a few ingredients and a little bit of time in the oven.

Another thing we like to do is garnish salads with pecans. One of our favorites is this apple spinach salad with pecans.

If you’re into sweets, you’ll love these chocolate caramel pecan bars. The mix of flavors in this delightful dessert will have everyone asking for seconds.

Candied Pecans Ingredients

You need several ingredients, but only a little bit of each one. However, if you want to make more, simply double everything.

Candied Pecans Recipe (2)

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 cup of pecan halves
  • 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup of brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon of water
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • Dash of salt
Candied Pecans Recipe (3)

If you want, you can increase the cinnamon to give it more of a kick.

During the holidays, you can add some red hot candies to make it more festive.

If you add other candies to the sugared pecans, do so after they’ve had a chance to cool.

Otherwise, you might wind up with a melty mess that will still taste good. But it won’t look so great.

How to Make Candied Pecans

Making these candied pecans, as I already mentioned, is easy. But make sure you have everything ready because they cook quickly.

You’ll also need to stand in front of your stove for the whole 5 minutes. Walk away, and you’re likely to wind up with a burnt mess.

If you’ve ever had this happen, you know that burned sugar is hard to clean up.

For that reason, I like to place the wax paper on a pan and have it ready. Otherwise, you’ll have to scramble to get it set up.

First, in a large skillet, mix everything but the pecans over medium heat.

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Dissolve the sugar and bring it to a light boil.

I like to stir it while it heats up to prevent any of it burning on the pan. I’m always thinking about cleanup.

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Secondly, stir in the pecans and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Make sure all of the pecans are coated in the sugar mixture. This is super easy if you keep stirring.

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Finally, scoop the cooked pecans onto a sheet pan covered with parchment paper or foil, separate them with the spatula, and allow them to cool.

Please be careful and try not to touch them with your bare hands because they will be super hot.

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Serve immediately or place in an airtight container for later.

You can eat them by themselves, put them in a recipe, or use them to top your favorite dessert.

I love crumbled candied pecans over vanilla or chocolate ice cream.

Benefits of Pecans

Although these pecans have a sugary coating, they still have some health benefits.

According to DrAxe.com, in addition to protein, fiber, and healthy fats, they are packed with manganese, copper, and thiamine.

One of the things I like about pecans is that they’re filling.

So it only takes a few of them to satisfy my hunger or craving.

Candied Pecans Recipe (8)

More Recipes

If you’re looking for more scrumptious foods to add to your dinner rotation, check out some of these recipes:

After having been in a rut many years ago, I now love to find new side dishes. One that I really enjoy is this Brussels sprouts dish. It’s super easy and so yummy.

We like one-pan meals around here, and we love Greek food. That’s why this Greek chicken with zoodles dish is one we look forward to.

My friend Paula has some great recipes on her blog, Call Me PMC. Check out this whipped feta with blistered tomatoes recipe. Talk about flavor!

Delicious but Easy Dessert Recipes

If you like to add dessert to your family meal but don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, you’ll love some of these. They’re all withstood the test of time in my family, and they’re all absolutely delicious!

These lemon bars are super easy to make, and they’ve risen to the top of family favorites at our house.

Make these yummy coconut balls for a delightfully sweet treat that’s perfect for dessert or to bring to a party!

When it comes to desserts, I’m all over the place. I love this rocky road fudge when I’m in the mood for chocolate.

But when I want something fruity, I often turn to this delicious granola fruit crisp with a dollop of ice cream on top.

Yield: 4 servings

Candied Pecans Recipe (9)

These candied pecans are delicious for snacking or dessert.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time7 minutes

Total Time12 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of pecan halves
  • 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup of brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon of water
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • Dash of salt

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, mix everything but the pecans over medium heat. Dissolve the sugar and bring it to a light boil.
  2. Stir in the pecans and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Make sure all of the pecans are coated in the sugar mixture.
  3. Scoop the cooked pecans onto a sheet pan covered in parchment paper or foil, separate them, and allow them to cool.
  4. Serve immediately or place in an airtight container for later.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 275Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 16gCholesterol 0mgSodium 42mgCarbohydrates 28gFiber 3gSugar 25gProtein 2g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

Did you make this recipe?

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Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans still sticky? ›

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 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.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

How do you preserve candied pecans? ›

Storing. 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.

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 wont my candied fruit harden? ›

In hard candy making, it is important to cook all the water out of the sugar/corn syrup/water mixture. If the sugar mixture is not cooked to the proper temperature (the hard-crack stage 300-310° F {149-154° C.} or if you are working in a kitchen with high humidity, chances are your candy is retaining too much moisture.

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.

Can pecans become rancid? ›

Because oil content in pecans is high, rancidity can develop at warm temperatures and is more noticeable than in most other nuts. Pecan oil is a mixture of several oils, although oleic and linoleic oils are the two principal ones, usually comprising about 95% or more of total oil.

Do pecans turn rancid? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

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.

Why are my candied nuts soft? ›

Usually if the almonds are soft after candying it means that they weren't cooked for long enough. However, this recipe cooks all of the water out of the sugar syrup and then takes it a step further where the the sugar then re-caramelizes allowing the almonds to harden.

Why are my candied nuts wet? ›

Making this recipe with egg whites will always result in crispy crunchy nuts and they won't become soggy and soft after a few days either. Why are my candied nuts wet and sticky? They were not baked long enough or they were not baked at the correct heat temperature.

Do candied nuts go bad? ›

Okay, all bad dad jokes aside, these candied walnuts will last quite a while. All nuts do go rancid eventually, but as long as you cool them completely and then store them in an air-tight container, they should be good for about a month.

Should candied pecans be refrigerated? ›

Candied pecans don't need to be frozen – be sure to keep them in the refrigerator to maximize their freshness. Some varieties, like honey roasted pecans, may clump together when first pulled from the cold of the refrigerator. Be prepared to gently break them apart, if needed.

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.

Why didn't my pecan pie solidify? ›

A pecan pie is essentially a custard pie, and a liquid center is almost always the result of underbaking. The Karo Classic Pecan Pie recipe calls for baking the pie for 60 to 70 minutes at 350 degrees. In some ovens, however, the pie can take 75 minutes or more.

Why is my pecan tree so sappy? ›

This is a sign of yellow aphids in pecan. Yellow pecan aphids are smaller of two species of yellow-tinted plant lice that feed on the underside of foliage of pecan trees. The other species is called black-margined aphid that cause so-called “dripping of pecan trees.”

Why is my pecan pie gooey? ›

If the filling is flowing in a wavy movement from the center to the edge, your pie isn't set quite yet. Wait for the moment when the center of your pecan pie gives you just a little jiggle, like the stable but slightly wiggly movement of Jell-O when you give it a gentle shake.

How long should pecans dry before cracking? ›

Allow the nuts to dry for a couple of weeks or so. Once the nuts are dry enough, you'll be able to break open the hulls without much effort. Rounding up, always ensure to pick your pecans during the late fall.

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