Step-by-Step Recipe on How to Make Caramelized Pecans (2024)

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Discover how to caramelize pecans with our easy recipe. Elevate your snacks and desserts with these sweet and crunchy treats.

These delectable caramelized pecans are the perfect combination of sweet and crunchy, making them a versatile addition to everything from salads to desserts.

Caramelized pecans are more than just a snack – they’re a versatile, must-have ingredient. They’re the perfect topping to sprinkle over salads for a gourmet touch, add them to oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast indulgence, or incorporate them into desserts for an elegant crunch.

One of the joys of crafting caramelized pecans is the ability to customize them to your taste. Enhance the depth of flavor by adding a pinch of sea salt or a dash of cinnamon. Experiment with different types of sugars to achieve your preferred level of sweetness.

Caramelized pecans are a versatile treat that can be enjoyed throughout the year. They shine particularly during the holiday season, adding elegance to festive gatherings and desserts. Caramelized nuts make great last-minute gifts and can be enjoyed as a delightful snack or incorporated into various baked goods.

How to Use Caramelized Pecans

Caramelized pecans are a great snack all on their own, but here are some creative ways to use them:

  • Use caramelized pecans as a salad topper for a delightful crunch and touch of sweetness. They add depth to green salads, fruit salads, or even grain-based salads.
  • Incorporate caramelized pecans into your favorite desserts, especially holiday recipes. They make a fantastic topping for ice cream, yogurt parfaits, and sundaes. You can also fold them into brownie or cookie batter for added texture and flavor.
  • Upgrade your breakfast by adding caramelized pecans to oatmeal, cereal, or granola. They provide a satisfying crunch and elevate the overall taste.
  • This sweet snack is one of our favorite recipes to add to a cheese boards to balance out flavors. They pair exceptionally well with various types of cheeses, offering a sweet and nutty contrast.
  • Decorate cakes, cupcakes, and pies with pecan halves for a visually appealing and flavorful touch.
  • Incorporate toasty pecans into side dishes like roasted vegetables or sautéed greens. Their sweetness and crunchiness add a delightful element to savory dishes.
  • Create a custom trail mix by combining caramelized pecans with dried fruits, other nuts, and perhaps a touch of dark chocolate for a balanced and satisfying snack.
  • Make a big batch and then package crunchy pecans in decorative jars, bags, or containers as Christmas gifts. You can add festive ribbons or labels for a personal touch.

How to Make Caramelized Pecans

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for a full, printable recipe!

You’ll need:

  • 1 egg white
  • cream of tartar
  • vanilla extract
  • fresh pecans
  • brown sugar
  • half cup sugar
  • teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • teaspoon salt
  • a cookie sheet

Preheat oven to 300F

Line a prepared baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. If using parchment paper, you may want to apply a light spray of cooking oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.

With an electric mixer, beat the egg white and cream of tartar until light and frothy, about 4 minutes.

Beat in the teaspoon of vanilla until just combined.

Fold the pecans into the egg white mixture, coating completely.

In a small separate bowl, combine the sugars and salt to make the sugary coating.

Stir the cinnamon sugar mixture into the pecan mixture until completely combined.

Fold the coated pecans onto your preparedbaking sheet in a single layer and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

Bake until the pecan coating turns into a crunchy coating. The sugar crystals will be a bit sticky, but the stickiness will go away as they cool at room temperature.

Allow your final product to cool on the baking sheet fully before breaking up and storing or serving.

Store the candied nuts in an airtight container like a mason jar. Adding a small piece of parchment paper between layers can help prevent them from sticking together.

Flavor Combinations for Easy Candied Pecans

  • Sprinkle a touch of sea salt over the delicious pecans for a sweet and salty treat.
  • Add warmth and depth by tossing caramelized pecans with spices like pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice to amplify the cozy flavors of the caramelized coating.
  • Try adding a hint of orange or lemon zest to the caramelized pecans for a refreshing twist.
  • Indulge your sweet tooth by drizzling melted chocolate over the caramelized pecans. The combination of caramel, nuts, and chocolate is simply irresistible.
  • Create a savory-sweet blend by mixing caramelized pecans with a drizzle of honey and a touch of fresh rosemary. This combination is perfect for cheese platters.

Relevant Recipes

  • Pecan Pie Cake
  • Pecan Pie Cupcakes
  • Mini Pecan Pies
  • Pumpkin Pecan Pie Cupcakes
  • The Best Fall Snack Ideas

FAQs

What to do if candied nuts are sticky?

If your candied nuts have turned out sticky, don’t worry. Here’s what you can do:

Spread them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet or a cooling rack. This will allow air to circulate around the nuts and help them cool down while preventing them from sticking together.

Ensure that the candied nuts have cooled completely before attempting to separate them. Rushing this process can cause them to stick even more.

Once the nuts have cooled, use your fingers or a spatula to gently break apart any clusters or individual nuts that are stuck together. Be patient and gentle to avoid damaging the nuts.

If the nuts are still slightly sticky after cooling, you can dust them with a thin layer of powdered sugar, cornstarch, or cocoa powder. This will help absorb excess moisture and reduce stickiness.

If your candied nuts are excessively sticky, you can try reheating them in the oven for a short time. Spread them out on a baking sheet and bake at a low temperature (around 250°F for 5-10 minutes. This can help evaporate any residual moisture that’s causing stickiness. Be careful not to overheat and burn them.

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans?

Candied pecans are made by coating pecans with a crystallized sugar mixture, resulting in a crunchy texture with a sweet flavor. Praline pecans, on the other hand, involve a combination of pecans, butter, sugar, and cream, creating a softer, creamy texture with a rich, caramelized flavor. The choice between the two depends on your preference for texture and taste.

Supplies to Make Caramelized Pecans

Featured Links powered byStep-by-Step Recipe on How to Make Caramelized Pecans (16)

Step-by-Step Recipe on How to Make Caramelized Pecans (17)

Yield: 12

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

The only thing better than pumpkin and apple during the fall season is to enjoy caramelized pecans! This fun snack recipe for crunchy pecans will quickly become your favorite.

Ingredients

  • 1 egg white
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla paste
  • 3 cups pecans
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 300F
    2. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. If using parchment paper, you may want to apply a light spray of cooking oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
    3. With an electric mixer, beat the egg white and cream of tartar until light and frothy, about 4 minutes.
    4. Beat in the vanilla until just combined.
    5. Fold the pecans into the egg white mixture, coating completely.
    6. In a small separate bowl, combine the sugars and salt.
    7. Stir the sugar mixture into the pecan mixture until completely combined.
    8. Fold the coated pecans onto your preparedbaking sheet and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
    9. Bake until the pecan coating is as crunchy as you desire - they will be a bit sticky, but the stickiness will go away as they cool at room temperature.
    10. Allow your Caramelized Pecans to cool on the baking sheet fully before breaking up and storing or serving.

Notes

Use a Different Flavor Combination to Make This Delicious Recipe for Candied Nuts!

There isan assortment of sugars, salts, spices and herbs to choose from when making candied nuts recipes like this one! You can try out different combinations or simply stick with the classic sugar-salt combo. Whichever way works best for you get ready to enjoy some deliciousness in no time at all! Some favorites include:

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Maple Syrup

a pinch of Cayenne Pepper

Powdered sugar

How to Store Your Pecans

Store your caramelized pecans in an airtight container ( such as a mason jar or a covered container). Keep them at room temperature and they are best within a week, but will keep up to three months if stored properly.

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Step-by-Step Recipe on How to Make Caramelized Pecans (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

After 45 minutes, remove them from the oven and let them rest. You can remove the pecans to a baking sheet to cool faster if you like. Stir them every 10 minutes or so to avoid them clumping together, or you can just break them apart with a spatula or your hands later. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Why are my candied pecans so 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 do caramelised nuts keep? ›

Stir constantly, allowing the mix to caramelise and turn brown and making sure all the nuts are well coated. Pour the nuts onto some greaseproof paper. Don't worry if they are stuck together, as they can be separated when cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

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.

What is the best way to store 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.

How many cups is one 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.

How to dry out sticky candied pecans? ›

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt makes these taste salty-sweet. If you'd prefer to not taste the salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325°F (162°C) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

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 are my pecans mushy? ›

Humidity above these values can cause kernel molding and pecan texture deterioration (pecans become soft and rubber-like), whereas lower humidities will cause excessive drying. In-shell pecan kernels will darken under high humidity as a result of the tannic acid being dissolved from the shell lining.

Can candied pecans be frozen? ›

Yes, you can! Candied pecans actually freeze really well. Simply place the cooled nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and then freeze for a few hours or overnight to ensure they won't stick together. Once they're frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag and wrap in foil.

Should nuts be refrigerated after opening? ›

Nuts' fragile unsaturated fats can go rancid quickly. While that may not hurt your health, it can definitely be bad news for flavor. Keep nuts tasting fresh by stowing them in a sealed plastic or glass container in the refrigerator for four to six months.

Do nuts expire in the fridge? ›

For storage up to six months, store in the refrigerator and keep away from onions and other strong-smelling foods as nuts tend to take on the smell of things around them.

How do you get the bitterness out of pecans? ›

Some of the tannin and all of the corky material can be removed by washing the kernels before cooking. To "sweeten" the pecan meats (kernels), simply put the pecan kernels in a bowl and fill with lukewarm water. Stir and tumble the meats in the water for several minutes and you will see the discoloration in the water.

How to activate pecans? ›

How to activate your nuts…
  1. Dissolve salt in enough water to cover the amount of nuts/seeds you are activating.
  2. In a large bowl place your nut or seed of choice.
  3. Cover with the salt water solution.
  4. Soak for the required number of hours.
  5. Strain and rinse the nuts.
  6. Spread over a dehydrator rack, or baking tray.
May 12, 2020

Why do people boil pecans? ›

Boiling pecans before cracking them can actually help prevent the shell from shattering. Here's how to boil them to loosen the shell but not cook the meat: ● Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil ● Add the pecans and let cook for 10-15 minutes ● Drain and let cool ● Get to cracking!

How to make candied nuts less sticky? ›

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.

What causes stick tights on pecans? ›

Such "stick? tights" are caused by drought and heat stress in September and October. Pecans require water right up until the time of shuck split to reduce this problem. Nuts sprouting in the shuck before harvest (vivipary) are also reduced by late season water and/or stress reduction.

How long to soak pecans before eating? ›

Preparation:
  1. Place the pecans and salt in a large glass or stainless steel bowl along with 8 cups of water. The pecans will swell during the soaking process, so you want enough water to keep them covered.
  2. Leave them on the counter to soak for 4-8 hours. ...
  3. After they are done soaking, drain and rinse in a colander.

Can you vacuum seal candied pecans? ›

Make These Candied Pecans in Advance

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.

References

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