How To Candy Pecans – The Easy Way! These Candied Pecans are a delicious addition to any fall dish. They’re perfect on sweet potatoes, pumpkin pies, they also make a lovely addition to salads and yogurt. Or, just eat them straight up!
Candied Pecans
Every year around the holidays the malls fill up with novelty kiosks. Everything from crazy weird toys to gourmet fudge. And it seems like there’s always one that sells my favorite holiday snack, Candied Pecans.
I love the sugary crunch and nutty flavor, plus they make a wonderful gift. But they can also be crazy expensive. I mean sure, nuts aren’t cheap to begin with, but I always feel a little cheated when I spend $10.00 on a 1/2 cup of candied pecans. And I’m sure I’m not alone.
So I decided I would start making them at home, I get way more for my money and they only take about 15 minutes to make, so it seemed like a no-brainer! Plus, they can easily be packaged up in a cute jars or bags and used as stocking stuffers, neighbor gifts, or additions to a gift basket.
They’re really great for snacking too! I love to bring a big bowl with me to holiday get-togethers so people can munch on them throughout the night. They’re also great for serving up with sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, or holiday Chex mix!
What You’ll Need For This Candied Pecans Recipe:
- Skillet – I prefer to use a nonstick pan since it’s a lot easier to clean in case some of the sugar burns or sticks.
- Pecan Halves – It’s best to use pecan halves for this recipe as smaller pieces won’t be as great for snacking.
- Vanilla Extract – Since this is such a simple recipe, you want to use a high-quality vanilla or make your own for the best flavor.
Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 3 cups pecan halves
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 3 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat.
- Once butter is melted, stir in the sugar and stir frequently for a few minutes until it begins to bubble, then add the pecans.
- Stir continuously for about a minute making sure to evenly coat the pecans with the sugar coating, add vanilla extract a teaspoon at a time, stirring in between.
- Sprinkle in nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt.
- Turn heat to low and stir continuously for 2-3 minutes.
- Let nuts cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally so they don't stick to the pan.
- Spread pecans out on parchment or wax paper, breaking up any large clumps. Allow them to fully cool then package for gifts, store in a plastic bag or container, or start snacking!
Notes
Nutrition
Pin this Candied Pecans Recipe for Later!
This post was originally published October 2013 and updated on September 15, 2017.
Heather @ My Sweet Mission says
Hi Rebecca, these candied pecans look amazing! Thanks for pinning them to my ‘Recipes from Others’ board. I’m gonna have to try these soon!
Heather
MySweetMission.net
[email protected] says
They are so good and easy too! Enjoy!
Jaci Harness says
I’ve just discovered these great snacks. The price for a 1 9oz. can, was a bit steep. I bought them for Christmas gifts and for my own snacking pleasure. But why not save $$ & make these myself? So, I’m going 2 give this a try. Fingers crossed. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Anna Gabli says
Can’t wait to try the Candied Pecans.