Candied Pecans • deepfriedhoney (2024)

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Candied Pecans • deepfriedhoney (1)

This recipe for Candied Pecans has been here on the site for years, only as part of the Butter Pecan Oatmeal recipe. It has always deserved its own post, and now it finally has one! These Candied Pecans are sooo good, and soooo easy and straightforward to make! You likely have all the ingredients in your home already.

Not a fan of pecans? That’s fine! Instead of Candied Pecans, you can make Candied Almonds, Walnuts, Peanuts — the sky’s the limit.

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Candied Pecans Ingredients

Feel free to jump to the full recipe, but here are useful notes about the ingredients you will need to make this Candied Pecans recipe:

  • Pecans: I opt for bags of pecan halves and pieces. Whole pecans will work fine. I prefer to use un-roasted salted for my Candied Pecans, but roasted or unsalted work fine, too. This is a very versatile recipe, and you don’t even have to use pecans! Swap it out for whatever nuts you want.
  • Unsalted butter: I’ve used salted before, and the difference was negligible. Use what you have on hand.
  • Egg white, water: These are key ingredients for these Candied Pecans. They won’t ‘candy’ without them. I prefer to use liquid egg whites just for ease, but from two large eggs works beautifully – just make the eggs are large or extra large!
  • Light brown sugar, granulated sugar: Dark brown sugar will also work, so feel free to substitute. I can’t speak to any other sugar substitutes.
  • Vanilla extract, ground cinnamon: Flavorings! These can be switched up of course if you’d like a different flavor profile in your Candied Pecans, but try them as written at least once! I think you’ll love them!
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How to Make Candied Pecans

Full instructions are included in the recipe below, but here is a basic overview of what you’ll need to do, along with some important tidbits to help you make the most of this Candied Pecans recipe:

  • Prepare for Candied Pecans. Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Add the stick of butter to a 10-12″ cast-iron skillet and place the skillet into the oven. Leave it there while you prepare the pecans. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the egg whites, water, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until the whites are foamy. A hand mixer might make this easier to accomplish.
  • Make the Candied Pecans Glaze. Next, add in the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and whisk until combined. A thick, syrupy batter of sorts should form. Add your pecans to the bowl and stir to coat thoroughly. Make sure everything is evenly distributed and each pecan is coated. Remove your cast iron skillet from the oven once the butter is melted. Pour your coated pecans into the skillet. Gently toss them to incorporate the butter, then and spread them out into an even layer. Return the cast-iron skillet to the oven.
  • Bake the Candied Pecans. Bake the pecans for 45 minutes, removing every 15 minutes to gently stir and turn the pecans so they cook evenly. They will be sticky and kind of wet for most of this time, only really becoming hardened once they cool, but you’ll notice the amount of moisture will reduce toward the end of baking.
  • Cool and Enjoy! 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. Dassit!

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Candied Pecans

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  • Author: María
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
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Description

I bet you thought these were way harder to make, huh?

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 1 lb pecan halves, raw or roasted
  • 1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter
  • 2 large egg whites (4 tbsp liquid egg whites)
  • 1 C light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Add the stick of butter to a 10-12″ cast-iron skillet and place the skillet into the oven. Leave it there while you prepare the pecans.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the egg whites, water, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until the whites are foamy. A hand mixer might make this easier to accomplish.
  3. Next, add in the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and whisk until combined. A thick, syrupy batter of sorts should form.
  4. Add your pecans to the bowl and stir to coat thoroughly. Make sure everything is evenly distributed and each pecan is coated.
  5. Remove your cast iron skillet from the oven once the butter is melted. Pour your coated pecans into the skillet. Gently toss them to incorporate the butter, then and spread them out into an even layer. Return the cast-iron skillet to the oven.
  6. Bake the pecans for 45 minutes, removing every 15 minutes to gently stir and turn the pecans so they cook evenly. They will be sticky and kind of wet for most of this time, only really becoming hardened once they cool, but you’ll notice the amount of moisture will reduce toward the end of baking.
  7. After 45 minutes, remove them from the oven and give them one last through stir, then 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. Dassit!

Notes

  • I’ve candied pecans, almonds, baru nuts, walnuts, and peanuts. Sky is the limit with this recipe!
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes

Recipe Card powered byCandied Pecans • deepfriedhoney (7)

candied pecansone-potoven requiredquick and easy

Candied Pecans • deepfriedhoney (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

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 soggy? ›

Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? ›

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? – Candied pecans are pecans coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked in the oven until crispy. Pralines are a type of candy made with crunchy pecan halves dropped in a caramel base.

How to make candied pecans less sticky? ›

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.

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.

Can diabetics eat candied pecans? ›

Since nuts are low on the glycemic index, pecans can slow the body's absorption of carbohydrates down, which ultimately leads to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels; just ensure you're using unsalted, dry-roasted pecans and not candied pecans that can be high in sugar and added fat.

Do pecans affect blood sugar? ›

Pecans have a very low glycemic index, which means that eating them does not cause a spike in blood sugar, even in people with diabetes. Eating pecans can even offset the effects of higher glycemic index foods when eaten as part of the same meal.

Is pecan candy good for you? ›

Pecans by themselves, or when made into the tastiest pecan candy treats feeds our healthy skin, acts as a stress reducer, and is an anti-aging tool with all of its vitamins and minerals.

How long do candied pecans stay good for? ›

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.

Why do my pecans taste bad? ›

When nuts are kept for a long time and not stored properly (the refrigerator is best) they become rancid particularly because of their high fat content. Rancid pecans will taste awful. They become bitter and just don't taste good. Just like an oil you've kept for too long.

Are pecans good for you? ›

Yes, pecans are a delicious and nutritious food choice that offer multiple health benefits. They're high in nutrients, heart-healthy, may improve digestion, lower blood sugar levels, aid in weight loss, promote brain function, and may even help prevent cancer. However, there can always be too much of a good thing.

Where did candied pecans originate? ›

While sugared nuts were already enjoyed throughout the world, the candy termed “praline” became a popular treat in France, in part because of their lucrative sugar colonies in the Caribbean. The French settlers in Louisiana brought the praline tradition with them.

What kind of pecans are best for baking? ›

Pawnee. Commonly grown in Georgia and Texas, the Pawnee pecan has a rich, buttery flavor and excellent quality, making it ideal for baking. This nut ripens early in autumn, making it one of the first varieties of the year to market and widely available for consumers.

Why are my pecans sticky? ›

The real culprits behind the honeydew are aphids. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that suck sap from plant leaves. Many species of aphids exist and attack various plants, but two types of aphids attack pecan trees and secrete honeydew, the yellow pecan aphid and the black-margined aphid.

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.

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.

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