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Stovetop Candied Pecans {2 Ways!}

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Candied pecans made quickly in a skillet on the top of the stove are simple way to elevate so many dishes. They are great on their own too!

Bowl of shiny homemade candied pecans.

Candied pecans are the perfect little something to take so many recipes to the next level. They are great in salads, or eaten on their own as a delicious snack. Want to give your dessert that little extra something? Perch a candied pecan on top of the whipped cream.

The best part is how easy they are to make.  Pretty much any way you decide to make them, there isn’t a ton of effort involved.

skillet with brown sugar, cinnamon etc in it.

However there are a lot of recipes that require baking them for a while.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes that is just a little more time and effort than I have to put into a garnish. (Though I know the results are totally worth it!)

But that doesn’t have to stop you from making these delicious sweet morsels of goodness. You can do it in a skillet on top of the stove instead!

boiling caramel mixture ready for nuts.

This time of year I especially like to have candied nuts, there is just always something to put them on.  Plus I tend to snack away any left from a batch after using them once, so I keep having to make more every time I want some.

So I thought I would share with you two very simple ways to make candied pecans. 

boiling caramel mixture ready for nuts.

I am sharing with you two ways to make them, because they each have their merits.  The recipes are basically the same except one small but crucial difference.

The first batch I made was with a simple caramel made from brown sugar, salt and a bit of cinnamon to give it that fall spice. 

They were delicious and shiny and perfect when placed on some vanilla yogurt topping some apple pie baked oatmeal.  They would also be great in the red, white and blue dinner salad.

shiny pecans and yogurt on slice of apple pie baked oatmeal.

They were shiny and beautiful and really tasty.  I would almost be ashamed to tell you that I ate darn near the whole batch by myself, but they were too good to feel bad about it!

Though the caramel set and they were perfect for garnishing desserts, the caramel remained a bit softer than I had envisioned.  So I did a second batch using a trick I learned from making caramel corn, baking soda!

close up of shiny sweet pecans.

 Adding the baking soda helps you to get that crunch! The results of that batch were also amazingly delicious. 

They definitely lost their luster but would also hold up better if packed in baggies to give as favors or for longer term storage.  They are a lot less likely to stick to each other over time!

bowl of pecans with crunchy caramel coating.

In trade for the crisper coating, you definitely loose the luster.  So it is up to you which way you decide to go. 

Or do what I did and make some of each, then maybe some of each again. You know, for science and being thorough and all that good stuff!

bowl of pecans with crunchy caramel coating.

A few more great candied nuts recipes:

Tips and Tricks:

  • Work quickly when spreading the candied nuts out on parchment paper.  They cook quickly and will stick together if not spread out.
  • Feel free to play with the flavors.  I love a spicier candied nut in salads, just a pinch of cayenne can really change the whole experience!
  • Feel free to try other nuts or even mixed nuts! 
Bowl of shiny homemade candied pecans.

Stovetop Candied Pecans {2 Ways!}

Carlee
Candied pecans are the perfect little something to take so many recipes to the next level. They are great in salads, or eaten on their own as a delicious snack. Want to give your dessert that little extra something? Perch a candied pecan on top of the whipped cream.
5 from 13 ratings
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 11 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Servings
Calories 209 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 3 cups pecans halves or pieces
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda optional

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, heat brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and water over medium heat until it is really hot and bubbly.
    ½ cup light brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¾ teaspoon cinnamon, 2 Tablespoons water
  • Add the pecans and cook, stirring frequently for about 3 minutes.
    3 cups pecans
  • If you desire the crispy finish, quickly sprinkle baking soda over pecans while stirring. It should quickly go from a lustrous caramel to a crunchy candy coating.
    ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • Spread hot candied pecans over a piece of parchment paper, working quickly to get them spread out. Cool completely and then store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 209kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 16gSodium: 73mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8g
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Recipe Rating




Val

Friday 7th of December 2018

I love pecans but have never made candied pecans before. I'm going to have to add these to my Christmas goodies list!

Carlee

Monday 10th of December 2018

I am so glad to see you enjoyed them! Thank you, Val!

Amy

Wednesday 5th of December 2018

I love this recipe. Candied pecans are so good. Thank you for sharing.

Carlee

Monday 10th of December 2018

They really are, aren't they?

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Wednesday 5th of December 2018

For potlucks, my go to is my Layered Berry Salad that should be appearing on my blog soon!

Carlee

Monday 10th of December 2018

I can't wait to see it!

Jenny@Cookiescoffeeandcrafts

Tuesday 4th of December 2018

These look so good!

Carlee

Monday 10th of December 2018

thank you!

Jan

Sunday 2nd of December 2018

Perfect gifts to make for the holidays!

Carlee

Monday 10th of December 2018

I'd happily receive some! Thanks!