Candied pecans are a delightful treat made by coating pecans with a sweet, crunchy sugar glaze. They are perfect as a snack, a topping for salads, and desserts, or as a delicious addition to charcuterie boards.
These candied pecans call for just five ingredients, all of which are probably stocked in your kitchen pantry:
- Pecan halves
- Sugar
- Kosher salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
Here’s an easy 3-step process to make these stovetop candied pecans:
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine sugar, water, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Cook the mixture until the sugar starts melting, then add the pecans. Stir regularly until the nuts become glazed and toasted.
- Transfer the nuts onto the lined sheet pan to cool, using a fork to separate them.
Here are some variations you can try with the candied pecans recipe:
- Experiment with a mix of nuts like pecans, walnuts, and almonds, or opt for only walnuts if preferred.
- Add a touch of spiciness by incorporating 1 teaspoon of chili powder and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Freshly ground black pepper is also an excellent spicy addition.
- Substitute water with freshly squeezed orange juice and include some orange zest for a citrusy twist.
- Replace granulated sugar with brown sugar for a different sweetness profile.
- Enhance flavors by adding 1-2 tablespoons of fresh, chopped thyme and/or rosemary.
- Create a savory version by excluding cinnamon and nutmeg, and instead use chili powder, cayenne, black pepper, ½-1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Are Glazed Pecans Different From Candied Pecans?
Glazed pecans and candied pecans share many similarities. Typically, glazed pecans involve a mixture of corn syrup, sugar, and butter, whereas candied pecans often include sugar and egg whites. The addition of egg white in many candied nut recipes acts as a binding agent, aiding the sugar coating to adhere to the nuts. However, in my recipe, I omit the egg white as it creates a milky coating that, in my experience, doesn’t significantly enhance the nuts. The sweet sugar blend adheres perfectly to the nuts without it.
Candied Pecans
these easy candied pecans on the stovetop for a fast, sweet, and savory
appetizer or snack that’s perfect for salad, entertaining, or gifting.
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups pecan halves
Instructions
-
Line
a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large skillet over medium
heat, stir the sugar, water, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together. Cook
until the sugar begins to melt. Add the nuts and cook, stirring often,
until the nuts are toasted and glazed. Spoon the nuts onto the prepared
sheet pan to cool, separating with a fork. Sprinkle with a little coarse
salt if desired. Nuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to
1-2 weeks.