Candied Pecans Stovetop Recipe (2024)

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Candied Pecans Stovetop recipe is easy to make on the stove. Melted brown sugar and salt covers the pecans for a perfect snack or to top your salad.

Candied Pecans Stovetop Recipe (1)

Candied Pecans Stovetop Recipe:

We love making stovetop candied pecan recipe for a sweet and salty treat. These candied pecans are addicting and perfect for a snack or to top your favorite salad. They are easy to make on your stove and require only 3 additional ingredients.

We love to make dessert trays for the holidays. They are always loaded with cookies, brownies and cake. But we love added a small bowl of these caramelized pecans to balance everything out.

These gluten free candied pecans can be customized to be spicy, add pumpkin seasoning or cinnamon. If you are looking for a sweet and salty treat that is budget friendly and an easy recipe, make candied pecans.

You might also like Banana Pecan Bread Recipe, Air Fryer Candied Pecans, or Pecan Bread Recipe.

Candied Pecans Stovetop Recipe (2)

Ingredients:

  • Pecan Halves
  • Brown Sugar
  • Salt
  • Water

How to Make Candied Pecans on Stovetop:

  • Boil Ingredients – Heat the water, brown sugar and salt in a skillet over medium heat until the mixture starts boiling and the sugar has dissolved.
Candied Pecans Stovetop Recipe (3)
  • Add Pecans to Mixture – Then add in the pecan halves and cook for 3-4 minutes stirring to coat the pecans in the brown sugar glaze.
  • Place on Baking Sheet – Then move the pecans to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place them on the baking sheet in a single layer.
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  • Allow Pecans to Cool – Separate the pecans with a fork if needed and allow them to cool at room temperature to cool completely.
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  • Serve and Enjoy – Once they are cool, they are ready to serve and enjoy!

Caramelized Pecan Tips:

  • Melting Ingredients – When you are heating up the water, brown sugar and salt, make sure you do not let this mixture burn. Watch closely so you don’t have to start over.
  • Adding Pecans – Once the mixture has melted, add pecans immediately. Coating the pecans with the brown sugar mixture so it doesn’t burn.
  • Line Baking Sheet – Place coated pecans on a lined baking sheet. This allows you to clean up the pan easily.
  • Holiday Gifts – Make these candied pecans as holiday gifts.

Candied Pecans Variations:

  • Change the Nuts – Use other types of nuts such as walnuts, cashews, peanuts and almonds. Any of these would make a delicious substitute.
  • Sweet and Spicy Pecans.If you like spicy, add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper with the brown sugar. You can adjust this according to preference.
  • Cinnamon Pecans.Add ¼ teaspoon to the brown sugar mixture. The combination of cinnamon and sugar is so tasty.
  • Salted Caramel Pecans.While the pecans cool, top with a generous sprinkle of sea salt.
  • Pinch of Salt – While the pecans of cooling, add pinches of salt to the coated pecans.
  • Pumpkin Pie Spice – If you love pumpkin flavored desserts, sprinkle some pumpkin pie spice in the mixture.
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Why are my Candied Pecans Sticky?

After your pecans have been covered in the mixture they will be slightly sticky. But as the cool they will be less sticky and easier to manage. If they are still sticky after cooling on the baking sheet, then it could be because the brown sugar mixture did not get hot enough.

The high temp is responsible for the brittle like coating on the outside the pecans should have. If they are still really sticky once cooked, continue to cook them in the skillet for a couple of extra minutes. Stoves can vary in how they cook and the heat.

After this, if you find they are still sticky, bake them for a few minutes at 325 degrees until they harden. I would start with 5 minutes and check them.

Continue to bake them in 5 minute intervals until they are no longer sticky. It should not take any longer than 15 minutes.

How to Serve Candied Pecans:

There are many ways to serve these candied pecans. They are quick to make and add so much sweet and savory flavor to many different things. These are some of our favorites:

  • Top your Salad – Combining the flavors of all the salad ingredients and then adding this sweet and crunching topping, makes the best salad.
  • Cheese Board – If you love making a cheese board or charcuterie board, add these candied pecans for added flavor.
  • Add To Cookies – If you want to jazz up your favorite chocolate chip cookie, chop up some of these candied nuts.
  • Ice Cream – Serve ice cream with candied pecans as a topping.
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How Long do Candied Pecans Last:

These candied pecans do not last long with my family. But if stored properly the pecans will last about 1 week at room temperature. If you freeze them, they will last about a month.

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Do Candied Pecans have to be Refrigerated?

Candied Pecans do not need to be refrigerated. They will last about a week longer if placed in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

How to Store:

Store in an airtight container at room temperature. These sugar pecans will last about a week if stored properly.

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Review

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Candied Pecans Stovetop

4.92 from 12 votes

Candied Pecans Stovetop recipe is easy to make on the stove. Melted brown sugar and salt tops the pecans for an easy snack or on your salad.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 minutes mins

Total Time 9 minutes mins

Servings 12

Cuisine American

Course Dessert

Calories 149

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Pecan Halves
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 2 Tbsp Water

Instructions

  • Heat the water, brown sugar and salt in a skillet over medium high heat until the mixture starts boiling and the sugar has dissolved.

  • Then add in the pecan halves and cook for 3-4 minutes stirring to coat the pecans in the brown sugar glaze.

  • Then move the pecans to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Separate the pecans with a fork if needed and allow them to cool at room temperature to cool completely.

  • Once they are cool, they are ready to serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 149kcal, Carbohydrates 11g, Protein 2g, Fat 12g, Saturated Fat 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat 4g, Monounsaturated Fat 7g, Sodium 51mg, Potassium 80mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 10g, Vitamin A 9IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 19mg, Iron 1mg

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Candied Pecans Stovetop Recipe (11)

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About the Author

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I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

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Candied Pecans Stovetop Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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 do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

How long can you keep homemade candied pecans? ›

How long will candied pecans keep? They will keep for up to two weeks in an airtight container at room temperature, at least three weeks in the refrigerator, or up to two months in the freezer. No matter where you store them, keep in a tightly sealed, airtight container.

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.

Should I toast nuts in pan or oven? ›

Best Methods for Toasting Nuts

No matter how patient you are and how low you keep your heat, the skillet method regularly yields an uneven and improperly toasted nut. I'm sorry to say it, but if you want pristine roasty-toasty nuts, you're going to have to turn your oven on.

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 candied nuts grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing. Avoid stirring it before it changes its color.

Why do my pecans taste bad? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Do candied pecans need to be refrigerated? ›

To Store: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. To Freeze: They freeze well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

How do you make old pecans taste fresh? ›

The simplest way to revive a stale nut is by dry roasting or toasting it in a pan over a medium heat.

Can you reheat candied pecans? ›

REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: To reheat, pop the pecans into an air fryer at 275°F for 5 to 10 minutes.

How many cups of pecans makes one pound? ›

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 can you tell if pecans are rancid? ›

Fresh pecans have a distinct aroma, characterized by their sweet, nutty scent. They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.

Do candied nuts go bad? ›

Okay, all bad dad jokes aside, these candied walnuts will last quite a while. All nuts do go rancid eventually, but as long as you cool them completely and then store them in an air-tight container, they should be good for about a month.

Do you need oil to toast nuts? ›

Skip the oil: There is no need to use oil in a pan or on the baking sheet when toasting nuts. It may alter the flavor of the nut as well as how it reacts in a recipe. If toasting nuts for a spiced snack mix, however, your recipe may tell you to use oil.

What is the difference between roasted and toasted pecans? ›

Toasted pecans are not roasted pecans. Toasted pecans are cooked in a pan on the stove. I prefer to make roasted pecans in the oven because the pecans cook more evenly this way.

Is it better to toast pecans whole or in pieces? ›

It's best to toast nuts whole, then to chop them if you need smaller pieces.

How do you toast nuts without burning them? ›

You toast nuts on a cookie sheet [or sheet pan] in a preheated oven set on a low heat*. The low heat is crucial because nuts burn both easily and quickly. I toast nuts at 250 F. This is a low temperature, but I find that the higher I set the temperature, the higher the chances of burning the nuts.

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