These candied pecans are not only easy to make, but they’re also a delicious snack. Make them for your next get-together with friends or family gathering.
I highly recommend reading this entire post before you begin preparing the recipe. However, if all you want is the list of ingredients with full directions, please either click on the jump-to-recipe button above or scroll to the bottom of this post.
Easy Pecan Recipe
Pecans are so much fun to cook with and eat! They provide a lot of texture, protein, fiber, and depth of nutty flavor to keep you coming back for more.
I have quite a few wonderful pecan recipes—all of them super easy. For example, these roasted pecans only require a few ingredients and a little bit of time in the oven.
Another thing we like to do is garnish salads with pecans. One of our favorites is this apple spinach salad with pecans.
If you’re into sweets, you’ll love these chocolate caramel pecan bars. The mix of flavors in this delightful dessert will have everyone asking for seconds.
Candied Pecans Ingredients
You need several ingredients, but only a little bit of each one. However, if you want to make more, simply double everything.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup of pecan halves
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon of water
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Dash of salt
If you want, you can increase the cinnamon to give it more of a kick.
During the holidays, you can add some red hot candies to make it more festive.
If you add other candies to the sugared pecans, do so after they’ve had a chance to cool.
Otherwise, you might wind up with a melty mess that will still taste good. But it won’t look so great.
How to Make Candied Pecans
Making these candied pecans, as I already mentioned, is easy. But make sure you have everything ready because they cook quickly.
You’ll also need to stand in front of your stove for the whole 5 minutes. Walk away, and you’re likely to wind up with a burnt mess.
If you’ve ever had this happen, you know that burned sugar is hard to clean up.
For that reason, I like to place the wax paper on a pan and have it ready. Otherwise, you’ll have to scramble to get it set up.
First, in a large skillet, mix everything but the pecans over medium heat.
Dissolve the sugar and bring it to a light boil.
I like to stir it while it heats up to prevent any of it burning on the pan. I’m always thinking about cleanup.
Secondly, stir in the pecans and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
Make sure all of the pecans are coated in the sugar mixture. This is super easy if you keep stirring.
Finally, scoop the cooked pecans onto a sheet pan covered with parchment paper or foil, separate them with the spatula, and allow them to cool.
Please be careful and try not to touch them with your bare hands because they will be super hot.
Serve immediately or place in an airtight container for later.
You can eat them by themselves, put them in a recipe, or use them to top your favorite dessert.
I love crumbled candied pecans over vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
Benefits of Pecans
Although these pecans have a sugary coating, they still have some health benefits.
According to DrAxe.com, in addition to protein, fiber, and healthy fats, they are packed with manganese, copper, and thiamine.
One of the things I like about pecans is that they’re filling.
So it only takes a few of them to satisfy my hunger or craving.
More Recipes
If you’re looking for more scrumptious foods to add to your dinner rotation, check out some of these recipes:
After having been in a rut many years ago, I now love to find new side dishes. One that I really enjoy is this Brussels sprouts dish. It’s super easy and so yummy.
We like one-pan meals around here, and we love Greek food. That’s why this Greek chicken with zoodles dish is one we look forward to.
My friend Paula has some great recipes on her blog, Call Me PMC. Check out this whipped feta with blistered tomatoes recipe. Talk about flavor!
Delicious but Easy Dessert Recipes
If you like to add dessert to your family meal but don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, you’ll love some of these. They’re all withstood the test of time in my family, and they’re all absolutely delicious!
These lemon bars are super easy to make, and they’ve risen to the top of family favorites at our house.
Make these yummy coconut balls for a delightfully sweet treat that’s perfect for dessert or to bring to a party!
When it comes to desserts, I’m all over the place. I love this rocky road fudge when I’m in the mood for chocolate.
But when I want something fruity, I often turn to this delicious granola fruit crisp with a dollop of ice cream on top.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
These candied pecans are delicious for snacking or dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of pecan halves
- 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon of water
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Dash of salt
Instructions
- In a large skillet, mix everything but the pecans over medium heat. Dissolve the sugar and bring it to a light boil.
- Stir in the pecans and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Make sure all of the pecans are coated in the sugar mixture.
- Scoop the cooked pecans onto a sheet pan covered in parchment paper or foil, separate them, and allow them to cool.
- Serve immediately or place in an airtight container for later.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 275Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 16gCholesterol 0mgSodium 42mgCarbohydrates 28gFiber 3gSugar 25gProtein 2g
The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.
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