Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

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This easy stovetop candied pecans recipe is a delicious holiday treat and made with a few simple ingredients.

The candied pecans recipe is easy to make in just a few minutes, but you’d better make more than one recipe because they will get eaten up in a flash!

The sugared pecans are the perfect gift for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.

The Candied Pecans Recipe Are Perfect Homemade Food Gifts

Candied pecans are a great snack to place on the counter around the holidays, toss on a salad, pack in a lunch for dessert, or give as gifts.

Christmas is only a few short months away, and these sugared pecans are the perfect Christmas treat, Thanksgiving treat or any day in between.

Candied Pecans On The Stovetop

I love the recipe because it’s so easy and inexpensive, and you can make it right on the stovetop.

And candied pecans with brown sugar are such a delicious treat. You can buy candied pecans, but why not make fresh and delicious ones?

Plus, you can add a different flavor each time.

If you love candied pecans, you’ll love this easy praline pecan recipe. Click and give it a try!

If you love pecans, you’ll love this pumpkin pecan pie that readers love or this pecan pie cobbler, or this slow cooker pecan pie that’s easy to bake while you’re working on other things.

A Crunchy Snack Or Topping

You can also sprinkle the sugar-coated pecans on the top of sweet potato casserole, chop them up on top of a chicken dish, or add the perfect topping to a favorite summer salad.

The delicious pecans make a great crunchy snack, as well.

And you don’t have to go broke buying pecans for this recipe.

I usually buy my pecans at Aldi’s because they sell them for a great price, and you can get enough for a couple of recipes.

A Simple Recipe

The pecan recipe only took me about 15 minutes to make. The basic recipe is a quick one and won’t keep you in the kitchen too long.

The pecans cool quickly, and you have a nice gift to take to a friend or a teacher, or you can snack on them without sharing any (wink wink).

These aren’t quite as sweet as other candied pecans. I only used brown sugar and eliminated white sugar. But, they are oh-so-delicious with a deeper flavor.

What Ingredients Do I Need To Make Candied Pecans?

Pecans
Butter
Light brown sugar

Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions at the bottom of the post

Tools Needed To Make The Sweet Treat

Saucepan
Spatula
Stovetop
Parchment paper
Container to hold the cooled pecans

How To Make Candied Pecans

Add butter to a saucepan and let it melt.
Next, add the pecans to the saucepan and stir them around until they are covered with melted butter.
Add the brown sugar and stir until all of the pecans are covered.
Bring the ingredients to a boil and cook for a few minutes until the pecans begin caramelizing.
Spread them out on parchment paper to cool. They will harden as they cool but still be a bit sticky.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Add half a stick of butter to a non-stick skillet or saucepan and let it melt on medium-high heat.

Add two cups of pecans.

Stir the pecans in the butter until they are covered. I think pecans with butter would be a delicious treat.

Add four tablespoons of brown sugar.

I love the taste of brown sugar. It has a deeper flavor than white sugar and adds so much flavor to candied foods.

Let the pecans cook in the brown sugar and butter until caramelized.

Take it off the stove and pour the pecans on a piece of parchment paper to cool. The pecans will harden as they cool.

And that’s it – they are such an easy dessert.

Optional Ingredients

Ground Cinnamon
Sea salt
Dark brown sugar
Coconut sugar
Chili powder
Cayenne pepper
Maple syrup

You can add some cinnamon to the brown sugar-coated pecans for a more festive fall flavor.

Other Pecan Desserts

Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
Pecan Pie Brownies
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Praline Pecan Banana Cake

Ways To Use The Candied Pecans

Top some ice cream
Add to a salad
Stir into a brownie mix
Add to a bowl for a snack mix
Put in a lunchbox for an afternoon snack
Add to the top of pumpkin pie
Top some green beans, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes
Add to cheese boards

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Candied Pecans Need To Be Refrigerated?

No, but they do need to be kept in an airtight container. They will last up to about two weeks if you keep them sealed.

Why Are My Candied Pecans Sticky?

The candied pecans most likely needed to cook a bit longer.

Easy Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe

Be sure to get the recipe for the easy candied pecans recipe below.

The recipe creates a delicious snack that the whole family will love.

If this is your first time making the pecans stovetop recipe, you will be hooked. It’s a great recipe.

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans

Yield: 2 cups

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Rest Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans are a delicious holiday treat. The candied pecans recipe is easy to make in just a few minutes, but you'd better make more than one recipe because they will get eaten up in a flash!

Ingredients

2 cups pecan halves
4 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons light brown sugar

Instructions

Melt butter on medium-high heat.
Add pecans and toss until covered with butter.
Next, add brown sugar and toss pecans until coated.
Bring to a boil and cook until pecans start to caramelize.
Spread on parchment paper to cool.

Notes

You can double the recipe if you are giving the candied pecans away as gifts. The big batch is easy to make and is the perfect snack.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1/4 cup
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 503Total Fat: 49gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 36gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 94mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 5gSugar: 13gProtein: 5g

Nutrition is approximate.

Did you make this recipe?

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Find more recipes atSouthern Home Express

Julie Pollitt( Blogger Behind Back To My Southern Roots )

Hi there! I’m Julie Pollitt from ‘Back To My Southern Roots.’ My love for cooking started way back on my grandparents’ farm in Tennessee. Those sunny days, the smell of biscuits in the oven, and all the family fun really sparked my passion for cooking. On my blog, I share more than just recipes – they’re like stories from my life, full of Southern warmth and homey goodness. The best part? Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a kitchen pro, you’ll find my recipes super easy to whip up. So, come on, pull up a chair, and let’s make some delicious memories!

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans 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.

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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.

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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.

Get More Info Here ›

Are praline pecans the same as glazed pecans? ›

A: Glazed pecans have a rough sugary coated appearance and use about twice the amount of sugar as our praline pecan with no flavor added. The praline pecan has a smooth shiny appearance, with half the sugar of the glazed pecan and praline pecan flavor is added.

How to make candied nuts not 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.

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How many pecans does it take to make 1 lb? ›

For a pound of nutmeat, you will need 2½ pounds of in-shell pecans. In order to help you maintain the highest quality pecan meats, we have developed the following guide to help you understand the best way to handle and store your pecans.

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How do you get the bitterness out of pecans? ›

I started doing some research, and I found a little-known trick to making pecans taste sweeter: Soaking and rinsing the shelled nuts in lukewarm water before roasting removes the tannins and pieces of corky material that can cause pecans to taste bitter.

Why do you boil pecans before cracking? ›

Boiling pecans before cracking them can actually help prevent the shell from shattering.

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How long do you soak pecans to activate? ›

Soaking and Drying Times for Different Nuts

Nut (1cup)	Salt	Soaking Time
Pecans	1/2 tsp	5-8 hours
Pine Nuts	1 tsp	7-10 hours
Pistachios	1 tsp	5-8 hours
Walnuts	1/2 tsp	5-8 hours

5 more rows

Apr 28, 2023

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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.

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What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 pecans? ›

To make things a little more confusing, pecan trees come in type 1 and type 2 varieties, where their pollinating and receptivity are reversed from one another. Type 1 trees produce pollen and then have receptive female flowers. Type 2 trees are going to have receptive flowers first and then produce pollen.

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Why are my pecan pralines gritty? ›

Avoid The Humidity

Plan to make your pralines on a cool, dry day. If it's humid or rainy, as it was the first time I made pralines, the candy might end up with a more sugary, grainy texture.

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Why is my pecan tree sticky? ›

Both species have piercing mouth parts that suck nutrients and water from the veins of the leaves. As they feed, they excrete the excess sugars. This sweet excrement is called honeydew and it collects in a sticky mess on the foliage of the pecan.

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Why does my pecan pie always stick? ›

It may be the type of pie you are baking. If you pre-bake the pie crust, poke holes in it, bake, then add the filling. However, if you are baking a pie with filling (pecan, pumpkin or blue- or blackberry), do not poke the shell with a fork. Doing so will let sticky liquid seep through and will cause the crust to stick.

Why are my pecans mushy? ›

Humidity above these values can cause kernel molding and pecan texture deterioration (pecans become soft and rubber-like), whereas lower humidities will cause excessive drying. In-shell pecan kernels will darken under high humidity as a result of the tannic acid being dissolved from the shell lining.