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

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (1)

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.

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (2)

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

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

Step-By-Step Instructions

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (4)

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

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (5)

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.

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (6)

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.

Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (7)

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
  • Take to holiday and Christmas parties
  • Add to Thanksgiving snack tables
  • Give as holiday gifts for teachers and neighbors
  • Bring to music and academic tutors
  • Take to the office to share in the break room
  • Bring the sugared pecans to the kid’s school

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 Recipe (9)
Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (10)

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

  1. Melt butter on medium-high heat.
  2. Add pecans and toss until covered with butter.
  3. Next, add brown sugar and toss pecans until coated.
  4. Bring to a boil and cook until pecans start to caramelize.
  5. 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.

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.

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.

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 less sticky? ›

If after they have cooled down, the pecans are still sticky, this means that the sugar mixture never reached a high enough temperature when on the stove. To fix them, place the nuts back into the skillet and cook a bit longer.

Why are my pecans rubbery? ›

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.

Why do you boil pecans before cracking? ›

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

How long to soak pecans in water? ›

Preparation:
  1. Place the pecans and salt in a large glass or stainless steel bowl along with 8 cups of water. The pecans will swell during the soaking process, so you want enough water to keep them covered.
  2. Leave them on the counter to soak for 4-8 hours. ...
  3. After they are done soaking, drain and rinse in a colander.

Should you wash pecans before you crack them? ›

Don't wash pecans. Don't run water over them or even use a damp towel to clean them. Especially in-shell pecans.

What happens if you don't soak nuts? ›

It is true that nuts contain phytic acid, or phytates, which can bind with minerals, making them unavailable to the body. But while soaking nuts in salted water may reduce phytic acid levels, the amount of phytates in nuts is too small to cause a mineral deficiency in either children or adults.

Why do my pecans taste bitter? ›

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.

How to remove bitterness from pecans? ›

Some of the tannin and all of the corky material can be removed by washing the kernels before cooking. To "sweeten" the pecan meats (kernels), simply put the pecan kernels in a bowl and fill with lukewarm water. Stir and tumble the meats in the water for several minutes and you will see the discoloration in the water.

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

Type I (protandrous) pecans have male flowers that release their pollen before their female flowers are receptive to pollen shed. Type II (protogynous) pecans release their pollen after their female flowers were receptive.

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.

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.

Why is my pecan tree sticky? ›

You might get a fresh coating of honeydew! In fact, just about anything that walks under a pecan tree or sits near a pecan tree might be covered in this sticky coating. The real culprits behind the honeydew are aphids. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that suck sap from plant leaves.

Why is my pecan pie gooey? ›

Because it was not baked at a high enough temperature, the butter in the crust begins to melt into the dough. To avoid this, always start your pecan pie at a high enough temperature, such as 425 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

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.

What causes stick tights on pecans? ›

Such "stick? tights" are caused by drought and heat stress in September and October. Pecans require water right up until the time of shuck split to reduce this problem. Nuts sprouting in the shuck before harvest (vivipary) are also reduced by late season water and/or stress reduction.

References

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