Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Megan Porta · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Stove top candied pecans are super easy to make, using only 4 ingredients and done in under 10 minutes. Great added to salads or given as a gift!

Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (1)

Original recipe: January 2019 | Updated: December 2019

One of my food specialties is making unique and tasty salads that have that extra little touch of delicious perfection. One of my salad secrets is adding chopped Candied Pecans. It gets people every time!

Making candied pecans takes an extra 10ish minutes, but it is well worth that little bit of effort. They transform a great salad into an out-of-this-world salad. Trust me!

Candied Pecans are also an irresistible snack to have sitting on the counter during holiday gatherings or for any party. Try not to eat them all yourself!

And last but not least they are great gifts, especially around the holidays. Everyone loves a delicious homemade gift, right?

HOW TO MAKE STOVE TOP CANDIED PECANS

Add these sugar coated pecans to your list of easy recipes that make a regular recipe turn out to be excellent!

STEP 1

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sugar and pecan halves and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves and becomes a light brown liquid in the skillet (approximately 5 minutes).

Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (2)

STEP 2

Remove from the heat and add the vanilla to the sugar mixtures; mix well.

Pour the pecans onto the lined baking sheet in a single layer. Let cool for a minimum of 5 minutes.

Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (3)

Chop to use in a salad or add the pecans to a serving dish for snacking!

HOW LONG DO CANDIED PECANS KEEP

When stored in an airtight container, candied pecans will last up to 2 weeks at room temperature, 4 weeks in the fridge or 4 months in the freezer.

HOW TO STORE YOUR PECANS

Once they’ve cooled, candied pecans are ready for storing. Make sure they are sealed tightly in either a plastic or glass container.

WHAT TO DO WITH STOVE TOP CANDIED PECANS

Add Candied Pecans to any or all of these delicious recipes, plus so many more!

  • Topping on a bowl of ice cream with some homemade hot fudge!

  • Healthy Lunch Bowl

  • Grape Pecan Summer Salad

  • Chopped Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

  • Break them apart and add them to a mason jar with a fun ribbon tied around the rim to give as a gift!

  • Add to the top of a pumpkin pie or as the final touch on your skillet chocolate chip cookie!

Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (4)

OTHER HOMEMADE GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

A perfect gift that’s affordable and thoughtful is a homemade one! Here’s some great DIY gifts that can be easily made to giveaway.We’ve got something for everyone!

  • Homemade Chocolate Fudge Sauce – You’ll enjoy spoonfuls of this gooey homemade chocolate fudge sauce perfect for summer treats!

  • Salted Caramel Sauce – There’s just 4 ingredients needed to make your own salted caramel sauce. Top or fill your next batch of baked goods with this delicious, irresistible sauce.

  • Exfoliating Coffee Scrub – Make your own face scrub at home in minutes! This DIY recipe is the perfect any-occasion gift made with coffee and coconut oil.

  • Homemade Vanilla Extract – Make your own Vanilla Extract at home! This recipe requires only TWO ingredients and you will be so happy with the way homemade vanilla flavors your baked goods.

  • Homemade Caramels are my FAVORITE. They are chewy and gooey and sooo delicious. You won’t want to eat just one but they make a perfect treat for holiday parties OR holiday gifts!

  • Everything But The Bagel Seasoning – Make Trader Joe’s famous “Everything But the Bagel” seasoning blend at home in less than 5 minutes and for a fraction of the cost of store bought!

Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (5)

Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (6)

Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe

Candied Pecans are super easy to make on the stove top with only 4 ingredients and in less than 10 minutes. Great when added to salads and also great for snacking or to give as gifts!

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 7 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Calories: 173kcal

Author: Megan Porta

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp salted butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups pecans
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sugar
    and pecans and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves and
    becomes a light brown liquid in the skillet (approximately 5 minutes).

  • Remove from the heat and add the vanilla; mix well. Pour the pecans onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Let cool for a minimum of 5 minutes. Chop to use in a salad or add the pecans to a serving dish for snacking!

Notes

  • Topping on a bowl of ice cream with some homemade hot fudge!
  • Healthy Lunch Bowl
  • Grape Pecan Summer Salad
  • Chopped Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
  • Break them apart and add them to a mason jar with a fun ribbon tied around the rim to give as a gift!
  • Add to the top of a pumpkin pie or as the final touch on your skillet chocolate chip cookie!

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 68mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 98IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?If you loved this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (7)Winston millican

    Thank you for promoting pecans!

    Reply

  2. Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (8)CinR

    Have you tried these using brown sugar? Would you use the same amount as the white sugar?

    Reply

    • Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (9)Megan Porta

      CinR: Brown sugar tastes incredible with these! Yep, same amount. Enjoy!
      Megan

      Reply

  3. Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (10)Gaylegrey

    These are amazing!! Toffee like coating- delish!

    Reply

  4. Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (11)Linda

    You are making me hungry. These look so good. I'll have to try them.

    Reply

  5. Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (12)Joss

    Looks perfect! As you can see, I am hooked on your blog. Love these nuts!

    Reply

  6. Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (13)Parsley Sage

    Its official. You can make anything naughty.

    DELICIOUS!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Stove Top Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

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 do you make candied pecans less sticky? ›

Let them continue to sit on the baking sheet until cool. They'll get less sticky as they cool.

How long do homemade candied nuts last? ›

How Long Do Candied Pecans Last? Store your candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. If you give them as a gift, be sure to include storage instructions.

Why didn't my pecan candy harden? ›

If you beat too long, the candy will seize and start to crumble. If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky. Work quickly to drop heaping tablespoons of pecan praline mixture onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Why are my glazed pecans sticky? ›

The pecans only take a few minutes to cook. If you walk away or don't stir constantly they could burn. The nuts will be sticky at first before they cool. If the glazed pecans remain sticky after cooling, transfer the baking sheet to a 325ºF oven for 5-15 minutes, or until they harden.

Why are my candied nuts grainy? ›

Everything you need to know about this candied pecans

If your candied nuts are turning out all grainy, one reason might be that your sugar crystalized too soon. This could be due to not stirring frequently enough or if your heat is too high.

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.

Do candied pecans need to be refrigerated? ›

Store in a Cool, Dry Place

Keep your candied pecans away from sources of heat and moisture. This means avoiding storing them near your stove, dishwasher, or even on top of your refrigerator. Instead, store them in a cool pantry or cupboard.

Why do you soak pecans in water? ›

"Essential nutrients like iron, protein, calcium, and zinc are better absorbed by the body when you soak the nuts. The water removes the phytic acid present in acids which causes indigestion. So, soaking nuts helps in digesting them properly and reaping the benefits of these nutrients.

Why are my pecans chewy? ›

Microwaving pecans can cause them to lose their freshness and flavor and may even give them a chewy texture, so it's best to let the pecans defrost on their own. Defrost the pecans right before you want to eat them or use them for cooking.

How do you get seasoning to stick to pecans? ›

Beat egg white and water together in a large bowl; add pecans and stir to coat. Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg in a small bowl; sprinkle over moistened nuts. Spread nuts on the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven, stirring once or twice, until toasted and fragrant, about 30 minutes.

Do candied nuts go bad? ›

Yes, candied nuts can go bad. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month for best results.

Are pecans good for you? ›

Raw pecans pack a 1-2-3 punch of protein, healthy fats, and fiber that can help keep you energized and satisfied. Pecans are a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which help lower blood pressure. Most of the fat found in pecans is a healthy type called monounsaturated fat.

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 do you fix soggy nuts? ›

Spread the stale snacks out on a cookie sheet and place in a 350o F oven. Let them bake for about 10 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled the snacks should be crispy and refreshed. You can use this method with fresh nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, etc.

What if candied nuts are too soft? ›

If your candied pecans are soft, it is likely because the sugar syrup coating has not completely hardened. The syrup may still be wet, or it may have started to crystalize. If the syrup is still wet, you can try putting the nuts in the oven for a few minutes to help the syrup harden.

How do you crisp soggy nuts? ›

Heat a heavy-based pan over a medium heat. Toast the nuts for five minutes, or until they begin to colour. At this point, you can stop and serve them as they are, or you can flavour them with a variety of toppings.

How do you dry wet pecans? ›

Pecans often contain excessive moisture when they first fall. The nuts should be dried before they are put in storage. Drying can usually be accomplished by placing the pecans in a shallow layer in a warm, dry area for two weeks. Adding fans and heat can speed drying.

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