How to Make Candied Pecans

November 2, 2015
Adding that little extra-special decorative touch to your desserts, salads ... or even breakfast dishes ... is easy with Candied Pecans.  Follow these simple steps on how to make Candied Pecans, then use the tasty results to beautifully top & adorn a variety of treats!

How to Make Candied Pecans ~ add a little extra-special decorative touch to desserts, salads ... or even breakfast dishes!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com


I have to admit, garnishing & "prettying up" my food is not my strong point.  Heck, before I became a food blogger the thought of garnishing my foods to give them that little extra eye appeal never crossed my mind.  I guess I'm a subscriber to the "food is inherently beautiful just as it is" philosophy!

But ... truth be told ... a little sprinkling of fresh herbs, a strategically placed sprig of mint or parsley, a shaving of chocolate, or even just a dash of freshly-cracked pepper can go a long way in giving foods a little extra sparkle and appeal.  When it comes to adorning those desserts?  Candied Pecans can add that little extra-special decorative touch to so many sweet treats!


Use Candied Pecans to scatter or make decorative patterns on cakes ... place in the center of cookies and bars ... or top desserts, cupcakes, muffins, and breakfast breads.  They give a wonderful bit of flavor and crunch to salads, too!

But how to make Candied Pecans, you ask?  They're truly quite simple, with just three little steps.

First, simmer pecans on the stove top in a mixture of granulated sugar and water.  This allows the pecans to soak up and get coated in the sugar.  The pecans take on a hint of sweetness, but it's not too much ... not so much as to blow your sweet tooth out of the water.

How to Make Candied Pecans ~ add a little extra-special decorative touch to desserts, salads ... or even breakfast dishes!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com

Second, bake the simmered pecans.  Baking dries the pecans and "sets" the sugar syrup mixture.

How to Make Candied Pecans ~ add a little extra-special decorative touch to desserts, salads ... or even breakfast dishes!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com

The third and final step is to coat the warm baked pecans with a sprinkling of sugar ... to give them a final touch of sweetness and make them extra pretty.  The bit of sparkle from the sugar granules is that little sparkly touch that makes Candied Pecans so fun and festive!

I like to use turbinado sugar because the sugar grains are a little larger in size, but granulated sugar will work just fine, too.  And if you want flavored Candied Pecans?  Just mix the sprinkle of sugar with a pinch of ground cinnamon before coating the warm pecans.

How to Make Candied Pecans ~ add a little extra-special decorative touch to desserts, salads ... or even breakfast dishes!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com

And that, my friends, is how to make Candied Pecans.  Pretty simple, right?  But these simple little jewels sure can add a beautiful extra-special decorative {& flavorful} touch to a variety of treats.  I've shared a few examples down below the recipe, so keep on scrolling to see how Candied Pecans could be put into action.

How to Make Candied Pecans ~ add a little extra-special decorative touch to desserts, salads ... or even breakfast dishes!   www.thekitchenismyplayground.com
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how to make candied pecans, candied pecans recipe, sugared pecans, sugared pecans recipe
Desserts
Southern
Yield: 1 cup
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How to Make Candied Pecans

How to Make Candied Pecans

Adding that little extra-special decorative touch to your desserts, salads ... or even breakfast dishes ... is easy with Candied Pecans. Follow these simple steps on how to make Candied Pecans, then use the tasty results to beautifully top & adorn a variety of treats!
Prep time: 10 MCook time: 20 MTotal time: 30 M

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 c. granulated sugar
  • 1/2 c. water
  • 1 c. pecan halves
  • 1/2 tsp. turbinado sugar {or granulated sugar}

Instructions:

  1. Place granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat; stir until sugar is fully dissolved. 
  2. Add pecans and simmer for about 6 minutes.
  3. Use a slotted spoon to remove pecans from the sugar syrup. Lay in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes, stirring once.
  5. Remove pecans from oven. While hot, sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
  6. Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container until ready to use.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
  1. For flavored Candied Pecans, combine the turbinado sugar sprinkled on after baking with a pinch of ground cinnamon.
Created using The Recipes Generator


Using Candied Pecans

Use Candied Pecans to beautifully top & adorn a variety of dessert treats.  Rustically scatter or make decorative patterns on cakes ... place in the center of cookies and bars ... top desserts, cupcakes, muffins, breakfast breads ... and more!  They give a wonderful bit of flavor and crunch to salads, too!  While not all the pecans in the photos below are candied, they sure could be!

Cakes
Pecan Pie Pound Cake | from Call Me PMc


Cookies & Bars
Pecan Meringue Kiss Cookies | from The Kitchen is My Playground
Pecan Meringue Kiss Cookies | from The Kitchen is My Playground


Butter Pecan Turtle Bars | from Garnish with Lemon
Butter Pecan Turtle Bars | from Garnish with Lemon


Desserts


Old Fashioned Rice Pudding with Salted Caramel | from Call Me PMc



Cupcakes & Muffins
Carrot Cake Cupcakes | from Shugary Sweets
Carrot Cake Cupcakes | from Shugary Sweets


Bourbon-Glazed Sweet Potato Muffins | from The Kitchen is My Playground
Bourbon-Glazed Sweet Potato Muffins | from The Kitchen is My Playground



Breakfasts
Pumpkin-Apple Waffles | from The Kitchen is My Playground
Pumpkin-Apple Waffles | from The Kitchen is My Playground


Pecan Pie Oatmeal | from House of Yum
Pecan Pie Oatmeal | from House of Yum


Salads

8 comments

  1. This looks amazing!! Pinning and Sharing! .. just wanted to stop by from Whats Cooking Love link party and say hi!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Candied pecans everywhere. I love how after teaching to make it, you went ahead and showed us the n number of ways it can be used, from breakfast to dessert. This basic tutorial is quite helpful. Found you on Show and Tell. Liked everything I saw. :)
    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. We will love your pecans and will make great little gifts. Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great day.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just love candied pecans. And you've given so many great ways to use them. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. My grandma made sugared nuts every Christmas season. When she died we lost the recipe. I think this is what she used, except she did hers in one of those square electric cookers with a lid (I always thought of it as a skillet).

    ReplyDelete
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  7. I needed something sweet to accompany my cheese tray today, and these candied pecans are amazing, they fit the bill. I took the simple syrup the pecans were cooked in and I added a pat of unsalted butter and a pinch of salt, perfect topping for vanilla ice cream!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sound so good. When I told my husband about your comment he asked when we could try some as a topping on ice cream.

      Delete

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