Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

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This Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe is a delicious, sweet, and savory snack that will make you go nuts. With just 3 ingredients needed this candied nuts recipe is perfect for snacking, desserts, and on top of salads!

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (1)

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans

Brown sugar candied pecans are the perfect recipe for your next party or holiday gathering. You can even try making these in bulk to give as gifts! These Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipes are easy to make and contain only three ingredients: brown sugar, butter, and pecans.

Brown sugar and butter combine to give these candied pecans a rich, caramel-like flavor. Brown Sugar Candied Pecans are the perfect sweet mix for your next party or holiday gathering!

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (2)

I love making this easy treat for snacking but I also love making them give as gifts. These nuts are always a big hit when I have given them as a gift. So if you are looking for a tasty holiday gift these are perfect! When I give them as a gift I like to make a little basket up that includes these candy nuts, peppermint hot chocolate spoons, Peppermint Hot Chocolate Bombs, Marshmallow hot chocolate cups, and Christmas Tree Oreos.

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (3)

Tips for Making this recipe

Prepare ahead of time. It is important to have your baking sheet lined ahead of time before you start cooking the candy pecans because you will need to transfer them from the pan on the stove to the baking sheet quickly.

Use parchment paper or a silicone mat. It is important to line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat, do not use waxed paper, the nuts will stick to it.

Allow the nuts to cool completely. The nuts will be sticky when you put them on the baking sheet, allow them to cool completely and they will harden as they cool.

Watch the nuts cooking. These candied nuts will cook quickly, so be sure you keep an eye on them as they are cooking.

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (4)

Why are my Pecans sticky?

The candy pecans will be sticky as they cool, but if they are still sticky after they cool that means the sugar did not get cooked enough when they were cooking on the stove.

How to Fix Sticky Candy nuts

If your nuts are sticky after they are cooled you can save them and fix them. Just put the baking sheet with the nuts on it in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes until the sugar has hardened and they are less sticky.

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (5)

How to Use Candied Pecans

While candy nuts are a great snack there are lots of other uses for them as well. I like using them for gifts because everyone always loves them but I also like to make them and have them on hand because they are so tasty.

  • Salad toppings
  • Yogurt Parfaits
  • On top of Oatmeal, like Pecan pie Oatmeal and Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal.
  • add to snack mix like crock pot chex mix or popcorn snack mix
  • Topping for sweet potato casserole, baked sweet potatoes or microwave sweet potatoes.
Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (6)

How to Store Candy Pecans

Candy pecans need to be stored in an airtight container. They can be stored on the counter or in the fridge.

How Long do Candied Pecans last?

Candy pecans will keep for 1 week at room temperature, 3 weeks in the fridge.

Can I freeze candied Peans?

Candied pecans can last for up to 2 months in the freezer if kept in an air-tight container.

Can I make these sugar free?

If you are on a low carb diet or sugar-free diet you can use brown Swerve instead of brown sugar.

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (7)

Brown Sugar Candied PecansIngredients

  • butter
  • pecan halves
  • brown sugar

How to make Brown Sugar Candied Pecans

Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat.

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (8)

Stirin the pecans and brown sugar, making sure they are well coated.

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (9)

Cook pecans over medium heat until the sugar begins to caramelize and the sauce thickens (about 3 minutes).

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (10)

Spread out pecans on a lined baking sheet to cool.

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (11)

Pecan Recipes

  • Cinnamon and Sugar Pecans
  • Pecan Pie Bars
  • Pecan PIe Waffles
  • Pumpkin Pecan Granola
  • Pecan Sticky Buns

Brown Sugar Candied Pecans

Created by Lauren

3.81 from 104 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 4

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

This Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe is a delicious, sweet, and savory snack that will make you go nuts. With just 3 ingredients needed this candied nuts recipe is perfect for snacking, desserts, and on top of salads!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat.

  • Stirin the pecans and brown sugar, making sure they are well coated.

  • Cook pecans over medium heat until the sugar begins to caramelize and the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes

  • Spread out pecans on a lined baking sheet to cool.

Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 189IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

brown sugar candied pecans, candied pecans, candy pecans

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Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (13)

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Brown Sugar Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans soft on the stove? ›

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? ›

After 45 minutes, remove them from the oven and let them rest. You can remove the pecans to a baking sheet to cool faster if you like. 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 are my candied pecans sticky? ›

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.

Why are my candied pecans grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing.

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.

How many cups is one pound of pecans? ›

Measurements and Substitutions

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

Why do you boil pecans before cracking? ›

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

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

If you're wondering why you need to soak your pecans before roasting, this is because soaking them can further enhance their buttery flavors.

How long to soak pecans before eating? ›

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.

How to dry out sticky candied pecans? ›

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 and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

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.

Do candied pecans go bad? ›

If you don't plan on eating your candied pecans right away, you may want to consider storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Refrigeration can keep the pecans fresh for up to three months, while freezing can extend their shelf life for up to six months.

Why is my brown sugar not dissolving? ›

To properly melt brown sugar, pour it into a microwave-safe bowl and partially fill another bowl with water. This will help keep the brown sugar moist, especially if it has hardened some or started to get dry. Next, microwave both bowls at the same time for 30 seconds on high heat.

Why is my brown sugar and butter not mixing? ›

The temperature of your butter is critical when creaming butter and sugar. Too cold, and your sugar won't properly dissolve into your butter. Too hot, and your cakes will end up flat and greasy. The magical temperature of softened butter is actually around 65℉, slightly cooler than the ambient temperature of your home.

How do you take the bitterness out of 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.

Why are my pecans soft? ›

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 are my candied walnuts soft? ›

Storing Candied Nuts

Let the candied nuts cool for at least 20 minutes or until completely cool. You don't want to package warm nuts or the moisture will cause condensation which will soften the candy coating.

Why is my pecan pie mushy? ›

Imagine, you want to surprise your family with a homemade pecan pie, only to find the slices won't hold. The center jiggles more than it's supposed to. Why didn't the filling set properly? If your pecan pie is still a little soupy, it simply means you need to bake it more.

Do pecans soften when cooked? ›

Throw all of your pecans in a sauce pan, and pan-fry for about 2 minutes. This will soften the pecans, and really accentuate the nutty flavor.

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