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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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 PecansIngredients
butter
pecan halves
brown sugar
How to make Brown Sugar Candied Pecans
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.
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!
Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? 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.
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.
COOL. Transfer to a piece of parchment or wax paper, separate, and let cool. What if my coating is still soft/sticky after baking? If you take your nuts out of the oven and the coating is still soft/sticky, pop the tray back in the oven until the nuts are more “crispy”.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 is the difference between candied pecans and pralines? Candied pecans are pecans coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked until crispy. Pralines are a drop-candy with a caramel-like base and crunchy pecans mixed in.
Pecans have a very low glycemic index, which means that eating them does not cause a spike in blood sugar, even in people with diabetes. Eating pecans can even offset the effects of higher glycemic index foods when eaten as part of the same meal.
Since nuts are low on the glycemic index, pecans can slow the body's absorption of carbohydrates down, which ultimately leads to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels; just ensure you're using unsalted, dry-roasted pecans and not candied pecans that can be high in sugar and added fat.
A one-ounce serving of pecans (about 19 pecan halves) contains about 3g of fiber, which can help slow sugar absorption into your bloodstream. This can help prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes, which are common in people with diabetes.
One option is to bake them in the oven for a few minutes. Preheat your oven to 350°F and spread the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes, checking frequently, until they're crisp and fragrant. Another option is to microwave them for a few seconds.
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.
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.
Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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