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!

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

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

After 45 minutes, remove them from the oven and give them one last through stir, then 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.

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 long do candied pecans stay good for? ›

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.

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.

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.

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.

How can you tell if pecans are rancid? ›

They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture. And if you're daring enough to taste some, it's likely a bit bitter and honestly, gross.

Can candied nuts go bad? ›

Ba-dum-dum. Okay, all bad dad jokes aside, these candied walnuts will last quite a while. All nuts do go rancid eventually, but as long as you cool them completely and then store them in an air-tight container, they should be good for about a month. You might also like our Candied Pecans recipe or Candied Almonds!

How long do pecans last in a ziplock bag? ›

Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months. They can be refrigerated up to 18 months and frozen for about three years.

How many cups is 2 pounds? ›

There are 2 pounds in 4 cups.

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

Why are pecans bad for dogs? These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

How much is 1 cup of pecans? ›

There are about 4 ounces of pecan pieces in a measuring cup. You can use this information as a yardstick for determining the amount or quantity you wish to buy.

What is the best way to store candied nuts? ›

Storage Instructions: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. Freezing Instructions: They freeze well in an air-tight container for up to two months.

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.

How do you keep shelled pecans from molding? ›

Answer: Keeping your pecans in a tightly sealed bag in a freezer is the optimal way to store pecans. However, refrigerating your pecans will also extend their shelf life. Shelled pecans can be thawed and refrozen repeatedly without any significant loss or damage.

How do you store an open bag of pecans? ›

Be sure to keep it in a cool, dry place for immediate use. If you are wondering how long you can keep pecans in the refrigerator, the answer is: Refrigerating will extend and preserve the flavor for up to 6 months. If you want to store for the maximum amount of time, then freezing is an option as well.

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