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    Home » Food Fun Friday » Candied Pecans -Food Fun Friday

    Candied Pecans -Food Fun Friday

    Published: Dec 21, 2012 · Modified: Apr 27, 2022 by Vicky

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    I was looking for a simple gift for my kids' teachers that I could make at home. I love the taste of cinnamon sugar nuts, but I always thought they were really complicated to make. Turns out they are fairly simple. The only issue with making these to give away is that you end up eating a ton and having a lot less to give away than you thought. I adapted this recipe for Candied Pecans from Taste of Home. Also check out these Peanut Butter Recipes to Make with Kids.

    These candied pecans make great holiday gifts. They are also great to serve at parties. Sweet and oh so addicting!

    Candied Pecans

    This recipe will make 2 pounds of candied pecans. You can easily halve this recipe if you don't need this many.

    I bought the nuts in bulk at Costco. I think this recipe would work great with almonds. I plan to try those next!

    candied pecans ingredients

    Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place the pecans on some ungreased shallow baking pans and when the oven is warm, heat for 10 minutes.

    pecans in a pan

    Take 1 tablespoon of butter and spread on the sides of a large saucepan. Add the sugar, salt, cinnamon and water.

    butter and sugar in a saucepan

    Cook this mixture on low heat while stirring until the sugar is dissolved. When the sugar has dissolved, continue cooking and stirring, now on medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. When it starts boiling, cover and cook for 2 more minutes. Uncover and continue cooking (now without stirring) on medium heat until the mixture reaches a temperature of 236 degrees. You will need a candy thermometer for this step.

    melted butter and sugar in sauce pan

    When it reaches 236 degrees, remove the mixture from the heat and add the vanilla. Next add the warmed pecans and stir to coat them with the mixture.

    candied pecans

    Use the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to grease the pans.

    butter in a pan

    Add the coated pecans and place trays back in the 250 degree oven for 30 minutes. Stir the pecans every 10 minutes.

    candied pecans

    When you take the pecans out of the oven the sugar should have started to crystallize. If it is still in a syrupy stage, just put them back in the oven for a few more minutes.

    When done, place pecans on wax paper to cool. When cooled, place in a sealed container. That is, if you don't eat them all up right then and there. I packed them in mason jars and added a sticker and ribbon for a yummy present that you can feel proud to give!

    candied pecans
    candied pecans

    Food Fun Friday - Candied Pecans

    These candied pecans make great holiday gifts. They are also great to serve at parties. Sweet and oh so addicting!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: nuts, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: candied pecans
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 18
    Calories: 332kcal
    Author: Vicky

    Ingredients

    • 6 cups of pecan halves
    • 3 tablespoons of softened butter
    • 2 cups of sugar
    • 1 cup of water
    • 1 teaspoon of salt
    • 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
    • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
    • Candy thermometer

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place the pecans on ungreased shallow baking pans and heat for 10 minutes.
    • Take 1 tablespoon of butter and spread on the sides of a large saucepan. Add the sugar, salt, cinnamon and water.
    • Cook this mixture on low heat while stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
    • When the sugar has dissolved, continue cooking and stirring, now on medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
    • When it starts boiling, cover and cook for 2 more minutes.
    • Uncover and continue cooking (now without stirring) on medium heat until the mixture reaches a temperature of 236 degrees. You will need a candy thermometer for this step.
    • When it reaches 236 degrees, remove the mixture from the heat and add the vanilla. Next add the warmed pecans and stir to coat them with the mixture.
    • Use the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to grease the pans.
    • Add the coated pecans and place trays back in the 250 degree oven for 30 minutes. Stir the pecans every 10 minutes.
    • When you take the pecans out of the oven the sugar should have started to crystallize. If it is still in a syrupy stage, just put them back in the oven for a few more minutes.
    • When done, place pecans on wax paper to cool. When cooled, place in a sealed container.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 146mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 77IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

    This nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using online calculators. Your nutritional information may vary depending on numerous factors.

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    If you liked these Candied Pecans and love nuts, check out Peanut Butter and Jelly Crescent Rolls.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Fifi @ AboutBloggingTime!

      January 03, 2013 at 5:10 pm

      Okay....these wouldn't even make it out of my house, lol!!

      I love candied pecans or pralines yummy!! For summer vacation the hubs and I went to New Orlenas and I think I bought pecans from ever corner that was selling...the hubs doesn't care for them. So I was lucky I didn't have to share.

      These look pretty easy to make, I will definitely have to give them a try.

    2. Amy

      January 04, 2013 at 2:57 am

      Oh. my. goodness. These look SO delicious! I wouldn't share. Nope, no way. Thanks so much for linking up at Shine on Fridays! I'm pinning these suckers!

    3. Debi @ Adorned From Above

      January 04, 2013 at 5:58 am

      These looI have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this and any other posts with everyone. It runs from Wednesday through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
      http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/01/week-in-review-and-wednesdays-adorned.html
      Debi @ Adorned From Abovek deliciuos.

    4. Wanda Ann Olsen

      January 04, 2013 at 6:34 pm

      Great pictures and I wanted this recipe. I love to put them in salads too. I would love for you to visit me at memoriesbythemile.com
      New follower,
      Wanda Ann @ Memories by the Mile

    5. Sinea Pies

      January 04, 2013 at 9:50 pm

      These photos are so beautiful. The pecans look like you could just reach in and scoop them up.

    6. Amanda

      January 05, 2013 at 1:22 am

      Oh snap. I'm so pinning this recipe. My mouth thanks you, my hips, not so much. 😉

    7. Maria

      January 05, 2013 at 1:44 am

      This recipe sounds DELICIOUS!!!! I love pecans, and love nuts for a snack, this sounds perfect! Thanks for sharing, they look wonderful!

    8. Katie Drane

      January 05, 2013 at 3:13 pm

      Ohmigosh these look so good! Thanks for sharing:)

      Katie
      http://www.funhomethings.com

    9. Lisa

      January 05, 2013 at 9:07 pm

      Love these they remind me of Pralines from South Carolina and Georgia.

    10. Cranberry Morning

      January 07, 2013 at 2:01 pm

      These do not go well with my New Year's Resolution, but boy do they look great!!!! 🙂

    11. Bluebell Woods

      January 07, 2013 at 7:40 pm

      do you think they can be done without a candy thermometer? they look so yummy
      Janice

    12. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      January 09, 2013 at 7:24 pm

      If you have a regular digital meat thermometer that should work too. You just need something that will give you the exact temperature reading.

    13. Diana - FreeStyleMama

      January 10, 2013 at 5:20 am

      YUMMMY!!!

    14. Steph @ somewhatsimple

      January 11, 2013 at 6:13 am

      My mouth is literally watering! Thanks for linking up to my link party! 🙂

    15. Carrie

      January 11, 2013 at 3:30 pm

      Oh, delicious!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

    16. Christina Woodson

      November 15, 2013 at 1:29 am

      If I make this for gifts and put in mason jars, how long would they keep??

    17. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      November 15, 2013 at 8:34 pm

      Christina, We made ours a few days before we gave them, so I don't know how long they would keep. I did package them in mason jars though.

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    Hi, I'm Vicky, founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find it at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

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