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.
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!
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place the pecans on some ungreased shallow baking pans and when the oven is warm, 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. 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!
📖 Recipe
Candied Pecans
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.
Video
Nutrition
This nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using online calculators. Your nutritional information may vary depending on numerous factors.
If you liked these Candied Pecans and love nuts, check out Peanut Butter and Jelly Crescent Rolls.
Vicky @ Mess For Less
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.
Christina Woodson
If I make this for gifts and put in mason jars, how long would they keep??
Carrie
Oh, delicious!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Steph @ somewhatsimple
My mouth is literally watering! Thanks for linking up to my link party! 🙂
Diana - FreeStyleMama
YUMMMY!!!
Vicky @ Mess For Less
If you have a regular digital meat thermometer that should work too. You just need something that will give you the exact temperature reading.
Bluebell Woods
do you think they can be done without a candy thermometer? they look so yummy
Janice
Cranberry Morning
These do not go well with my New Year's Resolution, but boy do they look great!!!! 🙂
Lisa
Love these they remind me of Pralines from South Carolina and Georgia.
Katie Drane
Ohmigosh these look so good! Thanks for sharing:)
Katie
http://www.funhomethings.com
Maria
This recipe sounds DELICIOUS!!!! I love pecans, and love nuts for a snack, this sounds perfect! Thanks for sharing, they look wonderful!
Amanda
Oh snap. I'm so pinning this recipe. My mouth thanks you, my hips, not so much. 😉
Sinea Pies
These photos are so beautiful. The pecans look like you could just reach in and scoop them up.
Wanda Ann Olsen
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
Debi @ Adorned From Above
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.
Amy
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!
Fifi @ AboutBloggingTime!
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.