Sweet Spiced Pecans Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Em

This recipe needs help. I added another tablespoon of butter and a large dollop of maple syrup melted together when the nuts came out of the oven the second time.

rammooreguss

I found that I needed more of the spice mix to have a bite to the 6cupes of pecans. I did two batches and with the second I did 1.5 X the recommendations for spices.

Tori Matton

Streamline this delicious recipe by melting butter in a large skillet; stir in pecans and coat; bake for about 15 minutes.

Katie M.

Just did a trial run as I try to figure out my food gifts this year (Christmas 2021). When it came time to dress the pecans (2nd toast) I did 3 batches: 1/3 as stated (though with chipotle powder as that's all I have on hand), 1/3 with a touch of maple syrup, 1/3 with a touch of honey and salt. The original wins hands down, for a sophisticated gift that goes so well with co*cktails (reminiscent of martinis at the King Cole Bar!) the others I felt were too sweet. A great experiment. Highly advise.

Diana Jacobs

I halved the recipe - 3 cups of pecans just fills a half-sheet pan with one layer. On advice of others, I added a bit more butter, and then sprinkled white sugar crystals at the very end to balance the heat. The best - filled the house with great smells too!

Darnelle Nelson

I made this the first time as written. I loved them, but they were too spicy for some. The second time, I reduced the cayenne to 1 tsp. and increased the brown sugar by 1 more Tblsp. They are perfect.

MIBU

I've been trying many different recipes for spiced nuts for almost 30 yrs now, and this is probably the best one. You can modify the amount of butter you use, make sure that everything gets a beautiful spice cover. Butter ensures that the spices stay on the nuts, and results in a more even roasting than with an egg white, water, honey, oil, or whatever is suggested around.

Cynthia

I love roasted nuts and I dry roast them regularly! I wanted to try this recipe, but I dry roasted the pecans first per usual. Then I melted butter and seasonings in a small pan, mixed this into the pecans, and put them all back in the oven for 4 more minutes. Voilá! Perfection un my book!!

Marie

I agree - this recipe is VERY spicy! I added maple syrup, more sugar, and more cinnamon because of the reviews below, and it was still spicy. Definitely needs to be toned down and made sweeter.

Christine

Taking the advice from others, I used a little extra butter and added 1.5 tablespoons of honey to the melted butter. Delicious and watch out...Addictive!

Peggy Sue

I used 2 cups of pecans to try it out. Using 1/3 of ingredients except ginger 1/8 t. Brown sugar 1T. and butter 2T and split between pre bake and before adding spice mix. Turned out well.

Sabrey

not too sweet, not to spicy. I made exactly as directed and enjoyed every bite.

Joan

I started out using the ingredients as written. Very spicy and no hint of sweet. Added about 3 more tablespoons of brown sugar when they came out of oven. Still spicy but the additional sugar helped a lot. We enjoyed the final result.

Faith

they were pretty plain without much zip. I made up sugar with spices - cinnamon, clove and cayenne and stirred the nuts in that when they were mostly cooled. They were better and prettier - probably wouldn't do this way again

CatB

I thought this was neither spicy nor sweet.

JGN

This recipe has managed to add extra time and steps to making candied nuts, without making them any better. Not sweet enough, not the right amount of butter--just take the idea of adding cayenne, ginger, and cinnamon and candy them in a skillet.

Laurel

Could this be made with almonds?

CookinginCanada

I just made these for a Christmas party. Lowered the salt slightly as I was using Mortons and not Diamond Crystal. Doubled spices and sugar(as per comments) kept cayenne about the same. They are very good. I do feel like I don't get much ginger/Cinnamon flavour though and my spices aren't old. They taste better as they age as well. A good solid recipe that people can tweak according to personal taste. Thank you!

mng

Would it be as good if I mixed different kinds of nuts to make this?

Jerry

Needs more of everything. Butter, spices, oven time. Pretty much everything.

jb

Has anyone tried this with macadamia nuts?

Les

We loved the recipe as is, but I discovered my cayenne pepper had lost it's oomph.It has more spice, less sweet.A great co*cktail snack and gift bag treat.Always remember to freshen your spice rack once a year!

Cynthia

I love roasted nuts and I dry roast them regularly! I wanted to try this recipe, but I dry roasted the pecans first per usual. Then I melted butter and seasonings in a small pan, mixed this into the pecans, and put them all back in the oven for 4 more minutes. Voilá! Perfection un my book!!

Candy Beal

Delta Darling Toasted Pecans: Simply divine if you melt 1/2 stick of butter on cookie sheet, stir around and then add 1pound of shelled pecans. Stir around again to coat. Lightly salt and pop in 300 degree oven for 15 minutes. Turn them 1/2 way through. Remove from oven and cool. Put in jars to give or in a large Ball jar and refrigerate to snack on as holiday demands become too much. Toasted pecans make everything better, especially if you just wanted the toasted pecan and not the heat!

Becky S

I would agree with other commenters - the original recipe tastes like nuts with a hint of spice. I added a tablespoon of butter and maple syrup like Em mentioned and baked them another 4 minutes, and that gave it a bit more flavor and sweetness. Next time, I'll add more spices upfront as well like others mentioned (I like more spice and sweet for this dish)

Tori Matton

Streamline this delicious recipe by melting butter in a large skillet; stir in pecans and coat; bake for about 15 minutes.

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Sweet Spiced Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my spiced nuts 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.

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 candied pecans from sticking together? ›

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.

Is it better to roast pecans before baking? ›

Pecans are typically added to a recipe for added texture and flavor and toasting them will only improve both qualities. Toasting pecans (or any nut for that matter) not only makes them extra crisp and crunchy, but you'll get an even greater boost of nuttiness and flavor.

Why are my roasted pecans bitter? ›

I started doing some research, and I found a little-known trick to making pecans taste sweeter: Soaking and rinsing the shelled nuts in lukewarm water before roasting removes the tannins and pieces of corky material that can cause pecans to taste bitter.

How do you get seasoning to stick to nuts? ›

To get the spices to stick to the nuts, use egg whites, butter, coconut oil, olive oil or blanch the nuts in boiling water. Some recipes call for nuts to be fried in oil prior to seasoning, but this adds unnecessary fat – you can make them just a delicious without all the extra calories.

How long can you store spiced pecans? ›

Spiced pecans will stay fresh for up to two weeks at room temperature or up to a year when stored in the refrigerator or freezer. How do you store roasted nuts? The best way to store leftover spiced nuts is in an airtight container, sealable bag, or mason jar.

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? ›

Praline pecans are just one variety of candied pecans. These pecans have a tasty coating or glaze and are also referred to as flavored pecans.

Why do people boil pecans? ›

Boiling pecans before cracking them can actually help prevent the shell from shattering. Here's how to boil them to loosen the shell but not cook the meat: ● Bring a large pot of water to a gentle boil ● Add the pecans and let cook for 10-15 minutes ● Drain and let cool ● Get to cracking!

How do you get 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.

What is the best temperature to roast pecans? ›

Oven: Spread them on a baking sheet and roast them in a 350°F oven. Stovetop: Toast them in a skillet over medium-high heat. Microwave: Microwave on HIGH for 30-60 seconds. Air fry: Pop them in your air fryer at 320°F.

Why are my candied pecans grainy? ›

Most candied pecans use a sugar melted to a specific temperature using a candy thermometer, but I find that any humidity turns the sugar grainy and turns the candied pecans into a grainy unpleasant mass.

How long can you keep homemade candied pecans? ›

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 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. After removal from the freezer, pecans will last for an additional two months.

What is the brown powder on pecans? ›

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease of both pecan foliage and nuts caused by Microsphaera alni. It appears sporadically throughout the pecan belt in July during hot, humid weather. This disease produces characteristic powdery-like growth on leaflets and nuts.

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.

What is the difference between roasted and toasted pecans? ›

Toasted pecans are not roasted pecans. Toasted pecans are cooked in a pan on the stove. I prefer to make roasted pecans in the oven because the pecans cook more evenly this way.

Does boiling pecans make them easier to crack? ›

Boiling them first will soften the shell, making them easier to crack. The moisture will also reduce the mess by preventing so many tiny shell fragments. Once your pecans have cooled, you can start cracking them. A high quality nutcracker will be your best option for this step.

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