Pecans have a lovely buttery taste that is unique and candying them just doubles the exquisite flavor. In fact, candied pecans are a classic treat and in some homes, they are traditional around holiday times. In our home, these were a must during Christmas and they usually preceded the Christmas turkey but I’ve found that they are a very nutritious all-time snacks.
To justify making them all through the year, I researched pecans and found that they are a rich source of protein and unsaturated fats. They have a very high Omega-6 fatty acid, antioxidant and plant sterol content that reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in the body. Eating pecans daily may also reduce the incidence of age-related muscle damage, nerve damage and improve overall health.
And that was all the justification I required to make and keep making these luscious candied pecans all through the year. Now, I didn’t really have the recipe but browsing around and experimenting resulted in me finding the perfect recipe for soft, nutty, salty but sweet candied pecans. This is the simplest recipe online but there are a few recipes with eggs. You have to use egg whites and the recipe involves beating egg whites with sugar, coating the pecans with the mix and then baking them for a crisp but meltingly soft texture.
I did try this recipe but the plain butter and sugar caramel mixture produces a harder candied pecan that lasts longer and is vegetarian as well. You can try both recipes just to create a difference in texture and taste.
How to make candied pecans
Ingredients
Pecan halves — 2 cups
Salted butter — 5 tablespoons
Brown sugar — 3 tablespoons but you can increase it or decrease it depending on how sweet you want the nuts.
Candied Pecans Instructions
1. In a large non-stick skillet, tip in the butter and sugar and melt until caramelized. Be very careful and watch the sugar. Once it melts, the sugar can burn quickly.
2. Add the nuts to the hot melted sugar and toss well.
3. Spread out on wax paper and allow to cool
Enjoy your candied pecans with hot toddy or just as a light snack.
Note: Actually, every nut is candied the same way and almonds seem to lend them particularly well to this recipe. For a spicy version, you can add honey, corn syrup, and cinnamon to the same sugar mixture and then add pecans to the mix.
