How to Make Candied Pecans

Adding that little extra-special decorative touch to your desserts, salads ... or even breakfast dishes ... is easy with Candied Pecans. Follow these simple steps on how to make Candied Pecans, then use the tasty results to beautifully top & adorn a variety of treats!

I have to admit, garnishing & "prettying up" my food is not my strong point. Heck, before I became a food blogger the thought of garnishing my foods to give them that little extra eye appeal never crossed my mind. I guess I'm a subscriber to the "food is inherently beautiful just as it is" philosophy!

But ... truth be told ... a little sprinkling of fresh herbs, a strategically placed sprig of mint or parsley, a shaving of chocolate, or even just a dash of freshly-cracked pepper can go a long way in giving foods a little extra sparkle and appeal. When it comes to adorning those desserts? Candied Pecans can add that little extra-special decorative touch to so many sweet treats!

Use Candied Pecans to scatter or make decorative patterns on cakes ... place in the center of cookies and bars ... or top desserts, cupcakes, muffins, and breakfast breads. They give a wonderful bit of flavor and crunch to salads, too!

But how to make Candied Pecans, you ask? They're truly quite simple, with just three little steps.

First, simmer pecans on the stove top in a mixture of granulated sugar and water. This allows the pecans to soak up and get coated in the sugar. The pecans take on a hint of sweetness, but it's not too much ... not so much as to blow your sweet tooth out of the water.

Second, bake the simmered pecans. Baking dries the pecans and "sets" the sugar syrup mixture.

The third and final step is to coat the warm baked pecans with a sprinkling of sugar ... to give them a final touch of sweetness and make them extra pretty. The bit of sparkle from the sugar granules is that little sparkly touch that makes Candied Pecans so fun and festive!

I like to use turbinado sugar because the sugar grains are a little larger in size, but granulated sugar will work just fine, too. And if you want flavored Candied Pecans? Just mix the sprinkle of sugar with a pinch of ground cinnamon before coating the warm pecans.

And that, my friends, is how to make Candied Pecans. Pretty simple, right? But these simple little jewels sure can add a beautiful extra-special decorative {& flavorful} touch to a variety of treats. I've shared a few examples down below the recipe, so keep on scrolling to see how Candied Pecans could be put into action.

How to Make Candied Pecans
(Printable recipe)

Ingredients

1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. water
1 c. pecan halves
1/2 tsp. turbinado sugar {or granulated sugar}

Directions

Place granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat; stir until sugar is fully dissolved. Add pecans and simmer for about 6 minutes.
Use a slotted spoon to remove pecans from the sugar syrup. Lay in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes, stirring once.
Remove pecans from oven. While hot, sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Note For flavored Candied Pecans, combine turbinado sugar with a pinch of ground cinnamon.

Enjoy!

Using Candied Pecans

Use Candied Pecans to beautifully top & adorn a variety of dessert treats. Rustically scatter or make decorative patterns on cakes ... place in the center of cookies and bars ... top desserts, cupcakes, muffins, breakfast breads ... and more! They give a wonderful bit of flavor and crunch to salads, too! While not all the pecans in the photos below are candied, they sure could be!

Cakes

Pecan Meringue Kiss Cookies | from

Bourbon-Glazed Sweet Potato Muffins | from

Breakfasts