Caramelized pecan nuts
Caramelized pecan nuts
Caramelized pecan nuts anre for one insanely addictive! And they are also so easy to make at home. They make for a great snack and can be turned into the most delicious pecan nut butter or nut praline.
I also love using these caramelized pecan nuts or other nuts in patisserie for example or in other recipes such as cookies. They make a great addition in cookie dough as a nutty, super crunchy element.
Whenever I make a batch of these at home our whole apartment smells like a Christmas market. And I love it! The spices of cinnamon and vanilla mixed with the hot caramelized pecan nuts just intensify the flavor even more.
Caramelized nuts especially almonds are a very popular Christmas market snack here in Switzerland and also in Germany.
Why you’ll love these caramelized pecan nuts:
1. They are easy to make. You don’t need more than an oven and a large frying pan or pot. The only requirement in making these is that you never leave it unattended when making them as you need to stir them constantly not to burn the sugar.
2. SO delicious! I don’t think I need to say more 😉
3. Very easy to adapt. You can make this with pretty much any type of nut and you can add more spices if desired such as ground cardamom, etc…
Ingredients you’ll need to make caramelized pecan nuts:
Pecan nuts: slightly roasted pecan nuts. Roasting the nuts intensifies their flavor. You can substitute the pecan nuts for any other nut
Sugar: I used normal white cane sugar for this recipe
Water: u you can use tap water
Vanilla: make sure to use a good quality vanilla. I used vanilla powder (from Vanilla Dream) in this recipe as it’s easier to mix in
Cinnamon: use a good quality cinnamon powder
Salt: regular table salt or Maldon sea salt
How to make caramelized pecan nuts (step-by-step)
1. Roast the nuts:
Start by roasting the pecan nuts in a preheated oven at 175-180°C for about 10 minutes.
2. Mix sugar and water:
In a large pan/pot bring the sugar and water to a boil.
Once the sugar and water mixture comes to a boil add all the nuts at once and under constant stirring caramelized the nuts. The pecan nuts will first turn a white “candied” texture before getting a caramelized sugar coating. You have to keep stirring until the sugar starts to caramelize a golden brown color.
3. Caramelize
Once caramelized take off the heat immediately and add the spices (vanilla, cinnamon and salt) stir until evenly mixed. (the sugar will continue to caramelize a bit more in the hot pan so you want to remove it from the heat on time)
4. Spread onto a baking sheet & cool:
Immediately after mixing in the spices spread the nuts onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper and separate the pecan nuts with a spatula. Let them cool down completely before storing in an airtight container.
Tips for making caramelized pecan nuts:
Roast the pecan nuts (or any other nuts) slightly so the nutty flavor intensified.
Use we good quality cinnamon and vanilla since you will notice the difference
Stir constantly! This way you will achieve and even coating and caramelization
Heat proof spatula: make sure to use a heat proof spatula when caramelizing the nuts!
Store in an airtight container or vacuum bag for up to a month or even more
Serving ideas:
These caramelized pecan nuts are enjoyed on their own as a sweet snack. But I must warn you that they are very addictive. They always remind me of a German or Swiss Christmas market where the smell of these candied/caramelized nuts filled the whole market.
I also love to use these caramelized nuts as topping for ice-cream, pastries, cakes.
They can also be turned into a sweet nut butter or Praliné by grinding them in a food processor until smooth
FAQ’S:
How do you make candied pecans from scratch:
The process is simple and the ingredients as well. The only effort is making them is the constant stirring and making sure they don’t burn when caramelizing. Just follow the recipe below.
Why are my candied pecan nuts not crunchy?
This is probably due to them getting toon much moisture. If the candied pecan nuts are exposed to a humid environment they will loose their crunchyness as the sugar is hygroscopic which means it absorbs moisture from the air. It’s important to store them in an airtight container as soon as they have cooled down completely.
How long does salted vanilla homemade candied pecan nuts last?
These candied pecan nuts can last for months, but I recommend storing them for max 1 month to obtain their freshness so the nuts don’t loose their nutty flavor as they can go rancid after some time.
Can I freeze candied pecan nuts?
I don’t recommend freezing pecan nuts because of the sugars hygroscopic feature. Just store them at room temperature in an airtight container.
What is the best sugar for making candied pecans nuts?
The best option for me has been just regular white cane sugar. I haven’t experimented much with other sugar. It would work but you would have to test it and see how it works out.
Can I use other nuts instead of pecans?
Yes, absolutely! Just replace the same amount of pecan nuts with another type of nut. Hazelnuts and almonds work amazing with the same recipe and spice mix.
Are these candied pecan nuts gluten free?
Yes, these candied pecan nuts are gluten free.