Candied Pecan Recipe {4 Ingredients!} - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

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Hands down, these are the BEST vegan candied pecans that happen to be gluten free! Made with just 3 main ingredients, they are crispy, sweet, and PERFECT for the holiday season!

Easy candied pecans made in a skillet and completely refined sugar free and dairy free. Simple, delicious, and ready in 10 minutes.

Candied Pecan Recipe {4 Ingredients!} - The Big Man's World ® (1)

Candied Pecans

When it comes to edible holiday gifts, I love making peppermint bark, English toffee, and these simple candied pecans.

If I had a choice between buying my friends and family physical gifts or making something edible for them, I’d always go with the latter. Although with that said, I’m already pawning off many of my desserts and baked goods to them, so I’d probably still have to get them a non-edible gift, or else they will think I am cheap! While I do the usual cookies and tarts, I’ve started also making candied pecans!

Now, these candied pecans aren’t like your traditional candied nuts! They are made in a skillet instead of the oven and they also contain NO egg to bind it. This is perfect as many of my friends follow a vegan and gluten free diet, and this ticks both those boxes.

These candied pecans are crispy, crunchy, and with an almost toffee-like texture. They are sweet, a little salty, and have notes of vanilla throughout.

I have already made a few sample batches and I cannot stop eating them- They are SO addictive that you’ll definitely need to share them around or they won’t even make it to Christmas!

How to make candied pecans

The Ingredients

  • Pecans– Use a mix of whole and halved pecans. Be sure to use unsalted and unsweetened pecans.
  • Sugar of choice– White sugar works best, but brown sugar and coconut sugar can also be used.
  • Water– Replaces the need for any egg white or similar, by creating a mock syrup with the sugar. In turn, this crystalizes over the nuts.
  • Vanilla extract– Gives a light vanilla flavor.
  • Salt– Perfect to balance out the sweetness, and fabulous if you love the sweet and salty combination.
  • Cinnamon– Optional, but gives some lovely spice.

The Instructions

Start by heating up a large non-stick pan or skillet on medium heat. When hot, add the sugar, water, and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Allow it all to heat up, until the sugar has dissolved. Add the pecans and stir regularly, and ensure all the pecans are coated in it. Continue stirring regularly, until the sugar mixture begins to crystalize onto the nuts.

Remove from the heat and let the pecans cool in the pan for 3-4 minutes. After that, use a rubber spatula to break them all apart, before transferring to a lined baking sheet to cool completely.

Candied Pecan Recipe {4 Ingredients!} - The Big Man's World ® (2)

Can I bake these in the oven?

If you’d like to bake these instead of pan fry them, you CAN do that, with just a few tweakls.

Whisk all the ingredients together, before adding in the pecans. Place in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and bake at 120/250F for around an hour, stirring the pecans every 15 minutes.

Tips to make the best stovetop candied pecans

  • Be patient when simmering the pecans with the sugar mixture. It takes time for it to begin to crystalize. Be sure to be stirring regularly throughout.
  • If you find your sugar isn’t sticking to the pecans, re-dip them in some sugar once you’ve removed them from the heat.
  • Feel free to change up the flavors by adding some pumpkin pie spice or gingerbread spice to it.
  • These pecans would make a fabulous addition to some homemade trail mix.

Can I make this sugar free?

For this recipe, I recommend not using a sugar free alternative.

If you’d like sugar free pecans, try these keto candied pecans.

Storing and freezing skillet candied pecans

  • To store: Candied pecans can be stored at room temperature, in a sealed container, for up to 4 weeks. You can refrigerate them if you’d like them to keep longer.
  • To freeze: Place pecans in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Candied Pecan Recipe {4 Ingredients!} - The Big Man's World ® (3)

More delicious vegan recipes to try

  • Shortbread
  • Peanut butter cookies
  • Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
  • Chocolate babka
  • Churros

Watch how to make it

Candied Pecan Recipe {4 Ingredients!} - The Big Man's World ® (4)

Candied Pecan Recipe

5 from 198 votes

Easy stovetop candied pecans made with just 4 simple ingredients! Crispy, crunchy, and perfectly sweet, they make a fabulous vegan and gluten free snack!

Servings: 16 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 10 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  • 3 cups pecans unsalted pecan halves
  • 1 cup sugar white, brown, or coconut
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon optional

Instructions

  • Heat a large frying pan or skillet pan on medium heat. When hot, add the sugar, water, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon, if using it, and mix until fully combined. Allow to heat up, stirring occasionally.

  • When the sugar has completely dissolved, add the raw, unsalted pecans. Watch over the pan and continue stirring often until most of the sugar mixture has been coated and beginning to crystallize.

  • Remove pan from the heat and allow to sit for 1-2 minutes, before using a wooden spoon to stir almonds together to avoid immediate, overlarge clusters forming. Allow to cool completely before breaking up properly.

Oven option

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.

  • Follow directions as above then spread out pecan halves on a single flat layer. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once pecans have just begun to crystallize, remove and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes, before stirring once again to avoid immediate overlarge clusters forming. Allow to cool completely, before coating in an extra tablespoon or two of sugar.

Notes

TO STORE: Candied pecans can be stored at room temperature, in a sealed container, for up to 4 weeks. You can refrigerate them if you’d like them to keep longer.

TO FREEZE: Place pecans in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 178kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 2gFat: 13gSodium: 19mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 13g

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Candied Pecan Recipe {4 Ingredients!} - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans so 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.

Can diabetics eat candied pecans? ›

Since nuts are low on the glycemic index, pecans can slow the body's absorption of carbohydrates down, which ultimately leads to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels; just ensure you're using unsalted, dry-roasted pecans and not candied pecans that can be high in sugar and added fat.

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.

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.

Why won't my candied nuts dry? ›

If your nuts don't harden fully, that means the sugar wasn't cooked long enough and didn't caramelize. Cook the nuts longer next time!

How do you get the rancid taste out of pecans? ›

Bake the nuts for 10 minutes. Halfway through the baking time, shake the pan and flip the nuts to ensure that they toast evenly. Remove the nuts from the oven and let them cool. Use the nuts in another recipe or have them as a snack!

Do pecans help lower a1c? ›

Pecans have a very low glycemic index, which means that eating them does not cause a spike in blood sugar, even in people with diabetes. Eating pecans can even offset the effects of higher glycemic index foods when eaten as part of the same meal.

Do pecans raise blood pressure? ›

A strong supply of calcium, magnesium, and potassium in pecans may aid in the reduction of high blood pressure levels. The majority of the fat contained in pecans is a form of fat known as monounsaturated fat, which is considered to be beneficial.

What nuts should a diabetic avoid? ›

Avoid nuts that are coated in salt — Dobbins notes that sodium is bad for your blood pressure — and sugar. More bad news if you love the sweet-and-savory combo: Chocolate-covered peanuts and honey-roasted cashews are high in carbs and not the best choice when you have diabetes, Dobbins says.

Why are my candied nuts grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing. Avoid stirring it before it changes its color.

Can you reheat candied pecans? ›

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

Once they thaw, they may be a bit soft but pop them into the air fryer, and they'll get nice and crunchy again. REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: To reheat, pop the pecans into an air fryer at 275°F for 5 to 10 minutes.

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.

Why do my toasted pecans taste 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.

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

Why are pecans bad for dogs? These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

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!

Why is my pecan pie gooey? ›

If your pecan pie is still a little soupy, it simply means you need to bake it more. The center or filling of a pecan pie needs time to thicken and set properly.

What causes stick tights on pecans? ›

Such "stick? tights" are caused by drought and heat stress in September and October. Pecans require water right up until the time of shuck split to reduce this problem. Nuts sprouting in the shuck before harvest (vivipary) are also reduced by late season water and/or stress reduction.

Why are my pecans chewy? ›

Microwaving pecans can cause them to lose their freshness and flavor and may even give them a chewy texture, so it's best to let the pecans defrost on their own. Defrost the pecans right before you want to eat them or use them for cooking.

Why are my pecans rubbery? ›

Humidity above these values can cause kernel molding and pecan texture deterioration (pecans become soft and rubber-like), whereas lower humidities will cause excessive drying. In-shell pecan kernels will darken under high humidity as a result of the tannic acid being dissolved from the shell lining.

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