These 5-minute Stovetop Candied Pecans are a quick and easy way to make sweet glazed pecans for salads, snacking, food gifts, and more! It’s all made in one pan for minimal mess, and it’s overall much quicker and easier than the oven method. Plus, no candy thermometer needed!
Whether you eat these pecans on their own or add them to a variety of dishes, they’re such an easy way to add flavor and texture to so many recipes, using simple ingredients.
The typical candied pecans recipe usually calls for making them in the oven, but something about that feels a bit too fussy and long to me. I’ve been making candied pecans on the stove for as long as I can remember, and it only takes me 5 minutes to make them. It’s so easy!
I like not having to turn the oven on, especially when I only want to make a smaller batch. I try not to keep too many of these around because they’re so good, I want to eat them all in one sitting. Whenever I make them for the holiday season and set them out, they disappear within minutes.
Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? If your pecans are soft, it’s most likely because they weren’t baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.
Tips for Best Results
Use a nonstick pan – While you can get away with using any stainless steel pan, the nonstick pan helps all of the sweetness stick to the nut. It glazes easier, in my experience.
Use brown sugar or maple syrup – I love honey, but I don’t recommend using it here. Brown sugar or maple syrup will give you the best results.
Toast the pecans first – Totally optional, and sometimes it’s easier to just use raw nuts straight out of the bag. But if you have the time, toast the pecans for a few minutes (you can use the same skillet) to begin bringing out the flavor in the nuts. Most importantly, make sure to use fresh pecans that aren’t rancid or expired.
These candied pecans are really wonderful, especially for sprinkling on salads like Kale Salad or Warm Brussel Sprout Salad with Crispy Goat Cheese! They are also well-suited for food gifts during Christmas and the holidays.
I actually grew up with candied pecans, sugared pecans, and maple glazed pecans of all sorts in my house at Christmas time because my dad loved ordering them every year. Simply place the nuts in a mason jar with ribbon or in pretty holiday tins for last-minute gifts.
Step by Step Overview:
To get started, combine brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt in a skillet, and add a splash of water so the sugar has an easier time dissolving:
You’ve Never Seen Candied Nuts Made Like This
FAQ
Why are my candied nuts soft?
What to do if candied pecans are sticky?
How do you make candied nuts that aren’t sticky?
Do candied pecans need to be refrigerated?
Why are my candied pecans soft?
If your candied pecans are soft, that means you haven’t cooked them long enough. To ensure your pecans are crunchy, it’s important to spread them out evenly on the baking sheet and let them cool thoroughly. Once the nuts have cooled completely, the glaze will firm up and they will be crunchy. If you make this recipe, please let me know!
What are the positive and negative effects of eating pecans?
Pecans are a good source of healthy fats, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, helping reduce blood pressure. However, they are a very caloric food and they might cause allergic.
Why do pecans turn out sticky?
If the pecans turn out sticky, this means the sugar never reached a high enough temperature to have that hard crack “brittle” coating on the outside. Electric stoves tend to have less heat power and responsiveness as compared to gas stoves, so cook for a few minutes longer if you have an electric stove or a weaker gas stove.
What happens if you bake pecans in the oven?
Thanks to the oven, the pecans become light and crisp with a sweet and salty candy coating. Our recipe is pretty simple, but it can easily be adjusted to accommodate different spices, more or less heat, and other nuts. Check the suggested variations section below for some inspiration.