Welcome to Ineskohl Kitchen! I’m thrilled you’re here, and I can’t wait to share my favorite homemade recipes with you. Today, we’re diving into a simple yet versatile dish—Candied Pecans. These are perfect as a salad topping, cake garnish, or a delightful snack for your cocktail hour. Follow these easy steps to make your own batch of these delicious treats.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of brown sugar (packed lightly)
- ½ teaspoon of cinnamon (a generous pinch)
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of allspice
- 1 cup of pecan halves
- Optional: a pinch of cayenne pepper for an extra kick
- 3 tablespoons of water
Instructions:
- Gather all your ingredients and get them ready. Prepping everything in advance helps the process go smoothly.
- Pour 1 cup of lightly packed brown sugar into a saucepan. Make sure to use a pot with enough room for the sugar mixture and pecans.
- To the brown sugar, add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of salt. For a delightful aroma, put in a ¼ teaspoon of allspice. If you prefer a hint of heat, a dash of cayenne pepper will do the trick.
- Pour 3 tablespoons of water into the mixture. Mix everything lightly to combine the ingredients.
- Put the saucepan over medium heat. Let the mixture come to a boil. It’s essential to wait until you see bubbles throughout the mixture, not just on the edges.
- Once boiling, add 1 cup of pecan halves into the pot. Stir gently, ensuring each pecan half is fully coated with the sugary mixture.
- After coating the pecans, cover the saucepan and let it sit for about a minute.
- Prepare a sheet of parchment paper while the pecans are in the pot. This will be used to spread out the pecans to cool.
- With haste, start transferring the coated pecans onto the prepared parchment paper. Remember to work fast since the sugar coating will start to solidify quite rapidly.
- Here’s a pro tip: keep most of the pecans in the pot initially. The residual heat will keep the sugar mixture from hardening too quickly.
- Continue transferring small batches of pecans onto the parchment paper, spreading them out as you go. If you’re using them for cake decoration, separate each pecan half for a neat presentation. If not, clustering is fine.
- Let the pecans cool and harden. They transform into shiny, delicious treats perfect for any occasion.
- Taste your masterpiece. These candied pecans offer a delightful crunch with the right balance of sweetness, spice, and saltiness.
So, there you have it! An easy-to-follow recipe for making your own candied pecans at home. Remember, the beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. Use them in salads, top them on cakes, or serve them as a standalone snack.
If you enjoyed this recipe and want to try more, do check out other posts on my blog, Ineskohl Kitchen. Until next time, happy cooking!
