Description
Joanna Gaines candied pecans offer a sweet Southern delicacy that combines cinnamon-sugar caramelization with roasted nutty goodness. Crunchy, glossy pecans make perfect holiday gifts or party snacks you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (6 oz or 170 g) pecan halves
- 6 tbsps (75 g) brown sugar
- 1 ½ tsps ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ tbsps water
- 2 tsps orange zest
- Pinch cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preparation: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat to create a non-stick surface for cooling candied pecans.
- Sauce Creation: In a medium skillet over medium heat, whisk brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, water, orange zest, and cayenne into a glossy, bubbling caramel sauce, stirring continuously until ingredients meld into a smooth, uniform mixture.
- Pecan Coating: Gently fold whole pecans into the simmering sauce, ensuring each nut is comprehensively glazed with the sweet and spicy caramel, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes to develop a glistening exterior without burning.
- Cooling and Setting: Spread the candied pecans in a single, even layer on the prepared baking sheet, allowing them to cool at room temperature until the caramel hardens into a crisp, delicate shell around each pecan.
Notes
- Prevent Burning Carefully: Maintain constant stirring and watch heat closely to avoid scorching the delicate sugar mixture, which can quickly turn bitter and ruin the entire batch.
- Perfect Cooling Technique: Spread pecans in a single layer during cooling to ensure each nut develops a crisp, even caramelized coating without sticking together.
- Sugar Sauce Consistency: Aim for a glossy, bubbling sauce that coats pecans completely, creating a balanced sweet-spicy glaze that clings perfectly to each nut.
- Storage Tip: Once cooled, store candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks to preserve their crunchy texture and rich flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 226
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg