Easy Candied Pecans Recipe

Easy Candied Pecans Recipe – Looking for a quick and easy Candied Pecans Recipe? Well, you’ve found it. Using a skillet and less than 10 minutes of prep time, this is by far the easiest candied pecans recipe I’ve ever made.

Plus, they are absolutely delicious – so be sure to make a double batch!

Easy Candied Pecans Recipe – Perfect for Salad Toppings, Holiday Gatherings or a Simple Housewarming Gift

This easy Candied Pecans recipe adds the perfect crunch to salads. Our new Fall Harvest salad or this Citrus Asparagus Salad are perfectly paired with these sweet and salty candied pecans recipe. During the fall and winter, I love making a batch of these every few weeks and sprinkling them into our fall salads or on top of desserts.

This easy Candied Pecans Recipe is a perfect recipe to have on hand for the upcoming holiday season. Just make a batch and have them on the counter when family and friends arrive for a quick sweet and salty treat while waiting for dinner time to arrive.

Or, you can even make a batch and put them in a pretty box for a lovely and delicious housewarming gift.

How Do You Make Candied Pecans?

Making this easy candied pecan recipe is super easy takes less than 15 minutes to make from start to finish. In a small bowl, you’re going to combine all of the amazing flavors that this recipe has to offer. You can use either cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice – depending on your personal preferences. I love using pumpkin pie spice because it’s a blend of all my favorite fall flavors: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and cloves.

#1: Line Your Baking Pan

Although we are not baking in this recipe, you want to be sure to line a large baking pan with parchment paper or silpat mat. It’s going to make clean up a breeze versus scrubbing the sticky sugar mixture off later.

#2: Pre-Measure Your Pecans

To a small batter bowl, pre-measure the 2 cups of organic pecans and have them ready next to the stove top. Once you get the candied pecans mixture started, you don’t want to scramble for the lined baking pan or the pecans. Having them prepared ahead of time makes this easy candied pecans recipe even easier.

#3: Use Coconut Sugar or Date Sugar

For this recipe you can use either coconut sugar or date sugar. You only need 1/2 a cup for every 2 cups of candied pecans. Delicious and healthy is how we roll here at Clean Cuisine.

#4: Follow the Instructions for Creating the Candied Mixture

For this recipe, I suggest printing a copy of the recipe card so you have it handy while making. It’s very easy and goes very quick as the candied mixture is made in less than 6 minutes. A paper copy of the recipe makes following the instructions quick and easy.

Health Benefits from Eating Pecans

There’s no denying it – there are some delightful health benefits from eating pecans. Pecans have been certified by the American Heart Association as a “heart healthy food” because just a handful of pecans each day can help lower cholesterol similarly to cholesterol-lowering medications. Anytime we can trade a healthy, natural snack for medication, sign me up!

In addition, pecans can also reduce the risk of heart disease because they contain heart healthy fats. These unsaturated fats have a protective effect that can lower total blood cholesterol.

Pecan Nutrition:

In general, pecans are a superfood because they contain more than 19 minerals and vitamins that your body needs. From Vitamin A, B and E, folic acid, magnesium, potassium, calcium and fiber. In fact, 1 ounce of pecans is equivalent to 10% of the recommended daily fiber intake.

Naturally, pecans are a high-quality source of protein that is also low carbohydrate with no cholesterol.

In other words, eat pecans. We highly recommend organic raw pecans and add them to your salads, side dishes and dessert recipes.

Is This Easy Candied Pecans Recipe Clean?

I am sure you’re wondering how an easy candied pecan recipe ended up on Clean Cuisine since we only promote healthy, nutrition recipes. Well, because this recipe is clean and healthy!

By making a few simple switches, I was able to make this recipe super clean and still delicious. In fact, I love these candied pecans better than any store bought pecans in the past.

#1: Swap Brown Sugar for Coconut or Date Sugar

Conventional sugared nut recipes are most definitely made with refined sugar, but I use all-natural, unrefined coconut sugar or date sugar instead. This simple swap makes ALL the difference.

#2: Use Raw Organic Pecans

We highly recommend only using organic raw pecans for this recipe and all recipes calling for pecans. Organic means we are not dealing with the same pesticides as non-organic pecans. Plus, raw means we are getting the absolute most nutrition out of the pecans.

Looking for More Ways to Add Pecans to Your Menu?

Here at Clean Cuisine, we love using pecans (see health benefits above). Pecans distinct and buttery texture makes for a delicious addition to simple recipes. We use them for both the health benefit and the taste. Although they can be a bit expensive, for pecans, a lot goes a long way.

• Hummingbird Cake Recipe – If you love carrot cake, this cake is going to be a new favorite. Loaded with coconut, pineapple, bananas and pecans then topped with a creamy coconut sugar frosting.
• Mango Pie Recipe – Although this is a summer recipe, the crust is made with pecans and is nutty, buttery and a perfectly healthy dessert.
• Rosemary and Spinach Brown Rice Casserole – This savory side dish is made with homemade pecan milk made in a high speed blender and topped with pecans for a crunchy, buttery flavor.
• Sweet & Salty Nuts – This simple recipe is a perfect holiday treat. Quick to make and bursting with umami flavors.

Easy Candied Pecans Recipe

Print Recipe

Easy Candied Pecans recipe is quick to make on the stove top. This clean version uses coconut sugar instead of refined sugar. Delicious!

• Author: Aimee Harris Niedosik
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 6–8 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Skillet
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1/2 cup coconut sugar or date sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne peppers
• 1 1/2 tablespoons filtered water
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups raw organic pecans

Instructions

1. Line a large baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. To a small batter bowl, pre-measure the 2 cups of organic pecans and have them ready next to the stove top.
2. In a small bowl, combine the coconut sugar, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, sea salt, cayenne pepper, filtered water, orange zest and vanilla extract. Stir until well mixed.
3. To a 10″ ceramic skillet over medium heat, add the coconut sugar mixture and stir regularly with a flat sided wooden spoon for about 2-3 minutes. The mixture will begin to softly bubble and reduce to create a syrup-like consistency.
4. To the hot skillet over medium heat, add the pecans and fold into the coconut sugar mixture until well coated. Continue to stir for an additional 2-3 minutes until the pecans begin to toast and the coconut mixture thickens. Be careful to not over-cook or burn the coconut sugar mixture.
5. Turn off the heat and immediately scrape all of the candied pecans onto the lined baking pan. Dust with coconut sugar or more cinnamon/pumpkin pie spice. Let cool for 10-15 minutes and enjoy warm. Once completely cooled, you can store in a glass container with lid.

Keywords: Easy Candied Pecans Recipe

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