One of the best tasting, easy to make candied nuts is candied pecans. If you’re looking for a quick and easy homemade gift or you just want something to spice up your salad, why not try a candied pecan recipe or two?
There’s nothing better than presenting friends and family with tasty homemade confection straight from your own kitchen. If you know how to toast pecans making candied pecans isn’t much more difficult, but it is more fun. And you can get pretty creative with this by making various versions of this tasty homemade treat.
This article will give you an overview of these candied nuts, a bit of their history and a few tips and tricks on shopping for ingredients to prepare candied pecans or the candied nuts themselves.
Great Ways to Use Candied Pecans
There are dozens of amazing ways that you can incorporate candy-coated pecans into your cooking. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- Candy coated pecans are great as hostess gift when visiting friends and family.
- Glazed pecans or spicy candied pecans can easily be incorporated into a variety of salads for impressive results.
- Roasted pecans tossed with cinnamon and other festive spices make wonderful stocking stuffers.
- Toasted pecans coated with a little sugar and butter are an easy, sweet snack that the whole family will enjoy.
- Sugared pecans instead of plain can be incorporated into cookie and muffin recipes.
Is there a Difference Between Candied Pecans and Pecan Pralines?
The answer to this question will be different depending on who you talk to. Some folks believe that any pecan made into a candy is a praline. Others insist that in order for a pecan to be a praline it must be combined with both sugar and dairy in some variety.
Candied Pecans in Salads
Whether you prefer a heartier pecan praline or a lighter sugared pecan confection it is a good idea to be familiar with both. When you search online for a recipe for candied pecans be sure to also search for pecan praline recipes to increase the results you receive.
The History of Candied Pecans and Pecan Pralines
Whether you believe that a praline must contain dairy or not, the history of the candy pecan and the pecan praline are too intertwined to be separated. Most agree that the praline was invented by the personal chef of the French diplomat César, duc de Choiseul, comte du Plessis-Praslin in the early 17th century. The original praline was almonds in a creamy sugar coating. Pralines came to America as part of the creole cuisine of Louisiana and pecans were substituted into the recipe because of the plentiful Louisiana pecan trees. Pecan pralines quickly became a commonplace treat in the South.
Where to Shop for Candied Pecans
The easiest place to find a huge selection of candy pecans is online. While you can probably buy candied pecans at local stores you will not be able to compare prices or varieties as easily. Unless you need them immediately your best bet is to shop online. If you have time and want to save a little money, the very best candied pecans are the ones you make with your own candied pecans recipe.
How to Make Candied Pecans
Most candied pecan recipes are fairly similar. You will generally need pecan halves, white or brown sugar, egg whites and spices if you’re making spiced pecans. After combining all the ingredients you spread the pecans out on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper and bake for 30-40 minutes or until they are crispy.
Homemade Candied Pecans
This simple recipe just serves to show you how easy it can be to make candied pecans yourself. When you start to search for additional recipes you’ll find a huge variety to try.
Whether you’re dying to try honey roasted pecans or you’re in the mood to try candied pecans for salads you will not be disappointed. Nuts are naturally healthy and when candied they become completely irresistible. Why not find a few candied pecans recipes today and surprise your whole family with a great tasting treat?
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