Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans soft on the stove? ›

The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts. How do you fix candied nuts that are too soft and sticky? You can place them back into the oven for 5 to 15 minutes or until they dry out more. They will continue to firm and dry out as they cool.

You can remove the pecans to a baking sheet to cool faster if you like. Stir them every 10 minutes or so to avoid them clumping together, or you can just break them apart with a spatula or your hands later. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? – Candied pecans are pecans coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked in the oven until crispy. Pralines are a type of candy made with crunchy pecan halves dropped in a caramel base.

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

sometimes I have no idea why they won't harden. But if your pralines are still gooey after 30-40 minutes, you may have to scrape them back into the pan and heat them again. Add a tablespoon of milk, melt the sugar, and as before, stir constantly while you bring them to a boil.

Wait until the water boils. Then, bring the boil to a simmer by slightly turning down the heat. Add your pecans and keep them in the simmering water for up to 15 minutes. Drain them and place them on an unlined baking sheet to cool.

The pecans only take a few minutes to cook. If you walk away or don't stir constantly they could burn. The nuts will be sticky at first before they cool. If the glazed pecans remain sticky after cooling, transfer the baking sheet to a 325ºF oven for 5-15 minutes, or until they harden.

Boiling pecans before cracking them can actually help prevent the shell from shattering.

Avoid The Humidity

Plan to make your pralines on a cool, dry day. If it's humid or rainy, as it was the first time I made pralines, the candy might end up with a more sugary, grainy texture.

Are pecans good for you? ›

Yes, pecans are a delicious and nutritious food choice that offer multiple health benefits. They're high in nutrients, heart-healthy, may improve digestion, lower blood sugar levels, aid in weight loss, promote brain function, and may even help prevent cancer. However, there can always be too much of a good thing.

Pawnee. Commonly grown in Georgia and Texas, the Pawnee pecan has a rich, buttery flavor and excellent quality, making it ideal for baking. This nut ripens early in autumn, making it one of the first varieties of the year to market and widely available for consumers.

Since Pecan nuts are fiber -packed, and 1 ounce provides 11% DV of fiber they promote good colon health and facilitate regular bowel movements.

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Some of the tannin and all of the corky material can be removed by washing the kernels before cooking. To "sweeten" the pecan meats (kernels), simply put the pecan kernels in a bowl and fill with lukewarm water. Stir and tumble the meats in the water for several minutes and you will see the discoloration in the water.

If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky. Work quickly to drop heaping tablespoons of pecan praline mixture onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. I find that it works best to use a cookie dough scoop.

Humidity above these values can cause kernel molding and pecan texture deterioration (pecans become soft and rubber-like), whereas lower humidities will cause excessive drying. In-shell pecan kernels will darken under high humidity as a result of the tannic acid being dissolved from the shell lining.

Failing to bake your pie at a high enough temperature could result in a raw, soggy crust. Because it was not baked at a high enough temperature, the butter in the crust begins to melt into the dough. To avoid this, always start your pecan pie at a high enough temperature, such as 425 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fresh pecans have a distinct aroma, characterized by their sweet, nutty scent. They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.