Maple Pecans (2024)

Glazed with real maple syrup and a hint of cinnamon, these candied maple pecans are so easy to make even more satisfying to eat. They’re great in salads, like a pear arugula salad, and they make a great snack or treat. They’d even be perfect for gifting.

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Why you’ll love these maple pecans

  • After I made my pear arugula salad, I could stop eating these maple pecans. Thankfully, I had made an extra large batch so they made a pretty good snack all week.
  • The perfectly balanced sweetness of these pecans will make you happy this holiday season. They’re just sweet enough, with a hint of salt and spice, and the maple syrup crystallizes as it cooks down giving these maple pecans the perfect amount of crunch, too.
  • I’m thinking of making a few more batches for holiday gifts, too. They’d be adorable wrapped up with a little twine and a cute printable tag. We’ll see if I get there though, life has been very busy lately.
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Here’s what you’ll need to make it

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Ingredients & substitutions

  • Pecans – You can use any pecans you want. I like to buy the pecan pieces and halves so that I get a little more surface area for maple, but whole pecans halves will work, too.
  • Maple syrup – You need high-quality maple syrup for this recipe. I mean the real deal here, not pancake syrup.
  • Cinnamon – You can use other spices here, like a pumpkin pie spice or even a little mix of your own. A pinch of cayenne would make these beautifully spicy.

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

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How to make these maple candied pecans

Toast the pecans. Start by toasting the pecans to bring out their flavor. I do this over medium-low heat in a large skillet.

Coat with maple syrup. When the pecans are nice and toasty, add the maple syrup, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Stir to coat the pecans evenly.

Simmer. Next, little the maple syrup reduce oven the heat, allowing it to thicken and crystalize as it simmers. Keep an eye on the pan, and stir frequently to prevent anything from burning. Once there’s significantly less syrup in the pan, you can remove the pecans and transfer them to a large piece of parchment paper to cool.

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Everything you need to know about this candied pecans

Why are my candied nuts grainy?

If your candied nuts are turning out all grainy, one reason might be that your sugar crystalized too soon. This could be due to not stirring frequently enough or if your heat is too high.

Are pecans naturally sweet?

Yes pecans contain natural sugars, these become more pronounced when toasted – toasting also enhances the buttery, nutty flavors. This is what makes them great for baked goods and sweet treats, like ice cream sundaes or mixed into smoothies.

Why are my candied pecans sticky?

If your candied pecans are turning out too sticky it might be due to improper ratios of sugar/syrup to pecans in the pan and that they have been evenly coated with occasional but consistent stirring. Another common culprit is overly high heat, so keep an eye on that and adjust if needed. Also, let the pecans cool naturally — popping them in the fridge can cause the coating to become tacky.

How do you store candied pecans?

Allow the pecans to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. If you store them in the fridge – it can extend their life, but allow them to come to room temperature before serving. You can store these sweet treats up to 2 weeks at room temperature and up to 2 months in the refrigerator.

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More pecan recipes you will love

More dairy free candy recipes you should try

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Maple Pecans

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Glazed with real maple syrup and a hint of cinnamon, these candied maple pecans are so easy to make even more satisfying to eat. They’re great in salads and make a great snack or treat. They’d even be perfect for holiday gifting.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 23 cups pecan halves, or pieces
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • Pinch of coarse salt (or sea salt)
  • Pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add pecans and begin to toast them.
  2. Once warmed through, add maple syrup, cinnamon and salt. Stir to coat.
  3. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until syrup has thickened and there is no excess liquid in the pan.
  4. Remove from heat and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet (or cooling rack) to cool.

Published: December 4, 2023. Updated: December 6, 2023.

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Melissa Belanger

Melissa Belanger is the founder and food-obsessed visionary behind Simply Whisked, where she creates dairy free recipes with simple ingredients. She lives in Wisconsin with her milk-allergic husband and two kids. Melissa's experience in developing dairy free recipes is unparalleled and she strives to make dairy-free living accessible and enjoyable. In addition to running Simply Whisked, Melissa also manages two other publications: Another co*cktail Blog, a co*cktail recipe website, and The Pasta Twins, a joint venture with her twin sister.

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Maple Pecans (2024)

FAQs

How can I tell if unshelled pecans are bad? ›

Differentiating Between Good and Bad Pecans

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.

What is maple pecan? ›

Pecan halves are toasted and browned in a dry pan, coated in maple syrup and allowed to cool. So easy to make, they are delicious in salads, topping an ice cream sundae, cheesecake or pretty much any dessert really.

How many calories are in maple pecan? ›

This has a relatively high calorie density, with 417 Calories per 100g.

What are glazed pecans made of? ›

Candied pecans make a fabulous snack for holiday guests and parties. These glazed pecans are coated with a buttery brown sugar syrup and then baked to crunchy perfection. All you need is to boil butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar together, add the pecans, and then bake until brown.

What do spoiled pecans taste like? ›

If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Can bad pecans make you sick? ›

“If a nut is really oxidized, I guarantee you you're not going to get it past your mouth because it just tastes so awful,” says Schaich. But if you do, for some reason, eating the occasional spoiled nut is “no big deal,” because we have enzymes in our stomachs that can essentially incinerate the oxidation byproducts.

Are maple pecans good for you? ›

With their crunchy texture and rich flavor, pecans are a delicious way to make snacks satisfying, and they're good for your health. Like other nuts, pecans are a good source of fiber, protein, and antioxidants.

What do Southerners call pecans? ›

pick-AHN: A hybrid of other pronunciations, this one is prevalent in the southern U.S., notably in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. PIC-ann: Not many places list this as a pecan pronunciation, but it does seem to be another hybrid form of pronouncing the nut's name.

What is the best tasting variety of pecan? ›

The Elliot variety is one of the most flavorful pecans and a favorite with Georgia Pecan Growers. Elliot pecans produce an oilier meat than other varieties which give it the rich flavor.

Which has more calories walnuts or Pecans? ›

A one-ounce serving of walnuts contains 185 calories, whereas the same size serving of pecans contains 196. With just nine calories in it, pecans come out as the more calorific nut.

Why are Pecans so calorie dense? ›

Nuts are high in calories. This is because a large part of them is fat, which is a concentrated source of energy. One gram of fat contains 9 calories, while one gram of carbs or protein contains just 4 calories. Nuts contain mostly unsaturated fat.

Why is pecan pie so high in calories? ›

Sugar content and crust are the two main reasons that make any pie a high caloric source. If you try to limit their use and look for substitutes, you can make a completely healthy pecan or pumpkin pie.

Why are pecans so expensive? ›

Why Are Pecans Expensive? Pecans are grown in many countries, but like a warmer climate with just the right number of chill hours each winter. Pecan trees take 10 years to really mature and produce a real crop. They require a good deal of water, sun, and chill hours.

Why do you boil pecans before cracking? ›

The first step is to place them in a pot and cover them with water. Boil for about 10 minutes, drain them in a colander, and let them cool enough to handle. Boiling them first will soften the shell, making them easier to crack. The moisture will also reduce the mess by preventing so many tiny shell fragments.

Are glazed pecans good for you? ›

This crunchy snack of glazed pecans is great for topping ice cream, garnishing a salad, or nibbling all on their own. They'd even make a great gift or game day appetizer. Nuts are high on the list of healthy snacks with great levels of fiber, protein and unsaturated fats.

What do bad pecans look like? ›

In-shell pecans may start to darken in color when stored amidst high humidity. Store pecans in cool, dry places away from heat: Because pecans contain such a high amount of healthy, plant-based oils, they are prone to going rancid if they spend too long in warm temperatures.

Can I eat expired pecans? ›

Opened packages will last for a shorter time, again depending on the variety. But remember that nuts, unlike a lot of other proteins, usually have a best by date and not an expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use nuts to compliment your favorite meals even after the best by date has lapsed.

Are pecans bad if they are soft? ›

Soft pecans are not good and should be discarded.

Are year old pecans safe to eat? ›

In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for six to 12 months. Shelled pecans stored at room temperature will remain fresh for only about 2 months; in the refrigerator, they may be kept for about 9 months; and in the freezer, they will remain in good condition for up to two years.

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