How to make candied pecans (candied nuts)

Candied pecans are a delicious sweet, a sugary snack that you can't escape after eating one. Today I'll tell you how to make delicious candied pecans at home! Sweet and crunchy, I warn you that they are highly addictive, and to make them you only need a frying pan.

How to make candied almonds

To make the candied nuts we only need walnuts, sugar and essences to flavor it.

They are often made without flavouring, just with sugar, but I suggest using mainly vanilla and cinnamon, it gives them a delicious aroma (it is usual to use at least vanilla). Also keep in mind that we will use mainly brown sugar, rather than white, because of the aroma it gives to the pecans (but you can use white sugar only for the syrup if you prefer the result).

How do we do it? With the sugar we will make a syrup to cover the nuts, and it will be when it cools and crystallizes that we will obtain some textbook homemade pralines.

You could also make pralines from other nuts, such as hazelnuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds... The flavourings that I suggest you use in the recipe undoubtedly go especially well with all types of nuts and almonds.

Difference between California walnuts and pecans

Pecans are becoming very popular. The truth is that they do taste different than the California walnuts that we have been using the most, and I strongly encourage you to eat them and use them if you haven't already.

You will appreciate pecan nuts for their taste: they are less bitter than the others; and you will certainly distinguish them by their elongated and vertical shape. You will also appreciate their texture: their flesh is buttery, oily and creamier.

For all these reasons, it is preferable to use pecan nuts for caramel.

Ingredients

• 280 g pecan nuts
• 80 ml of water
• 100 g brown sugar
• 50 g white sugar (*see notes)
• ½ teaspoon (2.1 ml) vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoon (5.2 g) cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon (0.5 g) nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon (0.5 g) cayenne pepper (optional)

Preparing candied walnuts

1. First, toast the pecans in the oven: arrange the pecans on a baking tray , spread out over the surface, and bake them for about 10 to 15 minutes at 170 ºC. Occasionally, stir them with a spatula so that they toast evenly on all sides. When they look toasted, remove and set aside.
2. Prepare the syrup: In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, add the water and all the seasonings, i.e. the sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cayenne if you want to add it. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
3. Immediately add the walnuts and return to the heat. Stir with a wooden spoon to coat all the walnuts with the syrup and help the sugar melt and crystallize (about 10 minutes). In a few minutes you will see how a whitish sand forms around the walnuts. Increase the heat and keep stirring so that they crystallize but do not burn.
4. Remove the pan from the heat, and line a baking tray with baking paper , to spread the candied nuts on top (disperse them around the tray, separated from each other so that they do not clump together) and allow the nuts to cool.
5. Once cold, you can serve them or store them in an airtight jar .

Ideas for using and enjoying candied nuts

• You will love eating candied almonds just like they are: enjoy them as a snack, they are full of energy!
• Bring them out at coffee time, after lunch, and it will be the finishing touch to the get-together (don't forget to say that you made them, it will be a sure thing to know how you made them).
• They are ideal in green salads, with cured cheeses, fresh cheese or fresh strawberries, and can be accompanied in a wide variety of ways.
• Put them in a jar or in little bags: it's a lovely gift for parties, to give to someone or when you have guests.
• Do you make stuffed pasta at home? These ravioli filled with pear, cheese and walnuts can be made with caramelized pecans, the contrast of sweet and salty will be a sure hit.
• In baking! Use these caramelized walnuts (chopped or whole) to decorate and give the finishing touch to your cakes. Also to top cookies and muffins, and cakes of all kinds!

Grades

• *It is usual to make a syrup with white sugar only. You can make the pralines with white sugar (replace the brown sugar with white, using 150 gr of white in this case), but I think the cane aromas of the brown sugar are delicious with the pecans.
• Think about the flavours you like: you can flavour them only with vanilla extract, or add ginger if that's what you like (along with a pinch of pepper it's very special).
• As for the walnuts, you can break them in half if you prefer a smaller bite or if you have a variety of very large pecans.
• Don't be alarmed by the bits of candy left behind when cleaning the pan or mat! Remember that you'll just have to soak it in water to dissolve the sugar before applying the sponge and soap.

I hope you enjoy caramelizing nuts. Don't forget to tell me what tricks or flavorings you use to make them, it will be a great learning experience for everyone.