Skip to main content

What to Do With Pecans?

What To Do With Pecans?

No matter how you make, bake, toast, roast or candy a pecan, there is one key to making your pecans turn out perfectly: start with a high-quality, fresh, premium pecan batch. And you can’t get any closer to freshness when you buy pecans directly from a pecan farm.

When you start out with a fresh gourmet pecan product, there are literally dozens of things you can do to pecans to enjoy them for your yourself, for loved ones, or to give as gifts. Learn below about all the different ways to enjoy pecans, whether you like them sweet, savory, spiced, or somewhere in the middle. Enjoy!

How to Blanch, Dry Roast & Toast Pecans

To blanch pecans:

  • Heat water to a boil, reduce heat.
  • Shell pecans and add to hot water for 30-60 seconds.
  • Remove from water and rinse with cold water, place on sheet pan with a towel.
  • Rub with towel until the skins are removed; this should be relatively quick with pecans since their skins are not stubborn.
  • Move to a clean sheet pan and cool.

To dry roast pecans

  • Pre-heat oven to 330 degrees.
  • Place parchment paper on pan, add nuts, but don’t overcrowd.
  • Bake 10-14 minutes, checking halfway through and rotate the pan.
  • When golden brown and smelling delicious, remove pan and let it cool.

To toast pecans

  • Preheat oven to 330 degrees.
  • Place 1 pound of pecans in a bowl.
  • Melt 2 ounces unsalted butter in microwave or on stovetop.
  • Add melted butter to pecans and toss gently, your pecans should be a little shiny.
  • Place in a single layer on sheet pan with parchment paper.
  • Place in 330 degree oven for 10-14 minutes, rotating and tossing every 2-3 minutes.
  • Remove once they are golden brown. Cool.

Baking tip: Always toast your pecans before making a tart or pie-this really enhances the flavor.

15 DIY Pecan Recipes

Spiced Pecans

Spiced Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 3 TBSP Unsalted Butter
  • 1/3 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Ceylon Cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp Coriander
  • 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp Salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Place pecans in a bowl about double the size of pecans.
  3. Melt butter in microwave or on stove top, add spices, salt and sugar.
  4. Toss gently until coated thoroughly.
  5. Place on sheet pan with parchment paper, place in oven.
  6. Bake 30-45 minutes or until toasted. Be sure to toss nuts every 15-20 minutes while in the oven.
  7. Remove and cool.
Glazed Pecans

Glazed Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1/3 cup Karo Corn Syrup (warmed)
  • 1 TBSP Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 1/8 tsp Orange Oil

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 320 degrees.
  2. Place pecans in a bowl.
  3. Add sugar, salt and extracts to warmed glucose, pour over pecans and toss until coated.
  4. Place on sheet pan and spread out evenly.
  5. Bake 12-18 minutes, tossing every 4-5 minutes.
  6. Remove from oven and separate pecans.
  7. Let cool.

    8. *Making a half batch will let you separate glazed pecans quickly to avoid cooling and sticking together*

Sugared Pecans

Sugared Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1 Egg White (large egg)
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 TBSP Pure Vanilla Extract

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
  2. Place egg white and vanilla into a bowl, whip until frothy.
  3. Pour over pecans and toss until coated.
  4. Add sugar and salt to pecans and continue to toss until coated.
  5. Spread evenly onto sheet pan with parchment paper, place in oven.
  6. Bake for 50-60 minutes, tossing every 12-15 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven and cool.
Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1/3 Cup Sugar
  • 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/8 tsp Salt
  • 1/3 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 Large Egg White

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 210-220 degrees.
  2. Line sheet pan with parchment paper.
  3. Combine sugars, salt and cinnamon, set aside.
  4. Whisk eggs white until frothy, add vanilla.
  5. Add sugar mixture to egg white until combined.
  6. Add pecans, toss until coated, pour pecans onto pan and spread evenly.
  7. Place in oven for 60-75 minutes, stirring pecans every 12-14 minutes.
  8. Remove and cool.
Caramelized Pecans

Caramelized Pecans

Ingredients
  • 2 lb Pecan Halves
  • 3 TBSP Butter (I prefer Challenge Unsalted)
  • 1/2 Light Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 1 TBSP Orange Zest

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line sheet pan with parchment paper.
  3. In a large sauté pan, melt butter and then add pecans.
  4. Toast pecans in the pan for 2-3 minutes on medium heat.
  5. Add sugars and stir until sugar is melted (about 2 minutes).
  6. Add water and salt. Stir continuously until water has evaporated (1-2 minutes).
  7. Add orange zest and stir until combined.
  8. Remove from heat and pour onto sheet pan, spread evenly.
  9. Place in oven and bake for 5-6 minutes or until crisp.
Honey Roasted Pecans

Honey Roasted Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1/4 Cup Warm Honey
  • 1 TBSP Unsalted Butter (melted)
  • 1/8 tsp Salt
  • Dash Cayenne Pepper (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line sheet pan with parchment paper.
  3. Combine warm honey, melted butter, salt and cayenne, stir until combined.
  4. Add pecans and stir until coated.
  5. Pour onto sheet pan and spread evenly.
  6. Place in oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 5-6 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven and gently spread pecans so they aren’t touching.
  8. Cool.
Spicy Candied Pecans

Spicy Candied Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 Egg White

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
  2. Place parchment paper on sheet pan, set aside.
  3. Combine sugar, cinnamon, cayenne and salt, set aside.
  4. Whisk egg white until frothy, add pecan halves and toss until coated.
  5. Add to sugar mixture, coat evenly, pour onto sheet pan in a single layer.
  6. Bake 45-55 minutes, stirring every 10-12 minutes.
  7. Remove and cool.
Candied Pecans

Candied Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 Egg White

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
  2. Place parchment paper on sheet pan, set aside.
  3. Combine sugar, cinnamon and salt, set aside.
  4. Whisk egg white until frothy, add pecan halves and toss until coated.
  5. Add to sugar mixture, coat evenly, pour onto sheet pan in a single layer.
  6. Bake 45-55 minutes, stirring every 10-12 minutes.
  7. Remove and cool.
Salted Pecans

Salted Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter
  • 2 tsp Salt

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
  2. Place parchment paper on sheet pan, set aside.
  3. Melt butter on stovetop or microwave, add salt and stir until combined.
  4. Add pecan halves and stir until,coated.
  5. Pour onto sheet pan in a single layer, place in oven.
  6. Bake 40-50 minutes, stirring every 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
  7. Remove from oven and cool.
Chocolate Pecans

Chocolate Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1/3 Cup Butter
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 8 oz Coating Chocolate (Ghiradelli dark, milk or white is preferred)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Place parchment paper on sheet pan, set aside.
  3. Place a paper towel onto a second sheet pan, set aside.
  4. Melt butter, add salt, stir. Add pecans and toss until coated.
  5. Pour into sheet pan in a single layer and place in oven.
  6. Bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 12-14 minutes until golden brown.
  7. Remove from oven and pour pecans onto sheet pan with paper towel, cool.
  8. While pecans are cooling, set up a double boiler on low heat. Do not boil water.
  9. Place a cooling rack onto sheet pan, set aside.
  10. Add coating chocolate and melt.
  11. Once melted, add pecans and gently coat.
  12. Using a fork or dipping set for candy, remove each pecan and gently tap to remove excess chocolate. Place onto cooling rack to dry.
Bourbon Pecans

Bourbon Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1/3 Cup Maple Syrup (I used Stripling’s)
  • 1 1/2 TBSP Salted Melted Butter
  • 1 TBSP Brown Sugar
  • 1 1/2 TBSP Bourbon (I used Thirteenth Colony Southern Bourbon)
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/3 tsp Cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
  2. Place parchment paper on sheet pan, set aside.
  3. Melt butter in microwave or on stovetop, add syrup, bourbon, vanilla, salt and cinnamon and combine. Add pecans and coat.
  4. Pour pecans onto sheet pan in an even layer and place in oven.
  5. Bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring every 5-6 minutes. Maple syrup will begin to evaporate as it is baking. Remove when almost no syrup remains.
  6. Spread into and even layer to cool. Separate to avoid clumps.
Air Fryer Pecans

Air Fryer Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 2 TBSP Unsalted Butter
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • Air fryer basket attachment

Directions:

  1. Set air fryer to 400 degrees.
  2. Line sheet pan with parchment paper, set aside.
  3. Melt butter in microwave or on stovetop, add salt and stir.
  4. Add pecans, coat evenly, add to air fryer basket.
  5. Place air fryer basket in place and air fry for 4-6 minutes, rotate pecans every 2 minutes.
  6. Remove basket and pour onto sheet pan and cool.

    7. *Air fry raw pecans (no butter or salt) for 7-9 minutes, rotating every 2 minutes.

Fried Pecans

Fried Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • Medium pot, half filled with water
  • 2 TBSP Salt
  • Medium pot, 1/3 filled with oil (I prefer canola or peanut)
  • Candy thermometer
  • 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
  • 1/3 Cup Confectioner’s Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika

Directions:

  1. Line sheet pan with paper towel.
  2. Line sheet pan with parchment paper paper and lightly coat with pan spray.
  3. Combine cinnamon, Cayenne, smoked Paprika, set aside.
  4. Heat oil with candy thermometer to 325 (adjust to lower temp if necessary).
  5. Bring water and salt to a boil and gently add pecans using a fryer basket or shallow skimmer.
  6. Blanch pecans for about 60 seconds, remove and place onto paper towels.
  7. After 1-2 minutes, gently toss pecans in confectioner’s sugar
  8. Very gently, add coated pecans to fryer using a fry basket or skimmer.
  9. Fry for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
  10. Remove from fryer and into sugar/spice mixture, gently toss until coated.
  11. Place on sheet pan with pan spray/parchment paper, cool.
Seasoned Pecans

Seasoned Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1/3 Cup Melted Butter
  • 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Mustard
  • Pinch of Cayenne Pepper (optional)

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 275 degrees.
  2. Line sheet pan with parchment paper, set aside.
  3. Melt butter in microwave or on stovetop.
  4. Combine melted butter and spices, add pecans and coat.
  5. Pour pecans onto sheet pan and place in oven.
  6. Bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring every 10-12 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven and cool.
Savory Smoked Pecans

Savory Smoked Pecans

Ingredients
  • 1 lb Pecan Halves
  • 1/4 Cup Butter
  • 1 1/4 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika (Penzy’s is a favorite brand)
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
  • Applewood or Hickory Chips for smoking

Directions:

  1. Preheat grill or smoker to 250 degrees.
  2. Preheat grill or smoker to 250 degrees.
  3. Combine Worcestershire, butter, spices and salt, add pecans and coat.
  4. Add to smoker pan and smoke for 35-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
  5. Remove and cool.

!