Caramelized Spiced Pecans

Caramelized Spiced Pecans will bring just the right amount of crunch, spice and sweetness to almost anything you add them to. Or, fill a bowl with them and put them out for a nosh at a party.

Sweet. Spicy. Earthy. Crunchy. You can't eat just one.

How to Use Spiced Pecans

• They're fabulous in salads.
• Serve them in a bowl as an appetizer.
• Prepare this caramelized pecans recipe before making your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, and then add in about 1 cup of them, crushed. And please report back and let me know what you think.
• Spiced nuts like these pecans are also great crushed and sprinkled over roasted vegetables (especially cauliflower).

Step one: Mix pecans with spices, honey and olive oil, and spread them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Why Make Them at Home

Sure, you can find various versions of these nuts in markets, but I promise you, making them yourself is better.

Imagine trying them while they're still warm, just after you take them out of the oven. Delicious, right?

I think you'll discover, these caramelized spiced pecans taste much better than the store-bought versions -- and contain no chemicals or preservatives.

Step two. Bake in a 350°F oven for about 12 minutes. Do not worry when you see that the spice mix has melted and spread out around the pecans. When you mix them, everything will come together.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

• The amount of cayenne pepper you use will vary. I like a little heat to balance the sweetness, and I usually use ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon. Use as much or a little as you'd like. 
• When you initially pull these out of the oven, you will see that the spice mixture has melted into one piece connecting the pecans. Do not worry! Use a spatula to mix them and everything will come together. (See images above and below.)
• The nuts will be sticky for a little while after they come out of the oven, but once they cool, the coating should harden.
• You can also make caramelized pecans just as a sweet treat -- use cinnamon instead of the cumin and skip the cayenne.

How long will they keep?

You can make these up to three days ahead of time, keeping them stored in an air-tight container in a cool dark place.

If you prepare the caramelized spiced pecans in advance for use in a salad or another dish, I suggest hiding them from your friends, from your family, and . . . from yourself.  They are very tempting!

Enjoy!

More delicious pecan recipes:

• Pecan Crust for Caramel Pumpkin Pie
• Pecan Crusted Baked Acorn Squash
• Pecan Praline Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Bars

Caramelized Spiced Pecans

Valentina K. Wein

Caramelized Spiced Pecans will add the perfect amount of crunch, spice and sweetness to almost anything you add them to.

Makes 1 cup

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Cooling Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 32 minutes mins

Course Ingredient, Snacks

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Calories 126 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• ⅛ to ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper* (depending on the amount of heat you want)
• 1 tablespoon golden brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup raw pecan halves

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the spices with the sugar and salt. In another small mixing bowl, add the olive oil and honey to the pecans, and stir to coat them. Then sprinkle with the spice mixture and stir to blend evenly.
• Spread this into a single layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake in the preheated 350°F oven until the nuts are very aromatic, a deeper brown, and sizzling, about 12 minutes.
• Let the nuts cool for about 5 minutes. Then use a flat-bottomed spatula to mix them with the melted spice mixture.* Then let them cool for at least another 10 minutes before breaking them apart and serving/using.

NOTES

*When you initially pull these out of the oven, you will see that the spice mixture has melted into one piece connecting the pecans. Do not worry! Use a spatula to mix them and everything will come together.

*The amount of cayenne pepper you use will vary. I like a little heat to balance the sweetness, and I usually use ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon. Use as much or a little as you'd like. 

The nuts will be sticky for a little while after they come out of the oven, but once they cool, the coating should harden.

You can make these up to three days ahead of time, keeping them stored in an air-tight container in a cool dark place.

Calorie count is only an estimate.

NUTRITION

Calories: 126kcal

Keywords great on-the-go snack, great for salads

Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

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