5 Minute maple candied pecans stovetop Recipe - My Natural Family (2024)

Rebecca Baron 15 Comments

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This maple candied pecans stovetop recipe seriously only takes 5 minutes to make and only has 3 ingredients. You can save tons of time and money and make these yourself. Plus, everything tastes better homemade. These make an easy neighbor gift, are a delicious snack and are perfect for topping salads or sweet potatoes.

5 Minute maple candied pecans stovetop Recipe - My Natural Family (1)

Have you ever bought a can of candied pecans at the store, only to get home and accidentally devour all of them, and then look at the ingredient list on the can…which consequently gives you a massive stomach ache – how do you pronounce that second ingredient…but they are so good and so addictive, and you are tempted to go buy another can… After all, pecans are good for you – are they not?

Does that scenario sound familiar? Can you relate? I know I can :). Luckily, I have found a solution! They are every bit as tasty as the store-bought candied pecans, but are made with only 3 simple ingredients, and contain no refined sugar, butter, or oil. Does it get much better than that? Oh yea, they are super simple to make and cause your house to smell unbelievably delicious.

These pecans are fabulous in salads, as a sweet treat, added to yogurt, or piled on top of your favorite pancake or cut-up fruit. They are also a great snack for kids. My little girl won’t eat plain nuts (she is a total stinker), but she will eat these sweetened pecans – I’ll take it.

This brings to something I've been thinking about in my life lately - what is the balance between making something homemade and healthy vs. just buying it? Some things are faster and easier to make at home, like these pecans. But there are some things, like say, a birthday cake that I just don't think are worth the time to make.

There is no way I'm going to spend hours making a fancy cake that doesn't even taste that good and is definitely not Clean. And the amount of work it takes to make a Clean cake and make it fancy is even way more work. And my children sure don't appreciate the amount of work and they probably wouldn't even like it.

I don't know. I don't even want to try. I don't have time. I work like all the time on this blog when I'm not being a wife, mom or taking care of myself. What I've resorted to doing is buying a "normal" cake at the store for family parties, cause none of my family eats Clean and they like a store-bought cake just fine.

Then on my children's actual birthday, my husband and I take just the birthday child out to dinner and they usually get a free birthday dessert with their meal. If they don't, we take them to get a small dessert just for them at a local bakery. That way they get a special treat and there aren't any leftovers. Sure, it isn't clean, but it is a small portion, not excessive and is only on special occasions.

So there's the honest truth for you of how we balance real life treats and homemade Clean Eating treats. Cause, yes, we live in real life behind the scenes on this blog. How about you? How often do you eat Clean?

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Recipe

5 Minute maple candied pecans stovetop Recipe - My Natural Family (2)

5-Minute maple candied pecans stovetop Recipe

★★★★★5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Rebecca Baron
  • Prep Time: 1 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 6 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Snack
  • Cuisine: Clean Eating
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Description

These candied maple pecans have 3 ingredients and only take 5 minutes to make on the stovetop. You'll love the cinnamon and sweet caramelized syrup!

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a large skillet over medium heat
  2. Stir until nuts are well coated
  3. Continue stirring until syrup caramelizes (approx. 5 minutes)
  4. Place nuts on parchment paper and allow to cool completely

Notes

  • Pure maple syrup is a must in this recipe. The results will be different with maple flavored syrup.
  • Other nuts may be substituted for for pecans (i.e. walnuts)

Keywords: Quick, Easy, Paleo, Clean

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather

    Easy, fast, and tasty. Perfect recipe for just about any time. Would make great mason jar gifts. Could also play with the spices to get different flavors

    Reply

  2. Sarah

    Easy and delicious. Made a nice gift for the holidays.

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      I'm so glad you liked them!

      Reply

    • Rebecca

      So glad you liked them!

      Reply

  3. Eco Friendly Homemakinga

    Oh my goodness these pecans sound so delicious!! I am going to make some of these asap!

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      Good idea!

      Reply

  4. k

    Looks like your picture is actually candied walnuts….

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      They do look a little bit like walnuts, but they were pecans. They were fresh off of my grandma’s tree, and a little bit smaller than store bought pecans…maybe that is why :). The recipe would work with walnuts as well though.

      Reply

  5. Nikki @ The Road to Less Cake

    They look so good.

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      They are so good :)!

      Reply

  6. Julie @ Tastes of Lizzy T

    Collecting recipes that don’t contain white sugar. I was so happy to come across this one! Pinned! 🙂

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      I hope you like them as much as I do!

      Reply

  7. Thalia @ butter and brioche

    these look delicious.. definitely the perfect afternoon sweet snack for when my sugar cravings hit. yum!

    Reply

    • Rebecca

      I love them as a sugar craving snack as well!

      Reply

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5 Minute maple candied pecans stovetop Recipe - My Natural Family (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

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.

How to make candied nuts not sticky? ›

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt makes these taste salty-sweet. If you'd prefer to not taste the salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325°F (162°C) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

How long do candied pecans keep? ›

How long will candied pecans keep? They will keep for up to two weeks in an airtight container at room temperature, at least three weeks in the refrigerator, or up to two months in the freezer. No matter where you store them, keep in a tightly sealed, airtight container.

How many pecans does it take to make 1 lb? ›

For a pound of nutmeat, you will need 2½ pounds of in-shell pecans. In order to help you maintain the highest quality pecan meats, we have developed the following guide to help you understand the best way to handle and store your pecans.

How many cups is one pound of pecans? ›

Measurements and Substitutions

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

Why do you boil pecans before cracking? ›

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

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

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.

Should you wash pecans before you crack them? ›

Don't wash pecans. Don't run water over them or even use a damp towel to clean them. Especially in-shell pecans.

Why are my pecans sticky? ›

The real culprits behind the honeydew are aphids. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that suck sap from plant leaves. Many species of aphids exist and attack various plants, but two types of aphids attack pecan trees and secrete honeydew, the yellow pecan aphid and the black-margined aphid.

What makes pecans soft? ›

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.

Do candied nuts go bad? ›

Ba-dum-dum. Okay, all bad dad jokes aside, these candied walnuts will last quite a while. All nuts do go rancid eventually, but as long as you cool them completely and then store them in an air-tight container, they should be good for about a month. You might also like our Candied Pecans recipe or Candied Almonds!

Can dogs have pecans? ›

These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

How can you tell if pecans are rancid? ›

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. And if you're daring enough to taste some, it's likely a bit bitter and honestly, gross.

How long do pecans last in a ziplock bag? ›

Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months. They can be refrigerated up to 18 months and frozen for about three years. After removal from the freezer, pecans will last for an additional two months.

Why are my pecans mushy? ›

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.

How do you fix soggy nuts? ›

Just toasting them in a dry pan or oven should be enough to revive them, but they'll also go in any recipe that requires nuts. We got through most of ours by toasting them with spices, to eat as nibbles or to add crunch to soups, stews and salads.

How do you keep pecan pie from getting soggy? ›

5 Ways to Prevent Soggy Pie Crust
  1. Blind Bake. The most common way to ward off a soggy pie crust is by a process called blind baking. ...
  2. Brush With Egg. ...
  3. Brush With Chocolate. ...
  4. Bake on a Hot Baking Sheet. ...
  5. Keep Moisture Out.
May 1, 2019

Why is my pecan pie mushy? ›

Imagine, you want to surprise your family with a homemade pecan pie, only to find the slices won't hold. The center jiggles more than it's supposed to. Why didn't the filling set properly? If your pecan pie is still a little soupy, it simply means you need to bake it more.

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