Thanks to a skillet and the stovetop, you can make these easy candied pecans in under 10 minutes. This recipe can be used with other varieties of nuts, too. We especially love walnuts and cashews.
2 cups (6oz or 170g) pecan halves
6 tablespoons (75g) brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ tablespoons water
2 teaspoons orange zest, optional
Pinch cayenne pepper, optional
1Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla, water, orange zest, and cayenne to a medium skillet.
3Place the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until the brown sugar melts into a bubbling sauce, about 1 minute.
4Stir in the pecans so that the brown sugar sauce coats them.
5Cook, stirring the entire time, until the pecans look candied and smell nutty, 2 to 3 minutes. As the nuts heat up in the pan, the sauce will slowly coat them and turn shiny. Watch closely as the nuts cook so that they do not burn.
6Transfer the candied pecans to the prepared baking sheet and spread them out in one layer.
7Allow the pecans to cool down and break them up before serving.