Caramelized Chopped Pecans

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Caramelized Chopped Pecans are the perfect salad topper or quick, on-the-go snack! Made with only two ingredients, they are ready in about 20 minutes! And when you make a batch, just prepare to make it a double or even a triple because these little treats are a crowd-pleaser! {Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free}

Spiriteds, once you start caramelizing nuts and seeds, you won’t want to stop. I literally want to go back over every sweet salad I’ve ever made and add either Caramelized Almond Slivers or these Caramelized Chopped Pecans to their recipes. Maybe I even want to add BOTH to the SAME SALAD. Because is a salad even a salad without them? My tastebuds are telling me the answer to that question is a resounding NO. CARAMELIZED ALL THE THINGS make salads, even already super-tasty ones, all that much better.

And we’re talking salads throughout the year, not just one season or another. Caramelized Chopped Pecans play no favorites and go as well with wintry salads as they do spring, summer, and autumnal salads. 

They also taste delicious by the handful, no salad needed. And Caramelized Chopped Pecans are rather quick to make. So if you are in the mood for a roasted nuts and seeds recipe but don’t have hours to spend preparing them, then give this recipe a whirl! It’s convenient, clean-up is a breeze, and you are in and out of the process in well under 30 minutes. That’s a worthy recipe in my cookbook, as it were.

So, are you ready to do this? If so, then grab a skillet and a spatula or wooden spoon and let’s caramelize some chopped pecans!

These Caramelized Pecans are

• Roasty-toasty and lightly sweet
• Great salad toppers
• Ideal for a snack on-the-go
• Gluten-free and dairy-free

Side note: We often use vegan-friendly liquid sweeteners in recipes on this blog. If you want your Caramelized Chopped Pecans to be vegan, then look for a vegan granulated sugar option. You’ll need a granulated, rather than liquid, variety to create the caramelization.

Caramelized Chopped Pecans ingredients

• Chopped pecans. If you can’t find chopped pecans, then buy whole pecans and gently mash them with the edge of a can.
• Granulated sugar. You’ll definitely want a granulated sweetener to make your Caramelized Chopped Pecans. I haven’t tried granulated stevia or monkfruit sweetener, but you are more than welcome to try!

How to make Caramelized Chopped Pecans

1. To a skillet add the chopped pecans and granulated sugar. Cook on a MEDIUM-HIGH heat for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally so the pecans don’t burn.
2. As the chopped pecans cook, stir more frequently because they’ll go from under cooked to overcooked in a matter of seconds.
3. When the desired doneness is reached, carefully transfer the pecans to a piece of parchment paper to let cool. Once cooled, then break apart the caramelized chopped pecan clumps by hand and store them in an airtight container at room temperate for up to 5 days (periodically check the freshness to ensure they don’t go stale).

FAQs

• Do I need to grease the skillet first? No. The oils from the chopped pecans will pool in the pan as the almonds heat up.
• How to do I know when the chopped pecans are ready? It’s a little tougher to know the doneness of chopped pecans compared to our Caramelized Almond Slivers. And this is due in large part to the pecans’ already deepened color. Admittedly, I go not only by color but also by smell. As the pecans toast, they’ll smell fairly earthy and sweet. The sugar will brown and caramelize, and that’s when I know they are in process. Once the smell turns toasty, I know I’m in the homestretch, and this occurs around the 15-minute mark with approximately 3-5 minutes cook time left. Whereas Caramelized Almond Slivers can take about 20-25 minutes to cook, Caramelized Chopped Pecans take only about 15-20 minutes. Please note, this is a guide. Your times may vary, depending on the size of the pecans, desired doneness, and size of the skillet.
• What do I do if some pecans are browned and others are still lighter in color? When this happens, I stir them so the browned pieces are on top and the under-cooked portions get a chance to cook at the bottom of the pan. If you have some pieces that are really cooked and ready to go, then carefully scoop them out of the pan early and gently place them on the parchment paper.

Pair these sweet, crispy-crunchies with

• Pomegranate Orange Salad
• Pomegranate Pear Salad
• Fresh Mixed Berry Salad
• Berry Spinach Salad
• Apple Pecan Salad

More crispy, crunchy recipes

If you love to crunch-munch, then you’ll love these recipes, too!

• Maple Candied Mixed Nuts
• Cinnamon Roasted Pecans
• Sweet Crunchy Granola
• Homemade Paleo Granola
• Caramelized Almond Slivers

Spiriteds, stay well and stay wild. Jump into the fun when you can, and always remember I’m glad you’re here. 🩷

Caramelized Chopped Pecans

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Caramelized Chopped Pecans are the perfect salad topper or quick, on-the-go snack! Made with only two ingredients, they are ready in about 20 minutes! And when you make a batch, just prepare to make it a double or even a triple because these little treats are a crowd-pleaser! {Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free}

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 1 cup 1x
• Category: Salads and Dressings
• Method: Stovetop
• Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

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Instructions

1. To a skillet add the chopped pecans and granulated sugar. Cook on a MEDIUM-HIGH heat for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally so the pecans don’t burn.
2. As the chopped pecans deepen in color and the sugar starts to caramelize, stir more frequently because the pecans will go from under cooked to overcooked in a matter of minutes.
3. When the desired doneness is reached, carefully transfer the pecans to a piece of parchment paper to let cool. Once cooled, then break apart the caramelized chopped pecan clumps by hand and store them in an airtight container at room temperate for up to 5 days (periodically check the freshness to ensure they don’t go stale).

Notes

• Because the sugar will caramelize and the pecans will release oils as they cook, it is not necessary to add oil to the skillet.
• You’ll know the pecans are done when they have warmed, darkened in color, the sugar has caramelized and coated them, and while they don’t smell burned, they do smell toasted. This takes about 15-20 minutes.
• If some pecans are done before others, gently remove them from the pan, if you can do so safely, and transfer them to a piece of parchment paper to cool.
• If you want to make vegan Caramelized Chopped Pecans, then use a vegan-friendly granulated sugar.