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    Home » Recipes » Italian Appetizers

    Bourbon Candied Pecans

    Published: Aug 15, 2024 by Vinny · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    A delicious sweet and salty snack that you can make for people to munch on before dinner is served. These Bourbon Candied Pecans are easy and quick to make and a delicious snack to hold people over before the main course!

    Set out an appetizer spread with our pecans, Spinach and Artichoke Dip No Mayo, and Pepperoni Bread (Stromboli)!

    Candied pecans in 2 separate bowls next to a glass of bourbon.

    Looking for more Thanksgiving Appetizers? Try serving Easy Steamed Artichokes or start them with a bowl of Creamy Mushroom Mascarpone Soup.

    Jump to:
    • Thanksgiving Snacks
    • Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
    • How to make Bourbon Candied Pecans
    • Pro-Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Thanksgiving Appetizers
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Reviews

    Thanksgiving Snacks

    Your guests are going to need something to snack on while they watch football and you slave away in the kitchen. Alright, I'm kidding, sort of. But these people are going to show up Thanksgiving hungry and Bourbon Candied Pecans are a great little snack to have out before the real appetizers like Italian Sausage Bread or Homemade Shrimp Cocktail come out!

    A lot of our holidays involve people staying at our house because our family lives all over the country. So, when it's a holiday like Thanksgiving and everyone shows up on Wednesday, I need to be prepared to feed them. In the morning, I usually start them with a Sausage and Cheese Quiche and then hold them off from the Turkey with snacks like these pecans or Spinach and Artichoke Dip.

    Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

    Ingredients for the recipe.
    • Bourbon. I prefer to use the bourbon that I drink, just to save money. Any bourbon will do but use bourbon, not rye whiskey. Bourbon has a sweeter profile and will match the dish better than a spicier and dry rye.
    • Vanilla. I like the taste vanilla adds to the dish but you can substitute almond extract for a slightly different flavor profile.
    • Pecans. Roughly chop your pecans for the best texture or use halved pecans.

    *Please see more information on ingredients below in the recipe card!

    How to make Bourbon Candied Pecans

    Toasting pecans in a saucepan.

    Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 ℉. Bring a saucepan to medium-low heat. Add the butter. Once it starts bubbling, add in your pecans. Toss in the butter for 3 minutes until you start smelling a nutty smell.

    Combing pecans with brown sugar in a pan.

    Step 2: Add in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Combine well.

    Simmering pecans in sauce.

    Step 3: Combine bourbon, water, and vanilla in a small bowl. Pour it into the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir every 15-30 seconds for about 5 minutes or until the sugar starts to caramelize.

    Caramelizing sugar to pecans in the pan.

    Step 4: Once the sugar and liquid start to become sticky, stir constantly until the pecans begin to stick together as you stir.

    Pecans laid out on a parchment paper-lined baking tray.

    Step 5: Pour the pecans onto a parchment paper-lined baking tray and sprinkle with salt. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Let them cool and serve. You can also add these pecans to our Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts as an extra crunchy tasty topping.

    Don't forget to serve with a nice bourbon drink like a Cherry Amaretto Sour and a Fall dessert like some Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies after dinner!

    Pro-Tips

    1. Don't leave the sugar caramelizing without watching. It can go from simmering to burning very quickly if you aren't stirring constantly. 
    2. Mix the bourbon, vanilla, and water before pouring it in to avoid burning the bourbon or vanilla. Remember alcohol is flammable.

    Recipe FAQs

    Why are my candied pecans soggy?

    Candied pecans need to be baked after being tossed in the pan. This will help crisp them up so that they have a crunchy sugary texture.

    Do candied pecans need to be stored in the refrigerator?

    No, they do not. They'll last for 2 weeks in an airtight container outside the refrigerator. If you'd like them to last longer, store them in the fridge.

    How do you fix sticky candied pecans?

    You either have to try and bake them for a bit longer or you'll have to reheat them back in the pan and see if you need to caramelize the sugar more. Then you can rebake in the oven.

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    Please leave a comment and star rating below in the recipe card! I love to hear what you think of our recipes. Feel free to tag us on Instagram @vindelgiudice.

    📖 Recipe

    Candied pecans in 2 separate bowls next to a glass of bourbon.

    Bourbon Candied Pecans

    Vincent DelGiudice
    A delicious bar snack perfect for the holidays. Put out some Bourbon candied pecans for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year with a snack that takes less than 20 minutes to make
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 324 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Saucepan
    • 1 baking tray
    • parchment paper

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups pecans, roughly chopped
    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ cup water
    • ¼ cup bourbon
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400 ℉. Bring a saucepan to medium-low heat. Add the butter. Once it starts bubbling, add in your pecans. Toss in the butter for 3 minutes until you start smelling a nutty smell.
    • Add in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Combine well.
    • Combine bourbon, water, and vanilla in a small bowl. Pour it into the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir every 15-30 seconds for about 5 minutes or until the sugar starts to caramelize. It will look like it's getting really thick and sticky. Stir constantly until the pecans begin to stick together as you stir.
    • Pour the pecans out onto a parchment paper-lined baking tray and sprinkle with salt. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Let them cool and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Don't leave the sugar caramelizing without watching. It can go from simmering to burning very quickly if you aren't stirring constantly. 
    2. Mix the bourbon, vanilla, and water together before pouring it in to avoid burning the bourbon or vanilla. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 324kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 3gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 33mgPotassium: 152mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 136IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?We'd love for you to Leave a Review!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nancy Harridge

      January 25, 2025 at 7:52 pm

      5 stars
      OMG how have I not found this before!!?? Amazing taste and flavour and easy to do! Thanks Vinny! Just follow the recipe and voila!!

      Reply
    2. Vincent DelGiudice

      August 15, 2024 at 7:26 pm

      5 stars
      These are the perfect snack for any football Sunday or Thanksgiving. They're a delicious easy way to use up some nuts!

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes

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    Vinny DelGiudice, MS CCC-SLP

    My name is Vinny. I am an Italian-American home cook, a photographer, and previously, a speech pathologist specializing in swallowing and voice disorders. I share the recipes I grew up eating in my home and the recipes that I cook for my family. Always From Scratch is about cooking homemade meals and eating with family.

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