Try this Toasted Spiced Pecans recipe, or contribute your own.
- Carbohydrate 11.135677082498 g
- Cholesterol 20.3533333333333 mg
- Fat 62.1655179118343 g
- Fiber 7.57229270483955 g
- Protein 7.05101107779301 g
- Saturated Fat 9.58526780950299 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (87g)
- Sodium 1.15077350423477 mg
- Sugar 3.5633843776585 g
- Trans Fat 3.10562118381082 g
- Calories 593 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Place pecans in a bowl.
- Melt butter over low heat and stir in spices, salt, pepper and sugar.
- Remove from heat; stir until sugar dissolves.
- Pour over pecans and mix well.
- Spread pecans evenly on a large rimmed cookie sheet and bake, stirring often, until dark brown and fragrant, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Season with additional salt and pepper while warm.
- Cool completely before serving.
- Can be made up to a week ahead; keep covered and refrigerated.
Temperature Control
Operating within a precise thermal window prevents scorching while driving off internal moisture. Setting the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit ensures the delicate exterior lipids in the unsalted butter oxidize properly without burning the high oil content inherent to nuts. Because pecans contain roughly seventy percent fat by weight, maintaining moderate heat is the only way to dehydrate the cellular structure fully and yield a crisp product.Fat Ratios
Coating each half thoroughly requires a measured amount of lipid to carry the spice blend. Using four tablespoons of melted butter for one pound of nut halves provides enough hydrophobic medium to anchor the sugar and ground aromatics uniformly across every crevice without pooling on the baking sheet. If substituting plant-based margarine, ensure the water content is low so the mixture roasts rather than steams during the first ten minutes.Storage Mechanics
Cooling the batch completely on a flat surface stops the cooking process instantly and prevents residual steam from softening the exterior shell. Storing them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to seven days preserves the brittle snap by halting ambient humidity absorption. Pair these spiced nuts alongside sharp aged cheeses or crisp bitter greens to balance their rich density.
