Description
Delight in these rich and crunchy Salted Caramel Pecans, a perfect sweet snack featuring pecan halves coated in a decadent homemade salted caramel. This easy stovetop recipe yields a deliciously addictive treat with deep amber caramel flavor, enhanced by a touch of sea salt and vanilla extract.
Ingredients
Scale
Salted Caramel Pecans Ingredients
- 2 cups pecan halves
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside to be ready for the caramel-coated pecans.
- Make Caramel: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine granulated sugar and water. Stir gently until the sugar is fully dissolved, then stop stirring. Allow the mixture to simmer undisturbed until it reaches a deep amber color, about 8 to 10 minutes, developing a rich caramel flavor.
- Add Butter, Salt, and Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from heat. Carefully stir in unsalted butter, sea salt, and vanilla extract. The mixture will bubble aggressively, so proceed with caution to avoid burns.
- Coat Pecans: Quickly stir in the pecan halves until they are fully coated with the hot caramel mixture, ensuring every piece is glazed evenly.
- Cool and Set: Spread the caramel-coated pecans in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly sprinkle with additional sea salt for an extra salty-sweet balance. Allow them to cool completely until the caramel hardens, then break apart any clusters and store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Do not over-stir the sugar and water mixture after it dissolves to prevent crystallization of the caramel.
- For added depth of flavor, toast the pecans lightly before coating them in caramel.
- Store pecans in an airtight container to maintain freshness and crunch.
