Honey Roasted Pecans - Easy Glazed Recipe for the Holidays (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

Your oven is also a great tool for toasting pecans. For this method, preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the nuts evenly onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake until they begin to brown and become aromatic, making sure to toss halfway through, 7 to 10 minutes.

Almost all the protein content of honey-roasted nuts surpasses most other sweet treats, making them one of the healthier options.

Candied pecans make a fabulous snack for holiday guests and parties. These glazed pecans are coated with a buttery brown sugar syrup and then baked to crunchy perfection. All you need is to boil butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar together, add the pecans, and then bake until brown.

Drain, Rinse, and Roast - After soaking your pecan nuts for about 8 hours, it's time to drain and rinse them. Once you're done with that, spread them over a baking sheet or dehydrator evenly to get them ready for roasting.

Now, some of you may be wondering, “What's the difference between roasting and toasting a pecan?”. The answer is simple. Roasting is when the nut is cooked fully through, and is usually done in an oven. Toasting means to brown the nut on the outside, and is usually done over a fire or on the stove.

Answer: Yes, nuts are great as-is, but they can be better. Way better. Toasting nuts draws the natural oils to the surface, intensifying the rich nutty essence, creating a deeper color, and making the nuts crunchier. Toasting your nuts prior to adding them to a recipe can improve the flavor and texture of any dish.

All deliver terrific results. Oven: Spread them on a baking sheet and roast them in a 350°F oven. Stovetop: Toast them in a skillet over medium-high heat. Microwave: Microwave on HIGH for 30-60 seconds.

Boosting Heart Health

Fiber is also known to boost heart health. Pecans also contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats like oleic acid along with phenolic antioxidants. Both of these substances help to prevent coronary artery disease and strokes.

Is it OK to eat pecans every day? ›

Pecans are healthy for you and your heart. Eating a few pecans per day as part of a nutritious diet can lower cholesterol levels and boost levels of “good” fats.

Useful for Diabetics

In the case of honey-roasted peanuts, the GI would be higher due to the sugar content in honey. But due to high amounts of protein, it is likely to be lower than most other foods. A study suggested that increased dietary protein intake may help decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The cinnamon can be swapped out for ground ginger or apple pie spice or even something savory, like barbecue rub, Old Bay seasoning, or Italian seasoning. How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked.

If you don't plan on eating your candied pecans right away, you may want to consider storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Refrigeration can keep the pecans fresh for up to three months, while freezing can extend their shelf life for up to six months.

Pecans have a very low glycemic index, which means that eating them does not cause a spike in blood sugar, even in people with diabetes. Eating pecans can even offset the effects of higher glycemic index foods when eaten as part of the same meal.

Long-soak nuts (almonds, pistachios, and hazelnuts) need at least 8 hours. Medium-soak nuts (pecans, walnuts, and Brazil nuts) are oilier and swell up quickly, so require less soaking time. Short-soak nuts (cashews, macadamias, and pine nuts) have the highest fat content and require only 2 to 4 hours soaking.

In a nutshell, soaking could increase the absorption of some nutrients, but the difference is super small – and pretty insignificant in the context of your whole diet. If you love the texture and like to use soft, soaked nuts for recipes or nut butters, go ahead!

"Essential nutrients like iron, protein, calcium, and zinc are better absorbed by the body when you soak the nuts. The water removes the phytic acid present in acids which causes indigestion. So, soaking nuts helps in digesting them properly and reaping the benefits of these nutrients.

Your body can better absorb nutrients if you soak nuts and seeds. Nutrient-dense nuts and seeds include nutrient inhibitors that guard and guarantee the survival of those nutrients. By soaking nuts and seeds, you can reduce or get rid of the harmful and nutritious inhibitors that are absorbed into the water.