Maple Bourbon Candied Pecans
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
Candied pecans are amazing and these no refined sugar Maple Bourbon Pecans are even better! Sweet maple syrup, smoky bourbon, rich cinnamon, and a little spicy heat makes these roasted pecans outrageously addictive! A delicious sweet-salty mix.
When I make candied bourbon pecans, the entire house smells like fall! Cinnamon, maple and buttery, bourbon glazed roasted pecans! I could have eaten the whole batch! They are delicious as toppings on ice cream, oatmeal, pancakes, salad, food gifts and more
If you love maple & bourbon, then you might try these fabulous recipes; Maple Bourbon Sour, Maple Pumpkin Scones, Bourbon Caramel Sauce.
With the Kentucky Derby coming up, I’ve joined other talented bloggers making bourbon inspired recipes! A bowl of bourbon pecans to nosh on while cheering on your favorite horse would be perfect!
I developed this recipe as part of a Kentucky Derby Party Bourbon inspired recipe collaboration! Check out ALL of the great recipes here!
Speaking of Derby food, you might try this delicious Mint Julep or Blackberry Bourbon Moscow Mule and for dessert, the one and only Kentucky Butter Cake!!
Ingredients for Bourbon Pecans
- Raw Pecan Halves | the star of the recipe (psst, try other nuts too or mixed nuts!!)
- Real Maple syrup | I used bourbon barrel aged maple syrup, if you haven’t tried it, it is fabulous! Pure maple syrup is fine, but if you can find bourbon barrel aged, it’s so worth it. I purchase mine at a farmer’s market in Vail each year, but have also found seasonally at Trader Joe’s.
- Butter or Olive Oil | I used butter, because it’s only a tablespoon!
- Bourbon | Any bourbon of your choice, if you prefer not to use bourbon, may I suggest using a good vanilla extract or Bourbon Vanilla extract.
- Kosher Salt | adds salty balance to the sweet and enhances the flavors.
- Ground Cinnamon | Use a good quality cinnamon, this one is my favorite.
- Cayenne Pepper | Adjust your heat up or down depending on your taste!
Maple Syrup Bourbon (or vanilla) Melted Butter Kosher Salt
Cinnamon Cayenne Pepper Mix well Add raw pecans
What is Bourbon Maple Syrup
Barrel aged Bourbon maple syrup is simply maple syrup that has been aged a bit in barrels that formerly were used to age, well bourbon.
It is not an alcoholic syrup, but certainly takes on the flavors, taste and nuances of the bourbon that was aged in that barrel.
It’s amazing! Use it in drinks, a drizzle over glazed carrots or Brussels, in a brown butter glaze — the sky’s the limit!
Are Candied Pecans the Same as Praline Pecans?
Pralines originated in France, but the European version differs somewhat from the one in the United States.
The original French confection featured almonds instead of pecans. When French settlers moved to the southern U.S., they found few almonds but plenty of pecan trees.
They substituted pecans in their recipe while adding cream to thicken the mixture, resulting in a fudge-like candy. (Source)
What Are Praline Pecans?
While pecan pralines are more of a candy or confection, praline pecans give you all the deliciousness of pecan pralines, without the additional ingredients.
Typically praline pecans usually use brown sugar, which is why they are sometimes called sugar pecans.
These are slightly different because we don’t use refined sugar in this recipe, instead our sweetness comes from pure maple syrup.
How Do I make Spicy Candied Pecans?
This recipe uses an oven vs. stovetop, nothing wrong with stovetop glazed pecans, but I love the enhanced flavor you get from slow roasting these in the oven; leaving them shiny, crunchy, and perfectly glazed.
- Start by simply placing all ingredients (except pecans) in a medium to large bowl, whisk to mix.
- Add pecans and stir to coat the nuts evenly with the liquid and spice mixture.
- Pour onto parchment lined baking sheet and spread evenly in one layer, the maple bourbon slurry might puddle, but don’t worry.
- Bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 10 minutes, then stirring every 5 minutes until the liquid is gone for a total of about 25 minutes.
WAYS TO USE BOURBON GLAZED PECANS
- Oats | Chopped or whole mixed into oatmeal, either hot or cold overnight oats or muesli!
- Add to a yogurt parfait the the best, best, best tasting yogurt ever!
- Make a speciality granola as food gifts!
- Chopped and sprinkled on top of pancakes or waffles.
- ICE CREAM| My personal favorite! Make everyday ice cream into an elegant dessert by pouring bourbon salted caramel sauce over vanilla ice cream, topping with chopped praline pecans. Swooning over here!
- Sprinkle on top of cakes, pies, muffins and more.
- Salads | Add to any salad and elevate the crunch and taste factor x 10! These would be my favorite salads to add to, Sweet Maple Apple and Harvest Apple Salad.
- Food Gifts | Make up a couple of batches and give as food gifts to friends, these pecans are perfect for snacking by the handful too! (See below for all sorts of great food gift ideas!)
How will you use these delicious roasted cinnamon pecans? Pop a comment below the recipe!
PIN this recipe to your favorite Snacks & Nuts board!
Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and comment below the recipe!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups pecan halves raw
- [1/4 cup Real Maple syrup I used bourbon barrel aged maple syrup, Pure maple syrup is fine, but if you can find bourbon barrel aged, it’s so worth it.]
- 1 tablespoon butter melted (may sub olive oil)
- [1 tablespoon Bourbon any bourbon or use a good vanilla extract or Bourbon Vanilla extract]
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
- ¼ teaspoon [Ground Cinnamon | Use a good quality cinnamon this one is my favorite.]
- 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper Adjust your heat up or down depending on your taste!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pour all ingredients (except pecans) in a medium to large bowl, whisk to mix.
- Pour in the pecans and stir to coat the nuts evenly.
- Evenly spread the wet pecans on a parchment lined baking sheet, in one layer. The maple bourbon slurry might puddle, but don’t worry it will bake into the pecans.
- Bake in preheated 325° oven 10 minutes, then stirring the pecans every 5 minutes until the liquid is gone, for a total of about 25 minutes. The pecans should be roasted and deeper brown, but not blackened. Be sure each time you stir to try and get the pecans back in a single layer, sometimes I give the pan a little shake.
- Remove from oven, stirring pecans one more time, trying to separate any large clumps. After a few minutes of cooling, separate any larger clumps to allow to dry completely.
- Store in sealed bag at room temperature or in sealed container.
- Delicious eaten by the handful, or on top of yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes and waffles, salads and much more. See post for all of the ways to use these delicious pecans.
Video
Fresh Tips
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Food Gift Ideas
Gifts from the kitchen are gifts from the heart! Not only will you be proud to gift these items, but you'd be pretty thrilled to receive them yourself!
Homemade Golden Milk Spice Mix with Printable Tags
Healthy, delicious, Golden Milk Latte Spice Mix is perfect for those enjoying Golden Milk or Turmeric Tea daily. Also great for a gift.
Homemade Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Homemade bourbon vanilla extract is deliciously smooth and so easy to make. Two ingredients and some time is all you need! Great for gift giving, free downloadable labels!
Antibacterial Hand Scrub
Make your own DIY antibacterial hand scrub that promotes healthy, clean, soft skin.
Rich & Chewy Hot Fudge Sauce
A sublime, rich, chewy hot fudge sauce. Warmed it melts onto your ice cream, cooling into a thick, chewy fudge.
Christmas in a Bag (Simmering Spices)
Give the gift of aromatherapy to a friend or neighbor this Christmas! A mixture of cinnamon, orange, cloves, pine, a little anise and allspice.
Fall Simmering Spices
Want your home to smell like fall without toxic air fresheners? Here is an all-natural, inexpensive and simple way to fill your home with the aroma of fall and Thanksgiving!
Eucalyptus Shower Salt Scrub
A deliciously easy salt scrub; filled with sense awakening eucalyptus oil, silky sweet almond oil and the power of salt to scrub away dead skin.
Easy Rosemary Cashews
An amazing recipe for roasted cashews enhanced with woodsy rosemary with a sweet and spicy slurry.
Hibiscus Simple Syrup
This Hibiscus Simple Syrup adds a subtle floral, lemony and slightly tangy flavor to craft cocktails, Italian sodas, iced-teas, buttercream and ice cream.
Vanilla Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Need a quick, elegant, simple dessert sauce to wow your guests? This Vanilla Bourbon Caramel sauce is rich and creamy, a little bit salty with a hint of bourbon.
Maple Bourbon Pecans
Candied pecans are amazing and these no refined sugar Maple Bourbon Pecans are even better! Sweet maple syrup, smoky bourbon, rich cinnamon, a little spicy heat makes these pecans outrageously addictive! A delicious sweet-salty mix.
Instant Pot Homemade Elderberry Syrup (+ Stovetop Instructions)
A spoonful of Homemade Elderberry Syrup every day will help boost your immune system, preventing and treating flu and colds. Instant Pot or Stovetop
Luscious Lemon Curd
Homemade Luscious Lemon Curd is made using wholesome, all natural ingredients using a foolproof technique, plus I'll give you 20+ ways to use this delectable citrus-y curd.
Cranberry Simple Syrup
The crown jewel of simple syrups, this cranberry simple syrup is all natural and made with just 3 ingredients. The ideal and festive mixer for your holiday drinks!
Basic Crock Pot Soft Granola with Yogurt Parfaits
Soft, hearty and chewy textured granola. Easily customizable to your tastes. Delicious on it's own with some milk or in a yogurt bowl or parfait.
I made these to add into my roasted maple bourbon brussel sprouts and oh WOW. They are the PERFECT addition. Thank you for a great recipe
Yay Nikki, aren’t they so amazing and that sounds wonderful to go with your roasted maple bourbon brussels sprouts! YUM!
Kathleen
How much cinnamon?
Oh my goodness Shana, thank you! It’s ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, I’ve updated the recipe! Thanks! Hope you enjoy them!
These will make great hostess gifts! I am so excited to use the cute little containers I got last year after the holidays! Great idea! Thanks!
Sounds perfect!! So glad you liked them!
I love a handful of nuts but never thought to put bourbon on them~ I am totally hooked and making these for all my friends as gifts!
The perfect friend gift! They will thank you!!
I made these for fancy salads I made for a small dinner party and everyone loved them. They were easy to make too. I’ll make these again.
Makes me smile! So glad everyone loved them and they were easy!!
You had me at bourbon! And pecans! Cannot wait to make this one Kathleen! Pinned.
LOL you my friend, will love these!!
These sound awesome and thanks for all the unique ideas of how to use them! I’ll definitely be making some for gifts (and keeping a few for my morning oatmeal!)
Thanks Cindy, they are the best of the best! And definitely keep some for your morning oatmeal! Happy cooking! Kathleen