Candied Pecans for Pie

Jun 29, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pies tarts Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Extract Easy

A candied pecans to serve with slices of pie. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Prep 5 min

Cook 10 min

Cool 15 min

Total 30 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1 ½ cups (150.0 g)pecan halves
⅓ cup (71.0 g)light brown sugar, packed
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)unsalted butter
1.0 tbsp (15.0 ml)water
⅛ tspfine sea salt
½ tsp (2.5 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Melt the butter with the brown sugar, water, and salt in a skillet over medium heat until bubbling.
Add the pecans and stir until the syrup thickens and coats them, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the vanilla.
Spread on parchment to cool completely, then scatter over the pie.

Tips

Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Store airtight for up to 1 week.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make candied pecans for pie?

Plan on 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 15 minutes to cool. It makes about 1 1/2 cups.

How should I store candied pecans for pie?

Store airtight for up to 1 week.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

A candied pecans to serve with slices of pie. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

189 Calories / serving

16.3g Fat

11.4g Carbs

1.7g Protein

9.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~1512 cal · 130g fat · 91g carbs · 14g protein · 75g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 189 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 36 min·2.1 mi·~4200 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 26 min·1.3 mi·~2600 steps
Moderate cycling 19 min·3.8 mi
Swimming laps 26 min
Jogging 19 min·1.6 mi·~3050 steps
Stair climbing 17 min·~1550 steps
Dancing 31 min
Bodyweight circuit training 19 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 44 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.