Ever since I could remember my Lil’ MawMaw (the same grandmother who made all these Santas) had an array of pecans at all her holiday gatherings.
Sidenote: When I was a child I had one grandmother who was heavy set, and one that was a tiny little thing. I differentiated them by calling one Lil’ MawMaw and one Big MawMaw. It stuck, and fortunately my great-grandmother didn’t mind being called “Big”. The grandchildren after me also learned to call my mom’s mother our “Lil’ MawMaw”.
At my Lil’ MawMaw’s there were spicy pecans. Sugared pecans. Cinnamon pecans. And some secret pecans that I swear I think she said were made with a pudding mix.
Long story short, she had an entire serving platter of nothing but flavored pecans!
And then, in your gift bag you’d get your own take home goodie bags of, you guessed it, pecans.
If you’re thinking to yourself how expensive pecans are….she has 2 pecan trees in her backyard. When the pecans begin to drop, she literally goes out there daily to scoop them up. There’s a shelling facility in her town where she brings them to get cracked.
Recently, I decided to try to recreate the cinnamon sugared pecans.
- 1/4 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups shelled pecan halves
- In a large sauce pan over medium heat, combine evaporated milk, sugar, water and vanilla.
- Heat mixture until sugar is dissolved- stirring often.
- Whisk in cinnamon.
- Add the pecans, stirring until completely covered.
- Continue stirrng until pecans become well coated and mixture begins crystallizing to the pecans- about 3 minutes.
- Spread the covered pecans on wax paper, separating as you lay them out. Allow the pecans to cool completely. Break apart pecans and store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.
We’re calling them Southern Candied Pecans.
They are super delicious and crazy addictive.
I always like having readily available homemade gifts around the holidays. Most of my neighbors are retired and you never know when the doorbell will ring, and you will find a box of divinity, bourbon balls, or a fresh baked bread loaf just waiting for you.
And you know when someone gives you something and you wish you had their recipe and knew how they made it?
Situation solved.
I made a fancy little recipe card to attach to my Southern Candied Pecans.
And when I say “fancy”, I’m actually being sarcastic because I’m the farthest thing from being graphically inclined… but I did this all by myself.
Southern Candied Pecans Recipe Card
All. By. Myself I tell you!
And I left the area blank so you can download and write your name into the From the Kitchen of section.
Enjoy the pah-kahns!
Michelle @ Life on the Horizon says
November 21, 2013 at 1:17 pmYes please! Yum!!!
Aimee says
November 21, 2013 at 9:14 pmSo, so, so addictive!!!!
Emily says
November 21, 2013 at 7:58 pmSo, I’m totally making these for Thanksgiving. Love your recipe card!
Aimee says
November 21, 2013 at 9:16 pmOh my goodness, I totally didn’t read the recipe card instructions correctly! Cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pies- nowhere does it say snacks!!! Sigh.
Sherry Turner says
December 1, 2017 at 8:32 amI adore reading your blog!! Pecans sound yummy, and I am so in love with Your Santa collection! Ok I went to wayfair and looked at the upside down tree, I guess if I had one it would be the tear drop hanging trees!
Merry Christmas!!