Toasted Pecan Nuts

Toasted pecans are among the most beloved nuts, thanks to their natural sweetness and soft, buttery crunch. They have a similar flavor and texture to walnuts, but pecans boast a sweeter flavor and don’t have the same dry, tannic finish, making them perfect for many classic southern desserts.

But don’t relegate pecans to the sweets table! Raw pecans are perfect for snacking and get even better when you toast them. Exposing pecans to a little heat adds depth and texture, as heat coaxes out the pecan’s nutty flavor and aroma while giving the nut a crunchy bite. Plus, toasted pecan nuts are a great source of protein, healthy fats and fiber, and they have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and healthy cholesterol properties. Pecans are an all-in-one nut.

Unfortunately, many home cooks have had bad experiences when toasting nuts. If you’re not paying attention, nuts can go from perfectly browned and crispy to burnt and acrid in a hot minute. The difference between toasted and roasted pecans is simple: Toasted pecan nuts are simply cooked without any added fat, whereas roasted pecans are often coated in oil or butter before baking, resulting in a richer taste. This toasted pecans recipe takes you step by step through the short process of toasting pecans at home in the oven (and we include options for your stovetop, microwave or air fryer).

A toasted pecans recipe can be used in classic desserts like pecan pie, sprinkled on salads or enjoyed as a wholesome snack. They also make a fantastic addition to savory dishes, providing depth and texture to everything from salads to crusted meats.

Ingredients for Toasted Pecan Nuts

• Pecans: This is the only ingredient you need! Most pecans are sold prehalved, so you won’t even need a knife. Every grocery store has pecans, but treat yourself to a trip to a specialty grocer for the highest quality pecan. Look for nuts from anywhere along the Mississippi River, Kentucky, Alabama or Texas—in fact, Texas’s state tree is hickory and the small town of San Saba claims to be the pecan capitol of the world.

How to Toast Pecans

Step 1: Roast the pecans in the oven

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the pecans in a single layer on a 15x10x1-inch baking sheet. Roast for 6 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring often.

Editor’s Tip: Be sure to open the oven and stir the pecans often. Otherwise, the nuts on the edges of the baking sheet might burn while the ones on the inside are still undercooked.

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Remove the pecans from the oven and transfer to a cold plate.

Editor’s Tip: When the pecans have reached the desired level of toastiness, remove them to a cold plate to stop the cooking process.

Christine Ma for Taste Recipes

How to Use Toasted Pecan Nuts

• For desserts: Toasted pecan nuts are classic for desserts like butter pecan ice cream, caramel pecan pie and toasted butter pecan cake, but we also love them for sweet breakfast dishes like baked oatmeal or pecan French toast.
• For savory dishes: Toasted pecans are a fantastic crunchy topper for salads like a apple pecan salad, and they make an incredible toasted pecan vinaigrette too. Nuts and cheese make a great combination, so rolling your favorite cheese log in toasted pecans to create a crowd-pleasing appetizer is never a bad thing!
• In place of bread crumbs: Toasted pecans are a gluten-free alternative to bread crumbs. Pecan-crusted chicken and pecan-crusted salmon are both crunchy and wonderful.

Toasted Pecan Nut Variations

• Spice them up: Sprinkle the toasted pecan nuts with cinnamon and sugar before baking for spiced pecans, the perfect snack.
• Add spiced syrup: For candied pecans, toss slightly toasted nuts in a spiced sugar syrup before finishing them off in the oven.
• Mix them up: Add some other nut varieties and a little cayenne pepper for spice to create warm spiced nuts your guests won’t soon forget.

How to Store Toasted Pecan Nuts

Store raw nuts in the pantry, but keep a toasted pecans recipe in the refrigerator or freezer. Toasting nuts forces them to release their oils, which makes them taste better, but it also increases the chance they’ll spoil and turn rancid. Once the nuts are cooled, place them in an airtight storage container or resealable bag.

How long do toasted pecans last?

Shelled, raw pecans are good in the pantry for about two months, but toasted pecans are more perishable. Stored properly, they’ll last about two weeks in the refrigerator or six months in the freezer.

Toasted Pecan Nut Tips

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Should you toast whole pecans or pieces?

It’s best to toast nuts before chopping them. This prevents burning since there aren’t any tiny pieces that can easily overcook. Store-bought pecans come halved, which is the perfect size for toasting. Whether you call them whole, halved or unchopped, the key is to keep the pieces large to avoid burning any small bits.

How do you toast pecan nuts on the stovetop?

We like toasting pecans in a cast-iron skillet on the stovetop when a recipe calls for 1/2 cup or less. Place the nuts in a dry skillet and heat them over medium heat. You can add oil or butter to add flavor, but we like using a dry pan so we can coax the oils out of the pecans. Cook, stirring constantly, until the nuts are golden brown, about five minutes. Cooking on the stovetop allows you to watch the pecans as they toast, reducing the chances they’ll burn while you’re not paying attention. Of course, the range’s direct heat also means you’ll want to stir the pecans or toss the pan frequently to keep them moving around. Remove the toasted pecans to a cold plate to stop the cooking process.

How do you toast pecan nuts in the microwave?

If you’re running short on time or need to toast only a small number of pecans, learn how to toast pecans your trusty microwave. This method isn’t perfect—the pecans won’t have a toasted color and won’t be quite as crunchy—but it’s a quick and easy way to prepare pecans for pecan pie recipes. Just spread the pecans in a single layer on a glass pie plate or on another microwave-safe plate. Cook on full power for two minutes. Stir the pecans and continue to cook them in 30-second increments until the nuts reach the desired level of toastiness. The final timing will depend on your microwave and the sizes of the chopped pecans.

How do you toast pecans in an air fryer?

Want that oven-roasted result without heating the whole house? Here’s how to toast pecans an air fryer! The handy gadget is essentially a countertop convection oven, so it crisps up pecans in less time. We recommend using whole pecans for this method, as chopped bits can fall through the air-fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to 300° and add the pecans to the air-fryer basket in a single layer. Check the pecans after four to six minutes. Stir the pecans and cook for an additional two to four minutes if they’re not to your wanted toastiness.