Bourbon Old Fashioned Glazed Pecans Recipe (2024)

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Inspired by the classic co*cktail, spicy-sweet pecans are doused with bourbon and dotted with orange zest and bourbon-soaked cherries.

ByMarvin Gapultos

Updated October 24, 2022

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Why It Works

  • Soaking the cherries in bourbon—in addition to glazing the pecans with the spirit—ensures that the boozy flavor comes through.
  • Adding orange zest to the nuts after they have been glazed and cooled keeps the flavor of the zest vibrant and fresh.

Although the Old Fashioned has come to be one of today's most revered co*cktails, I find that it can also be one of the mostinconsistentlymade drinks. While its ingredients are few (sugar, bitters, water, whiskey), the Old Fashioned can range from simple and superb, to a sweet and syrupy mess—all depending on the skill and knowledge of the bartender at whichever watering hole you happen to wander into.

Conversely, that bowl of mixed nuts that adorns many a bar can be one of the mostconsistentthings on offer. Problem is, they are usually consistently stale, and consistently bland. A bowl of stale nuts is about as tempting as, well, a bowl of stale nuts. Which is why I usually steer clear of such roughage no matter how peckish I get when sitting at a bar.

It's a good thing, then, that I do most of my drinking and snacking at home. As such, I decided to use one of my favorite co*cktails (the Old Fashioned, natch), as inspiration to improve upon that usually insipid bowl of mixed bar nuts.

For this particular recipe I used pecans, but really, any mix of raw nuts will do. After a few minutes toasting in a dry skillet, the pecans become fragrant and nutty. A toss in melted butter and a mix of brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and a touch of cayenne would seem to be all these pecans need. But to echo their boozy inspiration, the nuts are then doused with bourbon and dotted with old-fashioned accouterments of orange zest and cherries (dried cherries made plump by a soak in more bourbon).

The result is a spicy-sweet snack of glazed pecans worthy of a perfectly madeOld Fashioned co*cktail, or any cool beverage you happen to be nursing.

August 2012

Recipe Details

Bourbon Old Fashioned Glazed Pecans Recipe

Active15 mins

Total45 mins

Serves8 servings

Makes2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey

  • 1/4 cup dried cherries

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/8 to1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 2 cupsraw pecan halves

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 tablespoon zest from 1 small orange

Directions

  1. Combine bourbon and dried cherries in a small bowl and set aside to soak for 30 minutes. In another small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper and stir until well-combined. Set aside.

  2. Place pecans in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until they just start to brown and smell toasted, 3 to 4 minutes. Add butter to pan and stir until the butter is completely melted and the pecans are coated.

  3. Add the sugar and spice mixture to pan and stir to combine. Turn off heat and immediately pour in cherries and bourbon. Stir for 1-2 minutes more, off heat, until everything is well incorporated.

  4. Return pan to medium heat and continue to stir everything in pan until the liquid thickens and a glaze forms on the pecans, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer pecans to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet.

  5. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, separate the pecans and spread them into an even layer on the parchment paper. Allow pecans to cool completely. Once pecans have cooled, zest orange over pecans. Transfer pecans to a large bowl and serve.

Special Equipment

Nonstick skillet, sheet pan lined with parchment paper

Read More

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
156Calories
12g Fat
9g Carbs
1g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories156
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g16%
Saturated Fat 3g13%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 159mg7%
Total Carbohydrate 9g3%
Dietary Fiber 1g5%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 2mg11%
Calcium 16mg1%
Iron 0mg2%
Potassium 80mg2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Bourbon Old Fashioned Glazed Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to soak pecans in bourbon? ›

Whether you choose pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, or a mixture of many different types of nuts, you need to soak them in bourbon for at least 30 minutes. Before soaking, the nuts must be lightly toasted in the oven to intensify the nutty flavors.

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.

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. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

What bourbon is best for pecan pie? ›

The 5 Best Whiskeys for Pecan Pie
  • Old Grand-Dad 114 $30.
  • Rittenhouse 100 $22. Piquant with a malty-sweet finish, this whiskey's vanilla and cinnamon spice flavors will complement flaky pastry crust. ...
  • Wild Turkey 101 $20. ...
  • Old Overholt $15. ...
  • Elijah Craig Barrel Proof $100.
Oct 6, 2016

Is it better to soak pecans before eating? ›

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.

Why do you soak pecans in water? ›

"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.

Why do my toasted pecans taste bitter? ›

Pecans have two sources of bitterness -- naturally occurring tannins in the kernel and pieces of corky material from the inside of the nut which can adhere to the kernel. Some of the tannin and all of the corky material can be removed by washing the kernels before cooking.

How long should pecans be soaked? ›

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.

What is the best temperature to roast pecans? ›

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.

Why are my glazed pecans sticky? ›

If after they have cooled down, the pecans are still sticky, this means that the sugar mixture never reached a high enough temperature when on the stove. To fix them, place the nuts back into the skillet and cook a bit longer.

Why won't my candied nuts dry? ›

If your nuts don't harden fully, that means the sugar wasn't cooked long enough and didn't caramelize. Cook the nuts longer next time!

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

What can you mix with bourbon to make it taste better? ›

Ingredients:
  • Bourbon (Our Bourbon and Spire is the perfect blend for a dark wintery drink like this)
  • Apple Cider.
  • Lemon Juice.
  • Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer.
  • Spices - Try an apple slice, thyme, or cinnamon stick.
  • Ice.

What is a non alcoholic substitute for bourbon in pecan pie? ›

Vanilla extract and apple cider vinegar have often been used to mimic the taste of bourbon in recipes, but you can clearly tell when they are used as substitutes.

How long do you soak raw pecans? ›

Preparation:
  1. Place the pecans and salt in a large glass or stainless steel bowl along with 8 cups of water. The pecans will swell during the soaking process, so you want enough water to keep them covered.
  2. Leave them on the counter to soak for 4-8 hours. ...
  3. After they are done soaking, drain and rinse in a colander.

How long to soak pecans before dehydrating? ›

Soaking Nuts and Seeds Chart
NUT/SEEDSOAKING TIMEDEHYDRATING TEMP.
Pecans7 hours95-100°F
Pine nuts7 hours95-100°F
Pumpkin Seeds7 hours95-100°F
Sunflower seeds7 hours95-100°F
7 more rows

How long do you soak nuts to activate? ›

Activating Nuts: A Step-by-Step Guide
  1. Dissolve salt in water—enough to cover your nuts.
  2. Put the nuts in a large bowl and cover them with the saltwater solution.
  3. Soak nuts for 3 to 24 hours, depending on the type.
  4. Strain and rinse the soaked nuts, then pat them dry.
Apr 28, 2023

How long to soak pecans before planting? ›

To stratify pecans, they should be soaked in tap water for 24 hours to fully hydrate. Vermiculite, available at garden centers, should be wet and allowed to drain overnight. Mix the pecans and moist vermiculite in a labeled plastic bag and place in a cool area 36 F to 40 F.

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