Fire-Roasted Candied Pecans: RECIPE

Like most good southern cooks, I have a recipe for Candied Pecans filed away under Holiday Baking. But it's summertime in The South and heating the house with the oven is the last thing I want to do!   

My sweet tooth is craving those crunchy treats though, and I'm not willing to shell out the bug bucks at the mall so... To the grill I go!   

We fire up the charcoal grill at least five times a week in the summer, and I typically add wet *Applewood Chunks for delectable, smokey flavor. Today's menu includes deer sausage, home grown steak, garlic baked potatoes, and...

Fire-Roasted Candied Pecans!

*TIP!! When soaking wood chunks use just enough liquid to cover them. Wood soaked in a mix of half water/half honey whiskey gives an amazing flavor to food!  


I had intended to trial-run this recipe with pecans but most of my supply has disappeared (into the mouths of babes?) so today I used a combination of 1-1/2 cups pecans and 1/2 cup walnuts. I imagine almonds would be delicous as well.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups pecans
1/2 cup granulated (white) sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a one-gallon ziploc bag, shake well to fully coat the nuts. Spray a sheet of foil with nonstick spray and secure it on grill rack. An upper rack is perfect if you have one as indirect heat roasts the nuts without burning the sugar. Slow roasting is the key to great flavor!
Spread coated pecans in an even layer on the foil. Roast through the syrupy stage and until syrup crystalizes, stirring occasionally.

I was cooking on an open grill for about 45 minutes then I allowed the nuts to cook an additional 45 minutes with the grill closed, for a total of 90 minutes. Had I kept the grill closed for the entire process the nuts probably would have been finished in 45 minutes or less.

Results? Out of this world! Reminds me of Aunt Ruby's Pecan Pie. They are sweet - but not too sweet - and crunchy; mellow  with cinnamon and vanilla and those sultry,  smokey undertones...

These Fire Roasted Candied Pecans would be delightful on oatmeal, ice cream or cinnamon rolls - but I don't think this batch will last that long.   Maybe next time...in fact, I have an idea for a Grown Up version...

But that will be another post~
See you then!