The Secret Ingredient is Love…
After our bellies have been filled to the brim with Thanksgiving turkey, and all that goes with it, we move on to turkey sandwiches. But often, along with the turkey sandwiches, we like to watch the movie Elf, which smoothly moves us from one season to the next.
We like to decorate the tree and the house as soon after Thanksgiving as possible, and the Christmas music goes into full rotation.
Along with the music and decorations, Christmas baking kicks into full gear. I begin to make treats to eat at home, but also to share with friends and family.
Over the years, I have discovered a variety of homemade foods that make great gifts. From nuts to popcorn, you can easily adjust recipes to suit the receiver’s personality and tastes.
This week’s recipe is one of those treats – Cinnamon Sugar Candied Pecans. You can toast up a big batch that will make enough for 2 family-sized gifts, or a bunch of smaller gifts for teachers, postal workers, etc.
You may think pecans are too expensive to use in homemade gifts, but I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Costco has great pecans for a wonderful price. You can buy a 2 lb. bag of beautiful pecan halves for $14.99. That makes this particular recipe cost about a total of $8.00. Not too bad of a deal for homemade love. If you do not have a Costco membership, barter with a friend that does. It’s worth it.
The only mildy complicated thing about this recipe is whipping egg whites. If you have not done this before, do not be intimidated. When separating the eggs, you can use a special tool for this, but you can also crack the egg shell in half and gently roll the egg yolk from one half to the next, keeping the yolk intact in the shells and allow the white to drop into a bowl.
Whipping the egg whites into a frothy foam doesn’t take too long and they will retain their frothiness quite nicely. Mix in your spices and nuts until coated and toast them up on a buttery pan.
Not only are these nuts delicious, they make a wonderful presentation in a gift-able food container. Line a cute container with parchment paper, if desired, and fill with nuts. Wrap in ribbon and add a Christmas ornament for more pizazz.
Stay tuned for more gift-worthy treats!
(Recipe adapted from www.cravingsofalunatic.com)
AuthorMelissa JoyDifficultyBeginnerPreheat oven to 300º and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Separate the egg whites into a large bowl and whip into a fluffy foam.
Add the cinnamon, salt and sugar to the egg whites and gently fold it all in until combined.
Fold in the pecans and mix until coated evenly.
Melt butter and spread onto the parchment lined pan.
Spread the coated pecans onto the buttered pan and spread out evenly.
Bake the nuts for 10 minutes, remove and stir.
Bake for 8 more minutes, remove and stir.
Bake for 7 minutes, remove and stir, then allow to cool.
Remove cooled nuts from the pan and store in an airtight container.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 300º and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Separate the egg whites into a large bowl and whip into a fluffy foam.
Add the cinnamon, salt and sugar to the egg whites and gently fold it all in until combined.
Fold in the pecans and mix until coated evenly.
Melt butter and spread onto the parchment lined pan.
Spread the coated pecans onto the buttered pan and spread out evenly.
Bake the nuts for 10 minutes, remove and stir.
Bake for 8 more minutes, remove and stir.
Bake for 7 minutes, remove and stir, then allow to cool.
Remove cooled nuts from the pan and store in an airtight container.
