The 2 easiest ways to perfectly toast pecans!
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As the autumn season sets in, we busy bakers find ourselves knee-deep in seasonal recipes that call for sweet spices, pumpkin flavors, and toasted pecan toppings. While some ingredients for these autumn recipes need to be fresh, some other ingredients can actually be prepared ahead of time to make things easier in the long run. To save me from some of this hassle during the busy baking season, I like to keep some of these Toasted Pecans on hand.
Toasted pecans pop up in a lot of traditional autumn recipes so it’s extremely convenient to already have some made and ready to be added to a recipe at any given time. If you find yourself in this same position, then today is your lucky day! I’m going to break down 2 easy methods on how to quickly whip up a batch of delicious toasted pecans and how to properly store them to stretch their shelf life. The 2 easy methods that I’m going to cover for cooking toasted pecans are the oven method and the stovetop method. Ready to make an easy autumn dessert topping? Then let’s get started!
To quickly cook a batch of toasted pecans in the oven, all you need is: some pecans, melted butter, salt, a mixing bowl, spatula, parchment paper, and a baking sheet. Just preheat the oven to 350°F, then mix the pecans and butter together. After coating, spread the pecans out over a parchment-lined baking sheet, then bake in the oven for 7-10 minutes. After cooking, sprinkle the pecans with salt, if desired.
To quickly cook a batch of toasted pecans on the stovetop, all you need is: some pecans, melted butter, salt, a mixing bowl, spatula, and a skillet. Just preheat the skillet over medium heat, then mix the pecans and butter together. After coating, spread the pecans out in the preheated skillet and cook them for 2-5 minutes, while stirring occasionally. After cooking, sprinkle the pecans with salt, if desired.
Toasting Equipment
Since we will be covering 2 toasting methods, I have 2 separate equipment lists to cover. Both lists are extremely short and you pretty much need the same tools for either method, with just 1 or 2 tools swapped out or added. Here’s what you will need for toasted pecans:
For the oven method:
For the stovetop method:
Toasted Pecan Ingredients
Now let’s go over the simple ingredients! You will only need 2 or 3 simple ingredients for these toasted pecans, as 1 ingredient is totally optional but I do recommend it. Luckily, the ingredient list is the exact same for both toasting methods.
For both toasting methods:
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter – melted
- Need perfectly melted butter? Here’s my simple guide on How to Melt Butter quickly.
- 1 tsp salt – optional
How to Perfectly Toast Pecans in the Oven or on the Stove Top
Time to get toasty! For these pecans, I mean. Both of the toasting methods that I’m going to cover are really easy to do and each one is a super simple process. The only thing you should keep in mind when it comes to picking which method will work best for your baking situation is whether you’re making a large or small batch of toasted pecans. For bigger batches, the oven method works better. The stovetop method is best for smaller batches, as you don’t want to crowd the skillet while cooking the pecans and hinder their toasting process. Now that we’ve got that covered, here are 2 ways to make a batch of toasted pecans:
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How to toast pecans with the oven method:
- First, preheat the oven to 350°F and measure out all of the ingredients.
- Then, combine the pecans, melted butter, and, if desired, salt into a glass mixing bowl.
- Use a silicone spatula to completely coat the pecans with the melted butter.
- Next, line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- Then, spread and space out the coated pecans over the parchment paper evenly.
- Bake the coated pecans for 7-10 minutes. Occasionally shake the pan to brown the pecans evenly without burning them.
- After cooking, sprinkle a little salt on top of the toasted pecans, if desired, for a little extra flavor.
- Finally, transfer the toasted pecans to a serving bowl, serve, and enjoy!
How to toast pecans with the stovetop method:
- First, preheat a skillet over medium heat.
- Then, combine the pecans, melted butter, and, if desired, salt into a glass mixing bowl.
- Use a silicone spatula to completely coat the pecans with the melted butter.
- Then, cook the coated pecans in the preheated skillet for 2-5 minutes, until the pecans are just browned and fragrant. Remember to stir occasionally while cooking.
- After cooking, sprinkle the toasted pecans with a little bit of salt, if desired.
- Finally, remove the toasted pecans from the heat and serve immediately.
Storing Toasted Pecans
To store toasted pecans, first, let them cool completely. Then transfer the pecans to an airtight container and keep them at room temp for up to 1 week. For the best toasted pecan storage, keep the pecans in an airtight container or Ziploc bag, and store them either in the refrigerator for up to 9 months or in the freezer for up to 2 years. Always mark the date on the outside of the container to keep up with freshness.
Toasty Serving Ideas
Whichever toasting method you choose, you’re sure to end up with perfectly tasty toasted pecans! These toasty treats are ready to add a flavorful kick to any autumn recipe that you can think of. Need some more delectable serving ideas? Here are some of my other favorite autumn recipes:
- Toasted Coconut Flakes
- Homemade Whipped Cream
- Pumpkin Pancakes
- Coconut Banana Pancakes
- S’mores Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Pie Mug Cake
- Pumpkin Bread
- Caramel Banana Muffins
- Pumpkin Bundt Cake
- Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Toffee Glaze
Toasted pecans
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 tsp salt optional
Instructions
Oven method
- First, preheat the oven to 350°F and measure out all of the ingredients.
- Then, combine the pecans, melted butter, and, if desired, salt into a glass mixing bowl.
- Use a silicone spatula to completely coat the pecans with the melted butter.
- Next, line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- Then, spread and space out the coated pecans over the parchment paper evenly.
- Bake the coated pecans for 7-10 minutes. Occasionally shake the pan to brown the pecans evenly without burning them.After cooking, sprinkle a little salt on top of the toasted pecans, if desired, for a little extra flavor.
- Finally, transfer the toasted pecans to a serving bowl, serve, and enjoy!
Stove top method
- First, preheat a skillet over medium heat.
- Then, combine the pecans, melted butter, and, if desired, salt into a glass mixing bowl.
- Use a silicone spatula to completely coat the pecans with the melted butter.
- Then, cook the coated pecans in the preheated skillet for 2-5 minutes, until the pecans are just browned and fragrant. Remember to stir occasionally while cooking.After cooking, sprinkle the toasted pecans with a little bit of salt, if desired.
- Finally, remove the toasted pecans from the heat and serve immediately.
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