Bourbon Old Fashioned Glazed Pecans Recipe (2024)

  • Hors D'Oeuvres
  • Stovetop
  • Pecans
  • Christmas Appetizers

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

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

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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 do you 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.

Why are my glazed pecans sticky? ›

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 does soaking pecans do? ›

By soaking nuts and seeds, you minimize or eliminate the nutritional inhibitors and other toxic substances as they are absorbed into the water. Without the inhibitors and toxic substances, the nutrients of the nuts and seeds are more readily available for absorption.

Should you soak pecans before cracking? ›

Some pecan-lovers claim that boiling the pecans before cracking helps to loosen the shells. Bring a large pot of water to the boil on the stove top. Gently add the pecans to the water and leave to boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the pecans and leave to cool before cracking.

How long should pecans soak in water? ›

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.

Is it better to soak or roast nuts? ›

Instead of roasting, soaking raw nuts can make them easier on your stomach. Some naturally occurring enzymes and acids in nuts are broken down during the roasting process making roasted nuts more digestible. To make raw nuts easier to eat, always chew them well and eat in moderation.

How do you get the bitterness out of pecans? ›

Some of the tannin and all of the corky material can be removed by washing the kernels before cooking. To "sweeten" the pecan meats (kernels), simply put the pecan kernels in a bowl and fill with lukewarm water. Stir and tumble the meats in the water for several minutes and you will see the discoloration in the water.

Do glazed pecans go bad? ›

Candied pecans will keep tightly sealed in an airtight container for one to two weeks. They will keep for at least three weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator and may be frozen for several months.

What is the pink mold on my pecans? ›

Pink mold will develop on nuts that are infected with the pecan scab fungus. A white to pink, moldy growth will develop in old scab lesions. If the fungus invades the kernel, it becomes oily and produces a rancid odor.

How many cups is 1 pound of pecans? ›

Measurements and Substitutions

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

What are the three basic ingredients in glaze? ›

A BASE GLAZE is a mixture of these three basic groups: SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA.

What can I substitute for bourbon glaze? ›

Here are 10 of the best substitutes we've found.
  • Vanilla extract. Aquarius Studio/Shutterstock. ...
  • Rum. Simonkr/Getty Images. ...
  • Brandy or cognac. Tuchkovo/Getty Images. ...
  • Peach nectar and apple cider vinegar. Anna Puzatykh/Shutterstock. ...
  • Dark beer. Gmvozd/Getty Images. ...
  • Scotch. Evgeny Karandaev/Shutterstock. ...
  • Almond extract. ...
  • Rye whiskey.
Oct 22, 2023

What are the 4 ingredients in bourbon? ›

The Recipe - Bourbon is distilled from a fermented mash of grain, yeast and water. The “mash bill” must have a minimum of 51% corn. For most bourbons, the average is about 70%. Other grains such as rye, malted barley, and wheat are considered “flavor” grains.

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.

How long to soak pecans to remove phytic acid? ›

“Based on the accumulation of evidence, soaking nuts for eighteen hours, dehydrating at very low temperatures—a warm oven—and then roasting or cooking the nuts would likely eliminate a large portion of phytates.”

How long do pecans need to dry before shelling? ›

Allow the pecans to dry in the shell for a couple of weeks or so. Once the nuts are dry enough, you'll be able to break open the hulls without much effort. Rounding up, always ensure to pick your pecans during the late fall.

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