Around here, we tend to give gifts of food to neighbors and friends when it comes on Christmas time. I’ve encountered Candied Pecans quite a bit in my life. I mean, I do live in the middle of pecan country. I can remember sitting on the back deck with my dad on a warm Autumn day shelling pecans. He had some customers that would always bring us big bags full of pecans in the fall. He used them to make caramel pralines. It wasn’t until “The Weasleys” moved in next door when Only was in middle school that I discovered the true delights of this treat. FYI, we called them the Weasleys because their two boys had red hair and then minute Only (who was a bit older) saw them, she hit them with the moniker. Anway, “Mrs. Weasley” would make Candied Pecans every Christmas and bring over a big jar. In return, I took them a pan of my homemade yeast rolls. This made both families happy. Sadly, we lost her several years ago to a rare blood disease, after a long illness. I did get the recipe though!
Candied Pecans
Note: I have no idea how long this actually takes. I just make them. It takes longer for them to cool than it does to make them. 🤷🏼♀️
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
LET’S MAKE IT
1 – Stir ingredients together and cook in a heavy pan until soft ball (235-240° F) stage.
2 – Remove from heat and stir in 3 cups of pecan halves.
3 – Turn onto foil-covered cookie sheet and spread.
4 – Let cool.
5 – Serve and enjoy.
Tip:
1. Store in air-tight jar or container.
The boys finally graduated from college and high school respectively and their dad put the house on the market. It sold in a week. We miss “The Weasleys” but we really enjoy or new neighbors too. This is their first Christmas in the house and yes, I’ll be taking them rolls, too. FYI, they call their place “The Weasley House” after I explained what Only meant when she said, ‘Oh! You guys are the ones who bought the Weasley House.” They laughed and decided that was a cool name. Anyway, these yummy munchies are so easy, even an old Texas Ranger like Cash Munro can make them. He’ll whip up a batch, sit on his front porch with his chair kicked back, boots up on the railing and watch the skies to see if “them fellers” ever come back. “An’ you tell your people, they don’t need no fancy thermometer. Just drop a drip into a cup of water an’ if it forms a soft ball, it’s done.” Which is true. But you have to touch the ball to make sure it’s soft and not hard and you really have to keep a close eye on your syrup to make sure it doesn’t hit hard ball stage because then you just end up with a glob of hard rock candy. LOL You can get to know Cash better by reading MIDNIGHT CLEAR and you can grab the book by clicking on any title mention or pic with the cover. These Candied Christmas Pecans make a perfect snack to munch on while you’re reading. What about y’all? Is there a special food or treat recipe that you make each Christmas to share with family and friends?
Silver James 
My grandmother, aunts had pecan trees in the backyard, so we would picked thrm up and shell them on the kitchen table layed with newspaper.😊
Strange that I eat them raw and in baked goodies, but I dont like pecan pie, its to sweet.
With it only me, traditions aren’t what they use to. But on Mom’s side Christmas Eve when my grandmother/ aunts were still around we had tuna fish sandwiches, chips/ dips, lots of homemade cookies.
Dad’s side was full Turkey dinner and Eggnog in the red punch bowl, with lots of Old Crow, you could smell the liquor, and I would usually pass out on the living room floor 😀 😉.
Thanks for the memory lane drive.
🤗 You’re welcome. There’s something about shelling pecans and snapping green beans that just…bring it home, yeah? I like pecan pie, but in small slices because it IS sweet. Growing up, my family was spaghetti for Christmas Eve dinner, full turky, dressing, etc. mid-afternoon “dinner” on Christmas Day. LG’s family sometimes had ham or brisket instead of turkey. Once all the grandparents and great-grands had passed and it was just the nuclear “us” and the Christmas’s when Uncle Fix-It and Aunt Hooie were with her family, we went straight to the best part–leftovers. LOL Turkey sandwiches and pie. It was only then that I discovered our “core” wasn’t all that fond of dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry sauce/salad, and green bean casserole. The sweet potato casserole (ie. sliced sweet potatoes covered in Karo and brown sugar and marshmellows and baked) was okay but mainly? It was just the turky sandwiches and pie. 🤣 So that’s became or default, Easy peasy.