Day 4: Orange-Glazed Pecans

So yes, I realize that pecans are not really a cookie. (I'm already bending the rules on my challenge and it's only Day 4!)

But, every year when my mom and I make up our cookie tins for friends and family, we always include a small muffin cup full of these crunchy sweet pecans. The cookie tin is not complete without them! So in my opinion, they can definitely be considered a "cookie" for the 25 Days of Christmas Cookies.

These nuts are perfect for snacking through the holiday season. They're wonderful sprinkled on a warm bowl of oats in the morning, or atop a chilly bowl of ice cream as an after-dinner treat. Combine them with some cereal and dried fruit for a make-shift trail mix. They would also make a perfect hostess gift, or a gift for that person who's always so difficult to shop for.

Gift-ing is the exact reason I made these pecans today! Today, my Business Man took his team members and their spouses/significant others to see The Christmas Carol at the Stranahan Theatre in Toledo and out to dinner at Nagoya's for their office Christmas celebration.

We had gotten some beautiful Vera Bradley ornaments as a Christmas gift for the ladies who work for my Business Man. However, we didn't want their men to feel left out when it was time to open presents! So, I thought what could be better than a mug-full of glazed pecans?

We put the nuts into Ohio State mugs, as is fitting for where we live. And they loved them!

The perfect "Man-gift".

Without further adieu... here's the recipe!

Orange-Glazed Pecans

Ingredients

1 cup packed brown sugar
⅓ cup orange juice
4 cups pecan halves

Method

Preheat oven to 350*F.

Line a 15x10-inch jelly roll pan with foil, and grease the foil with butter.

In a bowl, combine brown sugar and orange juice until smooth. Stir in pecans.

Spread onto foil-lined jelly roll pan as evenly as possible. Bake in preheated oven 10-13 minutes, stirring occasionally until bubbly and fragrant.

Remove from oven and immediately dump nuts onto another foil-lined, greased baking sheet. Move quickly, because they will stick! When set, break into pieces/individual nuts.

Enjoy! (And have fun cleaning up the pans... bwa ha ha...)

Question: What's your favorite type of nut?

Mine is pecans, all the way! (At least this time of year anyways...)

Comments

The Roeschley's said…

Made these...they were done in no time and taste AMAZING. Thanks so much for the recipe!!!!

December 12, 2010 at 11:32 PM

Sara said…

I'm glad you liked them! Thanks for letting me know how they turned out!

December 13, 2010 at 8:33 PM

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