Description
Delicious Sea Salted Praline Pecan Clusters featuring toasted pecans coated in rich caramelized sugar, butter, and cream, enhanced with vanilla and generously sprinkled with sea salt for a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors. These clusters are an easy, crowd-pleasing treat ideal for snacking or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Toasted Pecans
- 1 cup pecan halves
Caramel Mixture
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (plus extra for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Toast Pecans: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the pecan halves evenly on a baking sheet and toast for 6-8 minutes until they become fragrant. Remove and set aside to cool.
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, mix the granulated sugar, unsalted butter, and heavy cream. Stir over medium heat until fully melted and well combined.
- Boil Caramel: Allow the mixture to boil without stirring for 5-7 minutes until it reaches a golden caramel color, indicating the sugars have caramelized properly.
- Add Flavorings: Remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully stir in the vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; the mixture will bubble up, so be cautious.
- Coat Pecans: Add the toasted pecans to the caramel mixture and stir thoroughly to ensure each pecan is well coated with the caramel.
- Form Clusters: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop spoonfuls of the pecan caramel mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving enough space between the clusters.
- Sprinkle Sea Salt: While the caramel is still warm, sprinkle a small amount of additional sea salt on top of each cluster for an enhanced salty-sweet contrast.
- Cool and Set: Let the clusters cool completely at room temperature for 15-20 minutes until the caramel hardens and sets. Once firm, they are ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Ensure you do not stir the caramel while boiling to prevent crystallization and ensure a smooth texture.
- Use fresh pecans for the best flavor and toast gently to avoid burning.
- Store the clusters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For a deeper caramel flavor, consider using dark brown sugar instead of granulated sugar, though this will change the texture slightly.
- Use unsalted butter to precisely control the salt level in the recipe.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Candy
- Method: Toasting, Caramelizing, Cooling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cluster (approximately 30g)
- Calories: 190 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: pecan clusters, praline, sea salt, caramel, nuts, snack, dessert, pecan candy
