50 Pecan Recipes You'll Love To Make

Whether you say pee-can or peh-kahn, these pecan recipes are some of the best we've ever tasted.

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Updated on June 18, 2024

Southern Living Kentucky Bourbon Balls on platters to serve — Photo:
Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

However you say it, these pecan recipes are some of the best we've ever tasted. From chocolate pies and cookies, to soups and salads, there is a way to use pecans in every meal of the day.

Pecans add sweet, buttery, nutty flavoring to any dish. Growing naturally in North America (and abundantly across the South), pecans incorporate seamlessly into many desserts, like the classic Thanksgiving treat: pecan pie. There are also plenty of ways to use this nut in savory dishes, from pasta dishes to a flavorful crust on chicken or pork. Here are some new and timeless pecan recipes you need to try.

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Kentucky Bourbon Balls

Southern Living Kentucky Bourbon Balls on platters to serve — Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

No-bake candies like these are easy edible gifts for guests and also make for a super impressive dessert buffet option.

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Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies — Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

See if your holiday guests can guess which baking ingredient these rich cookies lack—we'll bet you they can't. These flourless creations make a brownie-like cookie, which is light and airy but still crispy on the outside. These will be your new favorite cookie between the toasted pecans and gooey chocolate.

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Homemade Turtles

Southern Living Homemade Turtles ready to serve — Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Made with a foolproof caramel, these homemade pecan candies are extra easy to make.

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Texas Trash Pie

Texas Trash Pie — Jessica Furniss

The title "trash pie" might not sound the most appetizing, but trust us when we say it's delicious. You can't really go wrong with chocolate and pecans anyhow.

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Butter Pecan Scones

Southern Living Butter Pecan Scones ready to serve on a serving board — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Wake up to the smell and flavor of butter pecans with these easy breakfast scones.

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Rosemary-Brown Butter Pecans

Southern Living Rosemary-Brown Butter Pecans in a bowl to serve — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

The warmth of brown butter married with earthy rosemary is an easy way to fancy up pecans for snacking with cocktails or taking on a road trip.

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Chocolate-Pecan Chess Pie

Chocolate-Pecan Chess Pie served a la mode — Photo: James Ransom; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Classic pecan pie gets its signature ooey-gooey filling from a combination of sugar, eggs, and corn syrup, but this twist on the traditional Thanksgiving dessert uses the custard base of a chess pie to achieve a similarly sticky and sweet filling.

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Pecan Pralines

Pecan Pralines — Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Torie Cox

Try out our recipe for authentic Texas-style pralines that are creamy and crispy, but certainly not the chewy.

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Pecan Kisses

Pecan Kisses — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

With only four ingredients in these Pecan Kisses, the nut’s buttery, sweet flavor is on center stage.

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Red Cabbage With Cider And Pecans

Red Cabbage with Cider and Pecans recipe on a serving platter with serving forks on a green table with napkins. — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

The crunchy candied pecans on top of this cabbage add extra sweetness, as well as nuttiness and contrasting texture.

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Bourbon-Pecan Brown Sugar Fudge

Bourbon-pecan brown sugar fudge — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

For the best results, we suggest using a candy thermometer to get consistently rich and nutty fudge, batch after batch.

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Divinity Candy

Divinity Candy — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Similar to nougat, this old-school candy is made from whipped egg whites, sugar, and corn syrup. Some variations add chopped fruit or nuts, but this recipe tops the confection with a pecan halve for a bit of nutty crunch.

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Praline-Pecan French Toast

A slice of praline pecan french toast on a plate — Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

This simple bake is great for the holidays while entertaining family overnight. The combination of maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and toasted pecans makes this decadent French toast irresistible. Prepare it the night before to allow enough time for it to chill.

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Candied Pumpkin Spice Pecans

Candied Pumpkin Spice Pecans — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

If you can't get enough pumpkin spice flavor every fall, try using the blend in this recipe for candied pecans. These nuts also make a great topping on pumpkin desserts.

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Chicken Salad With Grapes And Pecans

Chicken Salad With Grapes and Pecans on a plate with leaf lettuce and crackers — Will Dickey

This chicken salad recipe only gets better as it sits, so feel free to make a big batch to enjoy all week long.

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Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans

Pumpkin-Spice Bundt with Brown Sugar Icing and Candied Pecans — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

We can already picture this fancy Bundt cake on your Thanksgiving dessert table. Make sure the icing is still warm when you spoon it over the cake for the smoothest texture and most impressive presentation. The candied pecans are actually the icing on top of this cake.

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Caramel Pecan Tart

Southern Living Caramel Pecan Tart baked and ready to serve — Will Dickey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

The great thing about this pecan tart is that it's equally welcome at a holiday gathering or a summer picnic. It looks elevated and decadent but is incredibly straightforward to make. Remember to toast the pecans and top the final result with whipped cream, ice cream, or praline sauce.

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Fresh Fig, Pecan, And Orange Crostata

Southern Living Fresh Fig, Pecan, And Orange Crostata — Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

When figs are in season, grab a few pints and make this gorgeous galette with pecans added to the filling for crunch.

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Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie

Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie — Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood

Once you've made a pecan pie in a cast-iron skillet, you may never return to a pie plate. Press a refrigerated pie crust into the skillet, sprinkle with sugar, top with the pecan mixture, and bake. Serving it in the skillet is easy and makes the dish even more Southern.

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Punch Bowl Cake

Southern Living Punch Bowl Cake ready to serve with bowls and spoons beside — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Pecans serve as a wonderful crunch contrast to the creamy, silky textures of cake, pudding, and fresh fruit.

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Creamy Grape Salad With Pecans

Creamy Grape Salad With Pecans in a bowl with a fork and linen — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Pecans add crunch and a hint of nutty flavor to this delicious fruit salad. Brown sugar, fresh grapes, sour cream, cream cheese, vanilla, and sugar combine for a flavorful side dish. For best results, chill overnight.

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Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts

Turkey Pot Pie Casserole Recipes — Tina Cornett

Turkey pot pie is the holiday and seasonal-inspired version of the classic chicken pot pie. The cranberry-pecan crust gives this casserole a unique sweet and savory flavoring. Make this casserole, freeze it, and bake it when you have unexpected holiday guests.

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Mama's German Chocolate Cake

Mama's German Chocolate Cake — Photo: Jennifer Davick

Pure Southern perfection! Layers of moist German chocolate cake and sweet-and-nutty Coconut-Pecan Frosting make this dessert an instant favorite. The combined coconut, pecan, and vanilla flavors make this decadent treat even sweeter.

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Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans

Apple and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans — Sheri Giblin

This delicious fall salad has hints of nutty flavoring from the crunchy pecans. Combine maple bacon, fresh fruit, and Gorgonzola cheese to add flavor to this unique dish. Adding a Cranberry Vinaigrette makes it even more delicious!

Get The Recipe!

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Fried Pecan Okra

Fried Pecan Okra — Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

In under half an hour and with six ingredients, you can make an appetizer that combines two classic Southern staples. This recipe calls for frozen okra, so you can make it any time throughout the year. Don't forget to toast the pecans because that gives the coating a rich flavoring.

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Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans

Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans — Greg DuPree

This Brussels sprout slaw is perfect for any time of the year. The crisp apples provide a freshness while the toasted pecans help create an earthy quality to this dish. Adjust the amount of honey in this recipe to match your preferences.

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Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

Spiced Pecan Pie Bars — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Serve these easy to make bars with a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra decadent dessert.

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Pecan Pie Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

Pecan Pie Cake — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners

If half the family wants pie and the other wants cake, you can combine the flavors of both into this beautiful dessert.

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Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites — Jennifer Davick

Everything is a little cuter when it's smaller, right? Try these mini pecan pies out and you'll see what we mean.

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Mini Chocolate-Pecan Pies

Mini Apple-Cinnamon Pies, Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies, and Mini Chocolate-Pecan Pies — David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Even when you're too stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy dessert, there's always room for a two-bite treat like these Mini Chocolate-Pecan Pies.

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Buttery Toasted Pecans

Buttery Toasted Pecans — Photo: Iain Bagwell

Ready in just 35 minutes, the hardest part of this quick appetizer recipe may be patiently waiting while the nuts are roasting, especially as the warm, nutty aroma fills your home.

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Best Pecan Pie

Best Pecan Pie — Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

We don't call this recipe the best for nothing. It comes from Oxbow Bakery in Palestine, Texas, which is famous for legendary pecan pies.

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Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake

Vanilla Custards with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce and Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell

A plain cheesecake is already a pretty impressive dessert, but with a homemade bourbon praline topping, you have a showstopper on your hands.

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Erika Kwee's Spiced Carrot Cake with Candied Pecans and Caramel Sauce

Erika Kwee's Spiced Carrot Cake with Candied Pecans and Caramel Sauce — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

This may not look like a carrot cake on first glance, but this squared up version has all the same flavor, plus a little spice, and for a final finish, candied pecans and caramel sauce on top.

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Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves

Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves Recipe — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Start your day off in the sweetest way with this caramel-topped monkey bread. You can make this recipe a day ahead, store it in the refrigerator overnight, and bake it when you're ready to serve. Use frozen yeast roll dough and add sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and chopped toasted pecans for a spice-filled breakfast treat.

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Pecan Snowball Cookies

Pecan Snowball Cookies — Micah A. Leal

It wouldn't be Christmas without this classic (and easy to make) pecan cookie.

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Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Double-Decker Pecan Cheesecake Pie Recipe Image — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Not that a pecan pie on its own isn't impressive, but this two-layer pecan cheesecake pie takes things to the next level.

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Pecan Pie Brownies

Pecan Pie Brownies - Southern Living — Molly Bolton

These pecan brownies will disappear in minutes at any gathering.

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Party Coffee Cake

Southern Living Party Coffee Cake in a baking dish cut and ready to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Here's a coffee cake to add to your baking list. This crumbly coffee cake is the ideal sweet for a gathering of friends. The pecans in the topping get wonderfully toasted in the oven and add a nice crunch.

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Pecan Spinwheel Bread Pudding

Southern Living Pecan Spinwheels Bread Pudding finished recipe in a dish ready to serve. — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

A swirled snack gets new life as this decadent bread pudding.

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