Sugar and Spice Pecans

If you think it's too late to make homemade Christmas gifts, think again! In less than 30 minutes (including preparation, baking, and cooling), you can have a batch of Sugar and Spice Pecans ready for gift giving. I started making these four years ago, and they are still one of our favorite Christmas treats. Yesterday I made two batches to share with our neighbors. I intended to make cookies and all kinds of other treats, but was too busy (cleaning to get ready for Christmas and our Alamo Bowl party).

Here is a quick semi-illustrated summary (full recipe at the end) -

First, melt 6 tbsp. unsalted butter:

Next, add 4 cups pecan halves to the butter and stir to coat pecans evenly: Then add 6 tbsp. worcestershire sauce, 3-4 tsp. sea salt, and 1 tsp. cayenne pepper; stir to coat. Finally, add all but a few teaspoons of 1/2 cup sugar (reserve some for sprinkling after the pecans come out of the oven). Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, stirring once during baking:
Remove from oven and stir (to prevent clumping); dust with remaining sugar. Stir once more and/or transfer to wax paper to cool completely before serving or packaging:
Sugar and Spice Pecans

4 cups pecan halves
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
6 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
3-4 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. cayenne (red) pepper
1/2 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt butter; in a large bowl, combine pecans with butter, stir to coat evenly. Add worcestershire sauce, salt, and cayenne pepper, stir to coat evenly. Add sugar, reserving 1-2 tsp., stir lightly.

Spread in a single layer on a lightly greased rimmed baking sheet; bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Stir once during baking. When finished baking, stir at least once to prevent clumping; dust with remaining sugar. Transfer to wax paper to cool completely (or stir once or twice more if cooling on baking sheet). Store in an airtight container.
- Adapted from Southern Living