Pecan Recipes

• Pecans aren't just great for Thanksgiving dishes and fall - they can be used to spruce up recipes all year. Many of our customers get a large fresh box of pecans right after Harvest, and then freeze for holiday baking and beyond. They last all year and keep their goodness.
• Small pecan pieces are wonderful in banana bread, cookies, German chocolate cake, in salads, sautéed with spinach or asparagus or over trout.
• Professional bakers and chefs around the world agree on one thing - you must start with the freshest pecan product possible. And storing them is just as important. People do not store them correctly, and it really affects the quality of the product. Put your pecans in the freezer, it doesn’t take them long to get to room temperature, and it protects the quality.
• Pecans aren't just great for Thanksgiving dishes and fall - they can be used to spruce up recipes throughout the year.
• Adding spiced, roasted, or sugared pecans on top of a big salad can take it from blah to beautiful.
• Pecan meal (finely ground pecans) is so useful. For my father, using it started as something to try that might not hurt if caught under his dentures, and that did work. However, I use it because it is so versatile. I can substitute it in muffins or cakes to get that nutty flavor and a different texture than adding chopped nuts would be. Toppings are always better with pecan meal, on desserts, fish, meats, and casserole. You name it. Muffins with streusel topping that includes pecan meal are wonderful.

Sweet Pecan Recipe Tips

• If you make a good dessert bread or loaf, they freeze very well for later use. Cut a loaf into slices, and put softened ice cream in the middle and refreeze. Take out a few minutes before serving - this makes a great ice cream dessert!
• Pecan meal is a delicious, healthy way to incorporate more protein and taste in cooking and baking. It’s wonderful in cookies, cakes, and pie crusts. My grandmother got her pecan meal from Sunnyland and taught me how to use it.
• Have any leftover pecans? Dip these gems into leftover homemade chocolate icing - delicious!
• Roasted and ready to throw into salads and cereal or to mix with healthy whole grain crackers and cereals for a snack mix. One slightly decadent use is to take a measuring cup with about 3/4 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips. Melt in the microwave, stopping the cooking when the chips are glossy - a quick stir will turn them to a creamy consistency. Quickly stir in about 1 1/2 cups of toasted almonds (more almonds than you think the chocolate can cover!) and drop them by spoonfuls on a wax paper lined plate or cookie sheet. Chill until firm!
• Using pecans for pumpkin bread or banana bread, or pound cake? Warm leftover bread with a little butter - delicious!

Savory Pecan Recipe Tips

• Pecan meal is fantastic on Alaskan king and sockeye salmon with a tarragon mustard prior to cooking the fish on a charcoal grill.
• Pecan oil is a great flavor profile when used with fried or seared shrimp, scallops and seafood in general.
• "Have leftover pecans or nuts? I freeze a small amount in snack ziploc bags. Makes for a wonderful and healthy snack."