9 Kitchen Gadgets for the Mom Who Loves Cooking

We teamed up with our friends at Vitamix to to share the helpful kitchen tools we’re giving as Mother’s Day gifts this year—including their magical multitasking 4-Piece Immersion Blender Bundle, plus a few other gadgets hand-picked by our editors.

S…

We teamed up with our friends at Vitamix to to share the helpful kitchen tools we're giving as Mother's Day gifts this year—including their magical multitasking 4-Piece Immersion Blender Bundle, plus a few other gadgets hand-picked by our editors.


Some moms can be hard to shop for—really, what do you get the mom who has everything?—but if your mother is a food lover, then your job is actually pretty easy. There are so many amazing food-related gifts out there, and whether your mom is a whiz in the kitchen, a coffee aficionado, or your family’s best baker, we’ve got plenty of options that’ll be right up her alley.

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24 Mother’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Mom

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

Holidays can quickly become overwhelming when you’re stumped on what t…

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

Holidays can quickly become overwhelming when you're stumped on what to give the person you're celebrating as a gift. Regardless if you want it to be something unique and personalized, practical and problem-solving, or tied to an inside joke you share, it's easy to experience decision paralysis while searching for the perfect present.

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11 Kitchen & Home Gifts That’ll Arrive in Time for Christmas

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

We’re officially approaching one week until Christmas (yes, that’s rig…

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

We're officially approaching one week until Christmas (yes, that's right, one week), and my last-minute gift hunting is in full swing. I hate to publicly admit this, but I am notoriously the sibling who shows up to Christmas dinner blaming my empty hands on an unexpected (and entirely unavoidable, of course!) mail delay.

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12 Edible Gifts for the Food Person in Your Life

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

Gifting is one of those things that can quickly turn from fun to str…

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

Gifting is one of those things that can quickly turn from fun to stressful. If you’re anything like me, you want any gift you give to feel personal and intentional, while also being something the recipient wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves. After years of trying to find the right thing to give someone on their birthdays or holidays (and inevitably being worried that they already own it), I finally landed on the perfect gift category: food.

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11 Gift Ideas Inspired by Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year

We teamed up with our friends at Ecco to to share the colorful items topping our holiday gift list this year—including their Textureblock Pot Bag
and Textureblock Pinch Bag, plus a few other vibrant goodies hand-picked by our editors. (Heads up: Food52…

We teamed up with our friends at Ecco to to share the colorful items topping our holiday gift list this year—including their Textureblock Pot Bag and Textureblock Pinch Bag, plus a few other vibrant goodies hand-picked by our editors. (Heads up: Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.)


Every December, Pantone predicts what they think will be the color for the following year, and every December I cross my fingers in hopes that they'll choose one of my two favorites (chartreuse and pink). This year I got my wish; Viva Magenta is the official Pantone 2023 Color of the Year, giving me (and you!) even more reason to lean into bold, bright tones in the new year. And if you're still shopping for folks on your holiday gift list, this stunning shade of berry pink is also a perfect theme for presents. From splashy leather bags by our friends at Ecco to the best and brightest kitchenware, here are the magenta items I'm planning to give as gifts this holiday season.

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14 Best Cookbooks to Give (& Get) This Holiday Season

It was a big year for cookbooks, and in the last few months, we’ve seen an especially strong batch of publications. It’s no secret that cookbooks make great holiday gifts, but with so many titles to pick from, where does one start? I sifted through doz…

It was a big year for cookbooks, and in the last few months, we've seen an especially strong batch of publications. It’s no secret that cookbooks make great holiday gifts, but with so many titles to pick from, where does one start? I sifted through dozens of recently-published books, from quick cocktail guides to near-encyclopedic volumes on bread baking, to find the ones that will make a particularly great gift, whether it's for a family member, coworker, or best friend. It’s a diverse, eclectic selection filled with unexpected flavors, striking photography, and—most importantly—joyous, celebratory cooking.

Photo by Bookshop.org

1. First Generation: Recipes From My Taiwanese-American Home by Frankie Gaw, $30.23

Frankie Gaw’s debut book, First Generation, is filled with the types of delightful recipes that made his blog, Little Fat Boy, a hit in the first place. He fuses Taiwanese techniques and flavors—taught to him by his grandmothers—with the best of his Midwestern upbringing, and the result is wholly original. Think: Lap Cheong Corn Dogs (inspired by the ones from Costco, which Gaw used to eat as an after-school snack), Cinnamon Toast Crunch Butter Mochi, and lots and lots of dumplings.

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Easy Candied Pecans

This candied pecans recipe is easy with classic flavor: sweet, spiced and a little salty! They store well and are…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This candied pecans recipe is easy with classic flavor: sweet, spiced and a little salty! They store well and are extremely versatile.

Candied Pecans

They’re crunchy, irresistibly sweet and salty, and totally classic: try this homemade Candied Pecans recipe! This classic American recipe is ubiquitous for good reason: these little sweet morsels are just that good. This is our master recipe that makes perfectly crunchy, sweet candied pecans with little effort: no food thermometer needed. It’s got just the right amount of cinnamon and sweetness, and it takes a load of will power to stop eating them once you make up a batch. Throw them on salads, over ice cream, or just snack on them plain!

Ingredients for candied pecans

Candied pecans are pecans that are coated in a crunchy sugar coating. They’re typically coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked until crispy. Glazed pecans are similar, but they have a smoother, glossy exterior. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Pecan halves
  • Granulated sugar
  • Light brown sugar: a mix of brown and white sugar yields the best, most developed flavor
  • Cinnamon
  • Ground ginger
  • Vanilla
  • Egg white: egg white helps the sugar and spices adhere to the nuts and it adds a glossy, firm exterior
  • Salt
Candied Pecans

How to make candied pecans

This candied pecans recipe is straightforward, classic, and no fail, in our opinion! After much research, we landed on the baked method as the easiest option. You can use a skillet method for candied pecans, but you’ll need a candy thermometer to measure the sugar temperature. We found a 325 degree Fahrenheit oven is the most reliable and easiest way to make candied pecans.

Even though it’s not as quick as glazed pecans, the baked method is more reliable because there’s no risk of sticky nuts like with the skillet method. So it’s worth the 30 minute bake time for a perfect result! Here are the basic steps (or jump to the recipe below):

  • Mix: Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately, then toss them with the pecans.
  • Spread onto a baking sheet: Spread the nuts in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet.
  • Bake 30 minutes at 325°F, stirring once. When you stir the first time, the nuts will look very foamy: that’s ok! Give them a thorough stir and then continue to cook until they are light brown and hardened.

Also try: Candied Walnuts!

Candied Pecans

Storage info: how long do they last?

These candied pecans store well and are crunchy over the entire storage time! Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • How long do homemade candied pecans last? Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 2 months. Store in a sealed plastic bag or jar.
  • Make sure to fully cool them before storing. They cool in about 10 minutes, after which you can eat them! Before you store them, allow them to cool for 45 minutes so they don’t have an residual moisture.
  • For holiday gifts, store in lidded jars. These candied pecans make great DIY holiday gifts. Make sure to indicate on the jar to store for up to 2 weeks.

A quicker alternative

Want a really quick way to make candied pecans for a salad? You can make this Glazed Pecans recipe on the stovetop. They’re not as reliable stored (since they can turn out sticky), but they work if you’re trying to make a quick salad garnish.

Candied pecans recipe

Ways to use candied pecans

Candied pecans are extremely versatile and work on anything from salads to desserts. Here are some of the top ways to use them:

More pecan recipes

Love this tasty nut? Here are a few more pecan recipes to enjoy:

This candied pecans recipe is…

Vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Candied Pecans

Easy Candied Pecans


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 3 cups

Description

This candied pecans recipe is easy with classic flavor: sweet, spiced and a little salty! They store well and are extremely versatile.


Ingredients

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (12 ounces) pecan halves

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Whisk the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white, water and vanilla extract until foamy. Toss the pecans with the egg white mixture with a spatula until well coated. Add half the sugar mixture and stir with a spatula until fully coated, then add the remaining sugar mixture and stir until coated.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour the nuts in an even layer on top. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the tray from the oven and stir (the nuts will look foamy at this point). Bake for another 15 minutes until lightly browned. Cool about 10 minutes before eating and completely (about 45 minutes) before storing. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 2 months. 
  • Category: Essentials
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Candied pecans, candied pecans recipe, how to make candied pecans, candied pecans recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Here’s What the Food52 Team Is Buying From Our Sitewide Sale

It’s hard to resist a good Black Friday Cyber Monday sale. But combing through a seemingly-endless list of discounts, especially when you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift, can feel daunting. Luckily, we’ve done some of that heavy lifting for y…

It’s hard to resist a good Black Friday Cyber Monday sale. But combing through a seemingly-endless list of discounts, especially when you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift, can feel daunting. Luckily, we’ve done some of that heavy lifting for you.

We asked our team what they’re planning on buying during our Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale, and they delivered. This curated guide is full of gifts for loved ones (or yourself!), practical items for the home, limited edition treats, and more. Just remember: This site-wide 20 percent off sale (yes, that includes already-discounted items) only runs Monday, November 21st through Monday, November 28th—so don’t dilly-dally!

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9 Kitchen Must-Haves That Make Great Holiday Gifts

We’ve teamed up with LifeStraw to make your holiday shopping a cinch this season with a lineup of thoughtfully designed gift ideas for the kitchen—starting with the LifeStraw Home water filter pitcher.

As a food editor who also cooks a lot, I’ve put…

We’ve teamed up with LifeStraw to make your holiday shopping a cinch this season with a lineup of thoughtfully designed gift ideas for the kitchen—starting with the LifeStraw Home water filter pitcher.


As a food editor who also cooks a lot, I've put all sorts of kitchen gadgets, cookware, and culinary tools to the test in my own home. Some didn’t quite meet the mark (the hands-free automatic stirrer was a nice idea, in theory), while others became staples that I simply can’t make a meal without (like my go-to chef’s knife and cutting board).

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15 Affordable Father’s Day Gifts Under $35

Every time I come back to my childhood home to visit my parents, I’m greeted with an array of crafts I’ve made for them over the years—paintings that could only be described as “abstract” and indistinguishable ceramics with visible fingerprints. These …

Every time I come back to my childhood home to visit my parents, I’m greeted with an array of crafts I’ve made for them over the years—paintings that could only be described as “abstract” and indistinguishable ceramics with visible fingerprints. These objects have been given forever homes for no reason other than good ol’ fashioned nostalgia and sentimentality, but their existence also proves that you don’t need to spend a lot on a gift for it to be special.

It may sound cheesy, but the best gifts come from the heart. They’re thoughtful and show the recipient you care—even if they cost less than dinner. With that in mind, we rounded up a slew of great Father’s Day gifts under $35 to show that you can give the father figure in your life something sweet and thoughtful no matter your budget. And hey, if you want to throw in a homemade macaroni necklace too, we don’t blame you.

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