These Pecan Caramel Candies are a simple homemade treat for any time of year! With just four simple ingredients, you can whip up a new batch anytime the craving strikes.
These pecan caramel clusters are the perfect easy recipe for any sweet tooth. The chocolate coating with the creamy center is a staple during the holiday season, but also perfect for an anytime snack.
I make this homemade candy all the time for a weekend treat, but they're also easy enough to make a large quantity and give as gifts. The great news is that you can match a batch to share while still keeping some of these sweet treats for yourself.
Be sure to try my Pecan Bark and this Old Fashioned Pecan Brittle for two of my other top picks.
Ingredients
- Pecan halves - Make sure that they're roasted and salted.
- Caramels - You can use your favorite brand.
- Chocolate chips - I like to use semisweet chocolate chip morsels for the outer coating.
- Coarse salt - To put on top of the caramel bites.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Pecan Caramel Candies
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add parchment paper to a baking sheet.
Step One: Put 3 pecan halves into a cluster and put a caramel on top.
Step Two: Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the caramel is melted. Let it cool for 10 minutes.
Step Three: Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. For best results, stir every 15 seconds to ensure the chocolate doesn't burn. Drop a spoonful of the melted chocolate on the top of each piece.
Step Four: Add coarse salt, let it set to harden.
Top Tip
You can also dip the clusters in the melted chocolate if you want, but just be careful, as they're fragile. Place the cluster on a fork, then dip it into the melted chocolate. Let the excess drip off before placing it back on the baking sheet to harden.
Substitutions
- Sea salt - If you want to use sea salt on top of the chocolate, you can. You can also choose to leave it off completely.
Variations
- Chocolate - Swap out the type of chocolate used and try dark chocolate or white chocolate instead. You can even do a combination or a trio and do all three.
- Bark - Put the pecans close together in a single layer on the cookie sheet, top with melted caramel, and then drizzle with chocolate.
- Homemade caramel - Feeling adventurous? Go ahead and whip up some homemade caramel to use in this. Choose a recipe and cook to the firm ball stage.
See this Caramel Mousse for another sweet caramel treat.
Equipment
To make these pecan clusters, you'll need a microwave mixing bowl, a rubber spatula, a baking sheet, and parchment paper.
Storage
The great thing about making these caramel candies is that once they're done, they're simple to store. Place them in an airtight container or bag at room temperature, and they're fine to keep that way for days.
I don't recommend keeping them in the refrigerator or freezer because the caramel will harden.
Common Questions
Absolutely. I love using pecan pieces, but you could easily use cashews or even walnuts instead. Peanuts would be great and an easy swap, too. Just make sure you use enough of the smaller nuts so they form a good base for the caramel.
If you're using caramel cubes, they should be nice and chewy. The longer that they sit, they may get a bit firmer, but overall, they're a sweet, chewy treat. If you freeze them and take a bite right out of the freezer, they'll be hard and crunchy because the caramel will be frozen.
You can. They're super easy to prepare ahead of time. Just be sure to store them in a proper container or bag so they stay fresh for serving or snacking.
These are my go-to for a holiday party! Just put them on a platter and have them on the table for guests. They're so easy to grab and snack on as people walk by. You can also put little boxes nearby for people to package up a couple to take home. The original recipe won't make enough for leftovers, but you can easily double or triple it for that option.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Pecan Caramel Candies
Ingredients
- 36 pecan halves roasted salted
- 12 caramels unwrapped
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips melted
- coarse salt optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place clusters of 3 pecan halves.
- Place a caramel on top of each cluster.
- Place into the oven. Bake for 10 minutes or until the caramels melt.
- Let cool for 10 minutes.
- Drop a spoonful of melted chocolate on top of each.
- Sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired. Let set.
Nutrition
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