Spiced Vanilla Pecans

Total Time: 13 hrs 31 mins Preparation Time: 13 hrs Cook Time: 31 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb pecan halves
• 6 cups water
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar (see note)
• 3 tablespoons sweet butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup (light preferably)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (splurge on the real stuff)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (i use my microplane zester)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Recipe

• 1 note: if you don't have superfine sugar (in britspeak: caster sugar) then you can whirl regular granulated sugar in the food processor for about 5 minutes.
• 2 you can skip this and just use granulated sugar, but please make sure it dissolves completely before leaving the pecans to sit.
• 3 in a large pot, boil the pecans in the water for 1 minute.
• 4 drain well.
• 5 while they're still hot, toss them in a large bowl with the sugar, melted butter, corn syrup and vanilla extract.
• 6 mix well and let the nuts sit, covered, for at least 12 hours, up to 24 hours.
• 7 preheat the oven the 325 degrees f.
• 8 put the nuts on a cookie sheet (make sure it's rimmed so the nuts don't fall off).
• 9 bake the nuts for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
• 10 the nuts should brown nicely.
• 11 i know, they are brown already, what i mean is that they should be a little darker, and crisp looking.
• 12 however, they won't actually get crisp until they cool.
• 13 meanwhile, combine all the spices in a large bowl.
• 14 the minute, the actual instant that the nuts are done, add them to the spices and toss them until they are well covered.
• 15 pat the nuts back down on the cookie sheet in a single layer, so they can cool without clumping together.
• 16 cool thoroughly, and store in an airtight container.