Butter Pecan Crunch Candy — a light buttery flavor blended with pecans and coconut, makes a wonderful homemade food gift.
The first cool morning of the season finally arrived and it felt like fall at last. After a stretch of 80-degree days, I turned off the air conditioning and welcomed cooler weather, sweaters and boots. That change in the air always puts me in the mood to make candy.
I love giving homemade candy for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s a personal, simple gift that ships well, stores nicely, and almost everyone enjoys. Candies that are poured, cooled, and cut are especially satisfying because the shapes don’t have to be perfect — you can cut a variety of sizes for nibblers and for those who want a bigger treat.
This Butter Pecan Crunch sets up as a firm candy — not brittle enough to risk your teeth, but not soft like chocolate bark or caramel. It delivers a rich, buttery caramel flavor with plenty of pecans, while shredded coconut adds extra texture and a subtle flavor boost.
Butter Pecan Crunch
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray it with cooking spray. Spread the shredded coconut evenly in the center of the pan, leaving 2–3 inches of empty parchment around the edges. Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the coconut and set aside.
- In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the sugar, water, corn syrup and salt.
- Stirring continuously, cook over medium heat until the mixture boils and reaches the soft crack stage (about 290°F or 143°C on a candy thermometer), approximately 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and carefully pour the hot mixture over the coconut and pecans, spreading it evenly. Let cool completely, then cut into pieces. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Always use caution when making candy; the hot sugar mixture can cause serious burns. This recipe is adapted from ChocolateChocolateandmore.com.
Using a reliable candy thermometer is important for success with this recipe so you can accurately reach the soft crack stage.
Looking for more candy ideas? Here are a few other homemade treats that ship and gift well:
Cream Cheese Mints
Homemade Caramels
Strawberries and Cream White Chocolate Bark
Homemade Peppermint Patties
Easy Chocolate Fudge
Peanut Brittle