Easy Homemade Chocolate Covered Pecans Recipe

Reasons you will love this recipe:

1. This easy recipe for homemade chocolate pecans requires just four simple ingredients and a few minutes of your time.
2. Packaged in a cellophane bag, gift tin, or mason jars, like my Dark Chocolate Billionaires and Chocolate Covered Oreos, they make a perfect hostess gift and a great gift for your family members or the chocolate lovers in your life.
3. Chocolate, plus buttery, salty roasted pecans, equals a sweet treat!

Ingredient notes and substitutions:

• Pecans – rich, buttery roasted pecans are the star of this show. Purchase the freshest high-quality pecan halves you can find. The pecans and melting wafers are key ingredients.
• Unsalted butter – is added to the pecans as they roast, adding even more flavor.
• Kosher salt – brings out and accentuates the natural nutty flavors of the roasted pecans, making them taste even more savory and delicious.
• Chocolate melting wafers – melt quickly and evenly for a smooth glossy look on your pecans. You can choose between velvety rich milk chocolate wafers, or decadent dark chocolate wafers.

Complete measurements are in the printable recipe card below.

How to make this Chocolate Covered Pecans Recipe:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Pour the pecan halves onto a large, rimmed baking sheet and spread out evenly. Top with the cubes of butter. Roast for about 5 minutes, then remove the pecans from the oven and use a spatula to turn them over to ensure they are evenly coated with the melted butter.

3. Sprinkle the salt over the pecans. Return to the oven and roast for an additional 5-6 minutes. Taste at 5 minutes to see if they are done; if not, put them back in the oven for an additional minute or so.

4. Remove the pecans from the oven and let them cool completely.
5. Place the wafers in a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds on medium or your defrost setting. Stir well and continue to microwave in 30-second intervals until the chocolate is melted and smooth. 
6. Add a handful of the pecan halves to the melted chocolate and stir around to ensure they are entirely coated. Remove pecans one at a time with kitchen tweezers, a slotted spoon, small tongs, or a fork, letting excess drip off. Place the coated pecans on parchment or wax paper to cool and harden. This takes about 30 minutes.

7. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

How to tell when roasted pecans are done:

Ensuring your pecans are roasted correctly is the most complicated thing about this recipe. Keeping a close eye on them is essential, as they can go from perfectly roasted to overdone in seconds. Overdone pecans will be bitter, and even a decadent coating of chocolate can’t cover that up.

Fresh pecans will take longer to roast than older pecans because they have higher moisture content. Also, larger pecans will take longer to cook than smaller ones. Determining when pecans are done involves watching them carefully for changes in their appearance and smell.

If you start to smell a toasty, nutty aroma in your kitchen, it’s a good indication that they are done or within seconds of being done. Also, they will turn a slightly darker shade of brown. It’s a barely perceptible change, but it’s there!

Serving suggestions:

Put this simple treat in a bowl as a delicious snack for yourself or your guests during the holiday season. They are also perfect for munching on while watching a movie or as a sweet indulgence during family gatherings. I always have a bag of them in my freezer, ready to whip out at a moment’s notice.

Or, you can package them in decorative boxes or jars, tied with a ribbon, to create homemade gifts for special occasions. Chocolate Covered Pecans make excellent edible gifts for holidays, birthdays, or as a thank-you gesture. I put them in cute Santa containers for Christmas and gave them as a tasty gift to my foodie friends.

During the holidays, include Chocolate Covered Pecans on a dessert table or on a charcuterie board along with cheeses, fruits, and crackers.

Recipe variations:

• As a finishing touch, lightly sprinkle sea salt over the pecans before the chocolate sets up.
• Instead of pecans, use another type of nut, including almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, or walnuts.
• Melting wafers come in milk, dark, and white chocolate flavors. Melted white chocolate is a beautiful thing. Feel free to change things up and use your favorite flavor.

How to store them:

Transfer the chocolate covered pecans to an airtight container and store them in a cool, dry place at room temperature for up to a month.

You can freeze them if you want to store them for an extended period. Place them in an airtight container or resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to three months. When ready to enjoy them, allow them to come to room temperature before eating.

Recipe FAQs:

Expert tips and tricks:

Make sure you use a clean, dry bowl to melt your chocolate. Water and chocolate don’t play well together, and if your bowl is wet, it could cause your chocolate to seize.

Kitchen tweezers are my new favorite tool in the kitchen. I had no idea how much I would use them until I got some, and they work perfectly in this recipe. I highly recommend getting at least one 12-inch pair if you don’t already have some.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and give it a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones; I hope you come back soon!