Diane's Christmas Pecans

By miss5elements

Recipe created by Diane Morgan
Oprah.com | November 11, 2008

This recipe is one of 13 easy-to-make treats from

Stir! Mix! Bake! Give!

Ingredients

• 2 egg whites at room temperature (do not use refrigerated liquid egg whites)
• 1/8 tsp. kosher or sea salt
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 pound shelled large or jumbo pecan halves
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from oprah.com

Preparation

Step 1

Position a rack in the center of the oven. Preheat oven to 275°. Have ready a large, rimmed baking sheet, preferably a light-colored nonstick pan for easier cleanup.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Add salt and beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. In a separate bowl, pour vanilla extract over brown sugar. Then add sugar mixture, 2 tablespoons at a time, to egg white mixture, beating on high speed to form a strong, shiny meringue (about 10 minutes). Remove bowl from mixer and use a rubber spatula to gently fold in pecan halves until well coated.

Using a rubber spatula, spread nuts over butter, without stirring, to form an even layer without deflating meringue.

Bake nuts for 20 minutes. Remove pan from oven and stir nuts with a spatula so that nuts at center of pan move to outer rim and those at edges move closer to center. Bake nuts for 15 minutes longer and stir again. Continue baking another 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes, until nuts are separated, have absorbed butter, and are beautifully browned but not dark brown.