How to make Chocolate Covered Pecans

Nuts and chocolate go together so well and when it’s Christmastime, it seems like they go together even more so. I’m sharing how to make chocolate covered pecans because everyone needs a simple treat in their back pocket to have sitting in a pretty dish during the holidays.

I grew up with my mom buying the most delicious chocolate covered pecans from a small business that specialized in all kinds of nuts, chocolate covered nuts, and turtles.

The nuts were superb and then you slather them in chocolate and it was simply amazing.

I know you can buy chocolate covered pecans at a store, but they just aren’t the same. The nuts don’t seem fresh and the chocolate usually has a dusty coating on them to keep the nuts from sticking.

Some things are worth shelling out the money for at the store and some things are worth making at home yourself.

Chocolate covered pecans fall in the latter category.

My kids always gather around and help me with this task because it is impossible to mess up and they love getting to have a hand in what I’m doing in the kitchen.

Homemaker tip… get a pretty, vintage dish and leave these chocolate covered pecans in them after they’ve had time to harden.

It’s a fun treat for the kids to get to snack on them as the day draws on.

Why you’ll love making Chocolate Covered Pecans

What’s not to love about nuts covered in your preferred chocolate?

• These are so simple to make and use three ingredients- chocolate, pecan halves, and sea salt. It doesn’t get much better than that.
• Plus, you can include your kids and they will enjoy this simple recipe.
• It is a great tradition to start because it is simple and doesn’t require a huge time commitment.
• This is a fast recipe that won’t leave your kitchen a mess.
• You can substitute what you have at home, if you want to. Substitute the nuts or chocolate for something you already have.
• These make a great gift for friends and neighbors and everyone loves them!

Ingredients for Chocolate Covered Pecans

• Pecan Halves- You can use other nuts, such as walnuts or almonds if you wish, but pecans have a subtle sweetness that goes well with the chocolate
• Chocolate- I prefer a dark chocolate because I find that it hardens better than the sweeter chocolates, but use what you have!
• Sea Salt- This brings out the sweetness in the chocolate and creates a more layered flavor
• Avocado oil- I like to put a few tablespoons of oil in the chocolate to make it a bit creamier for dipping. You can use coconut oil, too, but I use avocado oil since I have it on hand.

Making Chocolate Covered Pecans in 3 Easy Steps

One of the best things about this recipe is how fast it is.

You don’t have to be a master in the kitchen to whip this up. You just have to take a bit of time to stir the chocolate as it melts.

• Melt chocolate and avocado oil in a double boiler on medium heat on the stove.
• Dip the pecans in the melted chocolate and lay them on a parchment lined cookie sheet
• Sprinkle sea salt over the chocolate covered pecans.

Can I make Chocolate Covered Almonds?

Yes! If you would rather make chocolate covered almonds instead, you can!

This recipe is super adaptable and can be used to make any chocolate covered nuts.

What is a double boiler?

A double boiler is a two-pot system that uses the steam from the lower pot to melt whatever is in the top pot.

Basically, it is a bowl on top of a small saucepan filled with a few inches of water.

I have a double boiler bowl, pictured above, that fits on top of most saucepans.

I have also used a glass mixing bowl on top of a saucepan before, too, so don’t shy away if you don’t have a double boiler.

Fill a small saucepan with a few inches of water and heat it to medium heat.

Place a heat-friendly bowl on top of the saucepan, fill with the chocolate and avocado oil, and allow the steam from the simmering water to heat the chocolate gently.

The purpose of the double boiler is to make sure the chocolate doesn’t burn.

Where do you buy pecans

Pecans can be found at any local grocery store.

I like to buy in bulk to drive the cost of the nuts down. You can store any that you don’t use in the freezer for up to a year.

We use pecans in pies, overnight oatmeal bake, greek yogurt banana bread and pumpkin sourdough bread.

Can you gift chocolate covered pecans?

Yes! These make a perfect gift for a teacher or neighbor.

Put some of your hardened chocolate pecans in a mason jar with a pretty twine and gift tag.

I recommend gifting them in a jar of some sort so that the pecans don’t get squished and the chocolate stick together.

If they are in a mason jar, they will have room to move and won’t be hard pressed like they would be in a food gift bag.

These are simple, just like my Brown Sugar Body scrub, and people love them!

Tips and Variations for Chocolate Covered Pecans

• Switch up the nuts- Use walnuts, almonds, or peanuts in place of pecans
• Try a different chocolate- You can use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate
• Keep them Set- When you aren’t eating them, keep them in the fridge so that the chocolate stays firm
• Freeze for later- You can put the cured chocolate covered pecans in a ziplock bag and freeze them for later
• Add to a box of cookies- If you take cookies to neighbors during the holidays, these are a great filler for the boxes
• Melt chocolate slowly- If you melt the chocolate too quickly or on a high heat, it can cause discoloration of the final chocolate covered pecans, so heat the chocolate low and slow

Recipe Card for Chocolate Covered Pecans