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21 Amazing Sweet + Savory Pecan Recipes -for the holidays

Stacey Pirtle

by Stacey Updated: Nov 19, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links.

Buttery, rich, crunchy pecans show off their best sweet and savory sides in these amazing southern recipes for holiday dinners, brunches and parties! From ham, cheeseballs, brownies, pie bars and more, this recipe collection has what it takes to carry you through the holidays with the South’s most cherished nut.

4 part collage of sweet and savory southern pecan recipes for holiday dinners and parties.

Pecans are a true southern pantry staple. And in a southern kitchen, they seem to find their way into just about everything from sweets to salads. And why not?

Their subtle flavor is universally flattering; they’re delicious in the raw, heavenly when toasted… It’s no secret there’s nothing that isn’t better with the addition of their nutty goodness and soft, tender crunch.

And since the holidays seem to be the time when pecans really put on a show, this holiday recipe collection gathers some of our most favorite pecan recipes to give you plenty of ways to serve, enjoy and even give pecans this season!

Southern Holiday Pecan Recipes

Honey Spiced Pecans

Get ready for your new favorite pecan snack recipe!  A little smoky, a little sweet, loads of savory and super easy, these salty Honey Spiced Pecans are completely addictive.  Made unbelievably delicious with a simple mixture of honey, garlic, Worcestershire, cayenne & cumin, there’s no way to eat just one!

Southern Pecan Crusted Ham

Easy Southern Pecan Crusted Ham is as delicious as it is gorgeous!  This showstopping stunner bakes up golden brown with a rich brown sugar, molasses, apple juice glaze and buttery pecan crust.  Savory, sweet and holiday perfect, you won’t believe how easy it is to bake up this amazing ham!

Best Ever Pecan Pie Bars

Turn traditional pecan pie into easy dessert bars with this simple Best Ever Pecan Pie Bars recipe! With a quick buttery pecan shortbread crust and a sweet, nutty no-cook pecan pie filling, Pecan Pie Bars take pie at the holidays to whole new level.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping

Enjoy spoonfuls of buttery, fluffy sweet potatoes with a nutty, crunchy brown sugar pecan streusel topping for holidays, special meals and Sunday dinners. A Thanksgiving tradition, Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping is pure sweet potato heaven!

Favorite Southern Pimento Cheese Ball

Our Southern Pimento Cheese Ball is always the most requested appetizer for holidays, tailgates, or weekends!  Rolled in pecans, bacon, chives and punctuated with zesty pimentos, this classic is all about everyone’s southern favorites.  Get ready for a whole new way to enjoy delicious pimento cheese!

Gooey Black Bottom Pecan Pie Brownies

Pecan pie and brownies! It’s a true Southern match straight from Heaven.  Dark, fudgey brownies and toasted pecan pie filling are the perfect combination in these Gooey Black Bottomed Pecan Pie Brownies. Wonderfully rich and decadent, you’ll never spend your dessert calories on a plain ol’ brownie ever again!

Southern Pecan Chicken

Baked chicken is far from boring with pecans!  This gorgeous dish was Inspired by a visit to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  Crusted with pecans and rosemary and covered in a delicious Dijon glaze and sauce, this mouthwateringly elegant chicken says special occasion, but is surprisingly quick & easy to whip up.  But shhh… we’ll let that part be our little secret!

Cranberry Jello Salad

Deliciously sweet and festive, cranberry jello salad is filled with little mandarin orange slices, crushed pineapple, the crunch of chopped pecans and tart whole berry cranberry sauce suspended in a vibrant black cherry jello.

Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes

This old fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe delivers tender, buttery, caramelized sweet potatoes on the stovetop just like your grandmother made them. Simmered low and slow in brown sugar, orange juice and warm spices, this is the perfect southern side dish for almost anything. 

Mamaw's Famous German Chocolate Cake & Frosting

This uncommonly moist and indulgent German Chocolate Cake recipe uses my mamaw’s old fashioned, homemade coconut pecan frosting to create hands down, THE BEST German Chocolate Cake ever!  This classic chocolate cake is the perfect special occasion dessert and the star of every holiday!

Classic Louisiana Pralines

Wonderfully indulgent, Louisiana Pralines are all about buttery southern pecans wrapped in blankets of rich, soft, fudge-like caramel candy made from brown sugar, cream, and butter. A true, easy-to-make southern tradition, Pralines make the perfect Christmas candy!

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie with Molasses Bourbon Whipped Cream

Whether you need the perfect dessert for your Kentucky Derby party, Thanksgiving or all the holidays in between, this Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe is a southern classic that’s always right! Exquisitely indulgent with buttery pecans, rich, dark chocolate and a hint of smooth bourbon, you won’t believe how easy it is to make!

Best Pumpkin Muffins with Easy Streusel Topping

This is the best pumpkin muffin recipe! Light and tender with warm spices, these soft muffins are full of real pumpkin with an easy streusel topping of brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon and pumpkin seeds for a genuine bakery/coffee shop experience at home!

Southern Salted Caramel Cake

This Southern Salted Caramel Cake is guaranteed to be moist. Traditional caramel soaks between the layers.  There are pecans.  And the frosting is a fluffy caramel cream cheese number that feels a bit like a melt in your mouth pralines and cream indulgence.  This caramel cake only gets better with age, hitting its true stride round about day 3.

French Toast Bake with Egg Nog & Cranberry Pecan Topping

This French toast bake is packed with all the flavors of the holiday- soaked in egg nog and topped with loads of cranberries, pecans and orange zest. Wonderfully festive, beautifully indulgent, French Toast Bake with Egg Nog & Cranberry Pecan Topping is a Christmas showstopper, for sure.  But shhh… don’t tell anyone… it’s not hard to make at all!

Cozy Apple Pear Crisp

Cozy up to fall with this easy Apple Pear Crisp! Layers of sliced apples and pears are wrapped in a brown sugar cinnamon filling, full of warm spices and topped with a crunchy oatmeal pecan topping. 

Southern Bread Pudding with Whiskey Cream Sauce

This simple bread pudding recipe makes one of the most heavenly, decadent desserts there is!  With a touch of cinnamon & a sprinkle of pecans, this easy New Orleans favorite only amps up the sweet southern charm with a generous drizzle of rich whiskey cream sauce. 

Hello Dolly Magic Cookie Bars

Make the best Hello Dolly Magic Cookie Bars with this easy recipe that requires zero mixing or kitchen tools!  Loaded with chewy browned coconut, crunchy pecans, oodles of melted chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk and a buttery graham cracker crust, these 7 layers of traditional southern goodness just happen to be the perfect indulgent dessert for any occasion.

Apple Spice Caramel Corn

Coated in an easy caramel that cooks up quick without a candy thermometer, bursting with apple flavor from hot cider drink mix and loaded with pecans, this crunchy Apple Spice Caramel Corn only needs 15 minutes in the oven to create the best homemade snack!

Chocolate Chip Pancake Casserole

Now you can enjoy a warm stack of pancakes just by turning on the oven! This Chocolate Chip Pancake Casserole is a true short cut recipe using frozen buttermilk pancakes soaked in a rich egg custard with vanilla, cinnamon, pecans and an indulgent sprinkle of chocolate chips. Pancakes have never been so easy!

Perfect Coconut Cookies with Pecans

Soft & chewy coconut cookies are loaded with shredded coconut, chopped pecans, a hint of cinnamon and tons of yum!  These easy-to-bake golden beauties are going to be your family’s new cookie craving.

More Pecan Recipes

Pecans aren’t just for the holidays though! This is just a small sampling of the nutty pecan goodness you can find here at Southern Discourse. Click this link, Southern Discourse Pecan Recipes, for everything from dips to salads, breakfasts and snacks. You’ll be enjoying pecans all year long!

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Filed Under: Holidays, Recipe Collections Tagged With: southern classics

Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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  1. Avatar photoPatricia

    November 7, 2022 at 6:34 am

    5 stars
    I love you recipes

    Reply
    • Stacey Pirtlestacey

      November 7, 2022 at 3:30 pm

      Hi, Patricia! I am so glad you are a part of Southern Discourse. You made my day. Thank you so much!

      Reply

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Meet Stacey

Southern Discourse is a place where you can find southern family dishes, along with special recipes & table settings. Bringing connection & friendship back to the table by wrapping everything in the faith & grace from which true hospitality springs! Read More

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