Recipes with pecan halves

Texas pecan cheese balls with sharp cheddar, butter, paprika, and a whole pecan half hidden inside each one. A savory bite-sized appetizer baked golden.

Experimentation led Mary Ann Zarczynski of Franklin to create this recipe, which she described as "very rich and delicious."

Sticky pecan bars with a buttery shortbread crust and gooey brown sugar-corn syrup filling loaded with pecan halves. Like pecan pie in bar form, easier to make and easier to share.

Orange-glazed pecans with fresh orange juice and zest. Candied nuts simmered in citrus syrup until coated, ready in 35 minutes.

Old-fashioned bourbon fruitcake packed with golden raisins, candied cherries, pineapple, citron, pecans, and coconut. Baked low and slow in a tube pan for rich, dense results.

Brown sugar cookie dough balls pressed onto pecan halves arranged like tiny turtle legs, then baked and topped with glossy chocolate frosting. Adorable, crunchy, and completely addictive holiday cookies.

Southern jam cake with blackberry jam, buttermilk, raisins, and pecans baked low and slow in three spiced layers. Topped with a boiled cream frosting that drips down the sides just like it should.

Praline macaroons from Mississippi: chewy meringue cookies built on whipped egg whites, brown sugar, and toasted pecans, each one crowned with a whole pecan half. Crisp shell, soft center, pure Southern bakery counter.

Dense, fudgy chocolate pecan cake spiked with Irish cream liqueur and espresso, crowned with a glossy chocolate glaze and chocolate-dipped pecans. A showstopper for 10.

Dense fudge pecan cake with cocoa, chopped pecans, and a glossy chocolate-cream royal glaze. Baked in a springform pan, chilled until firm, then glazed.

Microwave pecan brittle made in about 10 minutes with no candy thermometer needed. Crunchy, buttery, and light with baking soda creating that classic honeycomb texture.

Homemade caramel turtle candies with pecan halves, melted caramels thinned with whipped topping, and a semi-sweet chocolate shell. Three ingredients, no thermometer.

Easy caramel chocolate sticky buns: a four-ingredient hack using refrigerated biscuits stuffed with chocolate kisses and baked over coconut-pecan frosting that turns into instant caramel when inverted.

Traditional holiday fruitcake loaded with raisins, currants, citron, and pecans, enriched with sherry, honey, and orange marmalade. Baked low and slow, best after aging.

Three-layer German chocolate cake with mashed potatoes in the batter for a tender crumb, German milk chocolate, and a cooked pecan-coconut frosting that's stirred for 12 minutes until golden.

Baked Brie with cranberry chutney made from fresh cranberries, brown sugar, lime juice, and pickled jalapeno, spooned over the wheel and baked until melting. A holiday appetizer that's ready in 30 minutes.

Coffee cake muffins with a cinnamon-pecan brown sugar streusel baked inside and on top. All the flavor of coffee cake in individual portions, ready in 30 minutes.

Sweet potato pie with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a flaky shell, finished with a decorative ring of pecan halves and a dollop of whipped cream. The yogurt in the custard adds tang and lift that traditional milk-only versions miss.

Topsy turvy apple pecan pie flips out of its pan like a tarte tatin, revealing a caramelized pecan-and-brown-sugar top crust over cinnamon-spiced Granny Smith apples. A Thanksgiving showstopper.

Light pumpkin praline cheesecake: low-fat cottage cheese stands in for cream cheese, wheat germ replaces graham crumbs in the crust, and pumpkin pie spice carries the flavor. Topped with maple-drizzled pecans.

Classic pecan pralines, the New Orleans candy with toasted pecans suspended in a creamy brown sugar candy. Six ingredients, no nuts skipped, classic Cajun holiday treat.

Chocolate pecan pie with melted semisweet chocolate and butter swirled into a classic corn syrup filling. Rich, fudgy, and loaded with pecan halves in a flaky pastry shell.

Old-fashioned date and pecan cake baked low and slow in a tube pan. More fruit and nuts than batter, with a dense, rich texture similar to fruitcake.

Rum pecans candied with dark rum, instant coffee, cinnamon, and sugar in one saucepan. Only 3 ingredients beyond the nuts and ready in 20 minutes flat.

Apple pecan coffee cake made easy with baking mix, studded with cinnamon-spiced apples and crunchy pecans, then drizzled with vanilla glaze. A quick brunch cake with a splash of whiskey.

Old fashioned pineapple upside down cake baked in a cast iron skillet with a caramelized brown sugar and butter base, pineapple rings, and pecan halves. Served warm with whipped cream.

Adorable brown sugar pecan cookies shaped like tiny turtles with pecan halves for legs and heads. Frosted and irresistible, these bake up in about 10 minutes.

Buttery cookies hiding a whole Andes mint inside, wrapped in soft dough and topped with a pecan half for surprise chocolate-mint magic in every bite.

No-bake frozen Oreo ice cream cake layered with vanilla ice cream, whipped topping, pecans, and chocolate syrup. Make it ahead and slice straight from the freezer.

Upside-down muffins with pecans and melted margarine in the bottom that become a praline topping when inverted after baking.

A vegan butternut squash pie with soy milk and agar flakes, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, garnished with pecans and a barley malt glaze. An egg-free and dairy-free twist on the classic holiday pie.

Fudgy, cocoa-rich brownies loaded with pecan halves and chocolate chunks. Butter melted right into the cocoa gives these a dense, truffle-like center with a crackly dry top. Game day gold.

New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream with white chocolate, pecans, walnuts and almonds. Homemade chocolate ice cream recipe inspired by the famous flavor.

Crumbled cornbread tossed with sautéed apples, fresh sage, and toasted pecans creates this Southern-style stuffing where sweet and savory dance together inside your holiday bird.

Cinnamon apple popcorn with dried apples, pecan halves, brown sugar butter, nutmeg, and vanilla. Baked low and slow for a crispy, spiced snack mix.

Cornbread sausage stuffing with three breads, tart apple chunks, pecans, and breakfast sausage seasoned with sage and thyme. Stuff the bird or bake as a casserole side.

Chocolate covered marshmallow cookies with a soft vanilla base, a melted marshmallow top, cocoa frosting, and a pecan half. Like homemade Mallomars.

Old-fashioned white Christmas fudge loaded with pecans, walnuts, candied cherries, and candied pineapple. Cooked to soft ball stage for a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Quick microwave pecan pie ready in under 35 minutes when the oven is occupied. This method uses interval cooking at varying power levels to set the filling without overcooking the edges.

Brown sugar cheesecake marbled with chocolate on a pecan cookie crust, crowned with toasted pecan halves and drizzled with caramel. Southern praline indulgence in every bite.

Texas-style buttermilk pecan pralines with a caramel-colored, melt-on-your-tongue center. Makes nearly 4 dozen candies from a classic Cook 'Em Horns recipe.

Candied pecans simmered in Dr. Pepper until the soda evaporates into a sweet glaze, then oven-roasted until crispy for a unique Southern snack.

Traditional German sand tarts rolled paper-thin, cut into diamonds, brushed with egg white, and topped with cinnamon sugar and a pecan half. Crispy, buttery holiday cookies.

Roast turkey breast with sausage stuffing loaded with pecans, raisins, sage, and bread cubes. Holiday flavor from just a bone-in breast, no whole bird required.

Slice-and-bake coconut refrigerator cookies with a coconut-crusted exterior and a pecan half on top. Crispy, buttery, and freezer-friendly for up to three months of fresh-baked cookies on demand.

Date bars with whole dates stuffed with pecans pressed into a brown sugar and sour cream batter. A touch of ginger and a dusting of powdered sugar finish them off.

From-scratch pineapple upside-down cake baked in cast-iron skillets with a caramelized brown sugar and Karo syrup topping, pineapple rings, maraschino cherries, and optional pecans. A buttermilk batter with folded egg whites for extra lift.

Thin, crispy butter wafer cookies with lemon extract, vanilla, and a pecan half pressed into each center. Delicate, elegant, and designed to pair with ice cream.