I was never a pecan person until a couple of years ago. If I was making cookies and the recipe called for nuts, I’d pretty much always use walnuts.
Not because I loved walnuts or anything, but because we always seemed to have them in the pantry. Maybe I grew up eating them and so that’s just what I’d instinctively grab if they were on sale?
I have no idea!!!
But then a few years ago I bought some chocolate chip cookies from a roadside stand and they tasted different.
It wasn’t until I read the ingredients on the package that I realized the deliciousness I had tasted was from the added flavor of the pecans.
And well, I’ve been adding them to my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe {and salads, and other recipes} ever since.
Yada yada yada…
The last time we were in Costco the HH and I got into a big discussion over pecans vs walnuts and how we both thought pecans were superior.
But according to the internet, almonds are the most popular nut in the United States. The average person consumes 2 pounds of almonds a year!
Can you believe that?
I do like almonds… But if I had to choose just one nut to eat, pecans would be my first choice hands down.
How about you? What is your favorite nut to add to baked goods or for snacking in general?
~Mavis
Erin says
I definitely prefer pecans in everything & I’ll eat a small handful as a quick snack. I do love toasting almonds to put on salads, though. Toasting any nut, really, but toasted almonds are so good on a salad!
Christa H. says
I think that is because a lot of gluten free recipes call for almond flour and the last few years that has been a popular recipe ingredient for some people. I am careful when eating them because I feel like biting down on hard items like whole almonds contributes to teeth cracking along on their edges over time.
Walnuts are good, but they sometimes have that bitterness from their tannins and seem to go bad quickly. I prefer pecans for baking, in my sweet potato topping, on cereal, and in salads. I just bought two Costco bags to make spiced pecans for Christmas gift baskets. Yum
Tisha says
For straight snacking, I definitely prefer pecans. For baking, I alternate. Walnuts are consumed at least weekly for their health benefits and because they are cheaper than pecans. I generally prefer walnuts in savory dishes such as a topping for pasta (hazelnuts, too).
Dawn says
I prefer pecans for baking but cashews for snacking. Unless, I candy the pecans.
Mona R McGinnis says
The less expensive walnuts are the nut of choice. There are often almonds & pecans in the pantry depending on the recipe. My cousin’s in-laws had walnut trees in their backyard & I was lucky enough to receive some one year. I didn’t know walnuts could taste so good.
Peg says
Pecans for cooking/baking and almonds for snacking. Love cashews too but they are really expensive!
Sue says
I prefer cashews and pistachios for snacking.
Almonds are decidedly not my cup of tea. They are consumed accidentally or unavoidably, not deliberately.
For example, I bought Costco”s Grain & Celery Salad (w/ apple cider vinaigrette–ooh!) yesterday. It has some sliced almonds in it. Oh well!
Walnuts and pecans are for salads, cooking, & baking.
I like walnuts in apple or cranberry-based dishes, and pecans for pear or peach-based dishes.
I have to grind up nuts in baked goods because my fam strenuously object to biting into nuts in cookies or breads. They certainly love the taste, though.
“Mmm! Why are your cookies always SO GOOD, Mom?” Silly twerps. LOL.
suzanne says
Personally for me cashew is king for snacking. Pecans are good for baking/candied. Almonds are ok toasted and the flour is useful. I’ve always passed on sweets with baked walnuts as the bitterness ruins it for me. Saves a bunch of calories that way I’m sure.
Jennifer says
I grew up in SC and we had pecan trees in the backyard so we harvested them for free. Wouldn’t pay for anything other than pecans now. Dh’s parents lived in S GA – real pecan country and every Christmas she would ship us a 25# box of cracked pecans and I would shell them and freeze what dh didn’t eat immediately.
Kristina says
I am a walnut and almond farmer, and I cringe to see people say they store their nuts in the pantry. STORE THEM IN THE FREEZER!!!! (Ahem) They are perishable, and will stay their best if you store them in the freezer. Of course, at the season right after harvest, I have about 50# of nuts in my freezer. I put them in everything. I also have one pecan tree – they are so yummy and cook with them often, too.
Tracey says
YES to this! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been over to my mother’s house throwing out rancid nuts from her pantry. What a waste of money.
Sue R. says
So much of our taste may be influenced by location and what is available fresh in our area. Here in Oregon, filberts (hazelnuts) are common and so delicious when freshly cracked and toasted. The same can be said for the local walnuts. If pecans or almonds were readily fresh and available, those would be a highlight, too, I’m sure.
Mary G says
I like them both, but I eat walnuts more frequently because they are a good bit less expensive. I think pecans are a bit more flavorful, though.
Lynne says
Try crispy pecan chicken! Pound your chicken breast thin, dip in egg white then finely chopped pecans mixed with a little flour, salt and pepper. Then fry in butter. Amazing!
Linda Sand says
My mother-in-law was allergic to walnuts so I got introduced to pecans. I now prefer pecans. But cashews are my snacking nuts.
SandyC says
I Love Macadamia & Pistachio Nuts From Costco
Jules says
We are hazelnut (filberts) farmers …so hazelnuts are used a lot in our things, but I like them best with a chocolate covering! Walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews …all good in baking but the best cookie is Macadamia nut with white chocolate. My one weakness.
Evelyn says
We are nut house always have walnuts,pecans and almonds:) But my favorites are hazelnuts,macadamia and pistachios. Because of that all 4 kids get me bags, containers or jugs of those,if they travel or happen to see them while shopping. They come in a say “Mom got you a little something”. Yes I make all kinds of goodies with my favorite nuts. Walnuts go in cakes and breads mostly, pecans cookies and savory dishes. Almonds chopped for toppings.
KC says
Almonds are lower in fat than most nuts; I’m not sure if that’s the reason for their popularity? But pecans for me! (and cashews; and macadamias) I usually use pecans, but I’m putting walnuts in our rocky road fudge this year because prices keep going up and walnuts are a lot cheaper than pecans at our local store… Store-brand walnuts right now are about the price the *name-brand* pecans were last year, sigh.
I was looking at that big bag o’ pecans at Costco – so, so much cheaper per pound! – but we realistically don’t need that many of them, so little grocery-store container of walnuts it is…
Elizabeth C Smith says
Pistachios are my favorite nut and they are green which makes me feel like I’m getting my greens in too!!☺️
Pauline in Upstate NY says
For baking, it’s always pecans for me! (Maple pecan pie, anyone?? SO good…) But when I want a wee protein snack, my go-to is a small handful of salted cashews. And I definitely buy both of these items at Costco!
Vicki in Birmingham says
This has nothing to do with nuts, although I used to love pecans before I developed an allergy.
I have not gotten your posts for the past several days and I was concerned something was wrong. I looked it up and all appears to be well, Do I need to do something in order to continue getting your emails that I have gotten for years?
Thanks!
Susan says
I don’t put nuts in my baked goods. But, if I had to, I’d likely go with pecans. I can’t stand walnuts. To just eat or have seasoned flavors, I prefer almonds, pecans and cashews.
Laura Z says
Pecans and pistachios are my favorites. I make homemade pralines every year for neighbor gifts and they are a hit. I love walnuts too, but I try to eat them in my oatmeal with some frequency so they somehow don’t feel as special. 🙂 They are supposed to be the healthiest for your heart. I wonder if the almond popularity is because of almond milk?
Linda Sand says
Almonds are high in protein so that led to almond milk for those who don’t tolerate dairy products.
andrea d says
For snacking, almost any nut will do, except walnuts. For baking, I am a firm believer (and probably in a very lonely group) that nuts do not belong in baked goods. Macadamia’s are passable in a cookie, but that’s about the extent of it. And only if there are no other good cookie options available. I do not want to bite into a half crunchy/half mushy nut when I eat a brownie, or a sweet bread. Arguing over with or without nuts is kind of a running joke in our family because some of my siblings love nuts in their baked goods, and I do much of the baking for family gatherings. When I’m feeling especially kind I’ll bake them their nutty favorites.