Georgia pecan trees offer benefits throughout the entire year. They provide great shade during the summer when the temperatures start climbing toward triple digits. And as always, the nuts they produce provide a great ingredient for numerous delicious recipes throughout the year.
Summertime is no different. These recipes are our favorite ways to enjoy the product of Georgia pecan trees while the days are long and the mosquitos are hungry.
Peach Delight With Pecan Crust
Our first recipe is a delicious summer dessert made with our favorite seasonal fruit. Nothing goes better with Georgia pecans than Georgia peaches, and this is the perfect recipe to combine their wonderful flavors. Peach Delight includes a crunchy pecan crust, creamy cheesecake, a whipped topping, and of course the bright deliciousness of summertime peaches. Preparation is fairly straightforward and doesn’t take long before you slide it into the oven. Then all you have to do is hold off until the guests arrive.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
- 1 Cup Butter, Melted
- 1 Cup Pecans, Ground
- 2 (8 oz) packages Cream Cheese, softened
- 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 8 Fresh Peaches, Peeled & Sliced
- 1 (10 oz) Frozen whipped topping, thawed
Butter Pecan Ice Cream
Nothing says summer quite like ice cream. We love racing the heat as it tries to melt it off the top of the cone before we can finish it. However, many people find it intimidating to make at home. This recipe, however, doesn’t require a special ice cream-making machine. All you need is a standing mixer or hand mixer and you can put together this spectacular recipe in the comfort of your own home.
Ingredients
- 2 c heavy whipping cream
- 1 14 oz. can condensed milk
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/4 c pecan halves or pieces
- 2 T butter
- 2 T maple syrup (or brown sugar)
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- Pinch of sea salt
Find your perfect Georgia pecan tree here!
Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
It’s a basic fact of life that cheesecake is good any time of the year. And if you can combine cheesecake with pecan pie, well we’re just about jumping out of our seats with excitement. The ingredient list might look a little daunting, but just take it step-by-step and you’ll soon have the best dessert at the cookout.
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (roughly 16 full graham crackers)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
Cheesecake
- 2 – 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Pecan Pie Topping
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 2 cups pecans, chopped
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
As a service to our readers, we felt we shouldn’t exclusively include dessert recipes. This chicken salad can act either as a great side dish to your summertime meal, or a light meal all on its own! The recipe for the dressing is mostly made up of ingredients you probably have in your cupboards right now, and the salad itself includes a mere four items.
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoon honey softened
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- salt to taste
Salad
- 4 cups chicken breast , cooked, chopped (about 2 chicken breasts)
- 1 cup pecans , chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 4 green onions , chopped
Caramel Pecan Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
Just take a minute to let that title sink in. And once you look at the ingredients you’ll realize that’s exactly what this is. This easy recipe will provide a cool, delicious treat that is sure to knock the socks off whoever is lucky enough to give it a try. The prep time is short but you’ll be sure to talk about this one for a long time.
Ingredients
- 24 store-bought ice cream sandwiches
- 1 cup caramel sauce
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed in the refrigerator
Pecan Smoothie
Our last recipe is a delicious pecan smoothie that even borders on the edge of being healthy. You don’t always have time to sit down and enjoy a nice slice of pie — there are sprinklers to hop through and dogs to walk, after all. Sometimes you want to have a cold drink on-the-go and get your pecan fix at the same time. This is where the Pecan Smoothie from Inspired Foody comes in. This tasty concoction is perfect for enjoying out of a tall glass on the back porch, or from a mason jar as you run your errands.
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond milk
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ cup pecans
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- ice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Taste and adjust for sweetness and texture.
- Enjoy!