Bourbon Graham Cracker Candy is so buttery and crunchy with just the right amount of bourbon flavor. It’s easy to make and keeps well in a ziptop bag. This southern treat is perfect for a Kentucky Derby Party.
Just a few basic ingredients and 10 minutes of bake time are needed for this addictingly sweet candy.
It’s so crunchy and sweet it’s difficult to stop eating.
You’ll need a large baking sheet and you’ll want to line it with parchment paper. This stuff is sticky!
Break 14 graham crackers into 4 rectangles each and lay them side by side on the parchment paper. Place a whole pecan in the center of each graham cracker piece. You can skip the pecans if you don’t like them, but bourbon and pecans are such a great combination.
In a saucepan bring some butter, brown sugar, and a little salt to a boil. Stir in the bourbon and then pour the mixture evenly over the graham crackers. Careful not to dislodge the pecans. Bake for 10 minutes and then let cool before breaking into pieces.
This candy is like sugary crack! You won’t be able to stop eating it.
More Bourbon Desserts
Bourbon Graham Cracker Candy
Ingredients
- 14 graham cracker rectangles
- 56 whole pecans
- 14 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons bourbon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Break each graham cracker into 4 small rectangles and place them touching each other on the prepared baking sheet. Place a pecan on each graham cracker piece.
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter and brown sugar. Add the salt, and stirring constantly, bring it to a full rolling boil. Stir in bourbon and remove from heat.
- Pour brown sugar mixture evenly over graham crackers.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Set the pan on a cooling rack and let cool to room temperature.
- Break into pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
I’ve tried 3 times and can’t get them off the wax paper. 3 batches in the trash
Use parchment paper to line the pan. Wax paper can not be used at this heat. Also, for those folks who prefer not to use an alcohol, the alcohol evaporates almost immediately at this temp. Denis.
You need to use parchment paper, not wax paper.
Love this recipe. FYI I thought 14 tbs. of butter was a lot but it wasn’t to much. I used non stick aluminum foil and it worked great!
This makes a very good and well appreciated gift. These are easy to prepare and are inexpensive to make. I am an eighty one year old widower trying to make a good impression on a very pleasant good looking widow. I believe this candy might be just the thing I need as a helper. Denis.
Is that really 14 tablespoons of butter?
I used matzoh as the base cracker, which worked really well. Because they are big, more of the good stuff stayed on the cracker and not on the cookie sheet. Then just broke up after cooling.
I am going to make this with some bacon pieces added. Thanks for a great recipe!
What do I do if they won’t come off the wax paper?
You MUST use parchment paper. Wax melts in the oven yuck!!
These look amazing and I was just gifted some honey whiskey! I may have to make these today!
A bit confused as to why the final step is to break into pieces. Aren’t they bite-size already? And breaking would dislocate the pecan halves.
I think it just refers to the candy part as it may be solid between the crackers.
Is there a non-alcoholic substitute for the bourbon?
You can use vanilla extract instead, but only add a teaspoon or 2.
You can also buy bourbon flavored vanilla on Amazon. It has the taste but is non alcoholic!
In the oven now.
How long do these stay good (assuming they aren’t eaten immediately)? I’d love to make these for a bourbon event I’m going to but wouldn’t want them to get soggy or sticky if made in advance. Or maybe that’s not an issue?
This recipe is amazing! It takes very little ingredients, very little time (or skill), and it’s fun to make. The best part is that it’s delicious! It’s also easy to make in a large batch and it’s cheap. This is a crowd-pleaser and our new favorite go-to dessert to bring to events.
We melted and drizzled semi-sweet chocolate over them and it is PERFECT. Tastes like Derby pie in little bites, without the mess.
Wondering if i could use whiskey instead?
Yes! 🙂
I’m wondering if whiskey could be substituted for the bourbon.??
Any suggestions for doing this in a toaster oven?
I’m sorry Michele. I don’t even own a toaster oven. But I think you could make it the same way. You would just need to use a smaller pan I’m thinking and maybe bake them in 2 batches.
Sounds amazing! I might try it with the Vanilla Bourbon. I know that the whole Pecan is a pretty presentation maybe, but I would like to use Pecan Chips instead of the Whole Pecans. I like tasting some of the Pecan with each bite.
I think that is a great idea to use pecan chips Carol!
What can I use instead of bourbon? I don’t do anything alcohol.
i was wondering the same thing…and i would think with it being only 3 tablespoons, that just leaving it out wouldn’t mess up the recipe…
You can skip the bourbon and add a little bit of vanilla extract. Only 1 to 2 teaspoons of vanilla though.
maybe Jim Beam Vanilla bourbon??
Vanilla bourbon would be perfect!
Can this be made with out the alcahol (Bourbon) ?
When cooking with bourbon, the alcohol evaporates while the sauce is cooking, so you get the bourbon flavor without any of the alcohol
https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AlcoholEvap.htm
it’s nice recipe .i will use and it looks delicious.
It looks very good but can yu use matzo crackers instead
Yes, I think you could.