Easy Candied Pecans

Share this post

Candied Pecans are my favorite! These baked nuts are sweet, salty, and perfectly spiced. They are great as a topping on salads and desserts -and they make the perfect consumable holiday gift!

It wouldn’t be Christmas time if I didn’t make MANY batches of candied pecans. I started making them for my sister-in-law, Paige, but everyone asked for a batch once word got around about how delicious they are. I don’t mind one bit!

Candied pecans are one of the easiest consumable gifts to make someone. I package them in festive baggies with loaves of whiskey cake and gift them to teachers, friends, and neighbors.

These candied pecans are the perfect sweet and salty snack. I love adding them to cheese trays and tossing a handful into salads -and when I want something not quite as sweet, I make an orange and rosemary version to add to my salads.

Before you get started on this recipe, I should probably warn you -making homemade candied pecans also means making your home smell like a candy factory, aka amazing. Enjoy!

Candied Pecans Ingredients //

• Egg White coats the pecans, giving the sugar and spices something to stick to. It is also what gives candied nuts that brittle outer layer.
• Sugar: These wouldn’t be candied pecans without sugar! The sugar dissolves into the egg white mixture and coats the nuts in a decadent caramelized coating.
• Cinnamon & Freshly Ground Nutmeg: I added a couple of warming spices for some holiday cheer!
• Salt: Adds texture and balances out the sugary-sweet flavor. I sprinkle salt on the nuts while they’re still warm as well, but that’s optional.
• Raw Pecans: Make sure you’re using raw pecans. Roasted pecans will NOT work. They’ve already been cooked once. Candying roasted pecans will overcook them and make them taste terrible.

How to Make // The Steps

Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare a baking sheet.

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil and set it aside.

Step 2: Whisk egg white.

In a large bowl, whisk the egg white until it is light and foamy. A drop or two or water helps break the egg white, so it is easier to whisk.

Step 3: Add sugar and spices.

Then, add the sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt to the bowl and whisk well to combine.

Step 4: Coat pecans in egg white mixture.

Now you can add the pecans to the bowl and toss them with the egg white mixture so that every nut is coated.

Step 5: Bake.

Spread the pecans out evenly onto the prepared baking sheet and transfer them to the preheated oven. Bake for about 30 minutes, turning the nuts every few minutes.

Step 6: Let cool and package.

While the pecans are still warm, I like to sprinkle them with a little bit of salt to highlight the sweet candied flavors. This is optional but recommended. Let the pecans cool to room temperature before packaging.

Tips & Tricks //

• Keep an on your oven. Nuts are very easy to overbake.
• Pull the nuts from the oven when the egg mixture dries and the nuts are golden brown and toasted. They will continue to harden as they cool.
• Let the baking sheet cool completely on a cooling rack before packaging or storing.

Why are Candied Pecans So Good?

• These nuts are sugary, spiced, crunchy, and the perfect snack, salad mix-in, and dessert topper.
• Candying nuts in the oven is super easy and makes your house smell heavenly.
• They’re great for gifting!
• You can make them your own with different flavors.

Serving Suggestions //

Instead of toasted pecans, you can use candied pecans in the recipes listed below. These recipes are already great, but with candied pecans, they’re incredible.

• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Salted Brown Butter Pecan Blondies
• Pecan Sticky Buns

You can also throw them in with salads for some flavor and crunch:

• Roasted Beet Salad
• Citrus Mint Fruit Salad
• Mixed Greens with Pomegranate Lemon Dressing

They’re also delicious sprinkled on ice cream and yogurt.

• Coffee Toffee Ice Cream
• Brown Sugar Ice Cream
• Salted Cinnamon Ice Cream

Variations //

• Nuts: This recipe can be used interchangeably with any nut -walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, etc. The only requirement is that they are raw. You may need to adjust the cooking time a bit for nuts with different shapes and sizes.
• Spices: Any warming spice works great here (ginger, cardamom, clove, etc.), or you could use pumpkin pie spice.
• Spicy: Add a dash of cayenne to the egg white mixture and give your candied nuts some heat.

Storing & Freezing //

Storing: These nuts will stay fresh for up to a week at room temperature or 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Be sure to keep them in a sanitized, airtight container.
Freezing: After the nuts have cooled, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months.

FAQ

More Sweet & Salty Snacks Recipes //

Rolo Pretzel Treats

Toffee Nut Snack Mix

Chocolate Peanut Butter Stacks

Chocolate Caramel Pecan Thumbprints