Candied Pecans Recipe

Our Candied Pecans Recipe is so addicting and so easy to make. A delicious snack for for parties, holidays and game days. Glazed with a sweet and mildly spicy coating, you won’t be able to stop eating them.

candied pecans in a white bowl with napkin

Why You’ll Love Our Candied Pecans Recipe

  • Flavor Can’t Be Beat: There’s no one that we know that doesn’t love these glazed pecans. You can use different types of nuts, too if pecans aren’t your favorite.
  • Easy To Make: All you need is about 5 minutes of prep time to get these pecans into the oven. Just 30 minutes of baking and they’re ready to serve.
  • Make Ahead Recipe: You can make these candied pecans a day or two ahead of time for parties and holidays.
  • Freezer Friendly: Make a double or triple batch and freeze these nuts for an easy snack or party appetizer.

How To Make Candied Pecans

Start by grabbing a bag of whole pecans. You’ll need 3 cups for this recipe so a 14 ounce bag will work. A little more or less is also going to be fine.

spatula with candied pecans on baking sheet
  • Add the nuts to a bowl and toss them in an egg white that’s been beaten with a splash of water and vanilla extract. Make sure that all the nuts are wet and coated very well, this is what’s going to keep the sugar sticking on to the pecans.
  • Toss the pecans in granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and cayenne pepper until the are well coated in the sugar mixture. Spread the nuts onto a baking sheet that’s been lined with parchment paper and bake for 30 minutes. Make sure to pull the pan out halfway through and toss the nuts.
glazed pecans on baking sheet with parchment paper

Tips For Success

  • Make Sure To Coat The Pecans Completely With The Egg Whites: The moisture and stickiness that the egg white provides is what helps the sugar and spice coating stick to the pecans.
  • Toss The Pecans During Cooking Time: Toss the pecans once or twice in between the cooking time. Once 15 minutes works, or you can toss them once after 10 minutes and then again after another 10 minutes. You want the sugars to caramelize on all sides of the pecans, so stirring them is an important step!
  • Let The Pecans Cool Completely: After the pecans come out of the oven, let them cool completely on the baking sheet. Once the nuts have cooled and the glaze has set, then you can transfer them to a bowl for serving, a container or resealable bag.
candied pecans in a bowl close up

Can You Make Candied Pecans Ahead Of Time?

Yes, you can make this candied pecans recipe a day or two ahead of time. These glazed pecans will stay fresh for a week on the counter top, or a couple of weeks in the refrigerator.

You can also freeze any nuts that you don’t finish up, or make a few batches in bulk and freeze them for an easy party snack or appetizer. Candied Pecans are a wonderful addition to a cheese board, too.

After you make the pecans, let them cool completely and then store them in a freezer bag or container. These pecans will last for a couple of months in the freezer (if not longer) so go ahead and make as much as you need. All you need to do is pull out the portion that you want and let them defrost at room temperature and serve.

close up of candied pecans in a white bowl

Can Other Types Of Nuts Be Used?

If pecans aren’t you’re favorite, you can certainly use other nuts to make this candied pecans recipe. Some ideas can include:

  • Walnuts
  • Almonds
  • Cashews
  • Peanuts

How About A Few More Appetizer or Snack Recipes?

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candied pecans in a white bowl with napkin

Candied Pecans Recipe

  • Author: Dan
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Candied Pecans are so addicting, you won’t be able to stop eating them! An easy to make, delicious snack recipe for parties, holidays and game days!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 3 cups whole pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Mix the sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and cayenne pepper in a bowl and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the egg white together with the vanilla extract and water. Add the pecans and toss well to make sure all the nuts are coated in the egg white mixture.
  3. Pour the sugar mixture over the nuts and toss so that the sugar is coating all the nuts completely. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake for 30 minutes, tossing the nuts once in between cooking time.
  4. Let the pecans cool completely on the baking sheet and then store in a container for up to a week at room temperature. (*See Note)

Recipe Notes

Store: Store the pecans in an air tight container or a resealable storage bag for up to a week at room temperature. If stored in the refrigerator, they will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks.

Freeze: After making the candied pecans, let them cool completely and then transfer to an air tight container or a resealable freezer bag for up to 3 months. Take out the portion that you need, even a handful, and let the nuts thaw at room temperature before eating.

  • Category: Appetizers
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

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