Candied Pecans (2024)

These easy Candied Pecans are crunchy and sweet and great for topping on salads, as part of a charcuterie board, giving as holiday gifts, or to enjoy as a snack. Any nut can be substituted, and they can be made in the oven or on the stove!

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Why I love this recipe:

  • Easy – Just a few simple steps and a few pantry ingredients, and everyone goes crazy for them.
  • Works with any kind of nuts!
  • My favorite topping for salads, desserts, and more–see my ideas below. I even like to add them to my chicken salad sandwiches.

How to Make Candied Pecans:

Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. In another bowl, beat together an egg white, water and vanilla.

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Add pecans to egg white mixture and toss to coat. Pour cinnamon sugar on top and toss well.

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Pour nuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper so they don’t stick to the pan as they cook.

Bake at 300 degrees for about 45 minutes, giving them a toss every 15 minutes.

Cool completely before storing.

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To make on the stovetop:

  1. Toast 1 cup of pecans in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, tossing often. Remove to a plate.
  2. Add ½ cup brown sugar, dash of salt, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of water to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat until bubbling.
  3. Pour the pecans in and cook for 3 more minutes, stirring to gently coat in the glaze.
  4. Remove from heat and pour pecans out onto a parchment lined tray. Cool completely.
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Storage and Freezing Instructions:

To Store: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks.

To Freeze: They freeze well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Use this recipe to candy other nuts:

You can use ANY kind of nut or a combination of different nuts for this recipe, like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, or pistachios. I don’t discriminate when it comes to cinnamon sugar candied nuts, and this recipe is the best!

I use Candied Pecans in the following ways:

Follow me for more great recipes

Recipe

Candied Pecans (6)

4.96 from 661 votes

Candied Pecans

These easy Candied Pecans crunchy and sweet with perfect caramelized pecans flavor. They're great for topping on salads, as part of a charcuterie board, giving as holiday gifts, or to enjoy as a snack.

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Prep 5 minutes mins

Cook 45 minutes mins

Total 50 minutes mins

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a bowl and stir to combine.

  • In a separate large bowl, beat the egg white, vanilla, and water until stiff peaks form.

  • Add the pecans to the egg whites mixture and gently toss to coat. Add the cinnamon sugar mixture and stir gently until the pecans are well coated.

  • Spread the pecans into a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.

  • Remove from the oven and allow the pecans to cool completely on the baking sheet.

  • When completely cool, store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Notes

Storage Instructions: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks.

Freezing Instructions: They freeze well in an air-tight container for up to two months.

Nuts: use any kind of nuts with this recipe, like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, or pistachios.

Quick Stovetop Candied Pecans: Toast 1 cup of pecans in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, tossing often. Remove to a plate. Add ½ cup brown sugar, dash of salt, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of water to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat until bubbling. Pour the pecans in and cook for 3 more minutes, stirring to gently coat in the glaze. Remove from heat and pour pecans out onto a parchment lined tray. Cool completely.

Nutrition

Calories: 995kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 11gFat: 81gSaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 603mgPotassium: 514mgFiber: 11gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 65IUVitamin C: 1.2mgCalcium: 122mgIron: 3.2mg

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Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch!

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I originally shared this recipe April 2018. Updated November 2021.

Oven method adapted from Two Peas and their Pod.

This post contains affiliate links.

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About The Author

Candied Pecans (11)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Candied Pecans (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

After 45 minutes, remove them from the oven and let them rest. You can remove the pecans to a baking sheet to cool faster if you like. Stir them every 10 minutes or so to avoid them clumping together, or you can just break them apart with a spatula or your hands later. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Should candied pecans be refrigerated? ›

To Store: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. To Freeze: They freeze well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

How to make candied nuts not sticky? ›

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt makes these taste salty-sweet. If you'd prefer to not taste the salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325°F (162°C) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

How many pecans does it take to make 1 lb? ›

For a pound of nutmeat, you will need 2½ pounds of in-shell pecans. In order to help you maintain the highest quality pecan meats, we have developed the following guide to help you understand the best way to handle and store your pecans.

Should pecans be soft or crunchy? ›

Differentiating Between Good and Bad Pecans

They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.

How many cups is one pound of pecans? ›

Measurements and Substitutions

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

Why are my pecans sticky? ›

The real culprits behind the honeydew are aphids. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that suck sap from plant leaves. Many species of aphids exist and attack various plants, but two types of aphids attack pecan trees and secrete honeydew, the yellow pecan aphid and the black-margined aphid.

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

Do candied pecans go bad? ›

If you don't plan on eating your candied pecans right away, you may want to consider storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Refrigeration can keep the pecans fresh for up to three months, while freezing can extend their shelf life for up to six months.

Can dogs have pecans? ›

These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

Can you vacuum seal candied pecans? ›

Make These Candied Pecans in Advance

Storing: For best taste and freshness, store these tasty snacks in an airtight container, such as a glass mason jar or a vacuum-sealed plastic container. They will keep for 2-3 weeks at room temperature.

Why are my candied pecans grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing.

Are pecans healthy? ›

Raw pecans pack a 1-2-3 punch of protein, healthy fats, and fiber that can help keep you energized and satisfied. Pecans are a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which help lower blood pressure. Most of the fat found in pecans is a healthy type called monounsaturated fat.

Why are my pecans soft? ›

Humidity above these values can cause kernel molding and pecan texture deterioration (pecans become soft and rubber-like), whereas lower humidities will cause excessive drying. In-shell pecan kernels will darken under high humidity as a result of the tannic acid being dissolved from the shell lining.

Why are my pecans mushy? ›

Humidity above these values can cause kernel molding and pecan texture deterioration (pecans become soft and rubber-like), whereas lower humidities will cause excessive drying. In-shell pecan kernels will darken under high humidity as a result of the tannic acid being dissolved from the shell lining.

Why is my pecan candy soft? ›

If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky. Work quickly to drop heaping tablespoons of pecan praline mixture onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. I find that it works best to use a cookie dough scoop.

How do you fix soggy nuts? ›

Spread the stale snacks out on a cookie sheet and place in a 350o F oven. Let them bake for about 10 minutes and then remove from the oven and let cool completely. Once cooled the snacks should be crispy and refreshed. You can use this method with fresh nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts, etc.

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