Easy Candied Pecans

at a glance
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cool Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 16 Servings
5 from 1 vote

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These candied pecans are equal parts sweet, crunchy, delicious, and addicting. Plus, they’re super easy to make!

Top down photo of candied pecans on a baking sheet lined with white parchment paper.

Easy Candied Pecans

Warning: these candied pecans are ADDICTING! They’re crunchy, perfectly sweetened and spiced, and really, really delicious. Enjoy them on top of a salad (like this winter salad with goat cheese and pears) or by the handful – they’re great either way!

Candied pecans are, essentially, pecans coated in a mixture of sugar and spices and baked until roasty, toasty, and irresistible. 

Ingredients

This is a pretty simple list! Here’s everything you’ll need: 

Candied pecan ingredients on a grey and white marble surface.
  • 1 pound of pecan halves
  • 1 cup of brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon of sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon of cayenne
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon of water

How to Make Candied Pecans

Hand holding wooden spoon and stirring dry ingredients together in a white bowl.
Hand pouring pecans from a white bowl into brown, wet mixture in a white bowl on a gray and white surface.
Hand holding wooden spoon stirring a brown mixture a white bowl.
Candied pecan mixture spread out on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  1. Prep – preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (if desired).
  2. Combine the ingredients – add the brown sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, cayenne, egg white, vanilla extract, and water in a bowl and stir until combined.
  3. Add the pecans – add the pecans to the bowl with the brown sugar mixture and stir until all of the pecans are fully coated. 
  4. Bake – transfer the pecans to a sheet pan, spread them out, and bake them at 350°F for 20 minutes. They will start to puff up while baking, then deflate. This is when you’ll know they’re done!
  5. Let cool – once the pecans are out of the oven, let them cool completely (this is important!) so that they’ll harden.
  6. Enjoy!

Candied Pecan Variations

This recipe is delish as is, but if you want to change things up, go for it! Here are a few ideas that would be really yummy:

  • Use a different nut – use this recipe with any nut that you love! Cashews would be amazing here.
  • Ditch the cayenne – the cayenne pepper is a really nice subtle contrast to the brown sugar, but if you’re sensitive to spice, feel free to skip it! 
  • Level up the spice – if you LOVE spice and want to kick things up a notch, add more cayenne pepper.
  • Use a different extract – try swapping the vanilla extract for orange extract!
  • Change up the spices – swap the cinnamon and cayenne for apple pie or pumpkin pie spice blends – yum!
Q How can you use candied pecans?
A

I’m glad you asked! Candied pecans are delicious as a party snack (pour them in a bowl and let people grab as they’d like) or as a topper to a fall-inspired salad or cinnamon roasted butternut squash!

Q Are glazed pecans the same as candied?
A

They aren’t. They have really similar flavor profiles, but glazed pecans usually include corn syrup while candied pecans include an egg white, both of which are responsible for the crunchy coating!

Q How long do candied pecans Last?
A

Store your candied pecans in an airtight container (a mason jar works great!) on the counter. Stored this way, they’ll be good for up to 2 weeks!

Q Can you freeze candied pecans?
A

You can! Simply let them cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container to freeze for up to 3 months.

Q Are candied pecans the same as pralines?
A

They aren’t. Candied pecans are coated with egg white, sugar, and spices, and pralines are more of a caramel candy with pecans folded in.

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Top down photo of candied pecans on a baking sheet lined with white parchment paper.

Easy Candied Pecans

By: Cassy Joy Garcia
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cool Time 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 16 Servings
These candied pecans are equal parts sweet, crunchy, and delicious. Plus, they're super easy to make!

Ingredients  

  • 1 pound pecan halves
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (if desired).
  • Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, cayenne, egg white, vanilla extract, and water to a bowl and stir until combined.
  • Add the pecans to the bowl with the brown sugar mixture and stir until all of the pecans are fully coated.
  • Transfer the pecans to a sheet pan, spread them out, and bake them at 350°F for 20 minutes. They will start to puff up while baking, then deflate. This is when you'll know they're done! 
  • Once the pecans are out of the oven, let them cool completely (this is important!) so that they'll harden.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Easy Candied Pecans
Serving Size
 
0.25 Cups
Amount per Serving
Calories
246
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
20.4
g
31
%
Saturated Fat
 
1.8
g
11
%
Sodium
 
79.7
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
16.4
g
5
%
Fiber
 
2.8
g
12
%
Sugar
 
13.3
g
15
%
Protein
 
2.8
g
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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  1. Joyce says

    Joyce —  09/23/2022 At 19:55

    Did not make, but wondering if I can use coconut sugar?

    • Melissa Guevara says

      Melissa Guevara —  09/25/2022 At 21:09

      Sure! You can substitute coconut sugar at a 1:1 ratio. -Team FF