Candied Pecans
Updated March 26, 2019
Candied Pecans-an easy recipe for Cinnamon-Sugar Candied Pecans! They are the perfect topping for salads, main dishes, desserts, or grab a handful for a snack! They are also perfect for gift giving!
I am obsessed with the scented wax melts. I have a drawer full of them and keep buying more when they are on sale. I love trying new scents. I always make Josh and Caleb sniff every scent in the store. Josh humors me and plays along, but usually turns up his nose at 98% of the scents. Caleb usually loves them all and encourages me to buy them…so I do! I want our house to smell good when friends walk in the door!
I am usually drawn to the scents that smell like food…cookies, cupcakes, apple pie, etc. The only problem is they make me hungry:)
I found a new favorite scent and it isn’t from a scented wax melt, it is from baking a batch of Candied Pecans. If you want your house to smell amazing, put a batch of Candied Pecans in the oven! Your neighbors will be knocking on the door to see what is happening in your kitchen. They smell SO good and they taste even better!
I especially love making candied pecans during the holiday months. I love the cinnamon aroma and the candied nuts are perfect for holiday recipes. They are a great topping for salads, main dishes, and desserts! They make everything taste better! They just add something special and that is what the holidays are all about! I also love eating them by the handful. They are crunchy, sweet, and make a great snack!
Candied Pecans are also EASY to make, which is a big time bonus during the crazy holiday months. You can pop a pan in the oven in a matter of minutes. You have to stir them while they are baking, but the smell will keep you close! You won’t want to go far!
Now, I just need to figure out how I can package my Candied Pecan smell in a scented wax melt. I would make millions:) Until then, I will just have to bake a pan of Candied Pecans every day! 🙂
And come back next week because I am sharing two tasty salads that feature candied pecans! You will want to add these salads to your holiday menus. I promise!
Candied Pecans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups unsalted pecans halves
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, add sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until combined. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg white, vanilla, and water together until frothy. Add the pecans and gently toss until the pecans are well coated. Add the sugar and cinnamon mixture and toss until pecans are covered.
- Spread the pecans out in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 30-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. The sugar mixture will harden on the pecans.
- Remove from the oven and let the pecans cool on the baking sheet. When completely cool, store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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Can you use any nut here, so you think?
Sure!
Like you, I love the smell of cinnamon in the house. I’ll be making these candied pecans this afternoon, a perfect antidote to a rainy afternoon.
Another go to smell this time of year is that of mulled wine or cider. And sometimes, when I just want the smell and not something warm to drink, I just put some cinnamon sticks and other spices in wate on the wood stove. And soon the house smells heavenly. (I guess another kind of stove would work too.)
Thanks to all the good recipes over the year. Best wishes for 2023.
You are welcome!!
These candy Pecans were delicious.
Loved this recipe. Easy to make and everyone loved the candied pecans. The first thing my husband asked when he came into the house was, “What are you baking?” “It smells fantastic.” The aroma of the pecans baking got him. He loved the way the house smelled and was eager to sample this new treat!
Glad you loved the recipe!
Is an egg white necessary do you think? Egg allergy in the family
Thanks!
I am sure you could get by without it.
30 minutes is way too long, even with stirring. Aim for 20-25
I disagree, I even go the 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes and they are perfect.
45 minutes is perfect. Your oven might be running hot, if so then you would need less time.
Easy and delicious
Been using this recipe for several years and it’s one of my go-tos to take to parties. Made 5 batches today for my nephew’s wedding on Saturday as a special request from the family. Thank goodness I have several pecan trees on my property and keep the shelled nuts in my freezer for easy use for this recipe.
They are my favorite! I am jealous you have pecan trees:)
Stumbled across this recipe and made it. I love it. I made it for a co-worker and she loved it now the other co-workers want me to make them some too! Thanks
Glad you love the recipe!
I love your recipe and have been using it solely when making candied pecans. I wonder if you’ve ever tried your recipe with any other nuts? Like almonds? I have a bag of almonds and all my friends want me to candy them, but im hoping this recipe will work, what do you think?
A+ Taste wonderful. Quick and easy to make. Followed the recipe exactly! Definitely a winner! ⭐️
The best:)
Love this recipe for at least 2 years in a row. I add one other ingredient – 3 tbsp melted butter at the end before baking. May not make a difference but it seems the crunch lasts longer when stored for a few days.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for adding this! I will try it since I’ll be gifting some 🙂
Absolutely, enticingly delicious and so easy to make. Hard to save any to gift!
I agree, I always have to make two batches so I have some to share:)
Make these for the Holidays every year,
My family loves them.
They are the best!
Easy-Delicious- had to keep the family away so I could use them in my salad. I lost the battle and had to make more!
Ha! It happens to me too!
These turn out perfectly every time! Today, we will use them in a salad with greens, slivers of red onion, dried cranberries, borgonzola, and a homemade maple vinaigrette! So delicious !
Thank you!
The best!!
I enjoy reading and making your recipes all year long.
Such a busy family you are.
Have a wonderful Christmas…happy eating.
Jill from Vancouver
Thank you!
Bakers beware, these are addicting and insanely easy to make!
The sweet salty crunch will have you grabbing for more.
These are great for charcuterie boards, a sweet snack, gifts or literally anything. Put these bad boys in a mason jar and give them out to people.Everyone has loved them, asking where I bought them.
They make a great gift! So happy you love them!
Absolutely delicious!!
The best!
Such a great recipe. So addicting and makes wonderful gifts. Thank you!!
You are welcome!
I have had a taste for Pecan Pralines lately, so started searching. I wanted the pecan praline recipe using a cinnamon, sugar coating, baked in the oven. However I saw several using the stove top, candy thermometer, and dropping by ice cream scoop onto a cookie sheet. It used 3 cups sugar and dark syrup. Unhealthy.
This recipe was what I wanted. I didn’t have an egg so used 1/4 cup melted butter, stirred in vanilla and drizzled over top of the pecans then dumped into the sugar cinnamon mixture and coated well. I sprayed a cookie sheet and single layered pecan mixture and baked according to the recipe. It is delicious and I like the fact that it was quick, and only used 1 cup sugar and no syrup. Thank you for the great recipe.
They are SO good! Glad you loved them!
That’s not true, these will never last a month. They will be long gone by then! They are awesome!!
Ha!! They always go quickly at our house too!
Love pecans want this recipe tys
Wonderful!!!! Why haven’t I been doing this my whole life? These are delicious and a huge hit in my house. The house does smell amazing.
They are SO good!
Easy to make and delicious! Everyone loves them and I’ll have to make them again ❤️
They are the best!
Absolutely fantastic!! I needed a recipe quickly and tried another one first… disaster. This one was super easy and tasted delicious. Thank you!
I make them all of the time!
I made these this morning to give as gifts at an upcoming family get together. I sampled several. So good!
I added a heaping teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Next time I may experiment and sprinkle just a little coarse sea salt as soon as they come out of the oven. A double recipe fills twelve 8 ounce canning jars, plus a baggie full for me. I definitely baked them for the full 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
I love the addition of cayenne pepper!
Easy to make and delicious!
My favorite!
I’d like to use honey instead of sugar. Would you use the same amount and delete the water?
I haven’t tried the recipe with honey.
What does stirring mean? Aren’t the pecans laying flat in a single layer?
I love this recipe! I give these out for the holidays and they are always a hit. Sometimes I replace the cinnamon with Penzey’s pumpkin pie spice.
My favorite too!
I’ve made these several times before, but this time I forgot the salt..will they be ok?
Yes! You can sprinkle with a little salt after.
I was looking for “the best” candied pecan recipe and hit the jackpot with yours! The coating is nice and crunchy and the nut is perfectly browned. I did add about 1/4 teaspoon of cayanne. For a little kick.
We can’t stop snacking on them. I plan on making them for holiday gifts for friends & neighbors. Thanks for another great recipe!!!
They really are the best! Thanks for reporting back!
Positively addictive. These are nearly impossible to find in the stores. When I did find them, at a craft fair, they were $10.00, for a pint jar.
Excellent recipe as it is written, but I also love to tinker with it. Some bourbon instead of the vanilla. Tossing in some ginger. You can even add a little heat if you like. I have found, however, that 275⁰ for an hour significantly reduces the risk of burn.
Love your additions!
Would like to make this vegan. Can the egg white be left out or is there a substitute?
You can try Aquafaba, the water in a can of chickpeas. Whisk it well!
So easy and so good! Followed recipe exactly.
The best!
This recipe is so delicious; it was a big hit with the family. How far in advance can they be made? How long are they good for in an airtight container? Can they be made in advance and then frozen? I’m thinking of giving these away at Christmas along with gifts and I’m just wondering if I can make a big batch several days before I actually give them away.
I am so glad you love my candied pecans recipe. Yes, you can make in advance. Store in a jar in the pantry for a few weeks. You can also freeze for a few months!
I love these candied pecans. I put them on my roasted beet and goat cheese salad and snack on them too. You just can’t stop eating them.
They are the best!
These were perfection! I made several batches to give as gifts and had a hard time not finishing them myself. My husband took one bite and said they tasted like Christmas. Great recipe!
I am so glad you loved them!