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:

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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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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

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? ›

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? – Candied pecans are pecans coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked in the oven until crispy. Pralines are a type of candy made with crunchy pecan halves dropped in a caramel base.

Why are my glazed pecans sticky? ›

Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Do candied pecans need to be refrigerated? ›

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.

Why won't my pralines get hard? ›

But if your pralines are still gooey after 30-40 minutes, you may have to scrape them back into the pan and heat them again. Add a tablespoon of milk, melt the sugar, and as before, stir constantly while you bring them to a boil. When the mixture begins to thicken, begin dipping them out again and cross your fingers!

Is pecan candy good for you? ›

Being that pecans are the main ingredient; the snack contains essential vitamins & minerals, can aid in long-term heart health, can be enjoyed by gluten intolerant consumers, can provide a high number of antioxidants, and can supply a large amount of protein & fiber.

Why are my candied pecans soft on the stove? ›

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.

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.

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.

Does praline mean candied? ›

praline, is a firm combination of almonds and caramelized sugar. These candied almonds can be ground into a powder called "pralin" that is used to fill the Belgian chocolates.

What are the two types of pecans? ›

Types of Pecans and Pecan Varieties

A native pecan often has thicker shells and smaller nuts, while improved varieties tend to have more delicate shells and larger nuts.

What are praline pecans made of? ›

For one, pecan pralines are a patty-shaped candy made from pecans and several other ingredients, typically sugar, butter, and cream. Praline pecans, on the other hand, are individual pecan nuts with a praline-flavored coating.

What's the difference between a praline and a praline? ›

Praliné is a nut-based paste used widely in pastry-making. It's not to be confused with praline, which is a candy coated with caramelized sugar.

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