Candied Pecans Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

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My favorite classic candied pecans recipe is easy to make with 7 ingredients. Perfect for gifting or sprinkling on everything from salads to yogurt, casseroles, ice cream and more!

Candied Pecans Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (1)

Raise your hand if you love candied pecans as much as I do! ♡

These sweet treats have always been a favorite of mine, especially around the holidays, and this is is the old-fashioned candied pecans recipe that I fell in love with years ago and have made since more times than I can count. By contrast to my recipe for naturally-sweetened maple candied pecans, this retro recipe unapologetically features a thick and crunchy cinnamon sugar coating made with two kinds of sugar, plus the perfect hint of sea salt and cayenne to balance out the sweetness. And when baked up until perfectly toasty and crunchy in the oven, I’m telling you, these candied pecans are absolutely irresistible.

I always love baking up a few batches at the end of the year to pass out as fun holiday gifts. But they taste great anytime of the year as a sweet snack, or sprinkled on everything from salads to yogurt, casseroles, baked sweet potatoes, ice cream and more. They are also incredibly easy to make with just 7 simple ingredients, the recipe is naturally gluten-free, and these candied pecans have the added bonus of making your home smell absolutely heavenly as they bake in the oven.

I’m warning you now — one you start snacking on these little guys, it’s hard to stop. ♡ You’re going to love them!

Candied Pecans Recipe | 1-Minute Video

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Candied Pecans Ingredients:

Before we get to the full recipe below, here is the list of ingredients that you will need to make these easy candied pecans:

  • Pecans: Candied pecans are traditionally made with raw pecan halves, but you could also sub in coarsely-chopped pecans if you prefer.
  • Sugars:A combination of both granulated (white) sugar and light brown sugar.
  • Spices: A simple mix of ground cinnamon and ground cayenne.
  • Salt:I originally wrote this recipe using one teaspoon of table salt. But if you are using fine sea salt instead, I recommend using a heaping teaspoon.
  • Egg white:And finally, we will use a whisked egg white to bind the cinnamon sugar mixture to the pecans.

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How To Make Candied Pecans:

Full instructions how to candy pecans are detailed in the recipe below, but in a nutshell (sorry, I couldn’t resist)…here is the process for how to make candied pecans:

  1. Mix the cinnamon sugar mixture. First, we will whisk together the sugars, cinnamon, salt and cayenne until combined.
  2. Toss the pecans. Then in a separate bowl, we will toss the the pecans and whisked egg white until the pecans are evenly coated. And then add in the cinnamon sugar mixture, and toss once more.
  3. Bake. When baking candied nuts, it’s important that they be spread out in an even layer on the baking sheet. (So if your sheet isn’t large enough, you may need to do this in two batches.) Bake the pecans for 40 minutes, stirring briefly at the halfway point, until they are fragrant and the sugar coating is cooked.
  4. Cool. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire cooling rack and use all of your willpower to wait until the pecans have cooled to room temperature. (They will continue to dry and harden as they cool.) Then serve and enjoy!!

Candied Pecans Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (4)

Possible Recipe Variations:

Want to customize this candied pecans recipe? Feel free to…

  • Use different nuts:If pecans aren’t your favorite, you could also use this recipe to make candied walnuts, almonds, cashews, peanuts, pistachios, or whatever other candied nuts sound good. Just be sure to always begin with raw nuts and adjust the cooking time as needed depending on the size/type of nuts.
  • Use maple syrup: To make more naturally-sweetened candied pecans, check out my maple candied pecans recipe.
  • Use less sugar:If you would like to reduce the amount of sugar in this recipe, feel free to use 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1/3 cup packed brown sugar.
  • Add more heat:I almost always double the amount of cayenne in this recipe to make slightly more spicy candied pecans, which I recommend if you would like the nuts to have a more noticeable kick!
  • Add different herbs or spices: Feel free to also add any other warming spices (such as cardamom, ginger, nutmeg or cloves) or some pumpkin pie spice if you would like. Or some finely chopped fresh rosemary or sage would also be delicious in there too!

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Ways To Serve Candied Pecans:

Looking for ways to put a big batch of candied pecans to use? Here are some of our favorite ways that we like to enjoy this recipe in our home:

  • On their own:Serve them up in on their own as a sweet treat, or combine them with some of your other favorite snack-y ingredients to make a sweet and savory snack mix.
  • In salads:These candied pecans also make an amazing sweet and crunchy addition to salads.
  • In yogurt or ice cream: We also love sprinkling them on yogurt for breakfast and ice cream for dessert.
  • Sprinkled on potatoes or casseroles: They also make a great topping for baked sweet potatoes or retro sweet potato casserole.
  • As a gift:Wrap these candied pecans up inmason jars or treat boxes with some cute kraft gift tags if you would like to give them as gifts!
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Candied Pecans Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (6)

Candied Pecans

★★★★★4.9 from 91 reviews

  • Author: Ali
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 6 cups 1x
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Description

My favorite classic candied pecans recipe — easy to make with 7 ingredients and always irresistibly delicious!

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Prep oven and baking sheet. Heat oven to 300°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Mix the cinnamon sugar mixture. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, salt and cayenne to a small mixing bowl and whisk until evenly combined.
  3. Toss the pecans. In a separate large mixing bowl, add the pecans and whisked egg white and gently toss until the pecans are evenly coated. Add in the sugar mixture and gently toss until the pecans are evenly coated.
  4. Bake. Spread the pecans out in a single even layer on the baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes, then remove the nuts and give them a brief stir. Bake for 20 minutes more or until the pecans are fragrant and the sugar coating is cooked. (Note that the sugar coating will continue to harden and dry once the pecans are out of the oven.)
  5. Cool. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire cooling rack and let the pecans cool to room temperature. Serve and enjoy immediately, or transfer the pecans to a sealed container to store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

posted on November 14, 2020 by Ali

Appetizers, Desserts, Gluten-free, Snacks

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Candied Pecans Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

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.

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

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 long to toast pecans at 350? ›

For this method, preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the nuts evenly onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake until they begin to brown and become aromatic, making sure to toss halfway through, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.

What is the best temperature to roast pecans? ›

Oven: Spread them on a baking sheet and roast them in a 350°F oven. Stovetop: Toast them in a skillet over medium-high heat. Microwave: Microwave on HIGH for 30-60 seconds. Air fry: Pop them in your air fryer at 320°F.

How long should pecans be soaked? ›

Drain, Rinse, and Roast - After soaking your pecan nuts for about 8 hours, it's time to drain and rinse them. Once you're done with that, spread them over a baking sheet or dehydrator evenly to get them ready for roasting.

Why didn't my pecan candy harden? ›

If you beat too long, the candy will seize and start to crumble. 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.

What to do if candied pecans are sticky? ›

Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325° F and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

How do you make candied nuts that aren't sticky? ›

As everyone successful has said, keep cooking them until all moisture has evaporated and sugar isn't sticky anymore. First time making this, I doubled the recipe without any issues and did wait for it to crystallize before pouring into the two baking pans prepared.

What temperature do you put nuts in the oven? ›

Toasting nuts only takes a few minutes, so don't stray far from your oven or stove. At 325°F, most nuts will only need to stay in the oven 5 to 8 minutes. On the stovetop in a pan, toasting nuts may take a few minutes less, about 5 minutes.

Are oven roasted pecans healthy? ›

Absolutely! Pecans are full of healthy fats, antioxidants and fiber. Combined with the natural sweetness of maple, they're a healthier choice for a sweet treat or easy snack recipe.

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

Why Pecans are Toxic for Dogs. Pecans contain juglone, a compound found in walnuts and pecans that is harmful to dogs and horses. Juglone can cause digestive issues, which usually results in vomiting. Pecans can also get a mold that contains aflatoxin called aspergillus.

How do you know when pecans are done? ›

You'll know the pecans are done when they have a fragrant, nutty, buttery smell, and one or two of them look darker than the rest.

Should you always toast pecans before baking? ›

Answer: Yes, nuts are great as-is, but they can be better. Way better. Toasting nuts draws the natural oils to the surface, intensifying the rich nutty essence, creating a deeper color, and making the nuts crunchier. Toasting your nuts prior to adding them to a recipe can improve the flavor and texture of any dish.

How do you know when pecans are ready? ›

Pecans that are harvest-ready will have brown, cracked husks. The husks dry out as they age and turn from green to brown. These cracked and brown pecans will fall out of their husks and onto the ground. The pecans will begin to dry and cure if the soil is dry.

Do pecans need to be soaked? ›

Long-soak nuts (almonds, pistachios, and hazelnuts) need at least 8 hours. Medium-soak nuts (pecans, walnuts, and Brazil nuts) are oilier and swell up quickly, so require less soaking time. Short-soak nuts (cashews, macadamias, and pine nuts) have the highest fat content and require only 2 to 4 hours soaking.

Do pecan nuts need to be soaked? ›

Your body can better absorb nutrients if you soak nuts and seeds. Nutrient-dense nuts and seeds include nutrient inhibitors that guard and guarantee the survival of those nutrients. By soaking nuts and seeds, you can reduce or get rid of the harmful and nutritious inhibitors that are absorbed into the water.

Are you supposed to soak pecans? ›

In a nutshell, soaking could increase the absorption of some nutrients, but the difference is super small – and pretty insignificant in the context of your whole diet. If you love the texture and like to use soft, soaked nuts for recipes or nut butters, go ahead!

Should pecan nuts be soaked? ›

I find soaking nuts a very important step when it comes to my digestion. When nuts/seeds are soaked and/or sprouted in water, the germination process begins, in which the active and readily available amounts of enzymes, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and essential fatty acids begin to be activated.

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