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    Home > Recipes > Snacks

    Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans

    Published: Oct 7, 2020 · Modified: Mar 13, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 2 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    sweet and spicy candied pecans
    tossing pecans in a bowl with a wooden spoon
    candied pecans in a blue and white bowl

    candied pecans in a bowl

    Candied pecans are pecans are tossed in sugar and spices and roasted until crisp. This easy, crowd-pleasing recipe makes a great snack to serve with cocktails or to give as gifts. 

    If you’ve ever seen candied pecans or walnuts for sale, you might have noticed that they cost an absolute fortune! For some reason, tossing nuts in a crunchy spiced coating turns them into gold. But it turns out that it’s super simple to make a big batch of these crunchy, addictive beauties at home using a few inexpensive pantry staples.

    sweet and spicy candied pecans in a white bowl

    Fair warning that once you have a batch of candied pecans in the pantry, they disappear fast. We end up snacking on most of these, but we also like to set them out with drinks, put them in kids’ lunch boxes, or add them to a holiday dinner or dessert spread. They also make a great addition to salads and are fantastic host / hostess gifts. Put them in little jars or clear bags and tie them with a ribbon for adorable little gifts around the holidays.

    The sky is the limit with these flavorful crunchy gems and they’re so easy to make. Here’s how!

    Ingredients

    • Pecan Halves - You’ll need 1 pound (about 4 cups) of pecan halves. 
    • Egg White - Just one egg white beaten until very light and fluffy is what acts as the “glue” to hold the sugar and spices to the pecans. 
    • Sugar - White sugar gives the pecans a sweet, crisp shell.
    • Salt and Spices - Use cinnamon, salt, ground ginger, ground cardamom, and a pinch of cayenne (optional) to give these pecans a subtle warm, cozy flavor that is reminiscent of gingerbread and holiday baked goods. If you’re making these at another time of year and don’t want the holiday spices, just skip the ginger and cardamom.

    mixing dry ingredients in a clear bowl

    adding pecans to egg whites

    How to Make Candied Pecans

    1. Beat one egg white with a mixer until very light and frothy, ~3 minutes. 
    2. Gently fold 1 lb pecan halves into egg whites.
    3. Combine ¾ cup white sugar with ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt and 1 ½ teaspoon dried spices (like cinnamon and ground ginger). Stir sugar mixture into pecans.
    4. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 250°F / 121°C for 1 hour, stirring halfway through.
    5. Let pecans cool completely on the sheet pan and then gently break apart.
    6. Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. 

    tossing pecans in a bowl with a wooden spoon

    More Homemade Recipes that Make Great Gifts

    • Sweet and Salty Snack Mix
    • Slow Cooker Granola
    • Sweet and Spicy Sriracha Roast Cashews
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

    Favorite Tools

    • Anchor 3-Piece Glass Mixing Bowls 
    • KitchenAid Stand Mixer or KitchenAid Handheld Mixer 
    • Half Sheet Pan 
    sweet and spicy candied pecans in a white bowl
    Print Recipe
    3.34 from 6 votes

    Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans

    Crunchy, fragrant pecans are tossed in sugar and spices for this easy, crowd-pleasing recipe. These make a great snack to serve with cocktails or pack them up in jars to give as gifts. 
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 15 mins
    Course: Snacks
    Keyword: holiday snacks, homemade gifts, pecan recipe
    Servings: 20
    Calories: 187kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $10.00

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Mixer
    • sheet pan

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup White Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
    • ¾ teaspoon Kosher Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger
    • ⅛ teaspoon Ground Cardamom
    • 1 pinch Cayenne (optional)
    • 1 Egg White
    • 1 lb Pecan Halves (about 4 cups)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 250°F / 121°C.
    • Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper.
    • In a small mixing bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, salt, ground ginger, ground cardamom, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl egg white with a hand mixer (or standing mixer) until very light and frothy, ~3 minutes. Gently fold pecans into egg whites until evenly coated.
    • Sprinkle sugar mixture over pecans and stir until pecans are evenly coated.
    • Spread pecans out on prepared baking sheet in an even layer.
    • Bake for 1 hour, stirring halfway through cooking, until sugar coating is crisp.
    • Let cool completely on the sheet pan and then use your hands to gently break pecans apart.
    • Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 95mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 13IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Related

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    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill Everson

      October 09, 2020 at 1:00 pm

      Looks perfect... how long they good to eat... I have to have something like this available as a free treat.. 😉

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        October 09, 2020 at 7:52 pm

        They'll be just fine for a couple weeks. Enjoy!

        Reply

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