Delicious Candied Pecans are great for topping on salads, desserts, giving as holiday gifts, or just for a sweet treat to snack on. This easy candied pecans recipe can be made on the stovetop or baked in the oven.
Say hello to my favorite cinnamon-sugar coated, caramelized pecans! They’re addicting, everyone loves them, and they are incredibly easy to make.
You can use ANY kind of nuts 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!
Candied nuts are incredibly versatile. If you can hold off from snacking on the entire batch, they are great for topping on salads, like this mixed green salad with berries, or this apple cranberry fruit salad. Top them on ice cream, pumpkin pie, or even serve them with a charcuterie board. They add a special touch that’s always crowd pleasing.
Most recipes for candied nuts are made by coating the nuts in a cinnamon sugar mixture and toasting them in the oven. This method takes about 45 minutes, and the final product is incredible! Crunchy, candy coated nuts with the perfect roasted nut flavor.
They can also be made on the stove top. If you’re in a hurry and want some candied pecans to top on a salad but don’t have much time, I’ve added instructions for a really easy stovetop candied nuts recipe, below. They will still taste great, and they work well in a pinch, (but I definitely prefer the baked version).
How to make candied pecans:
Start by adding cinnamon and sugar to a bowl. In another bowl beat together an egg white, water and vanilla.
Add the pecans to the egg white mixture and toss to coat. Pour the cinnamon sugar on top and toss well to coat.
Pour the nuts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, so that 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.
Allow them to cool completely before storing.
How to make Candied Pecans on the stovetop:
Add 1 cup of pecans to a skillet. Toast over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, tossing often. Remove to a plate.
Add 1/2 cup brown sugar, dash of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of water to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat until bubbling.
Add the pecans and cook for 3 more minutes, stirring to gently coat in the glaze.
Remove from the heat, and pour pecans out onto a parchment lined tray. Allow to cool completely.
How to store Candied Pecans:
Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for one week, in the fridge for 3 weeks , or in the freezer for two months.
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Candied Pecans
Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 16 ounces unsalted pecans halves , (about 4 cups)
- 1 large egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon water
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
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE this recipe and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
Sean Murphy says
These have become a favorite in our home. Don’t need to put them in the refrigerator as they don’t last more than a few weeks.
We heat them up in the microwave for 30 seconds (from room temp) – unbelievable!
Thanks for the great recipe!
Rachael Blanton says
please note in the recipe 16 oz. is not 4 cups it’s 2 so I havent tried but may make a difference which ever direction you follow
Mary says
A 16 oz. bag of pecans yields 4 cups.
Dani Mc says
Can you clarify how many cups of pecans to be used? You indicated 16 oz., which is 2 cups, not 4.
Lauren Allen says
Once up of pecans is about 4 ounces. 4 cups or about 16 ounces, as stated.
Sue says
16 oz of pecans is a dry measure, and it does =4 cups.
Sunny says
So, just a funny story on this recipe. LOL. I’ve never made this recipe before. I tried to make it today, but I accidentally miss read the recipe. I added the sugar in with the liquid and then mixed in the pecans. BIG mistake! They look absolutely horrible! Do you know when you’re out hiking on a trail or in the mountains and you step over really old animal poo? You know, all white gray and dried out? Well let me tell you, that’s exactly what these pecans look like! They taste really good but definitely not pleasing to the eye. It reminds me of the cat litter cake! LOL After I figured out that I miss read the recipe, I tried again using walnuts. I followed the directions to a T. They came out beautiful!
Karen Smith says
I made these as a part of gifts at Christmas time. This recipe is super easy and great. On my fourth batch because they r so popular with my family and friends.
Lynnette Latchford says
I will try this recipe! Looks yummy!
Juliet says
Could you substitute any other types of nuts for this recipe? My family is partial to almonds. Thanks!
Lauren Allen says
Almonds would work great!
Cheryl Willoughby says
I’ve made these several times with monk fruit sweetner, golden for the brown sugar and plain for the white sugar and they come out fantastic. Great for a diabetic or anyone watching their carbs.
Sandy says
Excellent😀 It is my new favorite candy!
Holly says
My husband loves these. Asked me to make another batch today. Used cashews, walnuts, and pecans. Over 2 pounds of nuts. I mixed them together then split into two batches. One I made as instructed. The other batch I added some Tabasco sauce to the egg white. This gave a bit of a kick. Happy happy husband!