Candied Pecans are a foolproof, simple treat! Package them as festive gifts, add to a cheese board, or sprinkle over salads and desserts.
Candied Pecans
From garnishing desserts to topping salads, Candied Pecans show up frequently on this site. I’m completely obsessed with them and they add such a great element to so many dishes. Plus, they are so simple to make — you’ll be amazed how quickly they come together.
Read on for the process of how to make Candied Pecans!
Ingredients
- Sugar: Try using half granulated and half light brown sugar for more flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adjust to taste if you prefer a stronger cinnamon kick.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Egg Whites: Whisk until frothy for the best coating.
- Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Water: Just a splash is enough to get the right consistency.
- Pecan Halves: Use fresh pecans for the best crunch and flavor.
How long do Candied Pecans last?
At room temperature (70 degrees F), these Candied Pecans last up to 2 weeks. In a sealed and airtight container in a dark/cool area, they can stay fresh up to 45 days.
Can you freeze Candied Pecans?
If you opt to freeze these pecans, they do quite well in a freezer at 0 degrees F. To freeze: store in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months.
How To Make Candied Pecans
- Whisk. Mix egg whites, vanilla, and water together until frothy (see picture above).
- Toss. Add pecans to the frothy egg mixture.
- Stir. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Toss again. Once again, toss the pecans in this mixture until they’re all evenly coated.
- Bake. Spread the pecans on a sheet pan and bake, flipping every 15 minutes.
I’ve found baking Candied Pecans in the oven always yields the best and most consistent results, but you can use the stovetop in a pinch.
How do you make Candied Pecans on the stove?
- Combine 1/4 light brown sugar, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and 2 tablespoons water in a large skillet. Whisk to combine and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is bubbling.
- Stir in 1 cup of pecan halves and toss to coat in the sugar. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly and watching carefully so they don’t burn.
- Remove the pecans from the heat and pour them onto a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Use a spoon to quickly separate the pecans a bit.
- Let pecans cool completely and enjoy!
For a cute way to package this Candied Pecans recipe:
Click to download the FREE Sugared Nuts Printable
- To use this printable: purchase Kraft (brown) sticker paper. HERE is the exact package I used.
- Save the free printable above to your computer.
- Print the “Sugared Nuts Printable”.
- Attach the stickers to the side of a Mason jar or individual plastic bags. Place the cooled nuts into the jar (or bag), seal, and then tie with some twine or ribbon.
- Share the love!
I Love Adding Candied Pecans To
Desserts:
Savory:
- Chicken Salad (replace regular pecans with candied pecans for a DELICIOUS twist)
- Pear Salad
- Fall Spinach Salad
- The BEST Berry Salad
Candied Pecans
Equipment
- Sheet pan 15 x 21-inch
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar see note 1
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg whites
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 pounds pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250℉. Line an extra-large sheet pan (or 2 smaller sheet pans) with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set aside.
- Measure sugar, cinnamon, and salt into a large bowl. Stir to combine.
- In another bowl, whisk egg whites, vanilla, and water together until frothy. Toss pecans in the egg white mixture and then use a slotted spoon to remove and transfer them into the bowl with the sugar mixture. Toss the pecans in the sugar mixture until well coated. Spread coated pecans onto a baking sheet and keep them from overlapping.
- Bake in the preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes until pecans are evenly browned, about 45–60 minutes. Let stand for 30 minutes or until fully cool and solidify.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
these would be such a great gift to receive!
Chelsea – this looks gorgeous and let’s skip Thanksgiving 🙂 The sticker, the sugared nuts, the attention to details…is lovely.
These printable!!! AHHHH! My heart is screaming because I loved dressed-up ways of packaging food as gifts and this recipe speaks to me ;). Thanks so much for sharing!
Chelsea! These look SO yummy! And I am so impressed by your cute labels! What a perfect gift for this holiday season!
Ooooh I’m loving these close ups! Check out that saaaaalt. Did you use an extension tube?
Oh my gosh Chelsea – great minds think alike! I’ve been doing the same thing (prepping for gifts for Christmas with custom printables). I haven’t shared them with my readers (pretty much doing it for me), but this is such a fantastic idea to share with your readers! And, I love the printables! You did a great job – they’re so cute! And these nuts? I would totally love these as a gift! Pinned!
Those printables are the CUTEST and these nuts look downright dangerous. I love love that they’re done completely in the crock-pot! I love making candied nuts, but I don’t always appreciate all the time it takes to bake them. Problem solved! These look fabulous. 😀
These sugared nuts sound fantastic, Chelsea! I love that you made them in the slow cooker. I’ve made a similar version, but only in the oven. And I love your printable! Such a fun idea. Can’t wait to see what else you have in store for this month!
Yum, what a great idea! I’m a planner too when it comes to Christmas – actually myom has an amazing book wich recommends starting to plan next Christmas on December 26th 😀 love the printables!
These printable are so cute. These nuts sound like the bomb! I would totally gift these (after eating a batch to the face). Thanks for sharing I may take these to Friendsgiving!