Candied Pecans

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(882)

Candied pecans are easy to make at home with this simple recipe. They're the best combination of sweet and salty, with delicious crunch in every bite. Fill up small jars to give as holiday gifts or keep some for yourself to sprinkle over salads or serve to guests.

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A bowl of candied pecans, served on a wooden tray with a few candied pecans on the tray
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
10

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these candied pecans. If you're looking for something sweet, crunchy, and simply irresistible, you should bookmark this candied pecan recipe ASAP.

Candied Pecans Ingredients

It's easy to make candied pecans with ingredients you likely already have on hand. Here's what you'll need:

  • Sugar: This recipe calls for white sugar, but you can use a blend of white and brown sugars if you like.
  • Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds warmth and coziness that perfectly complements the nutty flavor of the pecans.
  • Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the other flavors. You might be tempted to skip this ingredient, but don't!
  • Egg white and water: One large egg white, beaten with a tablespoon of water, gives the sugar and cinnamon something to adhere to. Plus, it gives the finished candied pecans a gorgeous shine. Some home cooks like to use vanilla instead of water.
  • Pecans: Of course, you'll need pecan halves. This recipe calls for one pound, but it's easy to adjust the recipe for any amount of pecans.

How to Make Candied Pecans

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make these candied pecans:

  1. Toss the pecans in the egg white-water mixture.
  2. Add the cinnamon, sugar, and salt and toss to coat.
  3. Bake the pecans, stirring once, in a preheated oven until the nuts are evenly browned.

How Can You Use Candied Pecans?

The better question: What can't you do with candied pecans? Enjoy them as a snack, give them as a gift, add them to your seasonal salads, use them as an ice cream topping, or bake them into your next batch of pumpkin bread.

Candied Pecans packaged for gift giving in mason jars
Laura

How Long Do Candied Pecans Last?

Store your candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. If you give them as a gift, be sure to include storage instructions.

Can You Freeze Candied Pecans?

Yes! These candied pecans freeze well. Arrange the cooled nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet, then place it in the freezer for at least a few hours or up to overnight. When they're completely frozen, transfer them to zip-top freezer bags. Wrap each bag in foil. Freeze flat for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"These are awesome," raves Kristie Hawksley. "I always make a batch while I'm decorating for Christmas because they make the house smell so good. These are great crushed and added to salads."

"Instead of all water, I used one teaspoon each of water, vanilla and bourbon," says Celia. "I also added a couple of dashes of ground cloves to the sugar mix."

"These are wonderfully delicious!" according to Dawn Franzmeier. "My guests could not stop eating them! They remind me of the ones I bought from a vendor near Times Square in NYC on a cold and snowy winter evening walk."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 10 servings

  • 1 cup white sugar (see note below)

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • 1 large egg white

  • 1 tablespoon water

  • 1 pound pecan halves

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).

    Ingredients to make candied pecans

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a small bowl.

    A small glass bowl with sugar, cinnamon, and salt being stirred with a whisk

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Whisk egg white and water together in a large bowl until frothy.

    A glass bowl with frothy egg whites and water being whisked together with a metal whisk

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Toss pecans in the egg white mixture to coat.

    A bowl of pecans being tossed in frothy egg while-water mixture with a spatula

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Slowly pour in sugar mixture and stir until pecans are evenly coated.

    A bowl of pecans coated with frothy egg white mixture and cinnamon-sugar mixture

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Spread onto a baking sheet.

    A yellow baking sheet with cinnamon sugar-coated pecans

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Stir pecans and rearrange into a single layer. Continue to cook, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes, until pecans are evenly browned, another 30 to 50 minutes.

    A baking sheet with candied pecans

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Serve and enjoy!

    A bowl of candied pecans, served on a wooden tray with a few candied pecans on the tray

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

From the Editor

This recipe was tested in our test kitchen in September 2023. It was made using 1 cup of sugar and then made again using 1/3 cup of sugar. The version with 1 cup sugar is more of a candy and would make a delicious topper on desserts or just as a sweet nibble for a cheese board. The version with 1/3 cup sugar lets the pecan flavor shine through and makes an excellent topper for salads. 

2,099 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

399 Calories
33g Fat
27g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 399
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 33g 42%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 19mg 6%
Sodium 66mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Total Sugars 22g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 37mg 3%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 194mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.