This recipe for candied pecans is pecan halves coated in a sweet cinnamon sugar mixture and baked to crispy and crunchy perfection . Candied pecans are perfect for salads, snacking or package them up for a fun homemade gift idea!

I always enjoy pecans, whether they’re in a rice pilaf , a brussels sprout salad or in pecan pie bars . These glazed pecans are so incredibly delicious, you’ll never be able to eat just one!

A bowl filled with homemade candied pecans. - 1

Warning, these candied pecans are addicting! They’ve got the most amazing crackly cinnamon sugar coating and I could pretty much eat them morning, noon and night. They’re a great topper for cereal, yogurt or ice cream.

These pecans are perfect for salad recipes , dessert recipes or even for snacking by the handful. Best of all, these candied nuts are so very easy to prepare!

  • Candied Pecan Ingredients
  • How Do You Make Candied Pecans?
  • Tips For The Perfect Pecans
  • Quick Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Ways To Use Candied Pecans
  • More Recipes You’ll Love
  • Love This Recipe?
  • Candied Pecans Recipe

Candied Pecan Ingredients

To make these candied pecans you will need granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, an egg white, water and pecans.

Pecan halves on a sheet pan. - 2

How Do You Make Candied Pecans?

This recipe starts with pecan halves, which you coat in egg white, and then toss in a mixture of brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt. The pecans bake in the oven on a sheet pan or baking sheet until the coating is hardened and golden brown. Let the nuts cool, then serve and enjoy.

Granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. - 3

Tips For The Perfect Pecans

  • If there are some smaller pieces in your bag of pecan halves, remove them so that they won’t burn in the oven.
  • Spread your pecans in a single layer when they go into the oven, this will prevent them from sticking together as they bake. If any of your nuts are stuck together when they come out of the oven, you can separate them easily while they’re still warm.
  • You can add other seasonings to your nuts such as nutmeg, allspice, or even a bit of heat with a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  • This cinnamon sugar coating also works well for other types of nuts such as candied walnuts or candied almonds.
  • Give your candied pecans as a gift. You can package them in cellophane bags or in a mason jar decorated with a pretty ribbon.
  • You can easily double or triple this recipe if you’re looking to make a large batch for the holidays or gift giving.

Quick Tip

This recipe works best with pecan halves rather than pecan pieces. Irregularly shaped pecan pieces tend to bake at different rates in the oven.

Nuts coated in egg white and sugar. - 4

You do not need to refrigerate candied pecans. In fact, I recommend storing them at room temperature, as the moisture from the fridge could affect their crunchy coating.

You can keep candied pecans for up to 3 weeks if you store them in an airtight container.

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Cooked glazed nuts on a sheet pan. - 5

Ways To Use Candied Pecans

You can use these sugary pecans in all sorts of different applications.

  • Trail Mix: Make a sweet trail mix with the pecans, diced dried apricots, dried cranberries, salted cashews and semisweet chocolate chips.
  • Cereal: Top your oatmeal or favorite cold cereal with a handful of chopped sweetened nuts.
  • Ice Cream: Drizzle caramel sauce over vanilla ice cream and add a sprinkle of candied nuts on top.
  • Salads: Try these nuts on your favorite fall or winter salads like Thanksgiving salad , cranberry salad , winter fruit salad or Christmas salad .
  • Desserts: Sprinkle glazed pecans on top of a homemade pumpkin pie , eggnog cake , apple cobbler or apple crisp .
  • Breakfast: Sprinkle chopped candied pecans over baked oatmeal , buttermilk waffles or cinnamon roll French toast casserole .
Candied pecans in a salad with strawberries and feta cheese. - 6

Candied pecans are sure to get rave reviews from anyone who samples them. No one will even guess how easy they are to make!

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Ingredients1x2x3x

  • ▢ 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • ▢ 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • ▢ 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • ▢ 1 egg white
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon water
  • ▢ 8 ounces pecan halves

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a sheet pan with a silicon baking mat or parchment paper.
  • Place the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the egg white with the water until the mixture is frothy. Pour the pecans into the egg white mixture and toss to coat. Pour in the cinnamon sugar mixture and stir until nuts are thoroughly coated in the sugar.
  • Place the nuts in a single layer on the sheet pan.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through the baking time, until the coating on the nuts has hardened.
  • Cool completely and store in an airtight container until ready for use.

Notes

  1. This recipe works best with pecan halves rather than pecan pieces. Pecan pieces tend to be irregularly shaped and will bake at different rates in the oven.
  2. If there are some smaller pieces in your bag of pecan halves, remove them so that they won’t burn in the oven.
  3. Spread your pecans in a single layer when they go into the oven, this will prevent them from sticking together as they bake. If any of your nuts are stuck together when they come out of the oven, you can separate them easily while they’re still warm.

Nutrition

A bowl of homemade candied pecans with a few pecans scattered around. - 12 A bowl filled with homemade candied pecans. - 13

Candied Pecans

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 8 ounces pecan halves

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a sheet pan with a silicon baking mat or parchment paper.
  • Place the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the egg white with the water until the mixture is frothy. Pour the pecans into the egg white mixture and toss to coat. Pour in the cinnamon sugar mixture and stir until nuts are thoroughly coated in the sugar.
  • Place the nuts in a single layer on the sheet pan.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring halfway through the baking time, until the coating on the nuts has hardened.
  • Cool completely and store in an airtight container until ready for use.

Notes

  1. This recipe works best with pecan halves rather than pecan pieces. Pecan pieces tend to be irregularly shaped and will bake at different rates in the oven.
  2. If there are some smaller pieces in your bag of pecan halves, remove them so that they won’t burn in the oven.
  3. Spread your pecans in a single layer when they go into the oven, this will prevent them from sticking together as they bake. If any of your nuts are stuck together when they come out of the oven, you can separate them easily while they’re still warm.

Nutrition