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Home » Blog » Appetizer and Snack Recipes » Candied Pecans

Candied Pecans

Cathy Roma Published: Dec 30, 2018

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These candied pecans are sweet and crunchy with just a hint of spice. They make a tasty topping for salads, are ideal for gifting, and are just straight up addictive for snacking!

Candied Pecans

I get a little nostalgic around the holidays, as I’m sure many of you do. I reminisce about running down the stairs on Christmas morning with my brothers to see if we’d been naughty or nice,  lugging my first Christmas tree down the streets of Manhattan to a tiny apartment, and more recently hearing the squeals from my boys when they discovered that Rudolph ate the celery and carrots that we left by the front door.

I’m not a particularly sentimental person eleven months out of the year, but come December, all bets are off. Once that tree goes up and the stockings flank the mantel, this girl goes soft.

I get family on the brain and all I want to do is snuggle up under a cozy blanket and watch some hokey movie like Family Man for the gazillionth time. You know, one of those what-would-life-be-like-if-I-walked-through-the-other-door sort of movie.

Anyway, the moral to the movie is life is always better when you walk through the door that leads you to family, no matter how imperfect they may be. But we don’t always have that option around the holidays.

The miles may separate us and calendars don’t always sync up, and sometimes a little homemade gift delivered to those that you can’t be with is second best.

Candied Pecans

It shows you’re thinking about them in a way that another pair of fluffy slippers just can’t. I know, it means a special trip to the post office and maybe a little bubble wrap, but I promise you the sentiment is worth it.

These candied pecans are the perfect gift to ship to far away family. They travel well, last for several days, (even weeks) and are a delicious snack or salad topper. And did I mention that they’re super easy?

So before you choose another ‘tower of treats‘ from a catalog this year, heat up the oven, tie on your apron and sprinkle on the love. Because they’re worth it.

Let’s make Candied Pecans

  1. Combine sugars, corn starch, spices, and salt in a bowl.
  2. Thin with a tablespoon or two of water, and mix well.
  3. Add the pecans.
  4. Stir well to combine.

  1. Spread nuts evenly on a parchment lined sheet pan and bake at 350 for 25-30 mins, stirring once or twice while they bake.
  2. Remove from the oven when browned. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
  3. Turn out onto parchment and separate. Cool and break apart. Serve, or store in an airtight container for several days at room temperature.

Tips for success

  • Definitely use water to thin the sugar mixture before tossing the pecans. Just enough so it’s easy to coat the nuts.
  • Keep an eye on the nuts as they bake, stirring a couple times to be sure they bake evenly and don’t burn.
  • When you remove the nuts from the oven, work quickly and spread them on a clean sheet of parchment, separating them as best you can. Careful! The sugar coating will be hot and can burn!
  • Break them apart before serving or storing. Cooled nuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Candied Pecans

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Candied pecans in a mason jar with a white string tied in a bow.
Print
Candied Pecans
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

These candied pecans are sweet and crunchy with just a hint of spice. They make a tasty topping for salads, are ideal for gifting, and are just straight up addictive for snacking!

Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: candied pecans
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 712 kcal
Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For...
Ingredients
  • 16 oz whole pecans
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/3 cup light corn syrup
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
  • 1-2 Tbsp water as needed
  • *Additional 1 Tbsp sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon for topping
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a sheet tray with parchment.
  2. Whisk together the sugars, corn syrup, salt, and spices in a bowl. Thin with a tablespoon or two of water as needed. Add pecans and toss well to coat.

  3. Spread pecans evenly in prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes, stirring once or twice to be sure they cook evenly and don't burn.
  4. Remove from oven when browned and glossy and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar and toss.
  5. Place a piece of parchment or non-stick foil on the counter and carefully spread out the nuts on the paper and allow to cool. Break apart.

  6. Nuts can be kept at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe Notes

Yields 1 lb of candied pecans.

  • Definitely use water to thin the sugar mixture before tossing the pecans. Just enough so it's easy to coat the nuts.
  • Keep an eye on the nuts as they bake, stirring a couple times to be sure they bake evenly and don't burn.
  • When you remove the nuts from the oven, work quickly and spread them on a clean sheet of parchment, separating them as best you can. Careful! The sugar coating will be hot and can burn!
  • Break them apart before serving or storing. Cooled nuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

 

 

Nutrition Facts
Candied Pecans
Amount Per Serving
Calories 712 Calories from Fat 486
% Daily Value*
Fat 54g83%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Sodium 792mg34%
Potassium 334mg10%
Carbohydrates 60g20%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 52g58%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 105IU2%
Vitamin C 0.8mg1%
Calcium 73mg7%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Update Notes: This post was originally published in December 2015 but was republished with step by step photos and tips in December 2018.

Candied Pecans
Candied Pecans
8

Appetizer and Snack Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Recipe candied pecans, Christmas, dessert, holidays, nuts, party, pecans, snack, snacks, starter, Thanksgiving

About Cathy Roma

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

    December 18, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    I definitely think food gifts are gift from the heart. They mean SO much more than that pair of fuzzy pink slippers or a gift card, for sure! I adore candied nuts, especially pecans and yours look delicious, my dear! I LOVE your photos, nuts aren’t the easiest thing to shoot! I would be thrilled if someone sent me a jar of these… and I know they would be devoured in an hour! Pinned! Cheers, Cathy!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 21, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      Thanks Cheyanne! It’s more work than a gift card, but definitely more special. Appreciate your comments about the photos…recipes are the easy part. This photography business is the challenge!

  2. Allie says

    December 19, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    These look absolutely amazing – candied pecans might be one of my favorite treats of all time. And I feel you on the sentimental feeling of Christmas. I can’t avoid it.

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      December 21, 2015 at 2:01 pm

      Thanks Allie! I know…I’m such a sap around a brightly lit tree. Merry Christmas!

  3. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    December 20, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    Love the sound of these Cathy! Pecans are a family favorite at our house! On my list!

    Reply
  4. A says

    December 26, 2020 at 10:49 pm

    In the beginning you mention combining corn starch with the sugars but in the recipe you only mention corn syrup. Is this a typo or did i miss something?

    Reply
    • Cathy Roma says

      December 27, 2020 at 4:08 am

      I’m not sure what you mean. The recipe calls for brown sugar, sugar and corn syrup. They’re combined and the pecans are tossed in the mixture before baking.

  5. Sue says

    December 11, 2021 at 7:09 pm

    I haven’t made these yet. I’m a little nervous about adding 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper. Is that really right? I like spicy but I don’t want to burn my mouth.

    Reply

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HEY THERE, I’M CATHY.

My food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. Sweet, savory, healthy, decadent…food, like life, is all about balance. I rely on my background as a trained chef/mom to create family-friendly recipes that will inspire you to cook, not complicate your life.

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