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My Candied Pecans Recipe is ready in under 10 minutes using simple ingredients! They're gluten-free and vegan, so everyone can enjoy them. Sweet and crunchy candied pecans are an amazing snack and make a great gift, too!
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Recipe for Candied Pecans
I'll be the first to admit how much I love candied pecans. I find them completely irresistible! For years I never considered making them at home, even with plenty of experience making candied strawberries, apples, pineapple slices, yams, and even bacon, but after trying the Barefoot Contessa candied pecans recipe, I knew I had to develop my own too enjoy whenever I have the craving.
It's easy to make this candied pecans recipe even if you've never candied nuts before. What makes my candied pecans recipe easy is the process. By making candied pecans on the stove, you can avoid using eggs, and you don't need any special tools. All you have to do to make candied pecans is melt the coating, toss the nuts in it, cook and cool, then enjoy!
Candied Pecans Recipe Ingredients
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar will make for a delicious caramelized coating for the nuts. You can use light or dark brown sugar! I like dark for the richer molasses flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon: If you'd like, you can add extra spices like nutmeg, cloves, allspice, or mace. My favorite is adding in my homemade Pumpkin Pie spice!
- Sea Salt: Sea salt is a must; it balances out the sweet to make for a perfectly sweet and salty treat. Just be careful about the amount if you're using salted pecans! Fine sea salt is preferable so it dissolves more easily.
- Vanilla Extract: A little vanilla adds a rich and smooth aroma that adds a ton of dimension to this simple treat.
- Water: I like to use water instead of egg white. This keeps the nuts dairy-free, and it's just as easy as with egg white.
- Unsalted pecans: I prefer using unsalted pecan halves for candied pecans. If you can only find salted, you can use those too; just rinse and dry them beforehand. Alternatively, don't rinse them, but leave out all additional salt.
For detailed instructions on how to make candied pecans with photos, expert tips, answers to FAQ, serving suggestions and more, scroll under the recipe card below!
Candied Pecans Recipe
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons Ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Sea salt
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1½ Tablespoons Water
- 2 cups Pecans - halved, unsalted
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, and water to a medium skillet over medium heat.½ cup Brown sugar,1½ teaspoons Ground cinnamon,½ teaspoon Sea salt,½ teaspoon Vanilla extract,1½ Tablespoons Water
- Stir often until the brown sugar melts into a bubbling sauce, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the pecans so that the brown sugar coats them all. Cook, stirring the entire time, until the pecans look candied and smell nutty, about 2-3 minutes. (As the nuts heat up in the pan, the sauce will slowly coat them and become shiny. Watch closely as the nuts cook so that they do not burn!)2 cups Pecans
- Transfer the candied pecans to the prepared baking sheet and spread them into one even layer. Allow the pecans to cool down, and then break them up,
- Store, or serve immediately!
Notes
- It's very easy for candied nuts to go from candied to burned. Stir them often, and watch carefully. You want the coating to get nice and shiny, then take them off right away!
- Make sure you're using a nonstick pan! Otherwise, the glaze can just stick to the pan and it's a pain to clean up.
- This recipe is for pecans, but you can use all sorts of nuts! I find that this flavor goes particularly well with walnuts, almonds, and cashews.
- You can adjust the flavor by adding in a splash of maple syrup, or cayenne pepper for heat! I don't recommend honey; it burns too quickly.
- They might just be the best topping ever for pumpkin pie cookies or a delicious salad!
Nutrition
How to Make Candied Pecans Step-by-Step Photos
1: Prepare Ingredients
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, and water to a medium skillet over medium heat.
2: Create Coating
Stir or whisk the cinnamon-sugar mixture often until the brown sugar melts into a bubbling sauce, about 1 minute.
3: Coat Pecans
Stir in the pecans so that the brown sugar coats them all. Cook, stirring the entire time, until the pecans look candied and smell nutty, about 2-3 minutes. (As the nuts heat up in the pan, the sauce will slowly coat them and become shiny. Watch closely as the nuts cook so that they do not burn!)
4: Cool Pecans
Transfer the candied pecans to the prepared baking sheet and spread them into one even layer. Allow the pecans to cool down to room temperature, and then break them up before serving or storing for later!
Why candy pecans?
- It's super easy! Candying nuts is not as hard as you might think! By making them on the stove instead of the oven, they're done in less than ten minutes.
- This recipe uses simple ingredients that you probably already have at home.
- They make a perfect snack, topping, or treat! Give candied pecans out as gifts, make a salad with candied pecans, or crumble them over ice cream. They make just about everything taste better.
- It's so budget friendly. Candied nuts are very expensive from the store, and once you learn how easy they are to make at home, you'll never give those store-bought nuts another glance!
- My candied pecans are vegan! This recipe makes a water and sugar based coating, instead of using egg white. That means it's egg-free, so anyone can enjoy them.
Expert Tips
- It's very easy for candied nuts to go from candied to burned. Stir them often, and watch carefully. You want the coating to get nice and shiny, then take them off right away!
- Make sure you're using a nonstick pan! Otherwise, the glaze can just stick to the pan and it's a pain to clean up.
- This recipe is for pecans, but you can use all sorts of nuts! I find that this flavor goes particularly well with walnuts, almonds, and cashews.
- You can adjust the flavor by adding in a splash of maple syrup, or cayenne pepper for heat! I don't recommend honey; it burns too quickly.
- They might just be the best topping ever for pumpkin pie cookies or a delicious salad!
- Enjoy them with my recipe for Candied Orange Peels!
Isabel's Top Tip
Toast the pecans first! This is optional but I can't recommend it enough. Lightly toasting them in a dry skillet until they smell nutty adds even more flavor, and it takes just minutes.
How to Store Candied Pecans
- Pantry: Because there aren't any egg whites, these nuts last well in the pantry. Make sure to store them in an airtight container and they'll last up to 2 weeks. However, I recommend eating them in the first week for the best flavor.
- Refrigerator: While these nuts are shelf-stable, you can place them in an airtight container in the fridge to keep them fresh longer! They last four weeks in the fridge and will stay tasting fresh.
- Freezer: I love making big batches of candied pecans to freeze! They freeze beautifully and will last up to two months. I like to crumble them ahead of time to use on salads and desserts.
FAQ
Absolutely! You can make these using any other savory nut, though I recommend walnuts, cashews, and almonds above all others. Follow the same steps; just be sure to watch the pan.
The nuts might be a little sticky while they're still hot, but shouldn't be once cooled. If they're still sticky, toast them for a little longer in a dry skillet and cool them again.
What to Make with Candied Pecans
- Crumble candied pecans over a Grilled Peach Salad!
- Add them as the perfect topping to Biscoff Cheesecake bars!
- Or, top your favorite spring Strawberry Cheesecake with candied pecans - a flavor dream come true!
- Mix them into my Pumpkin Dump Cake for the best of autumn!
They're an irresistible snack all on their own, but candied pecans are an even better ingredient in other dishes! My favorite is candied pecans for salad, but they're delicious on desserts like ice cream and cookies, or even crumbled over savory dishes for a sweet crunch.
Karen says
Yummmmmmm!!!!
Isabel Laessig says
I agree!!! Thank you, Karen!
Darlene Morrison says
I want to try the pecans recipe
Isabel Laessig says
It's delicious, Darlene! Enjoy!