Candied Pecans
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This candied pecans recipe is an absolute must for the holidays! Sweet, salty, and crunchy nuts are perfect for serving with cocktails and appetizers, topping salads, or just snacking by the handful.
Photo by Alexandra Grablewski (Chronicle Books, 2018)
These sweet, spicy, and salty candied pecans are madly delicious. They’re perfect for serving with cocktails or just keeping on hand as a snack during the holidays. They also make a fabulous homemade gift, and the simple ingredients come together in just minutes. Pair them with a cheese board for a delightful pop of sweet flavor and crunch, or use them to jazz up roasted vegetables, salads, or grain bowls. They’re almost like candy but packed with protein, so you can totally justify grabbing a handful (or two!). The best part? You only need four ingredients and 15 minutes to make them. What are you waiting for?
What You’ll Need To Make Candied Pecans
- Confectioners’ sugar: Combined with water, it creates a syrupy glaze when baked, coating the pecans evenly and caramelizing the exterior. Do not substitute granulated sugar or brown sugar.
- Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness of the sugar.
- Cayenne pepper: Provides a subtle kick. While the candied nuts aren’t spicy at all, you can omit the cayenne or replace it with ground cinnamon if you prefer. If you want to up the heat, you can add a little more cayenne to the glaze mixture.
- Water: Mixed with the sugar and seasonings, helps create a syrupy consistency to coat the pecans evenly.
- Pecan Halves: Pecans make wonderful candied nuts because their crevices absorb the flavorful glaze during baking. While smooth nuts like almonds and cashews can work, walnuts make the best alternative to pecans.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Combine the Confectioners’ sugar, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, and 4 teaspoons of water in a medium bowl.
Whisk until combined.
Add the pecans to the sugar mixture and stir until evenly coated.
Place the nuts on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the nuts are crusty on top and caramelized on the bottom. Slide the parchment off of the baking sheet onto a countertop to stops the nuts from cooking.
When the nuts are completely cool, use your hands to break them apart. Transfer the nuts to a bowl and serve.
The nuts will keep nicely for a few weeks stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Video Tutorial
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Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- ½ cup confectioners' sugar
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 teaspoons water
- 2 cups pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, and water.
- Add the pecans to the sugar mixture and stir until the nuts are evenly coated.
- Transfer the pecans to the prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Do your best to make sure the nuts are evenly spread out (if they are clumped together, they won't cook evenly). Scrape out every last bit of glaze from the bowl and drizzle over the nuts. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the pecans are caramelized and the caramel on the baking sheet is a rich brown color but not burnt. (The nuts around the edges will darken first; watch closely so they don't burn.)
- Immediately slide the parchment off of the hot baking sheet and allow the pecans to cool completely on the countertop (this stops the cooking process and prevents the nuts from burning). Once cool, remove the pecans from the parchment, breaking apart any clusters if necessary, and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Oh, these are good! They disappeared quickly.
I needed a quick item to take to a party. These were fast and delicious! Love the heat and sweet!
I made these pecans for our family Christmas celebration. I was unsure whether to adjust the cayenne because my husband and I are quite sensitive to heat, while our adult kids love spicy foods. I decided to make it as written, and they were delicious. I couldn’t stop eating them, even though they burned my mouth. They were too hot for the hubs, and the youngsters didn’t realize they were supposed to be spicy but still liked them. I definitely recommend this recipe, but have no idea how to adjust the heat to suit a crowd.
This is my year-round go to recipe. Anytime I need a last minute hostess gift this is it. I keep pecans in the freezer so they are always on hand. I order them in five-pound bags from a pecan farm and freeze them. Do not buy those awful bags at the grocery store. This is an easy recipe. Just the right amount of spice. DO NOT WALK AWAY FROM THE OVEN WHEN THE NUTS ARE BAKING! Put the nuts in a lovely jar and tie a pretty ribbon on it. If you keep these at home find a hiding place if you want some for yourself.
Addictive!!! Altho we aren’t entertaining any more these days I make these to treat ourselves as we stay at home and stay safe. A treat is well deserved these days! Such an easy recipe but so very very good and no changes whatsoever to the recipe. Thanks Jenn!
This recipe is ridiculously good and simple. Add an extra pinch of cayenne if you want more heat. I keep mine in the oven a little longer than recipe instructs for a crunchier pecan.
Hi,
Made these as a gift for coworkers, but didn’t add the cayenne since we can’t into spicy. They loved them, always wanted them. Now I make a batch and keep it for snacks and for my salads. Ginger
During the holidays made several batches for friends and family. This recipe is a very big hit! Not only are they delicious but so easy to make! Thanks for sharing your wonder recipes.
So good, & makes a great gift. I’ve made them at Christmas, Football games, and vacation snack. Perfection.
Can’t keep these in the house for very long… lol
My husband can find them no matter where I hide them.
Easiest and tastiest spiced nuts ever.
Thanks Jenn.
My husband loves pecans. I have tried lots of recipes. Many are too sweet. This recipe is his favorite. So easy. The prefect sweet /hot ratio. I have a copy of the recipe taped to the inside of my spice cabinet, as a matter of fact.