Easy Candied Pecans
Sweet and flavored with cinnamon and sugar, these candied pecans are an addicting snack that's perfect for a crowd. An easy gift for the holidays, or just as a snack for guests – baked and ready in about 30 minutes! Add it to the table with the Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball and Bourbon Balls.
Stef said: “Making for neighbors this year. Made last year for family and friends and was inundated with calls for the recipe. They are beyond delicious. Thank you for sharing! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“
I've been making these easy candied pecans every year during the holidays for… um… forever? I honestly can't remember a time when I didn't make them. It's my go-to snack to bring to holiday parties that's easy to make for a crowd, and it's always a crowd pleaser.
… I'm saying “crowd” too much.
Anyway, I love these because you can grab a handful to munch on while you're mingling about chatting with people, and don't have to worry about that awkward balancing act you do with appetizers that require a fork – or even worse, a fork and knife.
Ingredients for candied pecans
- ⅔ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound pecans, halved
- 1 egg white, room temperature and lightly beaten
Tips for making candied pecans
- Make sure you are using raw pecan halves, and not seasoned or salted ones. We're making cinnamon sugar pecans – who knows what flavor you might end up with if they're already seasoned!
- Can't or don't want to use egg whites? You can still make candied pecans without egg. Substitute aquafaba! It's just the liquid from canned chickpeas, and 3 tablespoons should do the trick.
- Feel free to add other spices if you want to switch up the flavor – turn them into spiced candied pecans, maybe with a little nutmeg, ginger, or even a pinch of paprika.
- Make sure you lay them in an even layer on the baking sheet – if you need to use two baking sheets to make that happen, go ahead and do it.
In other parts of the country, I've heard people call these “glazed pecans”, and “praline pecans” – which sounds fancy. But that's just a cute way of calling them fancy – these are in no way pralines, so don't freak out and think I've gone nuts. Get it? Nuts? You get it.
Side note: Do you say puh-kahn or pee-can? I've only ever exclusively said puh-kahn, but I'm always entertained when I hear people say pee-can. Why, you ask? I have no idea, but it's probably the same reason I'm entertained when people ask me to pass the maple seer-up instead of maple sirr-up.
Seriously, though – in the comments, please tell me which one you say and where you live. I'd love to know if it's a regional thing.
Candied pecans make a great gift
Candied pecans are the kind of snack that's perfect to pour into a little gift bag and tie with a bow to hand out to loved ones. Or to just pour into a bowl and devour on your couch while you watch Elf. Either way.
I hope you love these as much as probably everyone I know does!
Looking for more pecans in your life?
- My Chocolate Pecan Pie Energy Bites deliver the pecan flavor without all the sugar.
- Lauren delivers the good stuff with her Bourbon Pecan Pie. Did I mention it has a Chocolate Crust?
- Whitney makes me drool every damn time I see this Salted Caramel Pecan Money Bread.
- This Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is another great app for a crowd.
- Bourbon Butter Pecan Ice Cream can hit the spot paired with a nice glass of bourbon, just for fun.
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Easy Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound pecans, halved
- 1 egg white, room temperature and lightly beaten
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon and salt.2/3 cup (146 ⅔ g) brown sugar1/3 cup (66 ⅔ g) granulated sugar1 tablespoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon salt
- In a separate large bowl, combine pecans and egg white and toss until pecans are evenly coated.1 pound (453 ⅗ g) pecans, halved1 egg white
- Add sugar mixture to bowl with pecans and stir/toss to combine.
- Pour pecan mixture onto prepared baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes, stirring them after the first 15 minutes. Keep in mind everyone's oven it a little different, so you may need more or less time.
- Remove from oven and let the pecans cool on the baking sheet until cooled. Transfer to an airtight container to store until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Can't or don't want to use egg whites? Substitute 3 tablespoons aquafaba.
- Make sure you are using raw pecan halves, and not seasoned or salted ones.
- Feel free to add other spices if you want to switch up the flavor – maybe a little nutmeg, ginger, or even a pinch of paprika.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Disclaimer
The provided nutrition information is generated by an automatic API and does not take variations across specific brands into account. This information is provided as a general guideline and should not be treated as official calculations. Learn more here.
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This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been revised and republished in October 2019 for clarity.
These are by far the best candies “pee-cans” I’ve ever had. Homemade or storebought. Easy to make and awesome. Thanks!
So happy to hear this, thank you so much for sharing!
I’m from eastern NC and here we say pee-can. After all there is not a U to make it puh and CAN us pronounced can not Kahn.
Thanks for the recipe, I am defiantly making these for Christmas gifts. As for how I pronounce pecans is pee-can. I used to work as a waitress for an old folk’s home and one old lady would always correct me it was so annoying. I think that it is cool to say it however you like.
Making for neighbors this year. Made last year for family and friends and was inundated with calls for receipe. They are beyond DELICIOUS. THANK YOU FOR SHARING
I’m so glad you like them and have made it part of your holiday tradition!
OH. Bad bad bad and bad. How do you stop eating them? They are sooooo good!
Hahaha, it’s an exercise in serious self restraint! ;)
Impossible to do. I ate until gone. Yes I sure was a little piggy but couldn’t help myself.
Hahah, I share the same experience most times I make them!
So easy and so good. I used half walnuts and half pecans.
I’m so glad you liked it – thanks so much for coming back to leave a comment!
These came out ok. 30 minutes was way too long. I only did 25 minutes and some were almost burned. The flavor was good though. I will try this again, but cook for a shorter amount of time.
this happened to me so sad. i wish i read the comments before i made them. i wouldn’t have left them in so long
I’m sorry to hear that – everyone’s oven is a little bit different so baking times may vary.
How long do these last? Just wondering how far in advance they can be made.
I have honestly never had them last longer than a couple days in our house because they always disappear too quickly, haha! But they should last up to a week in an airtight container before they start to get stale.
Up north here in Chicagoland we say pee can.
I’ve been away from Chicago for so many years I’ve forgotten what I usually heard! hah
@L Cole, Well Chicago here,to, and we say pee-Khan…You must be a southsider..northside here!
Haha, you caught me!
Delicious!! Have made batches! Runni g low on pecans! Would this work with walnuts?
I’m not sure – let me know if you give it a try, though!