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Easy Candied Pecans

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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.

A close up of candied pecans piled onto parchment paper

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.

Overhead shot of candied pecans piled into a white bowl on top of a white dishcloth

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.
A close up of candied pecans piled onto parchment paper on a baking sheet

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.

A close up of candied pecans piled onto parchment paper

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!

Candied Pecans

Looking for more pecans in your life?

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Easy Candied Pecans

4.77 from 43 votes
An easy gift for the holidays! Sweet and flavored with cinnamon and sugar, these candied pecans are an addicting snack that's perfect for a crowd – baked and ready in about 30 minutes.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 cups

Ingredients
 

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 sugar
    1/3 cup (66 ⅔ g) granulated sugar
    1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    1 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, halved
    1 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

Calories: 897kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 71g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 21g | Monounsaturated Fat: 40g | Sodium: 604mg | Potassium: 476mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 61IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 3mg

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.

Recipe created by Leslie Kiszka

This post was originally published in November 2018 and has been revised and republished in October 2019 for clarity.

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40 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These are by far the best candies “pee-cans” I’ve ever had. Homemade or storebought. Easy to make and awesome. Thanks!

  2. 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.

  3. 4 stars
    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.

  4. 5 stars
    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

      1. 5 stars
        Impossible to do. I ate until gone. Yes I sure was a little piggy but couldn’t help myself.

  5. 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.

    1. 1 star
      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

    1. 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.

  6. 5 stars
    Sorry to correct you but pralines & candied pecans are 2 different animals. Pecans & brown sugar are about the only common ingredient. Making pralines is a long envoled process. They come from Louisiana & have always been made by the Cajun people. They are much more widespread now. I remember when l was little, my mother would take me to my adopted Cajun grandmother to get a few of these treats at Christmas every year. You need to find authentic ones to try & you will NEVER say they’re the same again. Promise !!!

    1. I doubt you’re actually sorry ;) I’d come at me, too – pralines are their own divine creation! I was only commenting that people I know in the south have called them “praline pecans” as sort of a cute way to call them fancy pecans. I’ve actually been to New Orleans and had my fair share (okay, *more* than my fair sure) of pralines – so delicious!

      I’ve added a little clarity in the body of the post so people know that I haven’t lost my mind :)

  7. 5 stars
    What a great way to spread the love this holiday season. I bet this makes your home smell amazing! Can’t wait to make these.

  8. I need to make these asap! They would be perfect to snack on or give as a gift this holiday season.

  9. This looks dangerously addicting! These wouldn’t last long around me. Time to start baking!

  10. If I make these no one will ever know because I’ll eat them all before anyone comes over. Not that there’s a problem with that.

  11. 5 stars
    We say pee-can in my part of the world, and I have the same reaction you have when I hear people say puh-kahn :) It’s a funny old world. These pecans look delicious and are one of my favourite snacks around the holidays, I can’t wait to make them x

  12. 5 stars
    Candied pecans are so perfect for the holidays! Perfect for gift-giving AND snacking! These look wonderful for both :) Thank you for the recipe!