These 5-ingredient do-it-yourself candied pecans are fast and simple to make, crowd-pleasing, and dangerously scrumptious! This traditional is (and all the time has been!) one in all my very favourite vacation snacks.
I initially printed this recipe in 2012 and have since added new pictures and useful success ideas. Whereas the unique model included a mixture of pecans and almonds, this up to date recipe focuses solely on candied pecans. (You possibly can nonetheless swap in some almonds if you happen to’d like. See Notes beneath!)
If there’s one snack I make on repeat each fall and vacation season, it’s these candied pecans. They’re crunchy, warmly spiced, calmly candy, and fully irresistible whether or not you’re grabbing a handful straight from the pan or sprinkling them over salads, desserts, or cheese boards.
Better of all? They’re made with 5 easy pantry substances (plus just a little water!) and are available collectively in underneath an hour.
The recipe is from my mother’s good friend, Sharyn. We make them each single 12 months, and so they’ve turn into a do-it-yourself gift-giving custom for associates, lecturers, and family members ever since.
Retailer-bought candied nuts are sometimes cloyingly candy or oddly sticky, however this do-it-yourself model strikes the proper stability. Every pecan is encrusted in a crackly cinnamon-sugar shell that truly stays crisp. When you attempt them recent from cooling on the baking sheet, you’ll by no means return to store-bought!
Why You’ll Love These Candied Pecans
- Made with only a handful of primary substances
- Candy, spiced, and completely crunchy
- EASY—no sweet thermometer required
- Make-ahead pleasant for presents and entertaining
- Extremely versatile—snack, topping, or garnish
- Keep recent for weeks
One reader, Rachael, commented: “I’ve made these nuts yearly because you posted this recipe and my household and coworkers look ahead to this yearly. They’re so good and so addicting! YUM!!!! Thanks for sharing such a yummy deal with. ★★★★★“
One other reader, Bernie, commented: “I made these for Christmas, doubled the batch and gave as parting presents. Everybody has requested for the recipe! I made extra so I can take them to work. ★★★★★”
Seize These Substances
- Pecans: Use uncooked, unsalted pecan halves. Their pure ridges and crevices maintain onto the cinnamon-sugar coating particularly properly.
- Egg Whites + Water: Egg whites are the important thing to the crisp coating. Whipping them with a small quantity of water thins the combination simply sufficient so it evenly coats the pecans as an alternative of clumping. Because the pecans bake, the egg whites dry and set, creating a lightweight, crackly shell.
- Granulated Sugar: Offers sweetness and construction. Granulated sugar melts and re-crystallizes within the oven, creating that traditional candied crunch.
- Cinnamon: Numerous taste!
- Salt: Important for stability.
This recipe depends on a easy (however intelligent!) method to create that signature candied crunch. Whipped egg whites act as a pure binder, serving to the cinnamon-sugar combination cling evenly to every pecan. Because the nuts bake, the coating slowly dries and crystallizes, forming a crisp, crackly shell as an alternative of a sticky glaze.
As a result of these candied pecans are baked low and gradual, the sugar units evenly with out scorching, delivering constant outcomes with far much less hands-on time. No babysitting over a stovetop!
In Images: How These Candied Pecans Come Collectively
You’ll whip egg whites and water till frothy. This takes simply a few minutes. Then you definitely’ll fold within the sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir gently to maintain the combination from deflating. Add the pecans and stir till every pecan is generously coated, then unfold between 2 parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
Success tip we’ve got realized through the years: Grease the parchment paper first, as a result of these WILL stick in any other case!
The nuts take round 45 minutes within the oven. Give them a fast stir each quarter-hour so that they toast evenly and don’t burn.
As they cool, the coating absolutely units, and that is when the pecans develop their signature crunch.
Bundle up the candied pecans in little deal with luggage for associates, munch on them whereas adorning vacation sugar cookies, or set them out at a vacation get-together, maybe together with some sprinkle-loaded chocolate coated pretzels?
Ideas for Success
- Grease the parchment paper; in any other case the baked nuts will stick.
- Stir each quarter-hour whereas they bake, to stop clumping and guarantee even browning.
- Unfold right into a single layer—overcrowding results in steaming as an alternative of crisping. Use 2 baking sheets, or bake in batches if you happen to solely have 1.
- Allow them to cool absolutely earlier than breaking up; they’ll proceed to crisp up as they set.
Methods to Use Candied Pecans
This candied pecan recipe will work for any form of nuts, however I choose utilizing pecans as a result of the cinnamon-sugar goodness will get caught within the pecans’ little crevices. The entire pecans’ crinkles are enveloped with a thick layer of the candy stuff—a clean nut doesn’t “catch” as a lot coating as a pecan. That mentioned, be happy to make use of a mixture of nuts for quite a lot of textures. Almonds, cashews, macadamias—no matter you’d like to make use of up in your pantry—would additionally work because the second nut on this recipe, however be sure to use pecans as the first base. One reader reported making scrumptious candied pumpkin seeds with this recipe, too!
Sure. They freeze superbly for as much as 2 months. Thaw at room temperature earlier than serving.
Description
These do-it-yourself candied pecans are candy, warmly spiced, and completely crunchy. Made with simply 5 easy substances plus water and baked (not stovetop), they’re simple to arrange and best for snacking, salads, charcuterie boards, and vacation gifting.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (149°C). Line 2 massive baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and calmly grease with nonstick spray. Put aside.
- In a big bowl with a handheld or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and water on medium-high velocity till foamy and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and fold with a silicone spatula till mixed.
- Add the pecans and stir to coat fully. Unfold the nuts in a single layer on the ready baking sheets and bake for 45 minutes, stirring each quarter-hour. Midway by baking, rotate the baking sheets and swap their positions within the oven.
- Enable to chill fully on the baking sheets. The sugar coating will proceed to crisp up because it cools.
- Retailer pecans in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 3 weeks or freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
Notes
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Baking Sheets | Silicone Baking Mats or Parchment Paper | Glass Mixing Bowl | Silicone Spatula | Electrical Mixer (Handheld or Stand)
- Smaller or Bigger Batch: This recipe simply scales up or down. Merely halve or double the entire substances as wanted. Whipping the egg whites and water will take barely much less or extra time relying on the batch measurement. The oven temperature and bake time stay the identical—simply be sure you unfold the nuts right into a single layer on greased, lined baking sheets.
- Utilizing Totally different Nuts: Sure! This recipe works with many varieties of nuts, however pecans are my favourite as a result of the cinnamon-sugar coating will get caught in all their little crinkles. A clean nut doesn’t “catch” as a lot coating as a pecan does. That mentioned, be happy to interchange as much as half of the pecans with one other nut if you happen to’d like. Almonds, cashews, or macadamias all work properly. Simply make sure pecans stay the first nut for finest texture.
