Candied Pecans two ways! These ultra crunchy, oven baked, sweet and salty nuts are perfect for snacking and gifting!

General
Praline vs candied pecans
Ingredients
How to make
Get the recipe
Step-by-step video
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make on stovetop?
How to make on stovetop
Why are my pecans soft?
Are these gluten-free?
Tips
Variations
Pairing suggestions
How to store
Nutrition information

Whether you’re looking to throw some candied pecans in with some greens to liven up a salad or bake a batch for snacking and holiday gifting, this recipe is absolute perfection.

PLUS, I’ve included two variations for your candied pecans, one to use for savory recipes (like as a topping for your fave salad) and a cinnamon sugar version that literally smells like you’re walking the streets of NYC.

Are praline pecans the same as candied pecans?

Praline pecans are coated in a caramel made up of brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and cream. Candied pecans just use sugar, egg whites, and salt to coat the nuts. Praline pecans are going to be more on the chewy side, because of the caramel coating, whereas candied pecans are going to be crunchier from the egg white and sugar!

Ingredients

Don’t let the egg white throw you off, it gets whipped to fluffy perfection then coats the pecans, creating an ultra crunchy exterior!

“Savory” Candied Pecans for Salads

Granulated Sugar – makes the pecans sweet and adds a little crunch.
Salt – a little bit goes a long way. Salt offsets the sweetness of the sugar making these perfect for salads.
Egg White – helps the sugar stick to the pecans AND adds a crunchy texture.
Water – gets whisked together with the egg white to help the sugar stick to the nuts.
Pecan Halves – I like pecan halves, because they’re the perfect popable size!

Sweet Cinnamon Sugar Candied Pecans for Snacking and Gifting

Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar – the addition of brown sugar adds a rich, molasses-y, cozy flavor.
Salt – like in all sweet recipes, salt helps balance the sweetness and brings out all the flavors.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg – these two spices give you that classic candied nuts flavor.
Egg White – adds texture and helps the sugars stick to the pecans.
Vanilla Extract – instead of using water, use a little vanilla for more flavor!
Pecan Halves – can’t have candied pecans without pecans. 😉

Pro tip

Pecan halves can be found in 16 oz bags at the grocery store! No measuring involved!

How to make

Mix together sugar, salt, and spices (if using) in a ziplock baggie.
In a large bowl, use a hand-mixer or whisk to beat together egg white and water (or vanilla) until frothy.
Fold the pecans into the egg mixture until they’re evenly coated.
Place them into the ziplock baggie containing the sugar/spice mixture and shake until the nuts are coated evenly.
Pour onto a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15-30 minutes.
Cool completely, then devour!

Pro tip

Use a hand or stand mixer to whip the egg whites, if possible. It’s faster, easier, and creates a fluffier texture than hand whisking, which makes for a crunchier coating.

Can you make candied pecans on the stove?

You can make candied pecans in the stove (I’ve included some guidelines below), but oven baking is better. It’s less messy, easier, and produces a much better candied pecan.

I used to make candied pecans on the stove, but I struggled with cooking the sugar mixture. The pecans would either come out too soft and soggy or so hard you could break a tooth…no in between. That’s because it’s very easy to undercook or overcook the sugar mixture.

Baking them in the oven is foolproof and they come out perfectly crunchy every time! This is definitely the method I recommend using.

How to make on the stove

Toast your pecans in a skillet for 2-3 minutes. Remove.
Add sugar, salt, and spices (if using) to the skillet along with water or vanilla. Cook the mixture until the sugar dissolves, then add pecans and cook for 3-4 more minutes, stirring to coat in the glaze.
Remove, pour onto lined baking sheet, and let cool.

(*not tested).

Why are my pecans soft?

Your pecans are old or they’ve been exposed to too much humidity. Check the expiration date and be sure to store them in a relatively cool dark place in a sealed airtight container.
The sugar never reached a high enough temperature to form that crunchy coating. Make sure your oven is fully preheated before putting your pecans in!
You didn’t whip the egg whites enough. The air in the whipped egg whites coats the pecans and helps the sugar coating stick to the nut. The combination of fluffy egg whites and sugar give these that classic crunch you’re looking for.

Honestly, I’ve made this recipe at least a dozen times and have never had soft pecans!

Are candied pecans gluten-free?

My recipe for candied pecans is naturally gluten-free but, as always, it’s best to check each ingredient to verify. Store-bought candied pecans or other recipes may include gluten so, again, check the labels!

Since this recipe is gluten-free, these would be a great thing to make for friends with gluten allergies or sensitivities!

Tips

Use pecan halves. Pecan pieces tend to be more irregularly shaped than pecan halves so they bake differently. Keep it more consistent and evenly baked by using pecan halves instead!
Spread in one even layer. Before baking, make sure the pecans are spread in one layer, evenly across the prepared baking sheet so they don’t cook unevenly or stick together. If they are stuck together, separate them while they’re still warm. As they cool the coating will harden and it will be much more difficult to get them apart. Although, a few clumped together here and there isn’t the worst thing in the world. 😉
Play around with flavors. See the variations below to see flavor ideas!
Don’t like pecans? Use different nuts! This recipe works great with walnuts, almonds, cashews, you name it! Keep in mind that the cook time may be affected if you use a different type of nut.

Variations

Alternative Nuts. Try using walnuts, cashews, or almonds!
Maple Pecans. Toss your pecans with a little bit of maple syrup before baking. YUM! You may want to reduce the amount of other sugars if going this route.
Spicy and Sweet. Try adding 1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper for a little bit of heat!
Pumpkin Spice. In place of cinnamon and nutmeg, add pumpkin pie spice to the mix for the perfect Fall treat.
Citrus. Try tossing in a teaspoon of orange zest.

(*not tested)

What can you use candied pecans on?

I LOVE using candied pecans for both sweet and savory recipes.

Candied Pecans for Salad

If you’re looking to use them in a delicious savory recipe, the variation without the cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla is absolutely DELICIOUS on salads:

Candied Pecans for Sweets

If you’re going the sweeter route, try throwing them in a mason jar for an easy and delicious holiday gift or placing them in a bowl for snacking at a party! They’re also DELICIOUS as a garnish. Try throwing them on top of one of these recipes:

They would also be great thrown into your favorite granola or trail mix and Maria from Two Peas & Their Pod also has a candied pecan chocolate chip cookies recipe that looks absolutely delicious!

How to store

These cooked and cooled candied pecans can be stored in an airtight container or sealed mason jar at room temperature for up to 2 weeks

They don’t need to be refrigerated but if you want to keep them fresher for a longer period of time, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a month!

You can freeze candied pecans for up to two months. Make sure you thaw them in the fridge overnight before serving because they’ll be too hard to eat. Keep them in a freezer-safe ziplock baggie to keep them fresh and prevent freezer burn!

Sweet, salty, and cozy . . .

. . . these candied pecans are crunchy perfection!

– Jennifer

This post was originally published December 2, 2019 and has been updated to provide more detailed content.

Candied Pecans

Are praline pecans the same as candied pecans?