Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

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Covered in a cinnamon sugar coating and caramelized in the oven, these crunchy Candied Pecans will quickly become your new favorite snack. They’re super easy to make, and they stay fresh at room temperature for weeks!

Why You’ll Love These Candied Pecans

These simple cinnamon sugar pecans are perfect for those times when you want to enjoy something sweet, but light. Here are a few more reasons to love them:

• Sweet and sugary. Cozy cinnamon, sweet vanilla, granulated sugar, and a hint of salt make these crunchy pecans into an absolutely divine snack.
• Fun to make at home. I always love the smell of candied pecans when I’m out during the holidays and someone is making and selling them nearby. The smell is pretty intoxicating. It’s one of the wonderful things about making them at home – not only do you get to enjoy them, but it also makes your house smell wonderful!
• Easy. It takes just 10 minutes to prep your pecans for the oven.
• Adaptable. You can enjoy your pecans as they are, or serve them on top of salads and ice cream sundaes. You can even use this recipe to candy other nuts like cashews, walnuts, and hazelnuts!

Are Glazed Pecans the Same as Candied Pecans?

Glazed pecans are very similar to candied pecans, only they’re caramelized in a coating that uses corn syrup and brown sugar. Candied pecans, on the other hand, are coated in a mixture that combines granulated sugar and egg whites. As a result, candied pecans have a less shiny, more textured finish than their glazed counterparts.

What You’ll Need

Let’s discuss exactly what goes into these crunchy sugared pecans. Refer to the recipe card toward the end of this post for specific quantities and the full set of directions.

• Sugar – Regular old granulated sugar is all you need for this recipe.
• Ground cinnamon – Feel free to toss in some additional spices like nutmeg, cloves, and allspice if desired.
• Salt – To ensure that the sweet flavor doesn’t overwhelm the pecans.
• Egg – Separate out the yolk and discard it – you’ll only need the egg white.
• Vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract is always the way to go.
• Melted butter – Two tablespoons of unsalted butter add just enough buttery flavor to beautifully complement the nuttiness.
• Pecans – Make sure you use halved pecans here instead of whole pecans.

Can I Use Another Kind of Nut?

Yes, this recipe will work with more than just pecans. Go ahead and swap them out for peanuts, almonds, pistachios, macadamia nuts—anything you like! Remember that you might need to adjust the bake time if the nuts you use are significantly smaller or larger than pecans.

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

Candied pecans make a great holiday gift that also happens to be wallet-friendly. Your loved ones will start requesting them every year! Here’s how to bring them to life:

• Prep for baking. Preheat the oven to 250°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, then set it aside.
• Combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl, and then set this mixture aside as well.

• Whip the egg white and vanilla. Whip the egg white and vanilla in a large bowl until the mixture is frothy (about 1 minute). You could do this by hand, with a whisk, or with a mixer.
• Add butter. Add the butter to the whipped egg white mixture and whisk until combined.
• Coat the pecans. Add the pecans to the egg white mixture and stir until all of the nuts are evenly coated.

• Stir in the sugar mixture. Add the sugar mixture to the pecans and stir until the nuts are evenly coated once again.
• Bake. Spread the pecans out evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake them for 1 hour, stirring them around every 15 minutes.
• Let the pecans cool. Allow the pecans to cool before you enjoy them.

Watch How to Make Candied Pecans

Take a look at the video below if you want an in-depth tutorial on how this candied pecans recipe comes together!

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Read Transcript

Tips for Success

Even though this recipe is incredibly easy, I still have a few tips and tricks that are worth a read-through.

• Coat the pecans evenly. Make sure your pecans are evenly coated both before and after the cinnamon mixture has been added. This ensures that each one will get perfectly caramelized in the oven.
• Don’t forget to stir. If you don’t stir your pecans around every 15 minutes or so while they bake, they won’t cook completely evenly and could burn. Protect your hands with oven mitts and use tongs if necessary.
• Don’t bake the pecans too long. Over baking them can make them taste a little burned and bitter, so stick as close to the hour mark for baking as you can.

Ways to Use Candied Pecans

You’ll never get tired of munching on these pecans by themselves, but there are tons of other ways to experience them! Here are some ideas you have to try:

• Use them as a topping. You could sprinkle them over a salad, for example, or over this sweet potato casserole. Or, on the sweet side of things, add them to your favorite ice cream or yogurt!
• Make snacks with them. Cinnamon sugar pecans work great in sweet snack mixes, or on a charcuterie board.
• Make cookies. If you’ve never tried butter pecan cookies before, now is your chance!
• Add them into your pancakes. I love folding these pecans into pancake batter for a decadent breakfast!

How to Store

Keep your candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay good for up to 2 weeks. Make sure you let them cool completely before you store them.

Can I Freeze These Pecans?

You certainly can! Just double-check that the container you put them in is freezer-safe. Frozen cinnamon sugar pecans will last for up to 3 months. Thaw them out on the counter prior to serving.

More Pecan Recipes

If you’re a pecan-lover like me, you have to check out the following recipes:

• Pecan Tassies
• Pecan Praline Fudge
• Hummingbird Bread
• Pecan Caramel Turtle Candy Bars
• Pecan Pie Cupcakes

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