Candied Pecans: the delicious snack recipe to enjoy during holidays

If you’re looking for an easy recipe to make the best candied pecans, then you’ve come to the right place. They’re sweet with a bit of saltiness, with a great crunchy texture. Candied pecans are made with egg whites and sugar, and are not to be confused with glazed pecans, which are made with corn syrup, butter, and sugar.

Candied pecans can be enjoyed in many ways. Not only does it make a quick recipe to serve as an appetizer, but it’s also a tasty snack—perfect for the holiday season. In fact, why not take it a step further and serve them in a salad or on top of a potato pie? Candied pecans make a great DIY gift. Simply transfer them to a glass jar and add a ribbon and a gift tag!

Candied Pecan Ingredients

Sugar – gives the candied pecans their sweetness

Cinnamon – add more flavor and accentuates the sweetness

Pecans – the main ingredients; look for whole fresh pecans

Egg whites – the egg whites act as a binding ingredient

How To Make Candied Pecans

Preheat the oven while you prepare the pecan nuts. Transfer the egg whites and vanilla essence to a large mixing bowl and beat until stiff peaks form.

In another bowl, whisk together the sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Add the pecans to the bowl of egg whites, then top with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Use a spatula to fold the pecans into the egg whites, making sure they’re completely coated with the mixture.

Transfer pecans onto a large baking pan and spread them out—this will help them cook evenly. Bake for a total of 45 minutes, making sure to stir every 15 minutes. Cool the candied pecans completely before storing them.

How To Use Candied Pecans

Candied pecans can be enjoyed on their own as a snack. But you can also incorporate them into other dishes:

• Add the candied pecans to salads—it adds sweetness and crunch.
• Use as a topping for sweet potato casserole.
• Place on top of cupcakes or other desserts.
• Serve with ice cream or stir into yogurt.

Tips For Making Best Candied Pecans

If the candied pecans are too sticky, it means the sugar hasn’t started to caramelize yet. Continue to cook the pecans until the sugar hardens and becomes brittle.

To ensure the perfect level of caramelization, use a combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar.

Feel free to add other spices like nutmeg, apple spice, or even a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Make sure to cool the candied pecans completely before storing them. If they’re warm, they will steam inside the container, and this will make them soft instead of crunchy.

This recipe can also be made using other nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts.

To make a vegan version of the candied pecans (without egg whites), mix 3 cups pecans with 1 cup sugar, ¼ cup water, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Cook the mixture in the pan until the mixture starts to caramelize.

How To Store Candied Pecans

Store the candied pecans in an airtight container (at room temperature) for a week, or in the fridge for up to 1 month.

Can You Freeze Candied Pecans?

The candied pecans can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the pecans to cool completely before transferring them to a resealable Ziploc bag or airtight container.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 150°C/350°F.

In a large bowl beat egg whites with vanilla using a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.

In a medium bowl whisk brown and white sugar with cinnamon and salt.

Add pecans into the bowl of egg whites, followed by a bowl of sugar-cinnamon.

Fold everything carefully, making sure that pecans are fully coated.

Transfer pecans onto a large baking pan and spread them out evenly.

Bake for 40-45 minutes at 150C/300F, stirring every 15 minutes.

Make sure the pecans cool down before transferring them into a container for storage. Enjoy!