Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

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!

Easy Candied Pecans With Cinnamon

I always love the smell of candied pecans when out at 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!

These simple cinnamon sugar pecans are perfect for those times when you want to enjoy something sweet that’s also kind of healthy. With plenty of protein, fiber, calcium, and potassium in each nut, they’ll fuel up your body and satisfy your sweet tooth. Plus, they are perfect for gifting!

Whether you gift them, snack on them by themselves or serve them on top of salads and ice cream sundaes, you’ll be making more as soon as you run out. 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.

• Sugar
• Ground Cinnamon: Feel free to toss in some additional spices like nutmeg, cloves and allspice if desired.
• Salt
• Egg: Separate out the yolk and discard it – you’ll only need the white.
• Vanilla Extract
• Melted Butter: Two tablespoons of unsalted butter add just enough buttery flavor to beautifully complement the nuttiness.
• Halved 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 & Salt: Combine the sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Set the mixture aside.

Whip Egg White & 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 use a mixer.

Add Butter: Add the butter to the whipped egg white mixture and whisk until combined.

Coat Pecans: Add the pecans to the egg white mixture and stir until all of the nuts are evenly coated.

Stir in 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 Cool: Allow the pecans to cool before you enjoy them.

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 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:

• Sprinkle Them Over Sweet Potato Casserole
• Add Them to Snack Mix
• Use Them as a Yogurt or Ice Cream Topping
• Make Cookies With Them
• Incorporate Them Into a Charcuterie Board
• Use Them As a Salad Topper
• Fold Them Into Pancake Batter

Storage Instructions

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?

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.

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More Nutty Treats to Try

• Crispy No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
• Pineapple Walnut Upside Down Bundt Cake
• Cranberry Pecan Cheeseball
• White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

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