Posted September 13, 2023 by: Admin #Kitchen

Crunchy and irresistibly coated with cinnamon, Homemade Candied Pecans are easy to make. In just 5 minutes, you can have your own praline pecans with the help of the oven. If you enjoy homemade treats that are perfect for gifting, this recipe for Candied Pecans is a must-try!

We are big fans of candied nuts, from our easy stovetop Candied Walnuts to Honey Roasted Almonds. And if you love homemade treats, especially ones you can give as gifts, you definitely need to try this recipe for Candied Pecans!

What are Praline Pecans?

I always called these candied pecans until I saw the storebought version labeled praline pecans. Praline refers to a crisp caramelized sugar candy. So Praline pecans are essentially candy-coated pecans. You’ll love the texture – it’s easy to chew and has just the right amount of crunch and munch that you’ll find it difficult to stop eating them. The combination of caramelized sugar with toasted nutty pecans is so good.

Ingredients for Candied Pecans

The ingredients for making praline pecans are simple and sweet. If you purchased the pecans, you probably already have everything else in your fridge and pantry.

• Sugar – caramelizes onto the nuts and adds sweetness
• Cinnamon – adds just the right amount of cozy spice and flavor
• Salt – balances the sweetness
• Egg white – combined with a little water, to adds moisture to help the cinnamon sugar adhere to the nuts.
• Vanilla extract – adds great taste and aroma to the nuts. We love using homemade vanilla extract.

How to Make Candied Pecans

• Combine cinnamon, sugar and salt in a small bowl.
• Whisk egg white, water and vanilla in a second large mixing bowl.
• Toss pecans with the egg white.
• Add cinnamon sugar to pecans and stir to coat.
• Spread pecans onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake at 250˚F in the center of the oven, stirring every 20 minutes.

The Best way to Make Candied Pecans

I’ve tried every version of these I could think of from the stovetop to the oven and even boiled them in syrup.

Tossing them in an egg white and cinnamon-sugar mixture and baking at a low temperature for an hour caramelizes the sugar and makes them crisp but easy to chew. The texture is perfect and I love that they don’t get stuck to your teeth.

Pro Tip: lining your baking sheet with parchment paper makes cleanup a breeze and keeps the nuts from sticking to your baking sheet.

Common Questions

Can I use walnuts?

You can substitute with walnut halves instead. Just be sure to remove all shell fragments.

Can I make candied pecans on the stove?

These are best in the oven. Stovetop pecans would be a very different recipe. For a stovetop version, check out our 5-minute Candied Walnuts recipe.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes! You can easily double or even triple the recipe if you have enough room in your oven. Make sure to rotate your trays every 20 minutes when you stir the nuts.

Make-Ahead

Once they have cooled down, transfer candied pecans to an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to a week. I haven’t tested them beyond that.

How to Serve Candied Pecans

Candied pecans are great for munching and snacking, but we also love to put them to good use. Try these ideas:

• Gifting – put the nuts in a mason jar, or a clear gift bag, tie a ribbon on top and give the nuts away to your friends and neighbors.
• Salad topping – these are delicious on Beet Salad with Arugula, or Roasted Sweet Potato Salad.
• Dessert topping – these are lovely for decorating desserts or ice cream.
• Charcuterie board – adding these to a snack platter is always a good idea. They will disappear fast.

These Candied Pecans are a real treat. My best advice is to portion it for yourself when you’re munching rather than opening an entire jar and working it down. I know firsthand how dangerous that can be. Ha!

Candied Pecans Recipe (How to Make Praline Pecans)

Candied pecans are easy to make and great for munching, gifting, and topping. We love them on everything from salad to ice cream. The cinnamon-sugar mixture caramelizes onto the nuts, giving them an irresistible and delicate crunch.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Servings: 16 people (makes 5 cups)

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 250˚F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, stir together sugar, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a second lagging mixing bowl, whisk egg white, water, and vanilla until frothy.
4. Add pecans to egg white mixture and stir to coat.
5. Add cinnamon and sugar mixture to the coated pecans and mix to combine.
6. Spread nuts into a single layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Let cool to room temperature and enjoy.