Homemade Candied Pecans (2024)

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by Danielle on Jun 28, 2020 (updated Sep 1, 2020) 72 comments »

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4.88 from 16 ratings

Learn how easy it is to make your own candied pecans with just a few simple ingredients. This is the best homemade candied pecan recipe you will ever try and it’s perfect for giving as a gift to friends and family!

*Post and pictures updated June 2020*

Have you ever tried making candied pecans? My husband and I used to love buying the bags of candied pecans, but I was never a fan of how pricey they were for such a small bag.

A couple of years ago I decided to take matters into my own hands and learn how to make my own. And let me tell you, they’re so simple to make right at home! You will love this simple candied pecan recipe because it’s:

Incredibly easy to make
Only uses a few simple ingredients
Super delicious!

You also get way more candied pecans with this recipe for a fraction of the cost. And since this recipe makes quite a bit, it’s perfect for giving as gifts to friends and family during the holidays too.

Recipe Ingredients

For this easy candied pecan recipe, you’ll need just six simple ingredients. Let’s break down each ingredient:

Egg White:I prefer to use an egg white to help the cinnamon sugar coating adhere to the pecans. You can use the leftover egg yolk in an omelet or another recipe like my small batch chocolate chip cookies.
Water:Just one tablespoon of water is whisked together with the egg white until frothy.
Pecan Halves:You will be using 4 cups of pecan halves which comes out to about 1 pound.
Granulated Sugar:To help add some sweetness to the candied pecans!
Cinnamon & Salt:There’s a couple of teaspoons of ground cinnamon for extra flavor as well as some salt to balance out the sweetness of the sugar.

How To Make Candied Pecans

Once you’ve gathered all of your ingredients it’s time to prepare your candied pecans! To start, you’ll preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, add the pecan halves to a large bowl and set aside.

Next, you’ll whisk together an egg white with one tablespoon of water until it’s nice and frothy like the picture above. Then, pour the frothy egg white mixture over your pecan halves and stir well until all of the pecans are coated in the egg white mixture.

Once the pecans are coated, set them aside and whisk together the granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Pour the cinnamon sugar mixture over the pecans and mix until they’re all coated.

Then, spread the pecans out into an even layer on your baking sheet and bake them for 45 minutes, stirring the pecans every 15 minutes to ensure that they bake evenly. Once they’re done, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheet so that they can firm up.

FAQ’s

How long do they keep?

You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. While it’s not necessary to store candied pecans in the refrigerator, if you need to store them longer than one week, then I recommend refrigerating them.

Can you freeze them?

Yes! These will freeze just fine for up to 3 months. I recommend storing them in an airtight container or freezer bag. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply place them on the counter for a few hours so that they can come to room temperature.

Baking Tips

Once you add the cinnamon sugar mixture, stir everything together really well to ensure that all of the pecans are coated.
Make sure to remove the pecans from the oven and stir every 15 minutes to ensure that they bake evenly.
The pecans will be soft as soon as they come out of the oven, this is normal! Once they cool completely they will firm up and be nice and crunchy.

More Easy Pecan Recipes!

Classic Pecan Pie
German Chocolate Cake
Hummingbird Cake
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mini Pecan Pies

Video Tutorial

Homemade Candied Pecans

4.88 from 16 ratings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 45 minutes mins

Total Time: 55 minutes mins

These candied pecans are made with just a few simple ingredients and perfect for a sweet treat or gift for friends and family!

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Ingredients

Servings: 12 servings

▢ 4 cups (1 pound) pecan halves
▢ 1 large egg white
▢ 1 tablespoon (15 ml) water
▢ 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
▢ 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Add the pecans to a large mixing bowl and set aside. Add the egg white and water to a separate bowl and whisk together until well combined and frothy. Pour the egg white mixture onto the pecans and stir until all of the pecans are fully coated.
In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour the cinnamon sugar mixture over the pecans and stir until all of the pecans are fully coated.
Spread the pecans onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 45 minutes, stirring the pecans every 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on the baking sheet.

Notes

Candied pecans may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Freezing Instructions: Candied pecans will freeze well for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or airtight container, thaw to room temperature before serving.

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Author: Danielle

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72 comments on “Homemade Candied Pecans”

Barbara Stansfield —July 13, 2020 @ 12:33 pm Reply
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These are delicious; however, I added about 1 TBLS chili powder to make them spicy with a glass of iced cold beer! Thank you for posting. All your recipes are fabulous.
- Danielle —July 14, 2020 @ 9:41 am Reply
  Thank you, Barbara! So glad you loved the pecans!
Yvette —July 20, 2020 @ 3:08 pm Reply
Would this recipe work with 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of brown sugar? I’ve tried this recipe and it’s excellent by the way. Just wondering if that sugar combination would work.
- Danielle —July 21, 2020 @ 9:12 am Reply
  I think that would be fine!
  - Kathy W. —October 5, 2020 @ 4:52 pm Reply
    How does adding part brown sugar and granulated sugar effect the flavor?
    Can’t wait to try the original recipe and this recipe too. Are these Pecans good for adding to salads too? If I wanted to make it spicy, what and how much would I add to the recipe.
    - Danielle —October 6, 2020 @ 5:25 pm Reply
      It will add a slight molasses flavor to the candied pecans. For a spicy version, you could try adding a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper (just use sparingly because it’s spicy!) or possibly some chili powder. These work great for salads too!
Lea —October 10, 2020 @ 3:02 pm Reply
If I only made a quarter of this recipe, would I still need to bake the pecan mixture for 45 minutes?
Thank you!
- Danielle —October 12, 2020 @ 9:59 am Reply
  I imagine you will still need to bake them for at least 30 minutes, I would just keep an eye on them.
Antonella —March 6, 2021 @ 11:11 am Reply
May i use almonds?pecans here in Italy are quite expensive!
- Danielle —March 8, 2021 @ 11:44 am Reply
  Yes, that would be fine!
Renee —December 16, 2021 @ 11:14 am Reply
Do you think I would have a good result with stevia instead of sugar?
- Danielle —December 17, 2021 @ 12:14 pm Reply
  I haven’t tried it, so I’m not sure.
?Nanaya? —June 9, 2022 @ 12:37 pm Reply
Great Recipe!
I absolutely
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them!
Thank you for posting this amazing recipe!
Jennifer —December 28, 2022 @ 6:00 pm Reply
I also added walnuts. My family loved them! They were surprised they stayed crunchy even 3 days after I made them.
CM —November 28, 2023 @ 9:23 am Reply
I use this recipe every year during the holidays. I make several batches and put them in holiday tins. Everyone knows they are getting candied pecans from me!!!! 🙂
Thank you for sharing.
Deborah Howlett —December 25, 2023 @ 1:12 am Reply
Love these candied pecans. Thanks for the recipe. I have a batch in the oven right now, and the house is smelling amazing! I’m making the pretzel chocolate Carmel treats and putting the candied pecans on top for an extra dessert option for our Dec. 25th dinner. I did that for a Friendsgiving fellowship and they were a big hit.
- Danielle —December 25, 2023 @ 9:55 am Reply
  What a fun idea, Deborah! I will have to try that next time I make a batch of these candied pecans!
Tammy —January 1, 2024 @ 11:45 pm Reply
Can’t wait to try these but now I’m curious about the combination mentioned in a previous comment.
Please share what recipe I should search for…. “pretzel chocolate Carmel treats and putting the candied pecans on top for an extra dessert option”.
Thanks
- Danielle —January 2, 2024 @ 10:43 am Reply
  Hi, Tammy! I think that person is probably placing chocolate caramels (like rolos) on top of a pretzel and warming them in the oven until soft, then pressing the candied pecan on top. Similar to my candy corn pretzel bite recipe here.
LuAnn —March 1, 2024 @ 12:12 pm Reply
The best pecans. Yummy! Made them exactly as recipe called for.
Valentina —March 7, 2024 @ 11:51 am Reply
My did not come out dark likes yours
- Danielle —March 8, 2024 @ 11:21 am Reply
  You may not have baked them long enough. As long as they firm up when they cool, they should still taste good!