Homemade Candied Pecans are crunchy and with an irresistible cinnamon coating. These come together in about 5 minutes and the oven does the rest. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is to make your own praline pecans.
We love Candied nuts from our easy stovetop Candied Walnuts to Honey Roasted Almonds. If you love homemade treats (that are also perfect for gifting) this Candied Pecans recipe is a must-try!
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Candied Pecans Video Tutorial
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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. I discovered this method from a youtube video by Alex of Sawyer Ridge Farm and it is hands down, the best way to make candied pecans.
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)
5 from 126 votes
Author: Natasha Kravchuk
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 mins
Cook Time: 1 hour hr
Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 16 people (makes 5 cups)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 egg white
- 2 tsp water
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 lb pecan halves, about 4 cups
Instructions
Prep: Preheat the oven to 250˚F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, stir together sugar, cinnamon and salt.
In a second lagging mixing bowl, whisk egg white, water, and vanilla until frothy.
Add pecans to egg white mixture and stir to coat.
Add cinnamon and sugar mixture to the coated pecans and mix to combine.
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.
Nutrition Per Serving
247kcal Calories17g Carbs3g Protein20g Fat2g Saturated Fat6g Polyunsaturated Fat12g Monounsaturated Fat76mg Sodium121mg Potassium3g Fiber14g Sugar17IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C23mg Calcium1mg Iron
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Nutrition Facts
Candied Pecans Recipe (How to Make Praline Pecans)
Amount per Serving
Calories
247
% Daily Value*
Fat
20
g
31
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
6
g
Monounsaturated Fat
12
g
Sodium
3
%
Potassium
121
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
17
g
6
%
Fiber
3
g
13
%
Sugar
14
g
16
%
Protein
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
17
IU
%
Vitamin C
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
23
mg
2
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dessert, snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: candied pecans, praline pecans
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 247
Natasha Kravchuk
