Candied Pecans Recipe: How to Make Easy Candied Pecans

Candied pecans, also known as candy-coated pecans, are pecan halves coated in egg whites and a cinnamon-sugar mixture. The snack is crunchy from the pecans and the crispy sugar coating. Classic candied pecans taste sweet and salty; almost any dried and ground spice mixture works in the coating mixture, from pumpkin pie spice to cayenne pepper or ground ginger to garam masala. Jump to recipe.

There are two methods for making candied pecan: in the oven and on the stove. While the oven method is the most common, making them on the stovetop is popular, too. Coat the pecans the same way, but instead of baking them, cook them in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar melts, then recrystallizes to form the crunchy coating. Cool them on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet to prevent them from sticking together.

Use sweet, salty, and crunchy candied pecans in the five ways below:

1. 1. Add candied pecans to homemade granola. Combine various seeds, roasted nuts, dried fruit, and oats with maple syrup and egg whites to bring it all together. Bake the granola in the oven until crispy and clumpy, and then mix in the candied pecans. The candied pecans add more crunch and sweetness to the granola.
2. 2. Add candied pecans to ice cream. Top ice cream with candied pecans or churn them into the soft custard toward the end of the churning process. The flavor resembles pecan praline ice cream without making caramel.
3. 3. Garnish a layer cake with candied pecans. Top a coconut cake, vanilla cake, or chocolate cake with candied pecans for added crunch and sweetness. Pecans have a mild nutty flavor, so they pair well with various cake and frosting flavors.
4. 4. Put candied pecans in decorative bags for holiday gifts. Homemade nut mixes make for great Christmas gifts along with other holiday treats. Scoop candied pecans into clear decorative bags and tie them off with ribbon for a special gift.
5. 5. Serve candied pecans on a meat and cheese board. Mixed nuts, like cashews and walnuts, are a typical accompaniment to a meat and cheese appetizer. Add some sweetness by serving candied pecans alongside cured meat, cheese, olives, bread, and other snacks to make the perfect charcuterie board.