Candied Pecans

This super easy recipe for Candied Pecans will pleasantly surprise you. Using simple ingredients, it’s the type of recipe that’s fun, because it takes little time. The candy-coated pecans (or other nuts) flavored with brown sugar and cinnamon make a great snack, gift, or topping on many desserts.

Candied Pecans are a delicious snack, great gift idea, and top most desserts beautifully.

I recently published a recipe for No Bake Butterscotch Apple Dessert where I used Candied Pecans on top.

The combination was so good, I had to share this easy recipe, which can be used on other nuts, too. Check it out.

Nuts coated in a delicious brown sugar and cinnamon mixture, perfect for trail mixes and over French toast.

Making Candied Pecans

First, line a baking sheet with either parchment paper or waxed paper. You can also use a silicone baking mat, if you have one.

Next, combine everything, except the nuts, in a saucepan over medium heat. Those ingredients are brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, water, and salt.

Mix them up stirring often until the sugar breaks down and it starts to bubble. Keep stirring.

After about a minute, add the nuts.

Candied Pecans are made using simple ingredients like brown sugar and cinnamon.

Can I use other nuts besides pecans?

Yes. This recipe works on any nut you want to candy.

A great gift idea is to candy mixed nuts, then place them in a clear jar with a ribbon on the lid. Great for teachers, neighbors, etc.

So, yeah, candy walnuts, peanuts, cashews and so on. Pecans are my favorite, though, hence the recipe name.

Roughly chopped nuts coated in a sweet mixture of brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Stir the nuts into the sauce to thoroughly coat them.

Stir constantly for a few minutes, or until you smell a nutty fragrance. This only takes about three minutes or so.

The nuts can burn, so don’t keep them in much longer than that.

Remove them from the heat and spread them out on the parchment paper.

The hard part, if you can call it that, is to separate each and every nut. While cooling, they should not be touching each other, or they’ll stick together.

I can’t tell you how long it takes to cool, because there’s more to it. The sugar mixture has to set up, and the speed of that depends on the temperature and humidity level of where you live.

I’ve made these before, and sometimes they set up quickly (low humidity), but other times they stay sticky.

If the candied pecans stay sticky, you can try baking them for 5 – 10 minutes in a preheated oven set at 325°. This process helps to harden the coating, thus ridding yourself of the annoying stickiness.

Candied Pecans are super easy to make using simple ingredients.

Serving Candied Pecans

These are great just by themselves. Keep them in a sealed container on your counter for about a week, longer in the refrigerator.

Give them as a gift. I already mentioned that, but it’s a cute idea, and people like nuts.

Top your desserts with them. Add that bit of crunch and sweetness on your favorite desserts like Zucchini Cake, Butter Pecan Dessert, or sprinkle the tops of Cookie Butter Cupcakes. Keeping it simple, sprinkle some on top of a bowl of ice cream. Yummy!

Candied Pecans are also delicious on French toast. Image the butter melting, the syrup, then these delicious crunchy pecans. So good!

If you tried and love this recipe, please leave a 5-star rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment below. Thank you so much.

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Candied Pecans

A super simple way to coat pecans (or other nuts) quickly and with few ingredients. Use them to top your favorite desserts, throw some on your French toast, give them as a gift, or eat them as a snack. The brown sugar and cinnamon are delicious as you roast the nuts for added flavor.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cooling time:1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy, great gift, simple ingredients
Servings: 1 cup
Calories: 868kcal
Author: Sweet Ordeal

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp. brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 4 tsp. water
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup pecans, halves or roughly chopped

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper. Set aside.
  • In small saucepan on medium heat, combine the brown sugar, water, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. Stir until sugar breaks down, then cook another minute.
  • Stir in pecans until coated on all sides. Stir constantly as pecans roast, approx. 3 minutes. You may smell a nutty flavor.
  • Remove from heat and spread nuts on parchment paper, separating each nut into a single layer. Best if they're not touching each other. Allow to cool and set up for approx. 1 hour. Enjoy!

Notes

Store Candied Pecans in a sealed container on the counter for approx. 1 week, longer in the refrigerator.
If nuts remain sticky, try baking them for 5 – 10 minutes in a preheated oven set at 325°. This helps to harden the coating.

Nutrition

Calories: 868kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 71g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 21g | Monounsaturated Fat: 40g | Sodium: 253mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetordeal or tag #sweetordeal!

Candied Pecans

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Nuts coated in a delicious candy coating made in a saucepan easily.

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