Candied Pecans (2024)

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Candied Pecans (1)

This recipe for Candied Pecans has been here on the site for years, only as part of the Butter Pecan Oatmeal recipe. It has always deserved its own post, and now it finally has one! These Candied Pecans are sooo good, and soooo easy and straightforward to make! You likely have all the ingredients in your home already.

Not a fan of pecans? That’s fine! Instead of Candied Pecans, you can make Candied Almonds, Walnuts, Peanuts — the sky’s the limit.

Candied Pecans (2)

Candied Pecans Ingredients

Feel free to jump to the full recipe, but here are useful notes about the ingredients you will need to make this Candied Pecans recipe:

  • Pecans: I opt for bags of pecan halves and pieces. Whole pecans will work fine. I prefer to use un-roasted salted for my Candied Pecans, but roasted or unsalted work fine, too. This is a very versatile recipe, and you don’t even have to use pecans! Swap it out for whatever nuts you want.
  • Unsalted butter: I’ve used salted before, and the difference was negligible. Use what you have on hand.
  • Egg white, water: These are key ingredients for these Candied Pecans. They won’t ‘candy’ without them. I prefer to use liquid egg whites just for ease, but from two large eggs works beautifully – just make the eggs are large or extra large!
  • Light brown sugar, granulated sugar: Dark brown sugar will also work, so feel free to substitute. I can’t speak to any other sugar substitutes.
  • Vanilla extract, ground cinnamon: Flavorings! These can be switched up of course if you’d like a different flavor profile in your Candied Pecans, but try them as written at least once! I think you’ll love them!
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How to Make Candied Pecans

Full instructions are included in the recipe below, but here is a basic overview of what you’ll need to do, along with some important tidbits to help you make the most of this Candied Pecans recipe:

  • Prepare for Candied Pecans. Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Add the stick of butter to a 10-12″ cast-iron skillet and place the skillet into the oven. Leave it there while you prepare the pecans. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the egg whites, water, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until the whites are foamy. A hand mixer might make this easier to accomplish.
  • Make the Candied Pecans Glaze. Next, add in the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and whisk until combined. A thick, syrupy batter of sorts should form. Add your pecans to the bowl and stir to coat thoroughly. Make sure everything is evenly distributed and each pecan is coated. Remove your cast iron skillet from the oven once the butter is melted. Pour your coated pecans into the skillet. Gently toss them to incorporate the butter, then and spread them out into an even layer. Return the cast-iron skillet to the oven.
  • Bake the Candied Pecans. Bake the pecans for 45 minutes, removing every 15 minutes to gently stir and turn the pecans so they cook evenly. They will be sticky and kind of wet for most of this time, only really becoming hardened once they cool, but you’ll notice the amount of moisture will reduce toward the end of baking.
  • Cool and Enjoy! After 45 minutes, remove them from the oven and let them rest. You can remove the pecans to a baking sheet to cool faster if you like. Stir them every 10 minutes or so to avoid them clumping together, or you can just break them apart with a spatula or your hands later. Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Dassit!

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Candied Pecans

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  • Author: María
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x

Description

I bet you thought these were way harder to make, huh?

Ingredients

UnitsScale

  • 1 lb pecan halves, raw or roasted
  • 1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter
  • 2 large egg whites (4 tbsp liquid egg whites)
  • 1 C light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Add the stick of butter to a 10-12″ cast-iron skillet and place the skillet into the oven. Leave it there while you prepare the pecans.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the egg whites, water, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until the whites are foamy. A hand mixer might make this easier to accomplish.
  3. Next, add in the sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and whisk until combined. A thick, syrupy batter of sorts should form.
  4. Add your pecans to the bowl and stir to coat thoroughly. Make sure everything is evenly distributed and each pecan is coated.
  5. Remove your cast iron skillet from the oven once the butter is melted. Pour your coated pecans into the skillet. Gently toss them to incorporate the butter, then and spread them out into an even layer. Return the cast-iron skillet to the oven.
  6. Bake the pecans for 45 minutes, removing every 15 minutes to gently stir and turn the pecans so they cook evenly. They will be sticky and kind of wet for most of this time, only really becoming hardened once they cool, but you’ll notice the amount of moisture will reduce toward the end of baking.
  7. After 45 minutes, remove them from the oven and give them one last through stir, then let them rest. You can remove the pecans to a baking sheet to cool faster if you like. Stir them every 10 minutes or so to avoid them clumping together, or you can just break them apart with a spatula or your hands later. Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Dassit!

Notes

  • I’ve candied pecans, almonds, baru nuts, walnuts, and peanuts. Sky is the limit with this recipe!
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes

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Candied Pecans (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? ›

What is the difference between candied pecans and praline pecans? – Candied pecans are pecans coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked in the oven until crispy. Pralines are a type of candy made with crunchy pecan halves dropped in a caramel base.

Why are my glazed pecans sticky? ›

Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Should candied pecans be refrigerated? ›

To Store: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. To Freeze: They freeze well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

How many cups is one pound of pecans? ›

Measurements and Substitutions

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

Why didn t my pecan pralines set? ›

If you find that your pralines are not setting up, it may be that the mixture either did not reach the correct temperature or was not mixed long enough.

Why won't my pralines get hard? ›

But if your pralines are still gooey after 30-40 minutes, you may have to scrape them back into the pan and heat them again. Add a tablespoon of milk, melt the sugar, and as before, stir constantly while you bring them to a boil. When the mixture begins to thicken, begin dipping them out again and cross your fingers!

Why are my candied pecans soft on the stove? ›

The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts. How do you fix candied nuts that are too soft and sticky? You can place them back into the oven for 5 to 15 minutes or until they dry out more. They will continue to firm and dry out as they cool.

Do candied pecans go bad? ›

If you don't plan on eating your candied pecans right away, you may want to consider storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Refrigeration can keep the pecans fresh for up to three months, while freezing can extend their shelf life for up to six months.

How to make candied pecans less sticky? ›

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt makes these taste salty-sweet. If you'd prefer to not taste the salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325°F (162°C) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

Are pecans good for you? ›

Raw pecans pack a 1-2-3 punch of protein, healthy fats, and fiber that can help keep you energized and satisfied. Pecans are a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which help lower blood pressure. Most of the fat found in pecans is a healthy type called monounsaturated fat.

How many pecans does it take to make 1 lb? ›

For a pound of nutmeat, you will need 2½ pounds of in-shell pecans. In order to help you maintain the highest quality pecan meats, we have developed the following guide to help you understand the best way to handle and store your pecans.

Does praline mean candied? ›

The term praline can refer to a few different confections: French praline: almonds that are cooked in boiling sugar until caramelized and crunchy. The candied almonds can then be ground to create pralin, which is used to fill chocolates or create chocolates that are categorized as praliné.

What are the two types of pecans? ›

Types of Pecans and Pecan Varieties

A native pecan often has thicker shells and smaller nuts, while improved varieties tend to have more delicate shells and larger nuts.

What are praline pecans made of? ›

Basic American pralines are made with brown sugar, granulated sugar, cream, butter, and pecans. Though they're popular across the Southern U.S., they're most associated with New Orleans, Louisiana.

What's the difference between a praline and a praline? ›

Praliné is a nut-based paste used widely in pastry-making. It's not to be confused with praline, which is a candy coated with caramelized sugar.

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