These candied pecans are crunchy and sweet, almost like candy. The texture inside is soft and brings out the rich pecan flavor of the nut. They are one of my favorite treats for the holidays. If you are looking for a great stocking stuffer or something to give as holiday gifts to coworkers or friends, this is the perfect thing.
I had these for the first time a couple of years ago. A coworker brought some in to work and gave them as gifts to everyone. I had never tried them before and they were so good! I ate my whole bag shortly after receiving it.
Be careful because you can’t eat just one. They are addicting! I made the mistake of leaving them in an open bowl on my kitchen counter and you know how that goes. Ever time I pass by, I grab a few more. 😉
Have you ever had these before? Apparently, they are pretty popular. I’m sure you could substitute different nuts, too, like walnuts, for example. I bet those would be delicious. You can also change the spices so instead of using cinnamon, use pumpkin spice.
If you have made these, do you do anything different?
Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 lb pecan halves (approximately 4 cups)
Instructions
- Prep! Gather all your ingredients, measured and ready to go.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix together the salt, sugars, and cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites and vanilla extract until it's very foamy. It will seem like such little liquid in such a large bowl but the pecans will be added next so you need the room.
- Add the pecans and stir until all are well coated.
- Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the pecans and toss until they are fully coated.
- Pour and spread the pecans on to the prepared baking sheet until they are evenly distributed.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, stir and spread them evenly again.
- Bake for another 20 minutes or until they are fragrant or starting to turn a darker color.
- Let the pecans cool completely to allow the sugar to harden.
- Enjoy!
