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This candied pecans recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and salty, making it a great snack, gift or salad topping.
If you follow this blog, you may know my wife is a physical therapist. Seeing patients on a daily basis means she randomly will get gifts/bake goods from them as thank yous.
Last year a patient gave her some pecans coated in sugar which she brought home. After just one bite, I immediately asked for the recipe.
While it is almost a year later, I hadn't forgotten about this candied pecans recipe. If you want your house to smell absolutely amazing, then just throw these in the oven. They really are great as a snack but be warned... they can be quite addicting.
Because of this, they are also great as a gift during the holiday season. They really couldn't be easier to make so give this candied pecans recipe a try.
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Recipe Ingredients
- Granulated and light brown sugar - adds sweetness to the pecans.
- Cinnamon - gives some warmth
- Salt - enhances the flavor.
- Egg - helps bind everything together.
- Water - thins out the egg slightly.
- Vanilla extract - more flavor.
- Pecans - the star of the show.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F. Mix sugars, cinnamon and salt in small bowl and set aside.
- Whisk egg white, water and vanilla extract in large bowl until frothy.
- Toss pecans in the egg mixture.
- Add sugar mixture into pecans and toss until everything is coated.
- Spread pecans evenly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake pecans, stirring every 15 minutes, until evenly brown, about 1 hour.
Are Pecans Sweet?
Pecans have a sweet, rich, buttery flavor and texture which can be attributed to its high levels of monounsaturated oils. By candying these, you increase the sweetness which complements the buttery flavor.
Health Benefits of Pecans
The health benefits of pecans are endless, so while yes there is sugar in this recipe, you are still getting plenty of vitamins and minerals that promote heart health and increase energy.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Use a combination of granulated and brown sugar to get the right caramelization.
- If you like a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- You can store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week, in the fridge for 1 month or in the freezer for 3 months.
Other Christmas Recipes
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Congo Squares
- Salted Chocolate Covered Bourbon Caramels
- Gingerbread Man Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms
If you’ve tried this candied pecans recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 egg white
- 1 tbsp water
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 lb pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F. Mix sugars, cinnamon and salt in small bowl and set aside.
- Whisk egg white, water and vanilla extract in large bowl until frothy. Toss pecans in the egg mixture. Add sugar mixture into pecans and toss until everything is coated. Spread pecans evenly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake pecans, stirring every 15 minutes, until evenly brown, about 1 hour.
Notes
- Use a combination of granulated and brown sugar to get the right caramelization.
- If you like a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- You can store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week, in the fridge for 1 month or in the freezer for 3 months.
Candied pecans are addicting!