Candied Pecans
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Published
These are truly the best Candied Pecans recipe made with whipped egg whites, butter, and vanilla, then coated in a cinnamon-powdered sugar mixture. They’re more addicting than potato chips and make an easy and fantastic treat for parties or gifts for the holidays!
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5 STAR REVIEWS
These candied pecans are pretty much a permanent fixture in my house at holiday time. I’ve lost count of how many batches I have made over the years…and how many people have become indebted to me by leaving them on the counter top, greeting friends and family as they walk through the door. The smell is as intoxicating as cinnamon rolls.
Most recipes for candied nuts are simply baked in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. This one takes it up a couple notches with a meringue coating and spiced-powdered sugar. They are amazing and very easy to make!
Helpful Tips & Variations
- Pecan halves. Our star ingredient! They are not toasted first. If pecans aren’t your thing, use walnuts or almonds.
- Not a spec of egg yolk! Make certain that not even the tiniest bit of egg yolk gets in or the egg whites won’t beat properly and reach stiff peaks.
- 2 sugars. Granulated sugar is necessary to create the meringue when beaten with the egg whites. Powdered sugar coats the warm baked pecans for the ultimate finishing touch.
- Melted butter. I always use salted butter for this recipe. If using unsalted, I recommend adding in a touch of salt. It helps balance out the sweetness.
- Cinnamon. This spice provides wonderful warm aromatics and flavor. If you’re allergic, just leave it out. The pecans will still be amazing. You can also play with other spices, like pumpkin pie spice or add in a bit of cayenne pepper for a kick.
- Don’t skip the nonstick spray. Even if you’re using a nonstick pan, and yes, even with the melted butter. The pecans are very sticky as they roast and the spray really aids in your ability to stir them.
- Stir every 10 minutes. These pecans bake for 40 minutes, but you need to stir them every 10 minutes for the sweet egg white coating to cook properly.
- Bake at 325F not 350F. Don’t make the mistake of cooking these at the standard 350F. The lower temperature will prevent them from burning.
- Let cool just briefly. When the pecans are done baking, let them cool for just a couple minutes, but not longer. They should still be warm before tossing them with the powdered sugar.
- Doubling the recipe. If you double the recipe, you will need to make in separate batches. The pecans need room to “breathe” and roast on the baking sheet and not be piled on top of one another.
Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 3 large egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 pound pecan halves
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Generously coat a large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Add vanilla and gradually beat in the sugar until a gooey meringue forms. Toss in the pecans and mix gently with a wooden spoon or spatula until they are coated thoroughly.
- Pour melted butter evenly onto the prepared baking sheet so it coats the surface.
- Spread the pecans out to an even layer over the butter.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 40 minutes, stirring them every 10 minutes with a spatula – do not skip this step! (They will look like a gloppy mess at first, but don’t worry! Keep stirring and rearranging back to an even layer and all will be good.)
- Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes, but not much longer.
- Place powdered sugar and cinnamon in a large resealable plastic bag; add in the warm pecans, seal and shake until coated.
- These are best served warm, but absolutely delicious even after a few weeks! Helpful tips, variations, and storage information are included in the article.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Candied Pecans Step By Step
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat 3 large egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla and gradually beat in 1 cup granulated sugar until a meringue forms.
- Toss in 1 pound pecan halves and mix gently with a wooden spoon or spatula until they are coated thoroughly.
- Generously coat a large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Then pour 1/2 cup melted butter evenly onto it, making sure it coats the whole surface.
- Scoop the pecans onto the melted butter and spread them out to an even layer.
- Bake for 40 minutes, stirring them every 10 minutes with a spatula – do not skip this step! (They will look like a gloppy mess at first, but don’t worry! Keep stirring and rearranging back to an even layer as instructed and all will be good.)
- Remove from oven and cool for just a few minutes.
- Place 1 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a large resealable plastic bag; add in the warm pecans, seal and shake until coated.
- They’re amazing served warm, but absolutely delicious even after a few weeks!
Proper Storage
- Serving and Gifting. Like most pralines, they’re best warm from the oven, but still incredibly wonderful at room temperature and even several days later. Make up a batch for yourself and the loved ones in your life. A cup of these in a cellophane bag, with a cute ribbon as holiday gifts, and everyone will be indebted to you.
- How long do candied pecans last? These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for a couple weeks or in the fridge for a month.
- Can you freeze candied pecans? You can, but I would recommend you let them cool and not coat them in the powdered sugar, which gets wet and gooey once thawed. Instead, roast and cool completely, freeze, then rewarm slightly and coat with the powdered sugar mixture before serving. They can be frozen up to 2 months.
More Holiday Candies:
- Polar Bear Paws See’s Candies Copycat
- Homemade Caramels
- Chocolate Fudge
- Crockpot Candy
- Cream Cheese Mints
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
My Candied Pecans recipe was originally published 12/2/20. It was retested and republished to be better than ever 12/2/25.
Delicious. First time making, like potatoes chips you can’t just eat one. Every time I pass the container I have to grab a few to eat.
For a few years, a friend and I have both been making this amazing recipe, which we both love! However, hers always seem to have a much more tender bite (which I prefer) while the batches I make seem to always come out crunchy. Mine also seem to be more heavily coated in powdered sugar, while hers are overall darker in appearance. We’ve compared notes and we’re both following the recipe pretty much exactly the same, I thought perhaps she was pre-toasting/partially cooking them but she doesn’t and I can’t figure it out.
Has anyone had batches come out differently and know why that was or have ideas or suggestions for me to try? Thank you.
All my family and friends BEG me to make these every holiday! I double the recipe and they still don’t last long. They’re everyone’s favorite!!!
Perfect for Christmas, just made batch and added some kosher salt because we didn’t have salted butter. Also I forgot to add the cinnamon. Still tasted phenomenal, very good with the kosher salt and hard to stop eating.
Everyone loves this recipe!
I just made them and my god they are delicious. I think I made them too early for Xmas. I was going to bag them up and give them out, but will they last in a bag for 2 weeks? If I should store them in the fridge in the bags, will they go soft?
Made these last year as hostess gifts for my New Years Eve Brunch guests. Such a hit!! Everyone absolutely loved them! Very few ingredients, some time and you’ve got a fabulous snack or gift. Try this recipe, you won’t regret it and it will be a returning holiday favorite.
This is the best candy pecans that I’ve ever had or made. I make them every year for Christmas and I don’t know what would happen if I didn’t make them. My friends and family go crazy for these pecans. Thank you so much for such an amazing recipe.
Wow!! Trust the process!! Best candied pecans ever! Thank you for the recipe!
I made these and WOWZA they are delicious! I was out of pecans so use walnuts. Delicious !
My question is: I would love to make another batch but make them sweet and spicy. Has anyone done this and what ratio, what spice did you use?
I’m thinking cayenne and perhaps kosher salt but not confident on amounts.
This recipe is amazing!! Followed it exactly and these pecans are perfection! These will be a part of our holiday celebrations from now on! Thank you!
Just made these OMG!!!! You sister are the best! I follow you and my is so much easier on “what to make” thank you! Keep up the great work. I appreciate you!
Sooo yummy! This has quickly become a family/friend favourite over the holidays. I get multiple requests to make them – thank you for sharing!!
Can you omit the cinnamon ? And they still taste good ?
Yes, they’re still amazing. Enjoy!
I make it every year for Christmas!
so so so good!! everyone I made them for loves them!
I just made these today for my kids and their families for Christmas. These are AMAZING!!!! I will most definitely be making these again. And again. And again! Thank you for this recipe!
Made these twice. Ones they were a bit soft and not crunchy and the next time they were crisp and crunchy. What did I do ? Was it the length or time ? I preferred them softer. They are great though!
I’m making this as we speak and I quadrupled the recipe. Was I also supposed to quadrupal the butter that is placed on the pan as well or should that have stayed at 1/2 cup? I did and of course it looks very buttery. I’m hoping it all mixes well throughout the process.
If you quadruple the recipe, then yes, you would need to quadruple all the ingredients including the butter, BUT if you do that with this recipe, you will need to make in batches. The pecans need room to “breathe” and roast on the baking sheet and not be piled on top of one another.
These are the best candies pecans I’ve ever had ! Everyone loves them thank you so much for your delicious recipes
This is INCREDIBLE. My daughter said she could eat them till she was sick. My husband had me make another batch to take to the job site where upon all the workers LOVED it.
This is hands down the best candied pecans ever!!! My 2nd year making them and it’s going to continue to be on my Christmas treat list!!
Love love, LOVE! These are so popular at Christmas, I decided we shouldn’t have to wait for Xmas! I make them for parties all year long!
These are great and great for gifts.
2 words… YUM-ME
These are amazing. Easy to follow instructions. This will be my third holiday season making these and gifting them to friends.
These are so good. Gave them out as Christmas treats and everyone loved them.
I made this recipe and it was so oo good. However when I mixed in powdered sugar they didn’t look like picture. Should I have coated again after they cooled more?
Delicious! Rave reviews from
everyone I have gifted them too! Can we add walnuts for variety?
Made this recipe last year and this is now my go-to for Xmas gifts bags! It’s so easy, love it!
Delicious and a big hit with everyone!
Made these for Christmas last year. They were so dang good!!! Making again this year. Lol
These are seriously addicting and so easy to make!
This came out perfect and the pecans are delicious!
Can I suggest that you not make these the morning of your party? They are so good you will eat them well before the party starts!
Wow these are delicious. I can’t have the sugar so I swapped for Lakanto monk fruit sweetener and powdered sugar. They are absolutely delicious! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
These are incredible. I’ve been making candied pecans for years, but none of them are as good as these. This recipe lives up to the hype!
These are outstanding!!! Thank you for sharing it with us!
These are the best candied pecans – made them last year and about to make my 4th batch this month. I’ve learned it’s important to make separate batches, not just double it, otherwise the pan gets overcrowded and the pecans don’t get crunchy. Seriously so good. I would give this recipe 100 stars if I could!
Hands down the best candied pecans ever. I made 2 batches last year and learned real quick I needed more this year. Got a great deal on pecans at Costco and made 10 (!) batches for friends, neighbors, teachers, and made sure to keep some for myself this time. THESE ARE AMAZING!!
Loved this. Will now be more than an annual treat for us
I made these for my coworkers and they all told me it reminded them of desserts when they were kids. Big hit
Wonderful recipe!!!! Must be the crunchy coating.
Absolutely the best candied pecans I have ever made. WOW. 10 stars.
I had a plan to stitch/duet your TikTok with Ice Man and Maverick saying “You are dangerous”. However, turns out that I don’t know how to run TikTok well enough to do that.
Holy Cow were these great! Am I allergic to pecans? Yes. Did I buy 8 pounds of pecans because of the obsession I had with your video last year and vowed to make them? Also, yes. Did I make these last night and try some? Yes as well. WORTH THE ITCHY MOUTH!!! I had my husband try them first and he said, “Holy sh*t. I can’t be trusted with these.”
I plan on making a few different types with maple extract and without cinnamon to have a nut tray variety. Amy, I knew these were going to be good. I had no idea they were going to be THAT good! I am delaying sending out Christmas Gifts today so I can get a bunch of pecans made and put in with my family’s gifts! Thanks again for the rocking recipe! If I figure out how to get the Top Gun video to work, I’m stitching you! :)
Merry Christmas!
Wow! I literally just made these and they are soooooo good. Like really good
Best candy pecans. I made it last Christmas and now again this year. It’s soooo good. Thank you
This recipe lives up to the promise – truly the best candied pecans I’ve ever tasted.
Can egg whites from a carton be used?
Hi Sandy! I’ve never tested this recipe with carton egg whites, so I can’t say, sorry.
Yep! I used carton egg whites and it worked just fine!
Used this last year for my neighbor Christmas gifts. I had people texting me saying they couldn’t wait until next year! Excited to do it again this Christmas : )