Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

Go To Recipe

Candied Pecans Recipe (1)

Last Updated on October 11, 2021 by Anne-Marie

Try this Candied Pecans Recipe to sprinkle on salad, as a snack, or in baking. These easy candied pecans are sugar-free.

Candied Pecans Recipe (2)

Why this recipe works

You can use these candied pecans in so many ways!Use these sugar free, candied pecans in salad. Or serve them in pretty bowls as party appetizers.

Add these easy candied pecans to your favorite trail mix or in homemade granola.

They're ideal for anyone on a keto diet as a sugar free snack. They're also gluten free and dairy free.

Or chop them up and use the candied pecans in pancakes, waffles, easy breads, muffins, or sprinkled on yogurt.

Try mixing pieces of the spicy candied pecans into popcorn as a yummy snack on your next family movie night.

Candied Pecans Recipe (3)

How to make sugar free candied pecans

This sugar free candied pecans recipe was inspired by one from Hobo Kitchen as part of a food blogger recipe challenge where we redo other blogger’s recipes. (With permission of course!)

I’m a big admirer of Ellie’s blog as I love her writing style and her recipes, especially her Bahamian ones. (She’s originally from the Bahamas.)

I wanted to make her Candied Pecans recipe, but decided to challenge myself by creating a sugar free version.

I used Swerve Sweetener to make this easy candied pecans recipe sugar free and keto friendly. You can also use monk fruit powder. Both Swerve and monk fruit powder are natural, no calorie sweeteners.

Making a candied pecans recipe three ways

Ellie’s candied pecan recipe is based on one from Joy The Baker. Both use ground cayenne pepper to give the candied pecans a little kick.

I decide to use ground chipotle chile pepper in my spicy candied pecans instead.

Then I was inspired to change up the flavors a bit by using ground ginger in one candied pecans recipe batch and pumpkin pie spice in another.

When making your own easy candied pecans, experiment with other spice combinations – cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom with a pinch of turmeric.

Candied Pecans Recipe (4)

I used liquid egg whites because I find it easier to measure accurately. Plus, you’re not wondering what to do with the extra yolks afterwards.

Also, if you’re experimenting with various spices, you can safely taste the batter since liquid egg whites are pasteurized.

Finally, I like using a KitchenAid Hand Mixer since it makes beating the egg whites until frothy much easier than putting the mixture into my big KitchenAid stand mixer.

I like the control the hand mixer gives me and I don’t have to drag the heavy stand mixer out.

Candied Pecans Recipe (5)

More ideas for easy candied pecans

I love cooking up this candied pecans recipe during the holidays to give as a homemade gift.

Put handfuls in a big Mason jar wrapped with a big ribbon or bow on top. Makes the house smell great, too!

This candied pecan recipe so easy that your children can help you make a few batches for teachers gifts.

Candied Pecans Recipe (6)

How to serve candied pecans

Chopped up candied pecans to sprinkle on savory holiday dishes like Crock-Pot Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Parsnips. Or mix them into your Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce.

How about using them in the streusel topping in my Blueberry Muffin Cake. Or mix them into your Homemade Granola Bars?

And don’t forget adding them into your holiday baking!

Yield: 6 SERVINGS

Candied Pecans Recipe

Candied Pecans Recipe (7)

Try this Candied Pecans Recipe to sprinkle on salad, as a snack, or in baking. These easy candied pecans are sugar-free.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons pasteurized liquid egg whites
  • 1 cup granulated Swerve Sweetener or powdered monk fruit sweetener
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper (or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or pumpkin pie spice)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups raw pecan halves

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk egg whites until frothy.
  3. Add sweetener, spices, and salt. Whisk the mixture until the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
  4. Add the pecans and gently toss to coat with a large spoon or spatula.
  5. Once coated, spoon the pecans onto the parchment paper. Spread pecans evenly over the baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes until pecans are toasted a golden brown.
  7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely so the Swerve Sweetener hardens.
  8. Remove pecans from the baking sheet and break up clusters into individual pieces, if you wish. If you’re not using the candied pecans right away, store in a ziplock baggie or airtight container in the freezer.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 401Total Fat: 38gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 33gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 366mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 6gSugar: 8gProtein: 6g

Nutritional information is automatically calculated per the ingredients list. Serving size may not be accurate. Please double-check with your preferred nutritional app for the most accurate information.

Originally published on March 7, 2014 and June 22, 2016. Updated with new pictures and information.

Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans still sticky? ›

Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325° F and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

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.

How long will candied pecans keep? ›

How Long Do Candied Pecans Last? Store your candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. If you give them as a gift, be sure to include storage instructions.

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

Praline pecans are just one variety of candied pecans. These pecans have a tasty coating or glaze and are also referred to as flavored pecans.

Why won't my candied nuts dry? ›

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.

Why are my candied nuts soft? ›

Usually if the almonds are soft after candying it means that they weren't cooked for long enough. However, this recipe cooks all of the water out of the sugar syrup and then takes it a step further where the the sugar then re-caramelizes allowing the almonds to harden.

Why are my candied pecans grainy? ›

Most candied pecans use a sugar melted to a specific temperature using a candy thermometer, but I find that any humidity turns the sugar grainy and turns the candied pecans into a grainy unpleasant mass.

Do candied pecans need to be refrigerated? ›

Candied pecans are best when stored at room temperature for about a week. If you store them in the refrigerator they can last up to three weeks. Make sure to store them in an airtight container and include storage tips if you're giving these away as gifts!

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

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 can you tell if pecans are rancid? ›

Fresh pecans have a distinct aroma, characterized by their sweet, nutty scent. They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.

Where do you store candied pecans? ›

Storing. Candied pecans will keep tightly sealed in an airtight container for one to two weeks. They will keep for at least three weeks in an airtight container in the refrigerator and may be frozen for several months.

Why won't my pralines get hard? ›

If you beat too long, the candy will seize and start to crumble. If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky.

What is the sweetest pecan? ›

Paper-Shell Pecans

As their name suggests, paper-shell pecans have thin shells you can crack without a nutcracker. This accessible species is often sweeter than other pecans.

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

Why are pecans bad for dogs? 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.

Why didn't my pecan pie solidify? ›

Here's the thing to remember: If you're filling hasn't set, it means the bottom of the pie crust isn't fully cooked, either. You can prevent the outer crust from further darkening (or even burning) by covering it with aluminum foil or -- more attractively -- with what's known as a pie ring or shield.

Why is my pecan tree so sappy? ›

This is a sign of yellow aphids in pecan. Yellow pecan aphids are smaller of two species of yellow-tinted plant lice that feed on the underside of foliage of pecan trees. The other species is called black-margined aphid that cause so-called “dripping of pecan trees.”

How long should pecans dry before cracking? ›

Allow the nuts to dry for a couple of weeks or so. Once the nuts are dry enough, you'll be able to break open the hulls without much effort. Rounding up, always ensure to pick your pecans during the late fall.

Why is my pecan pie gooey? ›

If the filling is flowing in a wavy movement from the center to the edge, your pie isn't set quite yet. Wait for the moment when the center of your pecan pie gives you just a little jiggle, like the stable but slightly wiggly movement of Jell-O when you give it a gentle shake.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rueben Jacobs

Last Updated:

Views: 5643

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rueben Jacobs

Birthday: 1999-03-14

Address: 951 Caterina Walk, Schambergerside, CA 67667-0896

Phone: +6881806848632

Job: Internal Education Planner

Hobby: Candle making, Cabaret, Poi, Gambling, Rock climbing, Wood carving, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.