Making your own Candied Pecans is easy! Just a few staple ingredients and you can have these sweet and addictive nuts in under an hour. Enjoy as a snack or add to your favorite salad for some sweet crunch. This recipe yields 2 generous cups.

jar of candied walnuts

What’s your favorite thing to top a salad with?

For me, it’s candied pecans. Really any candied nut – walnuts, pistachios… I love them all! Their crunch, delicious nuttiness and of course the candied sweetness makes for a delicious sweet treat and add so much flavor and texture to salads.

Making candied pecans is incredibly easy. Simply toss pecan halves with whisked, frothy egg white that is flavored with pure vanilla extract before tossing them in granulated sugar. Spread them evenly on a lined baking sheet and bake low and slow, tossing them every 10 minutes or so. No need to buy store-bought anymore!

bowl of Candied Pecans

The end result is vanilla-y candy coated pecan perfection.

Candied Pecans ingredients

To Make These Candied Pecans You Will Need:

  • egg white
  • vanilla
  • pecans
  • granulated sugar
  • fine salt

whisk egg whites until frothy

Preheat your oven to 250℉ (or 120℃).

Separate the egg white from the yolk, keeping the whites in the bowl. Use the egg yolk for another purpose or discard. Briskly whisk the egg whites until frothy.

add and whisk in vanilla

Add in 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and whisk to combine.

toss pecans in vanilla egg white mixture

To the vanilla egg whites, add 8 ounces pecan halves. Toss well to coat.

sugar and salt in a bowl

In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with a pinch of fine salt.

toss egg white coated pecans in sugar

Transfer the coated pecans to the sugar, toss until coated with sugar.

Meanwhile preheat your oven to 250°.

transfer to parchment lined sheet pan

Spread the nut mixture out into an even layer on a rimmed sheet pan that has been lined with parchment or a silicone mat.

spread evenly and bake

Bake for 10 minutes on the middle rack of your preheated oven.

still somewhat wet after 10 minutes

Remove, toss the pecans and spread out into an even layer.

toss and continue to bake

Bake for another 10 minutes. Repeat once more.

Candied Pecans

Your kitchen should be smelling all kinds of amazing right now.

Candied Pecans

The sugar on the pecans should have hardened and look opaque.

Candied Pecans

Allow the candied pecans to cool completely before serving or storing in a glass jar or container with a tight fitting lid.

candied walnuts

Candied Pecans should last for at least 2 weeks if stored correctly.

jar of candied walnuts

Enjoy! And if you give this Candied Pecans recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

Candied Pecans
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Yield: 16 servings

Candied Pecans

Making your own Candied Pecans is easy! Just a few staple ingredients and you can have these sweet and addictive nuts in under an hour. Enjoy as a snack or add to your favorite salad for some sweet crunch. Yields 2 cups or 16 (2-tablespoon) servings.

Ingredients

  • 1 egg white
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces pecan halves
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • pinch fine salt

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 250℉ (or 120℃).
  • Separate the egg white from the yolk, keeping the whites in the bowl. Use the egg yolk for another purpose or discard. Firmly whisk the egg whites until frothy. Add in 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and whisk to combine.
  • To the vanilla egg whites, add the pecan halves. Toss well to coat.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the sugar with a pinch of fine salt. Transfer the coated pecans to the sugar, toss until coated with sugar.
  • Spread the nut mixture out into an even layer on a rimmed sheet pan that has been lined with parchment or a silicone mat.
  • Bake for 30 minutes on the middle rack of your preheated oven, stirring every 10 minutes.
  • Allow to cool completely before serving or storing in a glass jar or container with a tight fitting lid.
  • Pecans should last 2 weeks at the least.
Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 123kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 61mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 8IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 10mg, Iron: 0.4mg