Easy Candied Pecans

Make cinnamon and sugar roasted, caramelized Candied Pecans with this quick, easy, no egg recipe. It is Vegan and Gluten free snack that whole family will enjoy. The natural oil in pecans and a quick trick to coat pecans in sugar gives you the best candied pecans without eggs. Great for snacking or passing around on the holiday table. 

Quick candied pecans are one of my favorite snack. Since recipe just need 15 minutes, I specially candy pecans for salad toppings. These last, in an air-tight container, for up-to 2 months. Make a big batch and use multiple times.

Oh, have you tired Candied pecans with sharp cheddar cheese and white wine? Sweet, salty and nutty. This is our repeat favorite. (A must try!)

Let's get started!

Candied Pecans

Pecans baking in the oven fills the kitchen with aroma of holiday cooking. Especially when pecans are roasting with sugar and cinnamon! It is also my short-cut way to enjoy a small healthier holiday treat. 

Candied Pecans are ready in oven in 10-12 minutes. Once out of the oven and cool down slightly, pecans get crunchy, with perfect balance of sugar coat, cinnamon and salt. 

If you ever thought making candy pecans at home is hard, this recipe will change the perception. This recipe is quick and easy to follow.

What do you need to make Candied Pecans?

To make candied pecans you need simply 5 ingredients.

1. Raw Pecans
2. Powdered Sugar
3. Cinnamon
4. Salt
5. and Black Pepper.

You will also need a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicon baking mat (my favorite).

To make the candied pecans, I start by washing pecans under running water. Washing is only meant to wet the pecans so that coating of sugar and spices can adhere to the surface of raw pecans. Some recipe uses egg to coat pecans but as you will see in this recipe, it is not needed. Water does the perfect job.

Once wet, coat the pecans in mix of sugar and spices, and then spread on baking sheet in single layer. Bake in preheated oven until pecans are roasted golden and slightly caramelized.

Baking is quick. Here's how pecans get candied in oven:

1. Once in oven, water slowly evaporates off pecans. Powder sugar coat on pecans caramelizes with oven heat, sealing in spices and salt.
2. Also in meantime, pecans are toasted with oven heat. Toasting makes pecan crunchy because natural oils in pecan toast pecan-flesh from inside.

Perfectly caramelized Candied Pecans are ready in 10 minutes.

Wasn't it easy?! Also vegan, and gluten free.

Tips for Success

1. Don't let pecan hang in water for long. A quick wash under running water is enough. Use immediately to make candied pecans. Pecans should be wet but not water soaked. Once wet, shake off, or wipe off with paper towel, any water droplets. You don't want water droplets to become liquid sugar when mixed with powdered sugar. 
2. After coating pecan in sugar, shake well again to remover the excess. Even if double-coating (check variations below), shake off the excess.
3. For best results, spread pecans in a single layer on baking sheet. Use 2-3 sheets (if needed) to fit all pecans. Evenly spread pecans don't form clusters. Also come off sheet very easily. Plus are not sticky but perfectly caramelized.
4. Store in Air-tight container: Candied Pecans will keep up-to 2 months. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature. 

Variations

First devour homemade candied pecans. Next try these variations to make this recipe your own. These are few of my favorite ways to use this recipe:

1. Double coat for extra Caramelized Pecans: In Step 2, after coating pecans in sugar-mix once. Don't discard the sugar collected in the bowl. Carefully move sieve with pecans on of the kitchen sink. For second coat, re pour the sugar mix collected in bowl over the sieve with pecans. Shake well to remove the excess and discard. (Note: pictures in this post used only one coat.)
2. Candied Walnuts: You can use this recipe to candy other nuts such as candied walnuts, almond or macadamia nuts.
3. Spicy Caramelized Pecans: To make Spicy Caramelized Pecans - Add 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper.
4. Warm Spiced Candied Pecans: Change flavor from cinnamon pecans to warm spiced candied pecans - use 1/4 tsp of cinnamon powder, 1/8 tsp of nutmeg, 1/8 tsp of clove and 1/8 tsp of all-spice Or use a tsp of pumpkin pie spice.

Friends, making candied pecans at home is easy and super quick. Next time when you planning to search candied pecans shops near you.. look no further than your own home pantry. Grab these 5 pantry ingredients and make homemade candied pecans. I promise you will love the flavors.

Happy Baking and happy weekend! -Savita x