Candied Pecans Are the Perfect DIY Holiday Gift Idea (2024)

They're coated in a sweet cinnamon mixture!

By Kate Trombly O'Brien and Recipe by Maggie ChaplainPublished: Dec 14, 2023

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Candied Pecans Are the Perfect DIY Holiday Gift Idea (6)

Candied pecans are a perfecthomemade food giftduring the holiday season. Triple the recipe, then portion the nuts into food-safe gift bags to share with friends and family. While people will likely munch on them straight from the bag, they should know that these cinnamon-spiced pecans are an instant upgrade to all kinds of dishes, both sweet and savory. Pair them with a sugar cookie martini for a festive Christmas partyappetizeror sprinkle them into wintryChristmas salads for added crunch. Try pilingthem onto a charcuterie board, too—they taste great with salami and cheese!

Unlike other glazed pecans that aremade on the stovetop and require a careful eye, this recipe comes together easily in the oven. The egg white helps the sugaryspiced mixture coat every nook and cranny so the pecans are crispy and candy-like. The cinnamoncan be swapped out for ground ginger or applepie spiceor even something savory, like barbecue rub, Old Bay seasoning, or Italian seasoning.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together?

Under-cooking thepecansis 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. They'll crisp, turn brittle and dry as they cool. If any do stick together at this point, they are easy tobreak apart. Be sure to let them cool completely before packaging or storing them.

How long do candied pecans stay fresh?

Once completely cooled, these candied pecans will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to one week at room temperature.

What's the difference between candied pecans and pralines?

Candied pecans are individual nuts coated in a cinnamon-sugar coating, while pralines are clusters of nuts in a crunchy caramel-like coating.

Ingredients

1/2 c.
granulated sugar
1/4 c.
light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp.
ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp.
kosher salt
1
large egg white
1 tsp.
vanilla extract
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1 lb.
pecan halves (about 4 cups)

Directions

1. Step1Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. Step2In a small bowl, whisk together the sugars, cinnamon and salt.
3. Step3In a large bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla extractuntil very foamy, about 1 minute. Add the pecans and stir until well coated. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the pecans and toss until fully coated.Spread pecans into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Step4Bake for 20 minutes. Stir and spread out evenly again. Bake for another 20 minutes or until the nuts are very fragrant and are starting to darken in color. Let the pecans fully cool in the pan on a wire rack (the sugar will harden as it cools). Break into individual pieces.Store in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 2 weeks.