Last Updated March 1st, 2021 at 08:32 am by Lisa
Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans flavored with pumpkin pie spice are crunchy sweet with a kick of heat! They make a wonderful holiday homemade food gift, wrap in mason jars with cute gift tags and a bow...
Why This Recipe Works:
If you like sweet and spicy, well then these are for you.
These candied spiced pecans are the perfect mix of spicy and sweet and have all the wonderful flavors of pumpkin pie spice. They're almost impossible to resist!
The are great to serve on cheeseboards and grazing tables.
Toss them into holiday salads, they add a sweet spicy crunch.
Gift as a gourmet holiday hostess gift or holiday gift.
You Will Need..
Pecans, a variety of spices, sugar, and water are all you need for these yummy candied pecans!
- 2 cups pecans (8 oz bag)
- 3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoons nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon kosher sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (if a kick of heat isn't your thing, leave out!)
- ½ cup powder sugar
- 2-4 tablespoons water
How to Make Spicy Candied Pecans
Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 250° degrees.
Step 2: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Tip: Use parchment paper, not wax paper. Wax paper will melt!
Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, sea salt, cayenne pepper, and powder sugar.
Step 4: Add the pecans to the sugar mixture, along with 2 tablespoons water. Stir until dissolved into a sticky glaze.
Tip: Add a bit more water if needed until you get a sticky glaze.
Step 5: Pour the pecans onto a baking sheet into a single layer, avoid the nuts touching. Use all the glaze from the bowl, and pour over the pecans. Bake 250 degrees for 60 minutes, stirring one time during the hour until the pecans are dry and crunchy.
Step 6: Once done, slide the parchment off of the hot baking sheet and allow the pecans to cool completely on the countertop.
Note: When you mix the nuts and spices, they will be wet and sticky like the photo below.
Once they are baked and dry, their coating is no longer glossy.
The result is so good you'll be dreaming of your next batch of spiced pecans before you even finish your first!
I Don't Like Spicy Foods! Can I Make Sweet Spiced Pecans?
Sure thing! If you want spiced pecans but not spicy pecans, omit the cayenne pepper. This will take away the kick of heat and leave you with sweet spiced pecans.
Can I Use This Recipe for Other Candied Nuts?
Yes! Candied walnuts and candied almonds can be made with this recipe. Pecans are my favorite though... it's hard to beat the slight natural sweetness of pecans paired with sugar and spices!
How to Store Spicy Candied Pecans
Store these spicy pecans in decorated mason jars (hot glue small wooden leaves from the craft store) or airtight containers.
(Side note on mason jars: If you love them as much as I do, you'll love this post about 50+ Best Ways to Use Mason Jars!)
They are great to serve on cheeseboards and grazing tables.
Toss them into holiday salads, they add a sweet-spicy crunch.
Gift as a gourmet holiday hostess gift or holiday gift.
Store candied pecans in an airtight sealable container or Mason jar at room temperature for one week. They will last in the fridge for 3-4 weeks chilled in the refrigerator, or freezer for up to two months.
Holiday Homemade Food Gift:
Write out a cute gift tag for your decorated mason jars and maybe include the recipe for a fun homemade food gift!
The jars alone will make a wonderful gift, but if you want to take things up a notch, you can serve them as part of a gorgeous autumn gift basket.
In a large basket, tuck in a fabulous throw, some fall colored roses, a couple of bottles of wine, and a jar of your spicy pecans. Who wouldn't want to receive this beautiful gift?
If you want more homemade food gift ideas for the holiday season, check out my post on 8 Holiday DIY Gourmet Food Gifts!
How to Serve Spicy Candied Pecans
- On a salad bar: At a fall or holiday gathering, set up a salad bar so your guests can create a salad to their liking. Spicy Candied Pecans make the perfect salad topping!
- On a cheeseboard: These spicy pecans make the perfect addition to a cheese board at parties and gatherings.
- In a bowl in your favorite cozy spot: Fall is the perfect time to relax with a good book and your favorite blanket! Serve up a bowl of Spicy Candied Pecans to keep you company.
- On an appetizer table: See the section below for my friend Lidy's tips on how to make an easy appetizer "grazing" table for your next party!
Appetizer "Grazing" Table Ideas:
I am SMITTEN with the way Lidy from French Garden House sets up an easy appetizer table with Spiced Candied Pecans...how stunning is this? And to quote her,
"Want to know a secret to a really easy way to entertain? Having family and or friends over for appetizers and drinks is a lot easier than a full-fledged dinner party. Bonus: It’s a lot more F U N too!"
-Lidy Baars
And she is so right! Her post How To Design A Stunning Appetizer Display gives lots of ideas and tips on how to host effortlessly.
Her secret is to keep the food simple and display it gorgeously!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the board down the middle of the table, and everyone refills their own plate...and let me tell you we nibbled and giggled as we "worked" on this. I love what I do!
On this appetizer table we also served, wait for it.... Brie and Bacon Palmiers! 3 ingredients, and a 100% delicious wow result. Also tucked on our table, we served Meyer Lemon Tapenade. Fresh and delicious with sweet Meyer Lemons, and we scooped some into mini bell pepper halves...this combo is supreme.
We might all love fall because things slow down, and it cools off - well sometimes in Southern California but summer hasn't entirely tried to linger.
Before the holidays make us crazy busy, take time to enjoy friends and family around a table, whether inside or out. Easy entertaining is all about making a few recipes and buying several appetizers ready to go from the store.
Happy Fall Yall, I am loving every minute of it.
All The Best Dishes,
Lisa XO
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Spicy Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 2 cups pecans 8 oz bag
- 3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoons nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon kosher sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ cup powder sugar
- 2-4 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 250° degrees.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. (Use parchment paper and not wax paper, it will melt).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, sea salt, cayenne pepper, and powder sugar.
- Add the pecans to the sugar mixture, along with 2 tablespoons water. Stir until dissolved into a sticky glaze. (Add a bit more water if needed until you get a sticky glaze.)
- Pour the pecans onto a baking sheet into a single layer, avoid the nuts touching. Use all the glaze from the bowl, and pour over the pecans. Bake 250 degrees for 60 minutes, stirring one-time during the hour until the pecans are dry and crunchy.
- Once done, slide the parchment off of the hot baking sheet and allow the pecans to cool completely on the countertop.
- Store in a decorated mason jars (hot glue small wooden leaves from the craft store) or airtight containers. Write out a cute gift tag, and maybe include the recipe for a fun gift!
These were seriously the BEST holiday nuts I've ever tasted. They are so good, the spice kicks them up a knot to spectacular. I know that at FrenchGardenHouse, we'll be making lots of these during fall and the holiday season.