Candied Pecans with pumpkin pie spice flavors are crunchy and sweet with cinnamon-sugar, and a kick of heat. Use as a holiday or Fall appetizer on a grazing table, or charcuterie cheeseboard, or pack up as a homemade holiday food gift.
These easy candy pecans are egg-free, gluten-free, and great for snacks. Wrap in pretty decorated mason jars, and add gift tags. Someone will be delighted...
Why This Candy Pecans Recipe Works
- These easy candied pecans are the perfect mix of spicy and sweet and have the wonderful flavor of Pumpkin Pie Spice including; cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
- This is an egg white free pecans recipe, so it is vegan.
- Bake into desserts like cookies, sweet bread, or as a topping on ice cream.
- They are great to serve on Fall Cheeseboards and grazing tables.
- Toss them into Christmas Salads, they add a sweet-spicy crunch.
- Gift these sweet treats as Food Gifts for a gourmet holiday hostess gift or holiday gift.
Candied Pecans Recipe
Pecans, a variety of spices, sugar, and water are all you need for these yummy candied pecans!
- pecan halves
- ground cinnamon
- ground ginger
- nutmeg
- ground allspice
- ground cloves
- kosher sea salt
- cayenne pepper (if a kick of heat isn't your thing, leave it out!)
- powdered sugar
- water
PRO TIP: Use parchment paper, not wax paper. Wax paper will melt!
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 250° degrees.
Step 2: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, sea salt, cayenne pepper, and powdered sugar.
Step 4: Add the pecans to the sugar mixture, along with 2 tablespoons of 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 from 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!
Can I make them not spicy?
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 make other nuts with this recipe?
Yes, try candied walnuts, candied cashews, 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!
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. Or use them in baked goods like cookies and pastries.
Store candied pecans in an airtight sealable container or Mason jar at room temperature for one week. They are best stored chilled in the fridge. They will last in the fridge for 3-4 weeks chilled in the refrigerator or freeze for up to two months.
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 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 Use Candied Pecans
- Salad Bar: At a fall or holiday gathering, set up a salad bar so your guests can create a salad to their liking. Candied Pecans make the perfect salad topping!
- Fall Charcuterie Or Cheeseboard: These pecans make the perfect addition to a snack board at parties and gatherings.
- Cozy Fall Snack: Fall is the perfect time to relax with a good book and your favorite blanket! Serve up a bowl of Candied Pecans to keep you company.
- Baking Recipes: Bake up your favorite desserts like cookies and try my homemade Vanilla Extract, it will take your baking to a whole new level.
- Appetizers: 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 Tips
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!
More Fall & Thanksgiving Appetizer Recipes
Jalapeno Popper Dip is always a hit! Make this melty hot appetizer for parties with simple pantry ingredients and scoop up with large corn chips. Save those seeds from Halloween 🎃 pumpkin carving! Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are great to sprinkle on soup and in salads. They are a perfect low-carb keto snack idea too. Create a stunning Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board filled with your favorite sliced meats, different types of cheeses, crackers, fruit, nuts, and a few festive and sugary holiday treats for hungry guests on turkey day or anytime during the holiday season!
These are 36 of The Best Thanksgiving Day appetizers for savory snacks, easy appetizers, and a bounty of party ideas for your celebration.
One way I love to entertain is a Crostini Bar, arrange a festive table with fall touches 🍂 , and have the guests help themselves.
Serve a "pumpkin-shaped" Everything Bagel Cheese Ball for your next Fall party, it's always a hit! Easy to make ahead in 15 minutes, chill, and take to a gathering. Addictively sweet and salty Fall Snack Mix 🦃🧡 will disappear at your Thanksgiving feast! The salty nutty flavor is so good with the sweet M&Ms and candy corn. Who doesn't love deviled eggs? A famous holiday and party appetizer, these Autumn Deviled Eggs 🦃🍁 simply take a classic deviled egg recipe and add a couple of Fall twists...
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Candied Pecans Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups pecan halves 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 large bowl, whisk together the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, sea salt, cayenne pepper, and powdered sugar.
- Add the pecans to the cinnamon sugar mixture, along with 2 tablespoons of 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 at room temperature.
- 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.