Easy Homemade Candied Pecans (The Addictive Holiday Snack Everyone Asks For)
If you’ve never made homemade candied pecans before, prepare yourself… because once you do, you will suddenly become that person. You know the one — the neighbor who drops off a little bag tied with a bow “just because,” the mom who shows up to the holiday party with a bowl of something everyone crowds around, or the hostess who sets a little dish of these out and watches them magically disappear before dinner even starts.
Candied pecans are that girl.
But here’s the real secret: for how fancy, cozy, and holiday-magical they look, they could not be easier to make. Truly. If you can shake a bowl, you can make these pecans. If you can turn the oven on, you can make these pecans. If you can resist eating them all straight off the sheet pan when they come out warm… well, better woman than me.
These pecans are crunchy, sweet, cinnamon-kissed, and absolutely irresistible. They have that perfect sugary coating that clings to the nooks and crannies of the pecans — and the little clusters? The ones that stick together in those chunky, craggly pieces? Those are the prized bites. The ones you hide at the bottom of the bowl so no one else gets them. (Don’t worry. No one here is judging.)
Whether you bag them up for gifts, sprinkle them on salads, serve them on a charcuterie board, or keep them in a secret container in the pantry labeled “vegetables” so your family doesn’t find them — these pecans are going to be your new seasonal staple.
Why You’ll Love These Candied Pecans
Let’s get into this, because these are more than “just a snack.”
✨ They smell like Christmas.
The moment they hit the oven, your entire house fills with that warm vanilla-cinnamon smell that makes people walk in and ask, “Okay… what are you baking?”
✨ They’re ridiculously easy.
You literally shake the ingredients in a bowl and dump them on a pan. That’s it. No stove. No candy thermometer. No complicated steps.
✨ They’re perfect for gifting.
Bag them up with a little ribbon and suddenly you’ve got the cutest (and most delicious) homemade holiday gift.
✨ They store beautifully.
Keep them in an airtight container, and they stay good for weeks — unless you have zero self-control, which is… relatable.
✨ They’re versatile.
Snack on them, use them on salads, sprinkle them over yogurt, add them to oatmeal, mix them into trail mix… the options are endless.
The Simple Ingredients That Make Magic
The best part? You probably already have most of these on hand. Here’s what you need:
1 egg white 1 tbsp water 1 tsp vanilla 1 pound pecans 1 cup sugar 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt
Nothing fancy. No special tools. Just pantry staples that turn into something completely addictive.
How to Make Candied Pecans (The Easiest Method Ever)
This is the part I love — the steps are so simple that you’ll have them memorized after one batch.
Step 1: Make Your Frothy Base
Add the egg white and water to a bowl. Shake it until it gets frothy and bubbly — this is what helps the sugary coating stick to the pecans.
Step 2: Add Vanilla
Pour in the vanilla and shake again to mix. Vanilla is what gives these pecans that warm, bakery-quality flavor.
Step 3: Coat the Pecans
Add your pound of pecans and shake the bowl like you mean it. Everything should get lightly coated.
Step 4: Add the Sugar Mixture
Add sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Then — you guessed it — shake, shake, shake.
This is the fun part because the pecans start looking like little sugary snowballs.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Dump everything onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread them out.
Bake at 275°F for 1 hour, stirring halfway through.
The slow baking is what makes them crunchy without burning.
Step 6: Try Not to Eat Them All Immediately
This is the hardest step. Truly. They come out warm and crunchy and perfect. You’ve been warned.
Tips for the Best Candied Pecans
Let me give you a few Lake-House-Tested tips to make these PERFECT every time.
✔ Stir halfway through baking
This keeps them from clumping too much and ensures an even crunch.
✔ Use quality pecans
Fresh pecans taste better and have a richer, buttery flavor.
✔ Store them in an airtight container
Keeps them crisp and fresh for up to 3 weeks. (They will never last 3 weeks.)
✔ Make a double batch
Trust me. Especially around the holidays. One pound disappears fast.
✔ Add a little cayenne if you like heat
Spicy-sweet pecans? Absolutely delicious.
Ways to Serve Candied Pecans
Sure, snacking straight out of the bowl is the obvious winner. But here are a few more ways to use them:
✨ On Salads
They instantly elevate a boring salad into something you actually look forward to eating.
✨ On a Charcuterie Board
A bowl of these makes you look like you put extra effort in when you absolutely did not.
✨ On Oatmeal, Yogurt, or Ice Cream
A little crunch makes everything better.
✨ As Holiday Gifts
Put them in cellophane bags or mason jars and suddenly you’re Pinterest-level festive.
✨ In Homemade Trail Mix
Mix with chocolate, dried fruit, and pretzels. HELLO.
Why This Recipe Works Every Time
There are thousands of candied pecan recipes floating around the internet — stovetop versions, brown-sugar versions, spiced versions, glazed versions… but this version is the most forgiving and the most consistent.
Here’s why:
The egg white helps the coating stick perfectly. The low oven temp prevents burning. The sugar-cinnamon mix gives that classic holiday flavor. The shaking method ensures everything gets evenly coated.
You don’t need to babysit anything. You don’t need a candy thermometer. You don’t need 17 steps. Just shake, dump, bake, stir, and enjoy.
How to Store & Freeze Candied Pecans
Storing these is easy:
Countertop:
Airtight container, up to 3 weeks.
Fridge:
Not necessary, but they’ll last up to 6 weeks.
Freezer:
YES, you can freeze them. Up to 2 months.
They thaw beautifully and stay crispy.
(Tip: Hide them in the freezer if you don’t want to share.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar?
Absolutely. It’ll give a deeper caramel flavor.
Can I use other nuts?
Yes — walnuts, almonds, or cashews work great.
Why are my pecans soft?
They weren’t baked long enough. Just pop them back in for 10–15 more minutes.
Are these gluten-free?
Yes! Naturally gluten-free.
Final Thoughts: Make These Once… and You’ll Make Them Forever
These candied pecans are the kind of recipe that becomes tradition.
They’re simple, cozy, sweet, crunchy, giftable, snackable, and downright irresistible.
They’re the kind of treat that makes your whole house smell like the holidays.
The kind of snack you don’t even bother putting in a pretty bowl because everyone will just eat them off the pan.
The kind of recipe your friends text you for every year.
And now it’s yours. 💛
Enjoy every sweet, cinnamon-sugary bite.
Tracy 💛
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