Cinnamon Sugar Pecans (Candied Pecans)
Posted Dec 17, 2017, Updated Dec 08, 2024
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This homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans Recipe is easy to make with only 6 ingredients & is so much more delicious than the nuts from the mall or fair! Make a batch of candied pecans and use them a salad topper, enjoy as a sweet snack, or give away as holiday gifts.
You know when you’re walking through the mall and you smell something amazing? You look around and realize that the heavenly aroma is coming from a glazed nut stand. So, you casually walk by because you know there will be a free sample…
Well, these Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans are better than those nuts you find at the mall or fair! They are so easy to make and have very few ingredients! The only wet ingredients for an entire batch is 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon of vanilla! No butter! No oil! But definitely no sacrificing on taste.
This recipe has been a staple in my life for almost 20 years now. I always have these on hand. They’re freezer friendly, so you can make a batch, eat some warm from the oven, and freeze the rest to toss on salads or enjoy as a sweet snack.
They also make great gifts for friends and neighbors for the holidays (along with Christmas Cookies – especially these chocolate chip pecan cookies). Wrap them in a cute cellophane bag or mason jar and give your loved ones an extra special treat.
Cinnamon Sugar Pecans: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Pecans. Use raw, unsalted pecans halves in this candied pecan recipe. I don’t recommend any substitutions. Check out my candied almonds or candied walnuts if you’d prefer to use different nuts.
- Granulated Sugar. organic cane sugar is a good substitute. Readers have had success making a refined-sugar free version using coconut sugar.
- Egg White. Use a large egg white to make these candied pecans. Remember, the size of your egg will effect the amount of pecans used.
- Sea Salt. I only bake with pure, fine sea salt. If you only have iodized table salt, you will need to cut the amount of salt in half.
- Ground Cinnamon. Use a high-quality ground cinnamon for the absolute best flavor!
- Vanilla extract. Please only use pure vanilla extract, no imitation!
How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans
Like I’ve said before, these candied pecans are easy to make, but we will walk through the recipe step by step to ensure you success – and don’t forget to watch the video.
Combine Dry Ingredients
Begin by mixing together the sugar, sea salt and cinnamon in a small bowl, then set it aside. It’s important to thoroughly mix the dry ingredients so they are evenly distributed on the candied pecans.
Whisk Wet Ingredients
Use either a wire whisk or a hand mixer and beat the egg white and vanilla together until frothy. (You will notice in the video that the mixture is a little whiter, that is just because the egg white was beaten longer). You just need the wet mixture to be frothy, you do not want to beat the egg whites until they are stiff.
Add Pecans
Next, add the pecans to the wet mixture and stir until thoroughly combined and coated.
Note on the Amount of Pecans
Start by adding a little less than 4 cups of pecans to the wet mixture, and slowly add the rest to be sure there are no dry pecans and no wet mixture stuck to the sides of the bowl. The amount of nuts can vary slightly depending on the size of your egg white.
Add Dry Ingredients
Next, stir in the dry ingredients until the pecans are evenly coated.
Bake
The baking time, temperature and method is extremely important in this cinnamon sugar pecans recipe.
- Do not use parchment paper/foil! Do bake these Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans directly on the pan. When you stir the pecans, you need to reincorporate the cinnamon sugar “syruP” from the pan onto the nuts, and parchment paper/foil soaks up the liquid, which results in less coated nuts and a big old mess. You can use a silicone baking mat but it’s not necessary.
- Do not adjust baking time. Bake at 250 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Even if they seem done after 45 minutes, the extra 15 minutes gives these Cinnamon Sugar Pecans the perfect crispiness that’s retained even after freezing.
Serve
You won’t be able to resist eating these candied pecans warm fresh from the oven. They are to die for and not only taste delicious, but they make your house smell like cinnamon-sugar heaven. Here are some serving suggestions:
- Serve with this balsamic vinaigrette on a salad for a delicious combo.
- Sprinkle some on these roasted beets! SO GOOD!
- Add a few to this kale salad, brussels sprouts salad, burrata salad or this roasted vegetable quinoa salad!
- Sprinkle some on top of these overnight oats with yogurt!
How to Store Cinnamon Sugar Pecans
This candied pecans recipe makes a large batch. I always make the full recipe and enjoy some, then store or freeze the rest for later. I like to have them on hand to pull out and use on salads.
Store them at room temperature in an airtight container (glass jar) for up to 2 weeks.
How to Freeze Candied Pecans
- Let the pecans cool completely.
- Transfer candied pecans to a freezer-friendly, airtight container.
- Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Thaw at room temperature and enjoy. They thaw very quickly, and even taste great frozen.
If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!
Cinnamon Sugar Pecans (Candied Pecans)
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 4-5 cups pecan halves
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine sea sea salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Grease a large baking sheet. (Do not use parchment paper or foil. Bake directly on the greased pan).
- In a small bowl, combine sugar, sea salt, and cinnamon, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whip egg white and vanilla with a until frothy (about 1 minute). Either whisk by hand or use a handheld mixer.
- Add pecans to wet mixture 1 cup at a time, stirring to coat the nuts evenly. Depending on the size of your egg white you may use slightly more or less than 4 cups pecans. Just make sure all nuts are well coated before adding more.
- Once pecans are completely coated, sprinkle the dry ingredients over the pecans and stir until evenly distributed. Make sure to scrape any extra cinnamon sugar mixture off the sides and bottom of the bowl and incorporate it into the pecan.
- Spread the pecans evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes (you will stir 3 times before removing from the oven).
- Let cool or enjoy them warm.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the freezer.
Video
Notes
- Pecans. Use raw, unsalted pecans halves in this candied pecan recipe. I don’t recommend any substitutions. Check out my candied almonds if you’d prefer almonds.
- Granulated Sugar. Regular granulated sugar and organic cane sugar are the two varieties I have used to make these cinnamon sugar pecans. Readers have had success making a refined-sugar free version using coconut sugar.
- Egg White. Use a large egg white to make these candied pecans. Remember, the size of your egg will effect the amount of pecans used!
- Sea Salt. I only ever bake with pure, fine sea salt. If you only have iodized table salt, you will need to cut the amount of salt in half.
- Ground Cinnamon. Use a high-quality ground cinnamon for the absolute best flavor!
- Vanilla extract. Please only use pure vanilla extract, no imitation!
- Let the cinnamon sugar pecans cool completely.
- Transfer candied pecans to a freezer-friendly, airtight container.
- Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Thaw at room temperature and enjoy. They thaw very quickly, and even taste great frozen.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made these for the christmas season last year and i got overwhelming responses from everyone. I did modify the recipe a bit. I subbed the egg for banana and i used allspice rather than the vanilla. Cook times worked just the same. I really appreciate you for posting this!
I’m so glad you love them Devin! I suggest making them as a topping for your summer salads too! 🙂
Followed the recipe exactly and turned out perfect. The right amount of heat and sweetness! Will definitely make again
I’m so happy you love them, Jill!
I make these every year for Christmas. This was my third year! They are perfect and my family is obsessed. Eating them warm is so comforting and tasty.
Thank you so much Chelsea! Have you tried making them as a summer salad topper – so good!
Hello, I want to send these sugar cinnamon pecans to my niece in another state. Are there any special instructions for mailing them?
I’d ship them as quickly as possible for maximum freshness. Also, I might freeze them first!
So easy and delicious.
Thank you, Diana!
What happens if you don’t let them cook the last 15 min? I’m just curious. If it for food safety reason or they just won’t be as crispy?
They will be soft, not crispy.
Great recipe, thanks for the tips!!! I tried a stove top recipe for thanksgiving and had chewy pecans, this is AMAZING!!!! Crunchy and wonderful. Dairy and gluten free without substitutions usually lead to a better result, since I have to be both, this will now be joining meringues in my holiday treat lineup.
I’m so glad you love this reipce, Beccy!
Have made the candied pecans and almonds from your site multiple times. Both are delicious and I appreciate the slight variation of sugar/spices to accommodate for the specific taste of the nuts. I bake these 30 mins to an hr over your stated time while stirring every 15 mins and they are the perfect amount of crispy without being burnt. It could be my oven or maybe I like extra crunch in mine but everyone loves them! Thanks for sharing a great recipe. I might use slightly less vanilla extract next time.
I’m so glad you love both recipes, Hannah!!