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    Home » Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

    Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

    Published: Dec 17, 2017 · Modified: Oct 28, 2022 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    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! Plus, these candied pecans are gluten & dairy-free & freezer-friendly! Make a batch, store them in the freezer and use as a salad topper or enjoy as a sweet snack!

    Overhead view of a bowl of homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

    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...oh, don't mind if I do...

    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 TBS vanilla! No butter! No oil! But definitely no sacrificing on taste!

    This recipe has been a staple in my life for over 10 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! Wrap them in a cute cellophane bag or mason jar and give your loved ones an extra special treat this year!

    Cinnamon Sugar Pecans: Ingredients & Substitutions

    I absolutely do not recommend any substitutions in this recipe! My sincerest apologies to all my friends out there  who can't bring yourselves to follow recipes to a "T," but this one is not to be tampered with!

    • 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! 
    overhead view of the ingredients in this candied cinnamon sugar pecans recipe

    How to make Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans 

    Like I've said before, these beauties are really easy to make, but we will walk through the recipe step by step to ensure you success!

    Mix dry ingredients together

    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 together so that the ingredients are evenly distributed on the candied pecans! 

    two overhead photos showing how to make candied cinnamon sugar pecans - combining dry ingredients

    Mix wet ingredients together

    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. 

    two overhead photos showing how to make candied cinnamon sugar pecans - combining wet ingredients

    Add pecans

    Next, add the pecans to the wet mixture and stir until thoroughly combined and coated. 

    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, so be careful!

    two overhead photos showing how to make candied cinnamon sugar pecans - stirring in pecans

    Add dry ingredients

    Next, stir in the dry ingredients until the pecans are evenly coated.

    two overhead photos showing how to make candied cinnamon sugar pecans adding dry ingredients

    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 syrupy goodness 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.
    • 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.
    two overhead photos showing how to bake candied cinnamon sugar pecans

    Serve

    You won't be able to resist eating these candied pecans warm fresh from the oven. They are to die for and will not only taste delicious, but they make your house smell like cinnamon-sugar heaven. 

    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!
    a bowl of candied pecans

    How to store cinnamon sugar pecans

    This candied pecans recipe makes a LOT of nuts. I always make the full recipe and enjoy some, then freeze the rest for later. I like to have them on hand to pull out and use on salads! 

    How to freeze cinnamon sugar pecans: 

    1. Let pecans cool completely
    2. Transfer candied pecans to a freezer-friendly, airtight container. 
    3. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
    4. Let thaw at room temperature and enjoy! They thaw very quickly, and even taste great frozen! 
    up close overhead view of homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans in a bowl

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

    Laura
    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! Plus, these candied pecans are gluten & dairy-free & freezer-friendly! Make a batch, store them in the freezer and use as a salad topper or enjoy as a sweet snack!
    4.96 from 46 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
    Course condiment, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 cups pecans
    Calories 119.2 kcal

    Equipment

    • glass batter bowl
    • spatula
    • hand mixer
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 egg white
    • 1 TBS pure vanilla extract
    • 4-5 cups pecan halves
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 tsp sea salt
    • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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 whisk until frothy (about 1 minute).
    • 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

    Please follow baking time exactly. Even if they seem done at 45 minutes do not skip the last 15 minutes of baking.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • 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! 

    How to store cinnamon sugar pecans

    This candied pecans recipe makes a LOT of nuts. I always make the full recipe and enjoy some, then freeze the rest for later. I like to have them on hand to pull out and use on salads! 

    How to freeze cinnamon sugar pecans: 

    1. Let pecans cool completely
    2. Transfer candied pecans to a freezer-friendly, airtight container. 
    3. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
    4. Let thaw at room temperature and enjoy! They thaw very quickly, and even taste great frozen! 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2TBSCalories: 119.2kcalCarbohydrates: 8.3gProtein: 1.4gFat: 9.7gSaturated Fat: 0.8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2.9gMonounsaturated Fat: 5.5gSodium: 68mgPotassium: 56.9mgFiber: 1.4gSugar: 6.8gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 0.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Fun fact: Before blogging was a thing {or before I knew it was a thing}, Ritch and I used to take pictures of our recipes and submit them to allrecipes.com. We had so much fun doing it! I would get so excited when our pictures won "photo of the day" or when they were chosen as the key photo for very popular recipes.

    The picture above was taken 7 years ago! I adapted this recipe to make these Cinnamon Sugar Pecans that I'm sharing with you today, and submitted this picture. It's been the key photo ever since! Ahhh the little things!

    Cinnamon Sugar Pecans Recipe! Only 6 ingredients and so easy to make! No butter or oil! Dairy-free, & gluten-free!

    Seriously, everyone in your life would love to receive these Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Pecans as a gift this Christmas! And I promise that once you make a batch, you will want to be sure that you are never without some in your freezer! We love eating them on salads, for a snack or as a special little dessert! Try them warm over ice cream or just plain!

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    « Chocolate Covered Cashews
    Homemade Pretzel Bread (Pretzel Rolls) »

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mida

      January 28, 2023 at 5:02 pm

      Please don’t do what I did and set the oven to 400 because you read it wrong. I will be trying again as soon as I get more nuts. At least I can laugh at myself after the smoke settles.

      Reply
      • Laura

        January 29, 2023 at 7:10 am

        Oh No!!!! I'm so sorry! 400 is quite a bit hotter than 250! 😉

        Reply
    2. Wendy

      January 12, 2023 at 2:45 pm

      5 stars
      I started to make a different recipe and couldn’t figure out why I had soupy nuts! Haha. I came to your recipe and immediately saw the ‘don’t use parchment!’ I made that adjustment and good things happened. Thank you for that info! It saved me $13 in nuts. Awesome recipe!!

      Reply
    3. Mark A

      December 20, 2022 at 4:33 pm

      5 stars
      Incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious to eat and share. Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Laura

        December 21, 2022 at 6:57 am

        Thank you, Mark!

        Reply
    4. Carla

      December 04, 2022 at 12:49 am

      5 stars
      This to me is so so so much better than chocolate!! We all loved them. I'm from Georgia so we have lots of pecans to use for new things. Just nuts about them.......

      Reply
      • Laura

        December 04, 2022 at 6:50 am

        Thank you, Carla!

        Reply
    5. Duby Julie

      November 14, 2022 at 5:42 am

      5 stars
      Excellent
      I’m going to make as gifts for Christmas

      Reply
      • Laura

        November 14, 2022 at 7:27 am

        These pecans make amazing gifts!

        Reply
        • Brittany Patterson

          December 17, 2022 at 8:24 pm

          5 stars
          I make these for Christmas gifts every year and they are a favorite! I have a question though, if I do not freeze them how long do they stay good out once cooked and kept in a container? Thanks!

        • Laura

          December 18, 2022 at 7:22 am

          They last for about 2 weeks at room temperature and 1-2 months in the fridge!

    6. Sue

      October 22, 2022 at 5:59 pm

      5 stars
      So very delicious!
      Thank you

      Reply
    7. Susan

      April 13, 2022 at 11:17 am

      5 stars
      The only thing wrong with this recipe is once the pecans are done you can’t resist eating them all…LOL! Awesome, easy recipe that we will continue to make over and over.

      Reply
      • Brandon

        April 25, 2022 at 5:54 pm

        This is so true! I just finished making a batch and they are absolutely delicious. I even used half the sugar - still delicious.

        Reply
      • Dana

        September 29, 2022 at 10:46 am

        Can you use half brown sugar and half white sugar?

        Reply
    8. JanaeS

      January 07, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      5 stars
      I make these for a holiday bake sale every year, and they are always a hit. This recipe results in actual perfect candied pecans. Don’t change a thing!

      Reply
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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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