Spiced Pecans

These easy spiced pecans are sweet and delicious, the perfect little gift for friends and extended family. Put them in jars with a decorative top and ribbon for an attractive presentation. Spiced pecans also make an excellent snack for a family movie night or weekend treat. The nuts are roasted and then finished with a sugar and spice candy coating. Use coarsely chopped pecans or halves in this recipe. It only takes a few minutes to make these, so get ready for a quick treat!

Spiced pecans can also be added to baked goods. Just give them a quick chop and sprinkle them over muffins, quick breads, or cakes for extra flavor and texture. You can also top a sweet potato casserole or baked sweet potatoes with these tasty nuts.

What You’ll Like About This Recipe

• Simple ingredients. Everything needed is likely already in your pantry—pecans, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla—making this a quick and convenient recipe.
• Perfect crunchy coating. Cooking the sugar mixture to soft-ball stage ensures the syrup crystallizes properly, giving the pecans their signature crisp texture.
• Great for gifting. These pecans stay fresh for days and package beautifully in jars, tins, or bags for holiday or hostess gifts.
• Versatile uses. Serve them as snacks, garnish salads, top sweet potatoes, or add to dessert boards—they fit into both sweet and savory dishes.
• Scalable and reliable. The recipe doubles easily, and the cooking method is straightforward enough for consistent results every time.

Ingredient Notes

• Pecans – Pecan halves toast evenly and hold up well to the sugar coating. Fresh, high-quality pecans make a noticeable difference in flavor.
• Vegetable oil – A small amount helps the nuts toast evenly and encourages the coating to cling properly.
• Granulated sugar – Forms the crisp, crackly candy shell. Do not substitute with liquid sweeteners.
• Cinnamon – Adds warmth and aromatic sweetness. You can adjust the amount based on desired flavor intensity.
• Salt – Balances the sweetness and sharpens the cinnamon flavor; a small amount makes a big difference.
• Water – Allows the sugar to dissolve and cook evenly; essential for achieving the correct candy stage.
• Vanilla extract – Adds depth and rounds out the sweetness once the syrup is removed from the heat.

Steps to Make Spiced Pecans

1. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet with a thin coating of oil and toast them in the oven until fragrant, which enhances their natural flavor and ensures they stay crisp once coated.
2. Prepare your workspace by laying out wax paper before starting the syrup, as the coated pecans set quickly.
3. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, salt, and water in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until the sugar fully dissolves.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook it without stirring until it reaches soft-ball stage, allowing the syrup to form a proper candy coating.
5. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and add the pecans, coating them rapidly before the sugar begins to crystallize.
6. 6. Spread the coated pecans onto the wax paper and separate with forks as they cool, preventing clumping.

Pro Tips

• Toast the pecans first to deepen flavor and prevent sogginess once coated.
• Use a candy thermometer if possible to reach the correct temperature for proper crystallization.
• Stir vigorously when adding the pecans—the mixture thickens quickly as the sugar crystallizes.
• Separate the nuts immediately on wax paper to achieve individual pieces rather than clusters.
• Store the cooled pecans in an airtight container to maintain crispness.

Recipe Variations

• Vanilla version. Skip the cinnamon and add a few drops of vanilla for a fragrant, simple flavor.
• Pumpkin spice. Replace the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice for a seasonal twist.
• Nut swap. Use walnuts or almonds instead of pecans.
• Toasted flavor. Toast the nuts before coating for extra nuttiness.

What to Serve With Spiced Pecans

• Snacks: Enjoy with cocktails, coffee, or tea.
• Salads: Sprinkle over mixed greens or fruit salads for a sweet crunch.
• Desserts: Top muffins, quick breads, or cakes for added flavor and texture.
• Holiday sides: Use as a topping for sweet potato casserole or baked yams.

How to Store

• Refrigerating is not necessary; store the pecans at room temperature in an airtight container for extended crispness.
• Freeze if storing for long periods; thaw at room temperature before serving.
• Refresh by briefly toasting in the oven if the nuts lose crispness over time.

Spiced Pecans

Diana Rattray

Serve these tasty candied spiced pecans at any party, or have them on hand for a weekend game day gathering.

No ratings yet

Servings 12 servings

Calories 243

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Candy

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3 cups pecans, halves
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

• Heat the oven to 300 F. Toss the pecans with the oil and spread them out on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove the pan to a rack and let the pecans cool.
• Place a large sheet of wax paper on the countertop. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, salt, and water in a saucepan and place it over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook to 236 F or soft-ball stage. Remove the mixture from the heat, add the vanilla, and then add the pecans. Stir briskly until the mixture is creamy looking.
• Turn the pecans out onto the wax paper and separate them with forks. They will be sticky at first but will dry to a lovely candy coating.

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 2gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 146mgPotassium: 103mgFiber: 2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg

Disclaimer:

Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.

Keyword candied pecans, spiced pecans

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!