The BEST Sugared Pecans Recipe | FIXED on FRESH (2025)

Published: · Modified: by Lauren · This post may contain affiliate links

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Simple sugared pecans are coated in a brown sugar and cinnamon mixture and then slow roasted until they are perfectly crunchy and candied.

The BEST Sugared Pecans Recipe | FIXED on FRESH (1)

Candied Pecans

You can bet I make a Costco run and double or triple this recipe because candied nuts are so versatile! Here are just a few reasons I keep these in the freezer year-round:

  • I love to make candied nuts as appetizers or an easy dessert at holiday get-togethers.
  • You can also bag or box them up and hand them out as gifts.
  • Chop them up and serve them on salads or in yogurt

Ingredients and Substitutions

The list of ingredients needed for sugared pecans is pretty short. There are a few swaps that can be made to switch things up.

The BEST Sugared Pecans Recipe | FIXED on FRESH (2)
  • Pecans. Pecans are perfect for coating with brown sugar and cinnamon, but so is pretty much every other nut! Try using walnuts or almonds too.
  • Brown sugar. I love the caramel flavor of brown sugar, but white sugar works well too.
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg. These add a little extra flavor to the pecans you can't beat. Out of either or looking to switch it up? Try ¾ teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.
  • Egg white. Used to get the sugars and spices to cling and stay on the nuts. To get the volume you need to coat all the nuts, you'll need to whip the egg white until it's foamy. Egg substitute will not do this, so do not substitute it.

MONEY SAVING TIP: If you have a bulk store membership, consider buying your nuts there. In my area, they are regularly about 30% cheaper than grocery stores.

How to Make It

Make the sugar and spice combination: grab a small bowl and stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Set that mixture aside.

The BEST Sugared Pecans Recipe | FIXED on FRESH (3)

Beat the egg white: In a medium sized bowl, add the egg white. Vigorously beat the egg with a whisk until it becomes foamy and triples in volume.

Coat the pecans: Add the pecans to the bowl with the egg white and toss the pecans to fully coat.

Add the sugar mixture: pour the sugar mixture over the pecans and stir them to coat with the sugar. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and spread the coated pecans in an even layer.

The BEST Sugared Pecans Recipe | FIXED on FRESH (4)

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Cooking Time and Temperature

Roast the sugared pecans in a 250˚ Fahrenheit oven for a full hour. Stir the nuts every 15 minutes. Don't be tempted to shorten the time. The full hour is needed to get the brown sugar to really crisp and turn into a candy coating.

Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool on the pan for 10-15 minutes before serving or storing.

Storage

Store the candied nuts in an airtight container or bag in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.

To make these last longer, freeze them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months!

The BEST Sugared Pecans Recipe | FIXED on FRESH (5)

Other Pecan Recipes You'll Love

  • Pumpkin Spice Muffins
  • Apple Cinnamon Chex Mix
  • Oatmeal Pecan Scones
  • Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies

📖 Recipe

The BEST Sugared Pecans Recipe | FIXED on FRESH (6)

Sugared Pecans

Easy sugared pecans are coated in a brown sugar and cinnamon mixture and then slow roasted until they are perfectly crunchy and candied.

5 from 5 votes

AUTHOR : Lauren

RECIPE COST : $9.23 / .58¢ PER SERVING

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Cooling Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Snack

Servings 16

Calories 226 kcal

Ingredients

  • cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch nutmeg
  • 1 egg white
  • 4 cups pecan halves

Instructions

  • PREP: Preheat the oven to 250˚F. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.

  • MAKE SUGAR MIXTURE: In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

  • COAT THE NUTS: In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white until it is foamy. Add the pecans and toss to coat in the egg mixture. Add the sugar mixture to the nuts and toss again to coat with the sugar.

  • BAKE: Spread the nuts in an even layer on the baking sheet and bake in the prepared oven for 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving or transferring to a container to store.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cupCalories: 226kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 3gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 66mgPotassium: 126mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gCalcium: 10mgIron: 4mg

Nutrition Information Disclaimer

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**This blog post contains affiliate links to products that I actually use and that align with my values. See my affiliate disclaimer here.

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Comments

  1. Diane

    These were perfect, I made 4 batches and put them in cute containers and gave them as Christmas gifts!

    Reply

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The BEST Sugared Pecans Recipe | FIXED on FRESH (2025)

FAQs

How long do candied pecans stay fresh? ›

How long will candied pecans keep? They will keep for up to two weeks in an airtight container at room temperature, at least three weeks in the refrigerator, or up to two months in the freezer. No matter where you store them, keep in a tightly sealed, airtight container.

Why are my candied pecans so sticky? ›

The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts. How do you fix candied nuts that are too soft and sticky? You can place them back into the oven for 5 to 15 minutes or until they dry out more. They will continue to firm and dry out as they cool.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

Bake at 300 degrees F for 40-45 minutes. Make sure to toss everything with a spoon every 15 minutes. This is very important to allow even baking and prevent the nuts from sticking together.

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

How long to soak pecans before eating? ›

Preparation:
  1. Place the pecans and salt in a large glass or stainless steel bowl along with 8 cups of water. The pecans will swell during the soaking process, so you want enough water to keep them covered.
  2. Leave them on the counter to soak for 4-8 hours. ...
  3. After they are done soaking, drain and rinse in a colander.

How to keep candied nuts fresh? ›

Storage Instructions: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. Freezing Instructions: They freeze well in an air-tight container for up to two months.

How to make candied nuts not sticky? ›

Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325°F (162°C) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

How many cups is a pound of pecans? ›

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

Why are my fresh pecans soft? ›

Pecans should be stored in relative humidity of about 65-70%. Humidity higher than these values can cause the pecans to become soft and grow molds. Soft pecans are not good and should be discarded. Pecans with an air gap in their cross section will not storage as well or as long as a full meaty nut.

What is the best way to store fresh pecans? ›

Want to know the secret to keeping your pecans fresh? It's simple. Just keep your pecans in airtight containers and store them in the refrigerator or freezer. When you are ready to serve, you can bring them up to room temperature or cook with them right away, no thawing necessary.

How long do pecans last in a ziplock bag? ›

Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months. They can be refrigerated up to 18 months and frozen for about three years.

Why do you boil pecans before cracking? ›

You'll find out fast that boiling pecans lessens the likelihood of the shell shattering into a lot of smaller pieces. Boiling shouldn't affect the taste of the pecan, though.

How do you get the bitterness out of pecans? ›

Some of the tannin and all of the corky material can be removed by washing the kernels before cooking. To "sweeten" the pecan meats (kernels), simply put the pecan kernels in a bowl and fill with lukewarm water. Stir and tumble the meats in the water for several minutes and you will see the discoloration in the water.

How do you prepare fresh pecans? ›

Instructions
  1. Place pecans on a large baking sheet.
  2. Roast at 350°F for 10-12 minutes.
  3. Let cool for 30 minutes.
  4. Transfer pecans to a large bowl.
  5. Toss with olive oil, then add salt and toss again.
Mar 14, 2023

How do you get seasoning to stick to pecans? ›

Beat egg white and water together in a large bowl; add pecans and stir to coat. Mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg in a small bowl; sprinkle over moistened nuts. Spread nuts on the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven, stirring once or twice, until toasted and fragrant, about 30 minutes.

Do candied nuts go bad? ›

Refrigerate or Freeze for Long-Term Storage

If you don't plan on eating your candied pecans right away, you may want to consider storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Refrigeration can keep the pecans fresh for up to three months, while freezing can extend their shelf life for up to six months.

What is the shelf life of pecan candy? ›

Approximately 4 cups of pecans are in a 1 lb bag of pecans. #8 What is the shelf-life of your pecan candies? Candy pecans have a shelf-life of 6 months. You can also store them in the freezer or refrigerator to enhance their shelf-life.

How long does it take pecans to go rancid? ›

Keeping Pecans Fresh
TemperatureIn-Shell PecansShelled Pecans
70 degrees (pantry)4 months3 months
40 degrees Fahrenheit (refrigerator)9 - 18 months6 months
32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius (freezer)2 years2 years

Should glazed pecans be refrigerated? ›

Candied pecans don't need to be frozen – be sure to keep them in the refrigerator to maximize their freshness. Some varieties, like honey roasted pecans, may clump together when first pulled from the cold of the refrigerator. Be prepared to gently break them apart, if needed.

References

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