Easy Candied Pecans: Quick Stovetop Recipe for Perfect Crunch
Make addictive, crunchy candied pecans with this quick stovetop recipe. These sweet, cinnamon-sugar glazed pecans are perfect for snacking, holiday gifts, or topping salads.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 8 min
- Total Time: 13 min
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg white and water together until the mixture is frothy, about 1 minute.
- Add the pecan halves to the egg white mixture. Toss until the pecans are evenly coated.
- In a separate small bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the coated pecans. Stir gently until all the pecans are covered with the sugar coating.
- Transfer the coated pecans to the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Do not let them touch.
- Place the baking sheet on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You are using the residual heat from the burner to gently toast the nuts without burning the sugar. Stir the pecans frequently using a wooden spoon or spatula for 5 to 8 minutes. Watch them closely.
- Once the sugar coating looks melted, slightly caramelized, and dry, remove the pan from the heat immediately.
- Spread the pecans out quickly into a single layer on the parchment paper to cool completely. They will crisp up as they cool.
- Once cool, break apart any clumps. Store your homemade candied pecans in an airtight container.
Notes
- For an old-fashioned, oven-baked version, preheat your oven to 300°F. After coating the nuts (Step 5), spread them on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through. Cool completely before serving.
- These sweet pecans are excellent as a pecan topping for salad or sprinkled over ice cream.
- You can easily double this recipe for holiday pecan gifts.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 35
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 0