It would not be the holidays without making a batch or two of these Cinnamon Sugared Pecans. Perfect for topping desserts, crumbing over ice cream, or even just eating by the handful, you will love these little sweet, crunchy bites.
I had no intentions of posting this recipe, but i have these faces staring me down, with this look in their eyes that says "but these are like really good" and "we like made this by ourselves." And they are staring me down for real.
So here it is.
The Sugared Pecan Story
To back up just a little, we had this crazy humongous (totally a word) cookie-baking party a few weeks ago. Relatives from far-off places came, and we baked and baked and baked. And as good - fantastic even - all those cookies were, the only thing that didn't last more than a few days after the flour settled were these Sugared Pecans that Cousin Linda made. We ate them all up. Two at a time. Grabbing a couple each and every time we walked through the kitchen. They are all gone.
They are deliciously spicy. They are impossible to leave alone. In fact, batch two is getting dangerously low. You may want to double this.
If you are following along, that is right - we have polished off two lbs of pecans.
So Zoe, being Zoe, took charge and got online to find THE recipe (in fact, managed to combine a few to get the right amount of cinnamon), and Gav, being an eater of all things yummy, got the pans out and found the cinnamon.
Then this happened. ...as I was uttering "check the freezer for pecans," the phone rang, and then the dog peed on the carpet again, which was followed by a game of chase me with the paper towel....
"Who me?" she says.
She is so, so bad. This. dog.is so. bad
...then there was another phone call and arrangements needed to be made for something or other, I don't remember... point is, I was distracted. Leavingย Zoe and Gav to their own devices. Which is precarious in the best of circumstances, but in the kitchen, well, that is just asking for trouble.
But these two - these two know what they are doing. They got this job done! Like pros. And they didn't even kill each other. Zoe didn't shove Gav once. Not even!
..by the time I got myself back into the kitchen, they were all done..
And this is their recipe
How to make Cinnamon Sugared Pecans
Ingredients
This is actually a fairly straightforward and easy recipe. Getting the kids to help is a great idea. No knives and a not-very-hot oven. So perfect for helpers.
Pecans. You will need some good Pecans. I have been devoted to Costco for all my baking needs for years. I will not buy nuts anywhere else. You will need 1 full pound of pecan halves.
Tip - I buy nuts in bulk at Costco and keep them in the freezer. They stay fresh for months.
Egg white. Egg whites help the sugar stick to the pecans and will make them sticky as they bake in the oven. Mixed with a bit of water to make an egg wash.
Sugar. Regular granulated sugar is used in this recipe.
Cinnamon. Of course. We like just cinnamon and a good amount of it.
Salt
Vanilla Extract.
instructions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees and line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the egg whites and water until light and frothy. Add sugar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Whisk well to combine.
- Toss pecans into the egg white mixture, tossing until well coated.
- Spread the pecans onto the parchment-lined baking tray. Spread them as evenly as possible into a single layer.
- Bake at 275 for about an hour. Stir every 15 minutes or so. They are done when they are dry to the touch and the sugar is crunchy.
- Allow to cool completely before storing in an air-tight container. The pecans will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature.
FAQs
Sugared pecans will last about 2 weeks in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, you can keep them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for about 4 weeks or freeze them for several months.
How to serve Cinnamon Sugar Pecans
These little pecans are just good. We love to snack on them, grabbing a handful as we walk through the kitchen.
They make a thoughtful and easy Christmas gift - think teachers, coaches or a hostess gift.
They make a great addition to a holiday cookie platter or to your holiday charcuterie board.
I use these sugar pecans to decorate and garnish some of our favourite desserts and even salads. Try them in these recipes.
- Canadian Maple Cheesecake
- No-Bake Banana Caramel Dessert
- Easy Pumpkin Pudding
- Pumpkin Layer Cake
- Raw Brussels Sprout Salad with Quinoa and Cranberries
๐ Recipe
Cinnamon Sugared Pecans
Ingredients
- 1 lb pecan halves
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
- ยฝ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 and line a large rimmed baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine egg white and water. Whisk until bubbly and frothy.Add vanilla extract, sugar, cinnamon and salt. Whisk to combine.
- Toss pecans into sugar and egg white mixture until all the nuts are evenly coated. Pour onto the baking tray, spreading out into an even layer. Bake at 250 for about an hour. Stir every 15 minutes or so. Pecans are done when the feel dry to the touch and the sugar is crunchy. Careful not to let the pecans brown too much. Allow to cool before storing in an air-tight container.
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