Candied Pecans and Almonds

These candied pecans and almonds are an easy, delicious holiday treat that also make for an excellent DIY gift! They have a sweet, crunchy, spiced coating that's absolutely addictive. Disclaimer: it's pretty difficult to stop eating these!

If you've ever been drawn in by the smell of a street vendor cooking candied nuts, then this is the recipe for you. It brings back memories of winter walks in cities around the holidays, and these candied pecans and almonds taste as good as they smell.

They're perfect to bring along to a holiday party, or to toss in a mason jar and give as an easy DIY gift!

Jump to:

• Candied Pecans and Almonds Ingredients
• How to Make this Candied Pecans and Almonds Recipe
• Substitutions and Variations
• Storage
• Tips and FAQ
• Low heat is key
• More snack recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

Candied Pecans and Almonds Ingredients

• Almonds and pecans: You can use only almonds or only pecans if you prefer, but we like the blend of almonds and pecans for different textures.
• Brown and white sugar: Both sugars caramelize on the exterior of the pecans and almonds to create a rich caramel flavor. Brown sugar adds a little extra depth of flavor that you don't get from only using white sugar.
• Egg white: This helps the dry ingredients stick to the nuts, and helps to give the nuts a super crunchy exterior. Unfortunately there isn't a 1:1 vegan substitute for egg whites in this recipe.
• Water: You'll need a little water to loosen up the egg white mixture so it's easy to coat the nuts.
• Vanilla extract: Adds a touch of vanilla flavor.
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves: These are key for creating that classic fall/holiday flavor. You can also add a pinch of cayenne if you like a little kick!
• Salt: Helps to balance out the sweetness of the sugar.

How to Make this Candied Pecans and Almonds Recipe

STEP 1: Preheat oven to 250˚F. Lightly grease a nonstick sheet pan with cooking spray or oil. In a large bowl, whisk together egg white, water and vanilla until frothy. Add in the pecans and almonds and stir until well coated.

STEP 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cayenne if using. Pour sugar mixture over the nuts and stir well until the nuts are evenly coated.

STEP 3: Spread the nuts in an even layer on the baking sheet and place on the middle rack of your oven. Stir the nuts every 15 minutes, baking for a total of 55-60 minutes.

STEP 4: Remove from the oven, stir, and let cool completely before enjoying.

Substitutions and Variations

• Different nuts: This recipe will work with just about any variety of nuts! Try it with hazelnuts, cashews, peanuts, walnuts, etc.
• Spices: If you prefer a milder spiced nut, you can leave out the nutmeg and cloves and just make these with cinnamon. If you prefer even more spice, try adding in a pinch of allspice and/or cardamom, and feel free to bump up the spice quantities.

Storage

Store these candied pecans and almonds in an airtight container and they will keep for 3-4 weeks at room temperature. Just be sure to reseal the container in between enjoying them!

You can also freeze them for up to 6 months.

Tips and FAQ

More tips

• Make sure to stir the nuts every 15 minutes or so while baking to ensure they cook evenly and don't burn on the bottom.
• Stir together the sugars and spices before coating the nuts. This will ensure the nuts have an even coating!
• DIY gift: Transfer the candied pecans and almonds to a nice glass jar with a lid, then tie a ribbon around the top and add a cute handmade label. Voilà! The easiest homemade gift for friends, coworkers, hosts/hostesses and more. Bonus: it's super easy to multiply this recipe, so you can make a huge batch at once if you're giving these out as gifts.

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