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    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    Spicy Candied Pecans

    Published: Feb 21, 2023 by Kristen Wood - This post may contain affiliate links.

    Skip to Recipe Pin Recipe

    Easy and delicious spicy candied pecans make a tasty homemade snack any time of year. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.

    Top view of a small white bowl of candied pecans.

    These spicy candied pecans are sweet, and spicy and have a delightfully light, crunchy texture that is highly addictive. Warming spices like cayenne, cinnamon, and ginger are not only packed with flavor, but also stimulate metabolism, aid digestion, and reduce inflammation. Pecans are packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber, and over 20 vitamins and minerals - they are a superfood in and of themselves!

    You can keep these candied pecans all for yourself, serve them when entertaining, or store them in cute jars as wonderful gifts for friends and family. I hope you enjoy this easy recipe!

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
    • 🌶️ Ingredients and Substitutes
    • 🥣 How to Make Candied Pecans
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Serving Ideas
    • 🍿 More Delicious Snack Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe

    • Candied pecans are super easy to make with simple ingredients.
    • This crunchy snack has a sweet, spicy, salty, and savory taste.
    • These pecans have a nice light and crunchy texture.
    • Candied pecans make a great snack, sweet treat, or gift to give to others.
    • You can enjoy these crunchy nuts as is, or enjoy a large variety of ways.
    • Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and soy-free.
    Close shot of a small bowl of spicy candied pecans.

    🌶️ Ingredients and Substitutes

    Pecans: This just wouldn't be a spicy pecans recipe if there weren't pecans! Use raw pecan halves for the best results. Having said that, this recipe is also delicious when made with other nuts like almonds, walnuts, or cashews.

    Maple syrup: I love the vanilla undertones that maple syrup adds to this recipe, but feel free to use another liquid sweetener like honey, agave syrup, or corn syrup, if you prefer.

    Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar tastes a bit like brown sugar, but is unrefined and packed with minerals making it a slightly healthier option. You can also use white sugar, brown sugar, or any type of sugar you prefer.

    Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is naturally sweet and adds delicious warmth to this spicy snack. If you do not have cinnamon on hand, ground nutmeg makes a nice alternative in a pinch.

    Cayenne: Ground cayenne pepper adds a medium level of spice to this pecan recipe. While this is a spicy recipe, it isn't knock-your-socks-off spicy. You can adjust the cayenne to suit your own tastes or even omit if you would prefer a sweet candied pecans recipe.

    Ginger: Ground ginger brings both warmth and subtle spice to these pecans. If you do not have ginger on hand, you can use allspice for a fun alternative with a slightly different flavor.

    Salt: A very small amount of salt brings a nice balance to the spices used in this recipe. I like to use Celtic sea salt.

    A white ceramic bowl filled with spicy pecans rests on a gray table scattered with pecans.

    🥣 How to Make Candied Pecans

    A big bowl filled with spices and maple syrup.
    A large mixing bowl filled with spices and raw pecan nuts.
    A bowl of pecans being mixed with a sticky liquid.
    A piece of parchment paper scattered with spicy coated pecan halves.
    A blue spatula rests on a fresh batch of spiced candied pecans.
    A small tan ceramic bowl filled with homemade candied pecans.
    1. Preheat the oven and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
    2. In a large bowl combine the sweeteners and spices.
    3. Add the pecan halves, then stir vigorously until all of the pecans are coated well.
    4. Spread the pecans in an even layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet, working in batches if necessary.
    5. Pop the tray into the preheated oven and bake until toasty.
    6. Enjoy!
    Close shot of a freshly made candied pecans.

    🥡 Storage

    Spicy candied pecans will keep for up to three weeks when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and up to one week left at room temperature.

    ❓ Serving Ideas

    • Enjoy as is. These make one of the best snacks for a cozy movie night. Grab a big bowl and dig in!
    • Use them as the perfect topping for salads for a nice dose of texture.
    • Throw a handful of these pecans over vanilla ice cream for a delectable sweet treat.
    • The nutty flavor of these pecans pairs well with goat cheese on charcuterie boards.
    • Make a big batch of tasty pecans and place them in decorative mason jars to use as a great homemade gift idea during the holiday season.
    • These make a great party snack to serve at large gatherings (make at least a double batch!).
    Spicy candied pecans resting in a small ceramic bowl on a gray tabletop.

    🍿 More Delicious Snack Recipes

    Air Fryer Popcorn

    Chickpea Flour Crackers

    Gluten-Free Graham Crackers

    Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

    📖 Recipe

    Spicy Candied Pecans Recipe

    Easy and delicious spicy candied pecans make a tasty homemade snack any time of year. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
    5 from 31 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Snacks, Sweets
    Cuisine: American, French
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Author: Kristen Wood

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • ¼ cup coconut sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon ground
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne ground
    • ¼ teaspoon ginger ground
    • 1 pinch salt approximately ⅛ teaspoon
    • 2 cups pecan halves raw pecans work best
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    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
    • Combine the maple syrup, sugar, cinnamon, cayenne, ginger and salt in a mixing bowl.
    • Add the pecans and give all a good stir until the pecans are well coated in the sticky mixture.
    • Spread the pecans in a single layer on the parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until fragrant and crispy.
    • Enjoy!

    Notes

    Store candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for one week, and up to three weeks in the refrigerator.
    If needed, brown sugar or any granulated sweetener you prefer can replace the coconut sugar.
    Additionally, if you are sensitive to spice, you can omit the cayenne for a sweet candied pecan recipe instead.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 67IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Please Rate + Comment Below!
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    1. Sherry says

      February 26, 2023 at 9:36 pm

      5 stars
      These spicy candied pecans are so delicious! I make up a batch so that I can have them for my salads during the week. It adds so much flavor to my salad!

      Reply
    2. Anne says

      February 22, 2023 at 4:12 pm

      5 stars
      This is a tasty recipe! I added the pecans to my salad at lunch today and they taste amazing.

      Reply
    3. Donna says

      February 22, 2023 at 3:48 pm

      5 stars
      I love homemade candied nuts, especially pecans! They are so flavorful and pair just beautifully with the spice mix you use and the maple syrup. Been snacking away on them all day 🙂

      Reply
    4. Jenn says

      February 22, 2023 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      These are delish! They had just the right amount of spice for me and they were super easy to make, too!

      Reply
    5. Sue says

      February 22, 2023 at 6:08 am

      5 stars
      These candies pecans are so delicious! I am pinning this recipe to come back to during the holiday season!

      Reply
    6. Sarita says

      February 22, 2023 at 6:06 am

      5 stars
      This was SO good with the maple syrup and cayenne! New family favourite snack.

      Reply

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    kristen wood

    About Kristen Wood

    Hi, I'm Kristen! A mama, food writer, photographer, recipe developer, and cookbook author. I enjoy sharing both wildly creative and ridiculously practical gluten-free vegetarian recipes that are approachable for all. Welcome!

    Learn more about me →

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