These quick & easy candied pecans are sweet, savory, lightly spiced, and ready with just 5 ingredients in 5 minutes on the stove. A delicious gluten-free, vegan holiday snack and addition to salads, main dishes, and desserts!
Add the water (or orange juice) and spices to a heavy-based, large frying pan and heat over medium, stirring to combine.
Add the sugar and stir often until it’s almost entirely melted (a white pan will make this more easily visible).
Add the pecans and use a spatula/spoon to toss them with the cinnamon sugar mixture while cooking for 2-4 minutes, to ensure they’re evenly coated.
Spread the coated pecans into a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking tray (or silicone baking sheet), ensuring they aren’t touching each other too much.Do this quickly (you have about 30 seconds) to separate the nuts before the candy coating begins to solidify.
Leave the nuts to cool and dry completely, then lightly break up any that are sticking. Enjoy the spicy candied pecans immediately or save them for later.
How to Store Candied Nuts?
Store the cooled, hardened Cinnamon candied pecans in an airtight container for 7-10 days on the counter.Storing them in the refrigerator may cause them to become sticky. However, if you have a fully airtight container, you can store them for up to 3 weeks.Freeze: Allow them to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer-safe airtight container/bag and freeze them for up to two months. Then, they only need to thaw for a few minutes at room temperature.
Notes
Avoid wax paper: the hot candied pecans can cause the wax to melt and end up being a big mess.
Monitor the pan: The sugar can burn quickly if not monitored and stirred often. Don’t walk away from the pan.
Adjust the heat: Tweak the amount of cayenne pepper, or even omit it entirely.
Spread quickly: When spreading the nuts over the baking tray, you have about 30 seconds before the coating starts setting and causes the nuts to clump.
For a thinner coating: Add extra nuts to the syrups sugar mixture in the pan.
To add more flavor: There are plenty of ways to infuse more flavor into these quick candied pecans. Here are just a few of my favorite recommendations.
Herbs: in place of the cayenne powder, you could use fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or sage. You need around 1 ½-2 Tbsp chopped herbs.
Spices: Swap the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice or chai spice. Or add more warmth with nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, or smoked paprika (just a tiny pinch).