Quick Candied Pecans Recipe is ready in 6 minutes on the stovetop and makes an excellent Christmas or hostess gift. It is perfect for salads, popcorn, yogurt, ice cream, and more! They are chewy, crisp, salty, not-too-sweet, and highly addictive!
5 Star Reviews
Kara says "Thank you for the yummy recipe. I cooked it on high for a minute or two and lowered the temperature. They came out perfectly!" ★★★★★
Christina says "I use your recipe to top my homemade Waldorf Salad! It’s the perfect way to add salty sweetness and crunchy goodness, plus they are so pretty! Thanks for sharing this quick recipe!" ★★★★★
Whether you call them candied pecans, sugared pecans, or sugar-coated pecans, these sweet, crispy, and crunchy nuts are irresistibly delicious and totally addictive!
How long do homemade candied nuts last?
Store the sweet toasted nuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week—they’ll stay fresh and crunchy. For longer storage, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze for a few hours. Once partially or fully frozen, transfer them to a zip-top freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to one month.
Jump to:
- 5 Star Reviews
- How long do homemade candied nuts last?
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- What are the ingredients for making candied pecans?
- Quick Candied Pecans Recipe
- How to make candied pecans on the stovetop?
- Delicious Variations
- Recipe tips
- Delicious Ways to Use Them?
- Frequently asked questions
- More easy stovetop candied nuts recipes
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy—made in a skillet on the stovetop in minutes.
- No eggs, so it's perfect for vegetarians.
- Naturally gluten-free with a simple vegan option.
- Sweet, crunchy, and totally addictive!
- Made using brown sugar.
- Enjoy as a snack, or sprinkle over salads, desserts, or even popcorn.
- Makes a delicious homemade edible gift for any occasion.
What are the ingredients for making candied pecans?
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Pecans – Toasted pecans are ideal for this recipe because they bring out a deeper, nuttier flavor that complements the sweet coating. I like to stock up on a large bag of pecan halves from Costco before the holiday season—they’re great for baking, snacking, and making all my favorite Christmas treats, like these sugared pecans.
- Sugars – Golden brown sugar brings a warm, caramel-like depth to the pecans, and a bit of white sugar is added at the end to give them that signature crunchy finish and to help prevent the pecan nuts from clumping together as they cool.
- Butter – Just one tablespoon of butter goes a long way—it adds a rich, buttery flavor that enhances the caramel coating, while also giving the pecans a glossy finish.
- Salt – A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and brings out the flavor of the nuts.
Quick Candied Pecans Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup toasted pecans
- ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon light or golden brown sugar both packed
- 3 tablespoons water
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
- ⅛ teaspoon salt plus more for topping
- ½ tablespoon white granulated sugar
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Place a piece of parchment on a sheet pan or a large plate.
- Add pecans, brown sugar, water, butter and ⅛ teaspoon salt in a medium (9 to 10 inches) non-stick skillet.
- Place skillet over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally for 3 to 4 minutes or until most of the water evaporates.
- Continue cooking, stirring constantly for additional 1 to 2 minutes, until all the moisture has evaporated and the pecans gets darker in color with a glossy appearance and begin clumping together.
- Immediately transfer nuts, scraping any remaining caramel from the pan, on the prepared parchment.
- Using a spoon, spread the nuts in a single layer, ensuring they are separated. Sprinkle some salt on top and allow them to cool completely.If using for salads or savory recipes, use the pecans at this point and skip the next step.
- Break the nuts apart with your fingers. Sprinkle sugar or cinnamon sugar on top and toss them to coat.To make cinnamon sugar, stir together the white sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
How to make candied pecans on the stovetop?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
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1.Add pecans, brown sugar, water, butter and salt into a medium non-stick.
2. Cook on high heat, stirring occasionally for 3 to 4 minutes.
3 & 4. When most of moisture evaporates, continue cooking on medium high heat, stirring constantly, until all the moisture evaporates and then the nuts turn darker, glossy and begins clumping together.
Tip - As the caramel reaches high temperatures, it's crucial to ensure a safe environment by keeping children and pets away from the stove while preparing these sweet sugar coated nuts.
5. Transfer nuts to a parchment paper and spread around to separate the nuts. Sprinkle more salt on top and cool completely.
6.Separate the nuts and sprinkle white sugar and cinnamon evenly on top.
7 & 8. Toss with a spoon until the sugar is evenly coated.
Delicious Variations
Once you’ve mastered this easy homemade sugared pecans recipe, it’s fun to mix things up with a few creative twists. Here are some tasty variations to try, depending on your flavor mood or the season:
- Cinnamon – A bit of ground cinnamon adds warm, cozy Fall flavor and a sweet-spiced aroma that pairs perfectly with the caramelized coating.
- Vanilla – A dash of vanilla extract brings depth!
- Spicy Kick – Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or freshly ground black pepper while cooking for a subtle heat that balances the sweetness.
- Warm Spices – Try experimenting with other spices like pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, clove, or ginger for a seasonal twist, especially during the Fall or Holidays.
- Chocolate-Dipped – Skip the white sugar at the end and instead drizzle melted dark or white chocolate over the cooled sugar coated pecans. Let it set, then break into chunks for a sweet, crunchy chocolate drizzled pecans.
Recipe tips
- Use a nonstick skillet. It comes handy when working with sticky brown sugar caramel.
- Use toasted and not raw pecans as they won't have sufficient time to toast adequately within the short 6-minute cooking span on the stove.
- Like to make a bigger batch? Double the recipe and cook in a large skillet.
- Use coconut oil instead of butter to make it vegan.
Delicious Ways to Use Them?
I especially love making this easy sugared pecans recipe around the holidays—they’re incredibly versatile and always a hit! Sweet, crunchy, and totally addictive, they’re perfect for snacking by the handful or dressing up your favorite salads or other dishes.
- Snack on them solo – Serve in a bowl for a quick, irresistible sweet treat.
- Top your salads – Add a sweet, nutty crunch to green salads, especially this roasted sweet potato and kale salad.
- Elevate breakfast – Sprinkle over carrot oatmeal, homemade pancakes, or waffles.
- Perfect for entertaining – Add them to a fruit and cheese platter or charcuterie board for texture and flavor contrast.
- Mix into popcorn – Toss with homemade popcorn for a sweet and salty snack mix.
- Gift them! – Package in mason jars or clear cellophane bags with a ribbon for a thoughtful and delicious homemade holiday gift.
Whether you're entertaining, gifting, or just snacking, these sweet roasted pecans are a must-make!
Frequently asked questions
Ensure thorough cooking until all moisture evaporates and the nuts turn a darker, glossy appearance before removing them from heat. Pecans removed before this time, may lack crispiness and retain a soft texture even at room temperature.
Candied and glazed pecans are similar, but not exactly the same. Candied pecans have a crisp, sugary coating—often made with caramelized sugar, butter, and spices like cinnamon—that cools into a crunchy, crystallized shell. Glazed pecans are coated in a smoother mixture, usually with sugar and a liquid like corn syrup or honey, giving them a stickier, shinier finish. Both are sweet and delicious, just with different textures!
While warm, the sweet sugared pecans may have a slight stickiness, but upon cooling, the sugar coating will solidify. However, if the pecans remain sticky after cooling, it indicates the sugar mixture didn't reach a sufficient temperature while cooking. To rectify this, return the nuts, before tossing them in white sugar, to the skillet and cook them a bit longer. Make sure to exercise caution to prevent burning by closely monitoring the process.
More easy stovetop candied nuts recipes
- Cocoa roasted almonds are crisp, sweet, and made in under 10 minutes! Lightly dusted with sweet cocoa powder, they deliver a deep chocolate flavor that's irresistibly addictive. Perfect for a snack or a homemade gift for the holiday season!
- Almond clusters are the ultimate easy homemade candy! With just 5 minutes of prep time, you can whip these treats effortlessly in the microwave or on the stovetop. Perfect for Christmas edible gifts or a delicious treat any time of year!
- Candied almonds are irresistibly crisp, crunchy, and sweet — ready in just 5 minutes in the stovetop! With a vegan-friendly option, these sugared almonds make the perfect snack or a homemade Holiday gift everyone will love!
- Easy candied walnuts are made in a skillet, with only 3 ingredients! They are a perfect balance of sweet, salty, crisp, and chewy.
- Peanut clusters are the easiest candy you'll make using just 2 ingredients. With just 5 minutes of prep time, they are easy to make in the microwave or stovetop and make an excellent Christmas or hostess gift!
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Kitchen at Hoskins on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Alec
I’m going to have to try this again on a different day because I was following the recipe and then my nuts burned. That step 3 was a lot shorter than 4 minutes. I shouldn’t have had it on high heat for that long. I turned it down and it went straight to burning not the clumping described in the recipe. I’ll try again later.
Maria Doss
Hi Alec, Thank you for the valuable feedback. We would recommend trying over a medium/ medium-high heat next time. We have also made changes to the recipe based on your helpful observation. Hope you give this a try again at a lower temperature, thanks - Maria
Kara
Thank you for the yummy recipe. I cooked it on high for a minute or two and lowered the temperature. They came out perfectly!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you enjoyed it Kara! – Maria ♡
Cristina B
I use your recipe to top my homemade Waldorf Salad! It’s the perfect way to add salty sweetness and crunchy goodness, plus they are so pretty! Thanks for sharing this quick recipe!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it hun – Maria ♡
Tracey
Followed directs, but used vegan butter. Turned out perfectly. Had them in a pomegranate salad and then we ate all the leftover candied pecans. They’re addictive. Thank you so much.
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you love it – Maria ♡
rina scheun
Made this last Friday, came out perfectly. Everyone loved it. Thank you for sharing. Will definately make it again
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! Wishing you a very happy holidays - Maria ♡
shelly Birch
So easy... added some hot pepper and used raw sugar for sprinkles at end. came out great. Trying again now, this time with dry roasted almonds instead of raw and a touch more hot pepper to counter the sweet.
Angela Ellis
My family made them disappear! Easy and quick!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡