These Sweet and Spicy Pecans are easy to make and super addictive! They are great for a snack, appetizer, and even great for gifting!!
Sweet and Spicy Pecans
I’m putting out a disclaimer with these sweet and spicy pecans……once you start you WILL NOT stop!
Roasted pecans are super addictive and perfect for the appetizer spread you may be planning. They also make great gifts.
Package them up in a mason jar and tie a ribbon around them, and I promise whoever you give these to will love you forever!
Some more great gifting options are these DIY Christmas Gift Baskets, Homemade Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix, and these Cinnamon Roll Cookies!
Why You’ll Love Roasted Pecans
- Incredibly simple to make
- Only 6 ingredients
- Perfect combination of sweetness and spice
- Excellent gift idea
- Delicious
Ingredients for Spicy Candied Pecans
- PECAN HALVES – The star of the show, but you can swap the pecans for almonds, cashews, or walnuts!
- CINNAMON – Adds a lovely aroma and flavor to the spiced pecans. You could also use pumpkin pie spice, apple spice, or any combination of your favorite spices to adjust the flavor.
- POWDERED SUGAR – This is where the sweetness comes from! Powdered sugar works best in this recipe, so I wouldn’t recommend swapping it.
- CAYENNE PEPPER – The spice comes from the cayenne pepper! You can increase the amount if you want the roasted pecans to be to pack more heat.
- SALT – Whatever you do, don’t skip the salt; it balances the flavors perfectly!
How To Make Sweet and Spicy Pecans
PREP THE BAKING SHEET: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
COAT THE PECANS: Combine cinnamon, powdered sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper in a medium sized bowl with the pecans. Mix in the water.
BAKE: Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until they become darker in color and smell nutty. Let cool completely before serving.
About these Sweet and Spicy Pecans:
- Don’t like pecans, no problem! Change them out for walnuts, almonds, or cashews……the choice is yours. If you choose a smaller nut such as pistachios, watch them closely because they will burn quicker.
- These nuts are the perfect addition to an appetizer platter or for a last-minute Christmas gift!
- Make ahead tip: these can be stored for about 3-6 months or frozen for up to 2 years. Other nuts will have different storage lengths, but roughly the same amount of time.
FAQs
It’s not required to soak the pecans before roasting them. If you wish to do so, soak them in warm water for 15-20 minutes, then drain well before you continue with the recipe.
No, our spiced pecans don’t require any oil, and they will still roast beautifully. However, if you want to put some oil or butter on them, you can. Don’t add a lot because you don’t want them to be oily.
Yes! These spiced pecans freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Absolutely! If you make a double batch of these spicy candied pecans, you will need a second baking sheet. It’s important that you leave plenty of space around the pecans so they can roast properly.
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Sweet and Spicy Pecans
Ingredients
- 2 cups pecan halves
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl combine the nuts, cinnamon, powdered sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir in the water. Stir well to coat the nuts and spread on the baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the nuts start to become a little darker in color and start to smell nutty. Remove from oven and stir well. Let cool completely before storing.
Notes
- This makes about 2 cups of nuts with a serving of nuts being about 1/4 of a cup.
- Don’t like pecans, no problem! Change them out for walnuts, almonds, cashews……the choice is yours. If you choose a smaller nut such as pistachios watch them closely because they will burn quicker.
- These nuts are the perfect addition to an appetizer platter or for a last minute Christmas gift!
- Make ahead tip: these pecans can be stored for about 3-6 months or frozen for up to 2 years. Other nuts will have different storage lengths, but roughly this same amount of time.
- Nutrition Facts: Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate.