Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

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The Christmas season is in full swing.

The tree is up, halls are decked, and holiday baking is happening!

With the hustle and bustle of parties, gift-giving, and get-togethers, it’s great to have an easy candied nut recipe on hand.

Ingredients

For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, you can jump to the recipe.

• Pecans. One pound, or about 4 cups, of raw pecan halves are used. Make sure you buy raw and unsalted pecans, and not roasted. Sometimes these look very similar at the grocery store, so be sure to read the label carefully!
• Egg. A whisked egg white is the secret ingredient that helps to bind the cinnamon sugar coating to the pecans.
• Sugar. Both white granulated sugar and light brown sugar work together to add sweetness. However, you can always swap them out for coconut sugar if you would like to make this recipe Paleo-friendly.
• Ground Cinnamon. This is the traditional flavor but if you’re feeling adventurous you can always try substituting it for a Pumpkin Pie Spice blend or even tossing in some ground nutmeg.

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Pecans

Jump to the recipe for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.

• Toss in egg whites. Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes, or until it forms a foamy texture and peaks form. Toss the pecans in the frothy egg whites and stir until they are all completely covered.

• Make cinnamon sugar coating. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium-sized bowl. You want to make sure all of the sugars and spices are well incorporated before tossing with the sticky nuts.
• Flavor the pecans. Add the cinnamon sugar mixture to the bowl full of nuts and toss until they are completely coated. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl as you go so you get all of that delicious sugar goodness on the pecans.

• Bake in the oven. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the pecans evenly onto the pan in a single layer. If you do not have parchment paper you can simply coat a light-colored baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Avoid using foil, as the nuts will likely stick. Bake in a preheated oven at 300°F for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure they roast evenly.

Meal Prep and Storage

• Prep-Ahead: This recipe is great to make a few days before you need them.
• Storage: Keep the pecans in an airtight container for up to 1 to 2 weeks. Be sure to let them cool completely before storing so they don’t stick. You can use a plastic storage container or Christmas tin. You can also refrigerate them to extend the shelf life up to 3-4 weeks. However, the taste and texture will be slightly affected if refrigerated.
• Freezing: You can freeze these pecans for up to 3 to 6 months, but the texture won’t be the same upon thawing.

Gift these for Christmas

These cinnamon spiced pecans are hands down one of my FAVORITE food gifts to give.

Not only are they naturally dairy-free and vegetarian, but they are completely gluten-free, too. So almost everyone can enjoy them!

To make these into a DIY food gift:

1. Add to a glass mason jar.
2. Tie a pretty ribbon around the neck of the jar.
3. Optional: Attach a hand written recipe to the ribbon.

You can even serve them up on this Christmas Charcuterie Board for a sweet and festive flair!

FAQs

Recipes that Use Candied Nuts

Other than snacking, use these homemade roasted pecans to add flavor and texture to these recipes:

Both Mashed Sweet Potatoes (with 3 Variations) and Sweet Potato Casserole are SUPER delicious with these pecans.

Or, top this Fall Harvest Salad with Apples or this Roasted Beet Salad.

Try them in these Pecan Hand Pies!

For breakfast, toss some in these Maple Pecan Oatmeal Muffins.