Description

This Candied Pecans and Almonds recipe offers a delightful sweet and spiced snack with a crunchy candied coating. Slow-baked at a low temperature, these nuts are perfectly caramelized with a blend of sugars and warming spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, optionally enhanced with a hint of cayenne pepper for a subtle kick. Ideal for gifting, topping desserts, or snacking, this easy-to-make treat combines the rich flavors of pecans and almonds with a crisp, sweet finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Nuts

1 1/2 cups unsalted pecans
1 1/2 cups unsalted almonds

Coating

1 large egg white
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Sugar and Spice Mixture

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
Optional: Pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 250˚F (120˚C) to ensure a gentle, slow baking process that caramelizes the sugars evenly without burning.
Prepare Baking Sheet: Lightly grease a nonstick sheet pan with cooking spray or a thin layer of oil to prevent the nuts from sticking during baking.
Mix Egg White Coating: In a large bowl, whisk the egg white, water, and vanilla extract together until frothy. This helps the sugar and spices adhere to the nuts effectively.
Coat Nuts: Add the pecans and almonds to the egg white mixture and stir until all nuts are evenly coated with the frothy liquid.
Combine Sugar and Spices: In a separate bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, light brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cayenne pepper if using, to create the signature sweet and spiced blend.
Coat Nuts with Sugar Mixture: Pour the sugar and spice blend over the coated nuts, stirring thoroughly to ensure every nut is generously covered with the flavored sugar.
Bake the Nuts: Spread the nuts in a single, even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven. Stir the nuts every 15 minutes to promote even baking and prevent burning. Continue baking for 55 to 60 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
Cool Completely: Remove the nuts from the oven, give them one final stir, then transfer them to a separate surface or dish to cool fully. Cooling lets the coating harden into a crunchy candied shell.

Notes

Use a low oven temperature to gently caramelize the sugars without burning.
Stirring every 15 minutes during baking is crucial for even cooking and preventing clumps.
Optional cayenne pepper adds a subtle spicy kick to balance the sweetness.
Store cooled candied nuts in an airtight container to maintain freshness and crunch.
These nuts make excellent toppings for salads, yogurt, or desserts, and they’re perfect as homemade gifts.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Category: Snack
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: candied pecans, candied almonds, spiced nuts, homemade snacks, sweet nuts, cinnamon nuts, holiday snacks, caramelized nuts