Spicy Candied Pecans

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Are you in need of a tasty and easy snack? These Spicy Candied Pecans are your next must make snack recipe! Whether for game day munching or adding them to an appetizer tray or anything else in between, these sweet and spicy pecans are sure to be a hit!

closeup of spicy candied pecans in a white bowl

Spicy Candied Pecans

If you’re going to snack on some pecans, they might as well be candied spiced pecans, right? I have always loved any type of nuts as a snack. They are easy to grab while on the go. Why not make them extra special? These stovetop candied pecans are quick and simple!

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What You’ll Love About This Recipe

The spicy sweet flavor combination of these pecans is amazing! Crushed red pepper flakes add just the right amount of heat, and fresh rosemary adds a fragrant note and helps balance out the sweetness a little.

You’re going to love how easy these are! Some candied pecan recipes call for roasting them, but this recipe is all done on the stovetop in only a few short minutes!

This recipe for candied pecans is really versatile too. You can make them as hot as you like, or try other spices (more on that below).

Ingredients for Spicy Candied Pecans

6 Ingredients are all you need for this easy recipe!

  • Pecans
  • Water
  • Light Brown Sugar
  • Crushed Red Pepper
  • Fresh rosemary
  • Salt

That’s it! Don’t you love it when you get something really great from just a few simple ingredients? I do too!

I used Light Brown Sugar because I find that it has a more subtle flavor than the dark brown variety.

Be sure to use pecans that have not already been roasted or salted! Using already roasted or salted pecans will impact the flavor of your candied nuts along with making them too salty.

spicy candied pecan ingredients

What You’ll Need To Make Candied Pecans

To make this easy snack, you’ll need:

  • Non stick skillet (about 12 inches across)
  • Bamboo or plastic spatula for stirring
  • Rimmed baking sheet
  • Silicone baking mat

I have found that a silicone baking mat is best for allowing the pecans to cool because they don’t stick to it as much as they would parchment or wax paper or a ceramic plate. 

The nice thing is, you can use the silicone mat for baking too. I love it when kitchen gadgets have more than one use!

How To Make Spicy Candied Pecans

These are really easy!

  1. Gather ingredients.
  2. Add the ingredients for the glaze to the pan.
  3. Stir in the pecans.
  4. Cook to coat the pecans in the brown sugar mixture.
  5. Cool and serve.

There is a bit more to it than that, but there is a basic overview of what to expect when you are making this recipe. For complete instructions check out the recipe card at the end of the post.

photos showing how to make the candied pecan glaze
Step1, add the ingredients to the pan. Step 2, Dissolve the sugar and cook the glaze. Step 3, add the pecans. Step 4, cook the pecans until the glaze has cooked down and pecans are coated. Once ready, let them cool on a silicone mat.
candied pecans on a silicone mat

Recipe FAQ

Should candied pecans be refrigerated?

You can refrigerate them, but they are also fine to sit out on the kitchen counter at room temperature.

How long will Candied Pecans Stay Fresh?

Candied Pecans will stay fresh at room temperature on your kitchen counter in a bowl with plastic wrap or tightly sealed container for up to two weeks. They will last longer in the refrigerator, but if you refrigerate them they will taste better if you allow them to come to room temperature before eating them.

Could Dark Brown sugar be used instead?

You could use dark brown sugar for this recipe, but I have found that they taste a little sweeter that way. If you use dark brown sugar but still want some heat, add an extra pinch of crushed red pepper.

Recipe Variations

There are so many ways to change this up and make it your own! Here are some ideas:

  • Try adding a little Cumin for smokiness.
  • Use cayenne instead of crushed red pepper flake. Use less cayenne than you would red pepper flake. Cayenne is much hotter.
  • Use fresh thyme instead of Rosemary for a different herbal note.
  • For a different spicy flavor, use chili powder or chipotle chili powder. 
  • You could even try a pumpkin spice variation by using pumpkin pie spice or a mixture of cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg.
  • Want to try this recipe with a nut other than a pecan? Cashews would be great, as well as almonds or even hazelnuts. 
  • Do you like a lot of heat? By all means use more red pepper flake than the recipe calls for!

This recipe is very easily customized and you are limited only by your imagination!

Ways To Serve Spicy Candied Pecans

These spicy candied pecans are great on their own right out of the bowl, but I also love them as a way to jazz up my Pear and Parmesan Salad! They make a great addition to other salads as well.

I like to put these on a charcuterie board, and they are wonderful on any other type of appetizer platter you are putting together.

They are actually really good sprinkled on top of a bowl of oatmeal! It may sound strange, but you’ll taste the sweet more than the spicy. 

If you are reading this, I want to thank you for stopping by! I certainly hope you love these Spicy Candied Pecans! If you tried this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out. Just leave a rating or comment below!

If you’d like to share this recipe with friends, make it and take a picture and tag me @thecoppertable in a post on Instagram, pin to a Snacks, Appetizers, Charcuterie, or Game Day board on Pinterest or share on Facebook, Twitter, or anywhere else you like! 

Have you signed up for my newsletter? If you haven’t and you’d like to get the latest updates right to your inbox, you can do that below. I have all sorts of exclusive content just for newsletter subscribers, and I’d love for you to join. Happy Cooking!

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bowl of candied pecans

Spicy Candied Pecans

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5 from 60 reviews

Spicy Candied Pecans are a great snack for game day or as part of an appetizer platter. These are so easy and they only need a few minutes on the stovetop!

  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6 Servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups Whole Pecans, unsalted and unroasted
  • 1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp– 1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1 tsp Fresh Rosemary
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 Tbsp Water

Instructions

  1. Go through the pecans to remove any pieces of shell that may be there.
  2. Heat a large non stick skillet on medium high heat.
  3. Add the 1/4 cup of brown sugar, the 1/2- 1 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes, the 1 tsp of fresh rosemary, and 1/2 tsp of salt to the skillet.
  4. Add 1 Tbsp of water and stir to melt the brown sugar.
  5. Continue to stir until all the brown sugar is dissolved.
  6. Once the sugar has completely melted, add 1 1/2 cups of pecans and stir to make sure they are coated by the sugar mixture. Try to spread them out over the whole surface of the skillet so they all get some heat.
  7. Let them cook for about 2 minutes, then stir so that each side of the pecans get heat and toast up a bit.
  8. Keep cooking the pecans and stirring every 2 minutes or so until all the water has cooked off and there is no sugar mixture in the bottom of the skillet, the pecans smell toasty, and the rosemary is fragrant.
  9. Pour the pecans out onto a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat and allow to cool.

Notes

There are many ways to change up the seasonings for this recipe. Be sure to see the blog post for suggestions!

If you don't have a silicone baking mat, you can let the pecans cool on a lightly greased baking sheet. don't use parchment paper, as the pecans may stick to it as they cool, leaving bits of paper stuck to the pecans.

These will keep just fine in a bowl with plastic wrap for up to two weeks at room temperature.

  • Author: Amy at The Copper Table
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Additional Time: 0 hours
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Appetizers and Drinks
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 8
  • Sodium: 196
  • Fat: 19
  • Saturated Fat: 2
  • Unsaturated Fat: 16
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 11
  • Fiber: 3
  • Protein: 2
  • Cholesterol: 0

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17 Comments

  1. Your Spicy Candied Pecans look so delicious, Amy! I can think of so many ways to use them, and opportunities to serve them. Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Community. I’ll be featuring this post at the January edition of the Hearth and Soul Link Party which goes live tomorrow (Sunday 7th). Happy New Year!

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