You love a little heat in your life if you're like me. I love sweet and spicy snacks, and I'm always looking for new ways to use them (and eat them). These spicy candied pecans are no exception. Made with hot honey, they're sweet and crunchy with just enough spice to kick up any dish or charcuterie board.
I hope you love these candied pecans as much as I do! They are crunchy, sweet, and spicy all in one. They are perfect to snack on during the holiday season and make excellent gifts.
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Why These Candy Pecans!
I've got your back if you're looking for an easy-to-make but still showy gift. These sweet spiced pecans are the perfect recipe for someone with a sweet tooth with a hint of heat to keep things interesting.
This snack is ready in minutes and makes a great slow food gift for someone who loves spice or is looking for something homemade. They are full of great taste and texture, with just enough heat to keep you on your toes 🙂
Recipe Ingredients
These spicy candied pecans will satisfy you when you're in the mood for a bit of spice.
This easy-to-make pecan snack are made with simple ingredients and can be prepared in just 20 minutes. The secret ingredient? Spicy jalapeño hot honey! The bold flavor of this honey makes these nuts a perfect pairing with your favorite dark beer or cocktail.
- Pecans:
- Spices: You'll need ground cardamom, allspice, cloves cayenne:
- Kosher salt: what about smoked sea salt could work here as well.
- Black pepper
- Unsalted butter
- Spicy jalapeño hot honey: any kind of honey will do, but this spicy honey will give this snack some more heat!
- Maple syrup: you could swap this out for corn syrup if you don't have maple syrup around.
- White sugar, for dusting: brown sugar would do well too!
How to make this pecan recipe
If you're looking for a new way to spice up your day, look no further than these spicy candy pecans. They're an easy, delicious snack to make and have the perfect amount of heat without overpowering.
- When you're ready to start cooking, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a large, rimmed sheet tray lined with parchment paper, and set aside.
- Next, combine cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, cloves, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Add butter to a small saucepan and melt over medium heat. When the butter is mostly melted, add the honey and maple syrup and stir until combined.
- Heat for 1-2 minutes or until the liquids are heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place pecans in a large bowl, then pour the melted butter mixture on top and the spice mixture (which should be mixed together first). Stir until the pecans are completely coated in both!
- Spread out on a prepared cookie sheet in a single layer so that none overlap each other too much (this will help them dry out quicker). Bake these nuts for 15 minutes at 350°F, then flip each piece over so it dries evenly on both sides.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle half the coarse sugar on top and stir to combine. Repeat with the remaining sugar and cool completely.
- Return the coated pecans to the oven for 10-15 minutes or until toasty and take on a rich brown color. Once cool, serve immediately. Store these nuts in an airtight container (my go-to are mason jars) for up to three weeks, and enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Spicy Candied Pecans
These candied pecans are so versatile—they're perfect on top of ice cream or yogurt, snack on them with some blue cheese, and they make a great addition to your favorite salads.
Ingredients
- 2 t. ground cinnamon
- 1 t. ground cardamom
- ¾ t. allspice
- ½ t. ground cloves
- ¼ t. ground cayenne
- ½ t. salt
- ¼ t. black pepper
- ¼ c. unsalted butter
- ⅓ c. spicy jalapeño hot honey
- 2 T. maple syrup
- 4 c. whole pecans
- ¼ c. sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- When you're ready to start cooking, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a large, rimmed sheet tray lined with parchment paper, and set aside.
- Next, combine cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, cloves, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl and stir to combine.Add butter to a small saucepan and melt over medium heat. When the butter is mostly melted, add the honey and maple syrup and stir until combined.
- Heat for 1-2 minutes or until the liquids are heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place pecans in a large bowl, then pour the melted butter mixture on top and the spice mixture (which should be mixed together first). Stir until the pecans are completely coated in both!
- Spread out on a prepared cookie sheet in a single layer so that none overlap each other too much (this will help them dry out quicker).
- Bake these nuts for 15 minutes at 350°F, then flip each piece over so it dries evenly on both sides.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle half the coarse sugar on top and stir to combine. Repeat with the remaining sugar and cool completely.
- Return the coated pecans to the oven for 10-15 minutes or until toasty and take on a rich brown color. Once cool, serve immediately.
Notes
Store these nuts in an airtight container (my go-to are mason jars) for up to three weeks, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 184Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 59mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 2g
Expert Tips
When making candied pecans, the most important thing is to keep the sugar mixture hot enough, but not too hot. It needs to stay between 300°F and 350°F to prevent burning, but not get so low that it crystallizes. That's why we recommend using a candy thermometer while cooking these guys.
Also, it's important to stir often while cooking your sugar mixture. Stirring helps the heat distribute evenly throughout the pot and prevent burning.
Serving Suggestions
These spicy candied pecans are an excellent topping for vanilla ice cream, yogurt, salads, and desserts. Add them to baked goods, or just a great snack on them!
📖 Recipe
Spicy Candied Pecans
These candied pecans are so versatile—they're perfect on top of ice cream or yogurt, snack on them with some blue cheese, and they make a great addition to your favorite salads.
Ingredients
- 2 t. ground cinnamon
- 1 t. ground cardamom
- ¾ t. allspice
- ½ t. ground cloves
- ¼ t. ground cayenne
- ½ t. salt
- ¼ t. black pepper
- ¼ c. unsalted butter
- ⅓ c. spicy jalapeño hot honey
- 2 T. maple syrup
- 4 c. whole pecans
- ¼ c. sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- When you're ready to start cooking, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a large, rimmed sheet tray lined with parchment paper, and set aside.
- Next, combine cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, cloves, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl and stir to combine.Add butter to a small saucepan and melt over medium heat. When the butter is mostly melted, add the honey and maple syrup and stir until combined.
- Heat for 1-2 minutes or until the liquids are heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place pecans in a large bowl, then pour the melted butter mixture on top and the spice mixture (which should be mixed together first). Stir until the pecans are completely coated in both!
- Spread out on a prepared cookie sheet in a single layer so that none overlap each other too much (this will help them dry out quicker).
- Bake these nuts for 15 minutes at 350°F, then flip each piece over so it dries evenly on both sides.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle half the coarse sugar on top and stir to combine. Repeat with the remaining sugar and cool completely.
- Return the coated pecans to the oven for 10-15 minutes or until toasty and take on a rich brown color. Once cool, serve immediately.
Notes
Store these nuts in an airtight container (my go-to are mason jars) for up to three weeks, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 184Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 59mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 2g
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