Description
These Easy Cinnamon Sugar Pecans are a sweet and crunchy treat that’s perfect for snacking, gifting, or adding to salads and desserts. They’re incredibly simple to make with just a few ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pecan halves (or a mix of pecans and almonds)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or adjust to your preference)
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or non-stick aluminum foil. This prevents the pecans from sticking and makes cleanup easy.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Mixture: In a large, resealable plastic bag (gallon-sized), combine the granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt. Seal the bag and shake to combine.
- Whisk Egg White Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg white, vanilla extract, and water until frothy.
- Coat Nuts: Add the pecans (and/or almonds) to the bowl with the egg white mixture. Stir gently until the nuts are evenly coated.
- Add to Cinnamon Sugar: Pour the coated nuts into the resealable bag with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Seal the bag tightly.
- Shake to Coat: Shake the bag vigorously until the nuts are completely and evenly coated with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Spread on Baking Sheet: Spread the coated nuts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the pecans cool completely on the baking sheet. They will crisp up as they cool.
Notes
- Nuts: You can use all pecans, all almonds, or a mixture of both.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar works best for this recipe.
- Egg White: The egg white helps the cinnamon-sugar mixture adhere to the nuts and creates a crispy coating.
- Baking Time: The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven. Keep an eye on the nuts and stir them frequently to prevent burning.
- Cooling: It’s important to let the pecans cool completely before serving or storing. This allows the coating to harden and become crispy.
- Storage: Store the cooled cinnamon sugar pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for longer storage.
- Serving Suggestions: These pecans are delicious on their own as a snack, or you can add them to salads, yogurt, oatmeal, or ice cream. They also make a great homemade gift.