Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (2024)

4.34 from 75 votes

ByStacie VaughanOn Updated

19 Comments

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This homemade snack recipe is quick and easy to make in minutes in your air fryer! Air Fryer Candied Pecans are perfect for salads, holiday snacks or gift giving. Each bite is crunchy, sweet and delicious.

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (1)

I use my air fryer for many of my favorite recipes. I always think I can air fry this! Candied Pecans can also be air fried and guess what? They are ah-mazing!

I love making candied nuts over the holidays. They are perfect for gifting and also to serve as a snack when friends come for a visit.

These Air Fryer Candied Pecans are delicious! I love their crunch sweetness. They are so addicting though! I usually have to stop myself from eating too many.

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (2)

Why You’ll Love This Candied Pecans Recipe

  • Made in minutes
  • The perfect edible gift for a foodie
  • Crunchy and sweet
  • Uses real maple syrup
  • Can be used for a snack, in salads or other desserts
  • Minimal prep work and the air fryer does all the work
  • Contains only a few simple ingredients
  • Long storage time

Ingredients for Air Fryer Candied Pecans

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  • Brown sugar: You can switch this out for granulated sugar if you prefer.
  • Egg white
  • Maple syrup: You can use honey or agave nectar instead, though maple syrup goes best with pecans. I highly recommend Maple Lifestyle maple syrups. So good!
  • Allspice: If you don’t have allspice, cinnamon, or nutmeg are good alternatives.
  • Salt
  • Pecan halves
Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (3)

How to Make Air Fryer Candied Pecans

Step One: Preheat the air fryer to 350F.

Step Two: Combine the brown sugar, egg white, maple syrup, allspice, and salt in a bowl and mix until fully combined.

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (4)

Step Three: Toss the pecans into the brown sugar mixture. Make sure it is well tossed and coated.

Step Four: Carefully line the preheated air fryer tray with aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray.

Step Five: Pour the pecan mixture into the air fryer basket. Cook for 3 minutes and then stir the pecans gently around. Cook for another 3 minutes.

Step Six: Let the pecans cool off for about 20 minutes before plating and serving.

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (5)

Equipment Needed to Make Candied Pecans

What to Serve with Candied Nuts

Christmas Drinks

  • Spiced Cranberry Punch
  • Homemade Eggnog
  • Christmas Punch
  • Cranberry Mocktail
  • Gingerbread Latte

Christmas Desserts

  • Snowball Cookies
  • Eggnog Pie
  • Whipped Shortbread Cookies
  • Gingerbread Whoopie Pies
  • No-Bake Peppermint Pie
  • Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

Christmas Snacks

  • Reindeer Chow
  • Gingerbread Dip
  • Eggnog Dip
  • Candy Cane Dip
  • Sweet Spiced Pecans
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Variations

  • Try using granulated sugar instead of brown sugar.
  • Substitute honey or agave nectar for the maple syrup
  • Use cinnamon or nutmeg in place of the allspice.

Storage Instructions

Best Way to Store Leftover Caramelized Pecans

Store these air fryer candied pecans in an airtight container either in the fridge or at room temperature for 2 to 3 weeks.

Can I Freeze Candied Nuts?

Yes, you can freeze candied nuts. Air fry them as instructed and let them cool completely. Then transfer them to airtight container or a freezer bag. Store the nuts in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (7)

What do I do with Candied Pecans?

Candied pecans can be used in a lot of different ways. Some people love to toss them into salads to add a little extra sweetness and crunch.

Some people like to munch on them as a snack.

They are also a great addition to baked goods like cookies or cake.

You can even use them in a savory recipe like with chicken or fish.

Tips and Tricks

  • These pecans turn out delicious, but a bit moist. If you prefer them drier, put them back in the air fryer for 2 to 3 more minutes.
  • Putting the aluminum foil makes for an easy clean up job and keeps the pecans from sticking to the air fryer. I don’t recommend using cooking spray directly on the air fryer since most cooking sprays can cause air fryer baskets to chip.
Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (8)

What is the difference between glazed and candied pecans?

Candied pecans typically use sugar and an egg white while glazed pecans are made with brown sugar, corn syrup and butter. Both are deliciously sweet!

Do you eat candied pecans warm or cold?

You can eat candied pecans warm, but bear in mind that they may be stickier. They will harden as they cool with a crispy, sugary coating.

Personally, I prefer eating them at room temperature (not cold). I don’t recommend refrigerating them.

How to Make Candied Pecans in the Oven

  • Step One: Preheat oven to 250F. Grease a baking sheet with butter or cooking spray.
  • Step Two: Combine the brown sugar, egg white, maple syrup, allspice, and salt in a bowl and mix until fully combined.
  • Step Three: Toss the pecans into the brown sugar mixture. Make sure it is well tossed and coated.
  • Step Four: Spread pecans on baking sheet.
  • Step Five: Bake for 1 hour, stirring the pecans every 15 minutes. Let cool before serving.
Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (9)

Air Fryer Recipes

  • Air Fryer Pizza
  • Air Fryer Oreos
  • Air Fryer Chocolate Croissants
  • Air Fryer Chicken Wings
  • Air Fryer Potato Chips
  • Air Fryer Cinnamon Twists

You’ll also like Crockpot Candied Nuts.

Follow me on Instagram@simplystacieblog, Facebook atSimply Stacieor Pinterest at@simplystacieand let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

If you make the recipe, rate it on the recipe card below and tag me on Instagram and use #simplystacie. I like sharing the photos on my Instagram stories!

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (10)

Rate this Recipe

4.34 from 75 votes

Air Fryer Candied Pecans

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 4

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes minutes

Total Time 11 minutes minutes

This homemade snack recipe is quick and easy to make in minutes in your air fryer! Perfect for salads, holiday snacks or gift giving. Each bite is crunchy, sweet and delicious.

Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg white
  • ½ tbsp maple syrup
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1 ¼ cups pecans

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.

  • Combine the brown sugar, egg white, maple syrup, allspice, and salt in a bowl and mix until fully combined.

  • Toss the pecans into the brown sugar mixture. Make sure it is well tossed and coated.

  • Carefully line the preheated air fryer tray with aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray.

  • Pour the pecan mixture into the air fryer basket. Cook for 3 minutes and then stir the pecans gently around. Cook for another 3 minutes.

  • Let the pecans cool off for about 20 minutes before plating and serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 154mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course Snacks

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer candied pecans, candied nuts, candied pecans, caramelized pecans, sugared pecans

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FAQs

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie? ›

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Combine the brown sugar, egg white, maple syrup, allspice, and salt in a bowl and mix until fully combined. Toss the pecans into the brown sugar mixture. Make sure it is well tossed and coated.

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking? ›

Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

How do you package candied nuts? ›

Cool nuts on a parchment lined baking sheet. Package in miniature cellophane bags and gift to your friends!

Why didn't my pecan candy harden? ›

If you beat too long, the candy will seize and start to crumble. If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky. Work quickly to drop heaping tablespoons of pecan praline mixture onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

How do you make candied nuts less sticky? ›

The pecans only take a few minutes to cook. If you walk away or don't stir constantly they could burn. The nuts will be sticky at first before they cool. If the glazed pecans remain sticky after cooling, transfer the baking sheet to a 325ºF oven for 5-15 minutes, or until they harden.

How long can you keep homemade candied pecans? ›

How long will candied pecans keep? They will keep for up to two weeks in an airtight container at room temperature, at least three weeks in the refrigerator, or up to two months in the freezer. No matter where you store them, keep in a tightly sealed, airtight container.

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

Do candied pecans need to be refrigerated? ›

Store in a Cool, Dry Place

Keep your candied pecans away from sources of heat and moisture. This means avoiding storing them near your stove, dishwasher, or even on top of your refrigerator. Instead, store them in a cool pantry or cupboard.

Why are my roasted pecans bitter? ›

I started doing some research, and I found a little-known trick to making pecans taste sweeter: Soaking and rinsing the shelled nuts in lukewarm water before roasting removes the tannins and pieces of corky material that can cause pecans to taste bitter.

What is the brown powder on pecans? ›

Kernel fuzz is not a disease and the brown material that is adhering to the kernel surface is not dangerous to eat. It only tastes dry and bitter. The fuzzy material on the kernel is actually part of the nut's inside shell packing material.

What makes a pecan bitter? ›

Pecans have two sources of bitterness -- naturally occurring tannins in the kernel and pieces of corky material from the inside of the nut which can adhere to the kernel. Some of the tannin and all of the corky material can be removed by washing the kernels before cooking.

Why are my candied nuts grainy? ›

Recipe Notes

Do not stir the sugar with a spoon before adding the nuts, it will cause the sugar to crystalize and have a gritty unpleasant texture, if needed swirl the pan. Make sure to remove the skillet from the stove as soon as the sugar is golden brown.

Do candied nuts go bad? ›

Yes, candied nuts can go bad. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month for best results.

How long do homemade candied nuts last? ›

To Store: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. To Freeze: They freeze well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

What if candied nuts are too soft? ›

If your candied pecans are soft, it is likely because the sugar syrup coating has not completely hardened. The syrup may still be wet, or it may have started to crystalize. If the syrup is still wet, you can try putting the nuts in the oven for a few minutes to help the syrup harden.

How do you dry wet pecans? ›

Pecans often contain excessive moisture when they first fall. The nuts should be dried before they are put in storage. Drying can usually be accomplished by placing the pecans in a shallow layer in a warm, dry area for two weeks. Adding fans and heat can speed drying.

Why are my candied walnuts soft? ›

Candied Walnuts Recipe FAQs

These last for up to 1 week at room temperature, 2 weeks in the refrigerator, and 2 months in the freezer. Why are my candied walnuts soft? If they are soft you likely did not bake them long enough.

Why are my glazed pecans sticky? ›

If after they have cooled down, the pecans are still sticky, this means that the sugar mixture never reached a high enough temperature when on the stove. To fix them, place the nuts back into the skillet and cook a bit longer.

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