One of my favorite quick snacks to make for teacher gifts and party nibbles is this recipe for sweet and spicy sugared pecans. It’s so easy! It’s so quick! It’s so addictive! And I love that the pecans are lightly coated with no glaze to stick to your teeth. These pecans are a win all around.
Sweet! Spicy! Nutty!
How can you go wrong?
Unlike most sugared pecans recipes, this recipe calls only for a very light glaze.
It’s just enough for the sugary spice mixture to stick to the nuts, but not enough to make a noticeable coating on them. It does make the nuts a little messy since the sugar will come off if you are too rough with them. Be gentle! 🙂 However, it also keeps the flavor of the nuts front and center and makes them all too easy to eat.
I’ve made these nuts a number of times over the years since they make such a great, and quick, party snack that is entirely made from ingredients I have in my pantry all the time. I love a recipe I can make with no planning at all, just because I’m in the mood! This year I was in the mood since I needed a little something my daughter could bring into school to give to her teacher as a holiday gift. A few minutes thought and a glance at what was left of the bag of pecans I had bought for my Pecan Snowball Cookies, and I had it.
The only tough part was not eating them before I could wrap them up and put a bow on them.
– Happy Eating, Annemarie
Sweet & Spicy Sugared Pecans
Ingredients
- 8 oz pecans
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground cayenne
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Spread out pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 6 minutes.
- While the pecans are toasting, combine the butter, maple syrup, and vanilla in a large skillet and melt the butter over medium heat. And while butter is melting and pecans are toasting, you can also mix the sugar, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cayenne in a large bowl.
- Once the pecans are toasted, add them to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly until the pecans have absorbed the butter mixture and are lightly glazed, about 2 minutes.
- Quickly pour the pecans into the bowl with the spices and toss it all together until the pecans are fully coated. Spread them out onto a baking sheet to cool and dry.
Cindy ziliak says
Awesome!
Cindy ziliak says
Made these today. Loved them! I tripled the recipe!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Excellent idea to triple the recipe! 🙂 It is hard to make enough of these pecans.
Kris Phillips says
Just made these and I have one word…YUM! I suggest at the very least doubling the recipe for the first batch. And then if you’re like me, you immediately make another double batch while all your ingredients are still on the counter. I also like to make sure you can taste the spice so I let my measuring spoon run a little over with the cayenne.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks for letting me know how you liked the recipe! And I agree that a double batch is an excellent plan. 🙂 Cayenne can be a little tough for some so I think it’s best to start low and add more if you wish.
Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought says
These sweet and spicy sugar pecans look amazing! A perfect hostess gift.
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thank you! And they do make great gifts.
Profi says
This looks amazing and simple!
justalittlebitofbacon says
Thanks!