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
Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe - Simply Stacie (6)

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

Why are my candied pecans grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing.

Why are my candied 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.

Why are my candied walnuts soft? ›

Let the candied nuts cool for at least 20 minutes or until completely cool. You don't want to package warm nuts or the moisture will cause condensation which will soften the candy coating.

Can you vacuum seal candied pecans? ›

Make These Candied Pecans in Advance

Storing: For best taste and freshness, store these tasty snacks in an airtight container, such as a glass mason jar or a vacuum-sealed plastic container. They will keep for 2-3 weeks at room temperature.

What is the bitter stuff in pecans? ›

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 do my pecans taste bad? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Why do you soak pecans in water? ›

"Essential nutrients like iron, protein, calcium, and zinc are better absorbed by the body when you soak the nuts. The water removes the phytic acid present in acids which causes indigestion. So, soaking nuts helps in digesting them properly and reaping the benefits of these nutrients.

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

Why are pecans bad for dogs? These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

Should I soak pecans before baking? ›

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.

How long do candied pecans stay good? ›

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 my walnuts taste funny? ›

Rancidification happens when fats and oils are exposed to air, light, moisture or bacteria, causing them to oxidize and to change at a molecular level. When oxidation occurs, fatty acids and oils, like those found in nuts, begin to change into short-chain aldehydes and ketones, which taste unpleasant and smell bad.

Can I toast walnuts in the air fryer? ›

Add 1 cup raw nut of your choice to the basket of a 6-quart air fryer or 6- to 7-inch-long heat-safe baking dish or cake pan (if needed). Cook at 300 degrees F until golden brown and toasted, giving the basket or baking dish a good shake halfway through, according to the timing below.

How to tell if pecans have gone bad? ›

Fresh pecans have a distinct aroma, characterized by their sweet, nutty scent. They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.

How long do pecans last in a ziplock bag? ›

Sealed plastic bags are best for storing pecans in the freezer. In-shell pecans can be stored in a cool, dry place for 6 to 12 months. They can be refrigerated up to 18 months and frozen for about three years.

How do you sanitize pecans? ›

In section 5-1 (b), the regulation states that all pecans “shall be subjected to a bactericidal process” by either: Immersion in hot water at 170 degrees F or greater for at least two minutes, or a flow of hot water at 170 degrees F for at least 5 minutes, or be exposed to 180 degrees F hot air for at least 20 minutes.

Why is my candy grainy? ›

The problem is that crystals of sugar were re-introduced into the liquid candy. This will cause your candy to crystallize and become grainy. To prevent this, (stove-top method only) wipe down the inner sides of your pan a few times with a wet pastry brush while your candy is boiling.

What does it mean when pecans are soft? ›

Fresh pecans have a distinct aroma, characterized by their sweet, nutty scent. They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.

Why are my pecans soft? ›

Pecans should be stored in relative humidity of about 65-70%. Humidity higher than these values can cause the pecans to become soft and grow molds. Soft pecans are not good and should be discarded. Pecans with an air gap in their cross section will not storage as well or as long as a full meaty nut.

Why is my pecan candy not hardening? ›

sometimes I have no idea why they won't harden. But if your pralines are still gooey after 30-40 minutes, you may have to scrape them back into the pan and heat them again. Add a tablespoon of milk, melt the sugar, and as before, stir constantly while you bring them to a boil.

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