Sweet, crunchy candied pecans have never been easier. These delicious nuts are ready in less than 10 minutes using the air fryer. Coated in sweet brown sugar and cinnamon with just a hint of maple syrup, these candied nuts are great as a snack or on top of a salad. They also make a great homemade gift.
Crunchy, salty, and sweet candied nuts are a favorite snack, especially around the holidays. They are ideal for setting out for guests to munch on at Christmas gatherings but also make a great snack while sipping on a cocktail or watching a movie.
We love to serve them with our favorite holiday cocktails, such as a creamy Eggnog Espresso Martini, and they also make a great topping for holiday desserts like our decadent Eggnog Poke Cake.
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Roasted, candied nuts are a popular snack, especially around the holidays. They are crunchy and sweet and it is hard to keep yourself from eating the entire bowl.
This recipe has been made with pecans but will work just as well to make candied almonds, cashews, walnuts, or any combination of nuts you like.
They are made with simple pantry ingredients and it is so easy to change the flavor depending on your preference simply by changing the spices you use.
Making them in the air fryer, instead of the oven, saves a lot of time. While candied nuts in the oven can take an hour or more, they take less than 10 minutes in the air fryer, which is just a fraction of the time it takes to bake them in the oven.
Candied pecans, sometimes called glazed or sugared pecans, make a delicious topping for salads, can be used to decorate cakes, added to other snack mixes, or just served on their own.
They are a nice addition to a holiday snack platter along with other favorites such as Ranch Party Mix, Candied Cranberries, and Caramel Cashew Turtles.
They also make a wonderful homemade gift. It is always nice to have a little stash of gifts in case you need something quickly. These nuts are perfect. Just fill a small mason jar, add a pretty ribbon and a label, and you’re done.
Ingredients & Substitutions
For a full list of ingredients and measurements, please see the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
The ingredients you will need to make candied pecans are:
Raw pecan halves – Select non-roasted, unsalted nuts for this recipe. If you don’t like pecans, this recipe works with any other nut or combination of nuts you like. Almonds, cashews, and walnuts are all good choices.
Butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter; margarine will also work.
Maple syrup – You will want to choose pure maple syrup for the best flavor. If you don’t like the flavor of maple, you can use honey or leave this ingredient out. You could add two teaspoons of vanilla extract for a different flavor.
Egg white – You can use an egg white from a fresh egg or a carton of egg whites. The egg helps the sugar and spices stick to the nuts, making the coating extra crispy. If you are allergic to eggs, you can leave it out. The result will be a slightly less crisp candy coating, but they will still set up and be delicious.
Sugar – This recipe uses a combination of brown and white sugar. You can use either dark or light brown sugar, with the dark brown sugar giving the nuts a slightly richer caramel flavor.
Cinnamon – Ground cinnamon gives these nuts their warm, spicy flavor, but this is where you can play around and adjust to your liking. We’ve used a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and blends such as apple and pumpkin pie spice. They all work well and taste great. If you prefer nuts with more spicy heat, you can omit the cinnamon and use chilli powder, cayenne, or other spicy blends.
Salt – A sprinkle of salt takes these nuts over the top. There is just something so delicious about the combination of salty and sweet. I prefer to use flaked sea salt, but you can use regular fine sea salt or table salt; just be cautious not to add too much.
Instructions
Begin by heating the butter and maple syrup just until the butter is melted. This can be done in the microwave or on the stove.
Place the pecans in a medium-sized bowl, drizzle the butter over the nuts and then stir to make sure they are all coated.
Whisk the egg white until frothy. You want it to just barely hold soft peaks. You can do this by hand, with a whisk, or use a hand mixer.
Add the egg white to the nuts and gently stir to combine. Then stir in the sugar and cinnamon.
Preheat the air fryer at 350°F for 4 minutes. Then line the basket with a piece of parchment paper.
Pour the nuts into the basket and spread them out as best you can.
Caution – NEVER pre-heat the air fryer with the parchment paper in the basket. It can fly up and get caught in the heating element. Only use parchment paper when there is food in the basket to weigh it down.
Set the air fryer to 350°F and cook the nuts for 5-7 minutes. Remove the basket and stir the nuts every couple of minutes.
When the nuts are no longer shiny or wet, remove the basket and pour the nuts onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread them out and immediately sprinkle with salt, if using.
Let the nuts cool for about 30 minutes. They will continue to dry and get crunchier as they cool. Then move to an air-tight container for storage.
How to Store Candied Nuts
After the candied nuts have completely cooled and dried, you can store them in an air-tight container or sealable plastic bag.
Plastic containers, pyrex storage containers, and mason jars all work well.
They can be stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place for about 4 weeks.
Candied nuts can also be frozen, but they may become a bit sticky and soft when they thaw.
You should be able to refresh them after they’ve thawed by popping them back in the air fryer for a few minutes, then spread them on a baking sheet to cool.
FAQS
If your candied nuts are not crunchy it means they either were not cooked long enough, or they were not allowed to cool and dry completely before storage. It is important that they are fully cool and dry before placing in a container or ziplock bag or the moisture will make the nuts soft.
I highly recommend it. Without the parchment paper, the sticky nuts will stick to the basket.
More Air Fryer Snacks
Printable Recipe
Air Fryer Candied Pecans
Equipment
- Air Fryer Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 2 Cups pecan halves
- 2 Tbsps melted butter
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 Large egg white
- ½ Cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Place the nuts in a medium size bowl.
- Heat the butter and maple syrup in the microwave or stove top just until the butter is melted then pour over the nuts and stir to coat.
- In a seperate bowl, whip the egg white with a whisk or hand mixer just until frothy, it should barely hold soft peaks.
- Add the frothed egg white to the nuts and gently stir to combine.
- Mix the brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon then pour over the nuts and stir to coat.
- Pre-heat the air fryer at 350°F for 4 minutes. Then line the basket with parchment paper and pour the nuts into the basket. Spread them out as best you can.
- Cook the nuts at 350°F for 5-7 minutes stirring every couple of minutes, until the nuts are no longer shiny or wet. You should not see any liquid left in the basket and they will feel dry, but just slightly sticky.
- Pour the pecans onto a parchment lined baking sheet and spread them out. Sprinkle with salt to taste and let them air dry and cool for at least 30 mintues.
- When the nuts are completely cool you can move to an air tight container to store.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
This post was originally published in 2021 and was updated for content and clarity in 2024.