Sweet Spiced Pecans

By Kim Severson

Total Time: 25 minutes
Rating: 4(535)
Notes: Read community notes

The spicing level is fairly forgiving on these pecans, which make a wonderful gift for the holidays or party snack. You can add more cayenne for heat or a little more sugar if you want them sweeter. The key points, though, are making sure they toast well but don't burn and using really good pecans, like Elliots from Georgia, which are stubbier and sweeter than the bigger, skinnier pecans that come from Texas and other Southwestern states (though they are delicious, too.) Ordering bulk pecans online helps keep the cost down.

Featured in: Southern Flavors Sure to Delight

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Ingredients

Yield:6 cups

1½teaspoons kosher salt
¾teaspoons black pepper
¾teaspoon cayenne pepper
½teaspoon ground ginger
1½teaspoons cinnamon
2tablespoons light brown sugar
5tablespoons butter, melted
6cups pecan halves

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Step 1
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together everything but the nuts and butter. Add a tablespoon of butter to a large rimmed baking sheet. Add pecans, toss to coat and spread into a single layer. Bake for 10 minutes or until the nuts begin to smell toasted.
Step 2
Place hot pecans in a large bowl, add remaining butter and toss to coat. Add spice mixture and toss again, then return nuts to baking pan. Toast again for four or five minutes, shaking or stirring the nuts once during baking time.
Step 3
Cool completely and pack into gift jars. Can be stored for a week.

Ratings

4 out of 5

535 user ratings

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Cooking Notes

Em6 years ago

This recipe needs help. I added another tablespoon of butter and a large dollop of maple syrup melted together when the nuts came out of the oven the second time.

Tori Matton9 months ago

Streamline this delicious recipe by melting butter in a large skillet; stir in pecans and coat; bake for about 15 minutes.

rammooreguss6 years ago

I found that I needed more of the spice mix to have a bite to the 6cupes of pecans. I did two batches and with the second I did 1.5 X the recommendations for spices.

Diana Jacobs5 years ago

I halved the recipe - 3 cups of pecans just fills a half-sheet pan with one layer. On advice of others, I added a bit more butter, and then sprinkled white sugar crystals at the very end to balance the heat. The best - filled the house with great smells too!

Katie M.2 years ago

Just did a trial run as I try to figure out my food gifts this year (Christmas 2021). When it came time to dress the pecans (2nd toast) I did 3 batches: 1/3 as stated (though with chipotle powder as that's all I have on hand), 1/3 with a touch of maple syrup, 1/3 with a touch of honey and salt. The original wins hands down, for a sophisticated gift that goes so well with cocktails (reminiscent of martinis at the King Cole Bar!) the others I felt were too sweet. A great experiment. Highly advise.

Darnelle Nelson3 years ago

I made this the first time as written. I loved them, but they were too spicy for some. The second time, I reduced the cayenne to 1 tsp. and increased the brown sugar by 1 more Tblsp. They are perfect.

MIBU4 years ago

I've been trying many different recipes for spiced nuts for almost 30 yrs now, and this is probably the best one. You can modify the amount of butter you use, make sure that everything gets a beautiful spice cover. Butter ensures that the spices stay on the nuts, and results in a more even roasting than with an egg white, water, honey, oil, or whatever is suggested around.

Cynthia6 months ago

I love roasted nuts and I dry roast them regularly! I wanted to try this recipe, but I dry roasted the pecans first per usual. Then I melted butter and seasonings in a small pan, mixed this into the pecans, and put them all back in the oven for 4 more minutes. Voilá! Perfection un my book!!

Marie6 years ago

I agree - this recipe is VERY spicy! I added maple syrup, more sugar, and more cinnamon because of the reviews below, and it was still spicy. Definitely needs to be toned down and made sweeter.

Christine3 years ago

Taking the advice from others, I used a little extra butter and added 1.5 tablespoons of honey to the melted butter. Delicious and watch out...Addictive!

Peggy Sue2 years ago

I used 2 cups of pecans to try it out. Using 1/3 of ingredients except ginger 1/8 t. Brown sugar 1T. and butter 2T and split between pre bake and before adding spice mix. Turned out well.

Sabrey5 months ago

not too sweet, not to spicy. I made exactly as directed and enjoyed every bite.

Joan6 months ago

I started out using the ingredients as written. Very spicy and no hint of sweet. Added about 3 more tablespoons of brown sugar when they came out of oven. Still spicy but the additional sugar helped a lot. We enjoyed the final result.

Faith6 months ago

they were pretty plain without much zip. I made up sugar with spices - cinnamon, clove and cayenne and stirred the nuts in that when they were mostly cooled. They were better and prettier - probably wouldn't do this way again

CatB6 months ago

I thought this was neither spicy nor sweet.

JGN6 months ago

This recipe has managed to add extra time and steps to making candied nuts, without making them any better. Not sweet enough, not the right amount of butter--just take the idea of adding cayenne, ginger, and cinnamon and candy them in a skillet.

Laurel6 months ago

Could this be made with almonds?

CookinginCanada6 months ago

I just made these for a Christmas party. Lowered the salt slightly as I was using Mortons and not Diamond Crystal. Doubled spices and sugar(as per comments) kept cayenne about the same. They are very good. I do feel like I don't get much ginger/Cinnamon flavour though and my spices aren't old. They taste better as they age as well. A good solid recipe that people can tweak according to personal taste. Thank you!

mng6 months ago

Would it be as good if I mixed different kinds of nuts to make this?

Jerry6 months ago

Needs more of everything. Butter, spices, oven time. Pretty much everything.

jb6 months ago

Has anyone tried this with macadamia nuts?

Les6 months ago

We loved the recipe as is, but I discovered my cayenne pepper had lost it's oomph. It has more spice, less sweet. A great cocktail snack and gift bag treat. Always remember to freshen your spice rack once a year!

Cynthia6 months ago

Candy Beal6 months ago

Delta Darling Toasted Pecans: Simply divine if you melt 1/2 stick of butter on cookie sheet, stir around and then add 1pound of shelled pecans. Stir around again to coat. Lightly salt and pop in 300 degree oven for 15 minutes. Turn them 1/2 way through. Remove from oven and cool. Put in jars to give or in a large Ball jar and refrigerate to snack on as holiday demands become too much. Toasted pecans make everything better, especially if you just wanted the toasted pecan and not the heat!

Becky S7 months ago

I would agree with other commenters - the original recipe tastes like nuts with a hint of spice. I added a tablespoon of butter and maple syrup like Em mentioned and baked them another 4 minutes, and that gave it a bit more flavor and sweetness. Next time, I'll add more spices upfront as well like others mentioned (I like more spice and sweet for this dish)

Tori Matton9 months ago

Streamline this delicious recipe by melting butter in a large skillet; stir in pecans and coat; bake for about 15 minutes.

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