In just a few minutes, you can whip up a delectable treat of crispy and sugary Air Fryer Candied Pecans. With minimal ingredients and the convenience of this appliance, this recipe is incredibly effortless and absolutely delightful.
Candied Pecans is such an easy air fryer dessert recipe while being so delicious. It makes the best snack but also tastes great as a topping. We love it in yogurt, Ice Cream Sundae, Bananas Fosters, oatmeal and much more. It has such simple ingredients but turns out absolutely delicious every time.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
Candied Pecan Recipe is ready in just minutes for a sweet and salty snack. It is effortless to make and absolutely delicious. You will save so much money from buying these, and they taste better too.
You will love it for the holiday season or any time of year. It has the perfect crunch and makes a quick snack.
Ingredients
- Pecan Halves. This is the perfect size to enjoy candied.
- Butter. Real butter will have the best flavor.
- Egg Whites. Use a large egg.
- Brown Sugar. You can make Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe.
- Ground Cinnamon. This ingredient can be adjusted to taste.
Find the complete ingredient list at the bottom of the page.
Variations and Substitutions
- Pumpkin pie spice. This will add the perfect hint of Fall flavor to the pecans. Add 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice or more to taste if desired in place of the cinnamon.
- Maple syrup. Toss the mixture in a tablespoon of maple syrup.
- Cayenne Pepper. If you like to spice things up, add cayenne pepper to the pecan mixture.
- Other nut variations. This sugar mixture is delicious on various other nuts. Try making cashews, almonds, peanuts or walnuts. You can even make a combination of these nuts.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. Get out a medium bowl. Place the pecans in a mixing bowl.
- Step 2. Melt the butter in the microwave. Melt the butter and drizzle it on top of the pecans. Toss to coat the pecans in the butter.
Step 3. Whip the egg whites until soft peaks. In a separate bowl, whip the egg white with a hand mixer until frothy and it holds soft peaks.
Step 4. Coat the raw pecans. Stir to coat the pecans with the frothed egg whites.
Step 5. Combine the sugar mixture in a small bowl. Pour over the pecans and stir to coat thoroughly.
Step 6. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees. If your air fryer does not have a preheat option, then run the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Then spread the pecans in the air fryer basket for 5-7 minutes. Make sure to stir every few minutes.
Step 7. Place the candied nuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread them out into an even layer. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Step 8. After they cool, serve and enjoy.
Serving Suggestions
- Snacking. These tasty pecans taste great for eating as a snack.
- Yogurt. Make a yogurt parfait using these candied pecans.
- Oatmeal. Top yogurt with the pecans for a sweet and crunchy mix in.
- Salads. Top spinach salads with pecans.
Storage
Refrigerator
Store the leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. We like to use a mason jar for storage, but you can use any airtight container. Make sure the nuts are completely cool before storing.
Freezer
Place in a freezer bag or container. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature on the counter and enjoy.
Reheat
The nuts are delicious at room temperature. However, if you desire them warm, it is easy to reheat them. You can place them back in the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes until warm.
Expert Tips
- Allow to cool. Give the nuts plenty of time to cool on the baking sheet so they can harden. This helps to make them crispy.
- Line the air fryer basket. I suggest lining the basket with parchment paper or a silicone liner. The mixture is sticky and messy to clean.
- Cook for the entire time. If you don’t cook the pecans long enough, they will be sticky and not harden.
- Make in advance. This recipe can be made in advance. Combine the ingredients for the mixture and refrigerate. When ready to cook, add the pecans and toss thoroughly. Then air fry as normal.
- Oven option. Combine the ingredients as the recipe calls for and place on a lined baking sheet. Place in a 250-degree preheated oven for 1 hour. Shake and toss the pecans every 15 minutes so they don’t stick.
- Make in batches. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches. The pecans need to be in a single layer.
Try More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
It’s your turn to make Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe. Leave a star rating and comment once you give it a try.
Air Fryer Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 2 cups Pecan Halves
- 2 Tablespoons Butter melted
- 1 Large Egg White
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the pecans in a large mixing bowl.
- Melt the butter and drizzle it on top of the pecans. Toss to coat the pecans in the butter.
- In a separate bowl, whip the egg white with a hand held mixer until frothy and it holds soft peaks.
- Pour over the pecans and stir to coat the pecans with the frothed egg whites.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the pecans and stir to coat.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If your air fryer does not have a preheat option, then run the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- Place the pecans in the air fryer and cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes stirring every few minutes until the pecans are no longer wet.
- Move the pecans to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread them out into an even layer and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to cool.
- After this time, the pecans are ready to serve and enjoy!
