Easy Slow Cooker Candied Pecans with a sweet, crunchy coating. Perfect for snacking, salads, desserts, or holiday gifting.
These Slow Cooker Candied Pecans are a simple, hands-off treat that turns everyday pecans into a sweet, crunchy snack. The slow cooker gently caramelizes the sugar and butter, coating each nut evenly for a perfect balance of flavor and texture.
Theyโre ideal for adding to salads, desserts, or enjoying straight from the jar. You can also make Candied Pecans Stovetop Recipe or Air Fryer Candied Pecans for easy options.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Hands-off cooking: Slow cooker does the work while you relax.
- Perfectly sweet and crunchy: Coated in a caramelized sugar glaze that hardens just right.
- Versatile: Great for snacking, desserts, salads, or gifting.
- Customizable: Add cinnamon, nutmeg, or cayenne for unique flavors.
- Long-lasting: Keeps well in an airtight container for weeks.
Ingredients
- Pecan Halves: Perfect size for snacking and easy to coat evenly.
- Egg White: Use a large egg to help the sugar mixture adhere to the nuts.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract enhances the sweet, nutty flavor.
- Brown Sugar: Adds caramelized sweetness; homemade brown sugar works well.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adjust to taste for more or less warmth and spice.
- Non-Stick Cooking Spray: Essential to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Find the entire ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Variations
- Different Nuts: Swap pecans for cashews, walnuts, peanuts, or almonds for a new flavor and texture.
- Sweet and Spicy: Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the brown sugar mixture for a kick. Adjust the amount to suit your heat preference.
- Extra Cinnamon: Increase ground cinnamon for a stronger warm spice flavor.
- Vanilla Twist: Add a splash more vanilla extract for a richer, aromatic coating.
- Holiday Mix: Combine candied pecans with dried fruits like cranberries or cherries for a festive snack mix.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg whites with the vanilla extract until frothy. This takes about 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 2. Then pour the egg white mixture into the pecans until evenly coated in the egg whites.
Step 3. Get out a separate large bowl. Stir together the sugar, brown sugar and ground cinnamon until combined.
Step 4. Pour this cinnamon and sugar mixture on top of the pecans.
Step 5. Toss so that the pecans are fully coated with the sugar mixture.
Step 6. Prepare the crock pot. Spray with cooking spray.
Step 7. Then add the pecan mixture to the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours. Stir every 30 minutes.
Step 8. Stir the water into the crock pot for the last 30 minutes of the cook time. This will help to make the outer shell crunchy.
Step 9. Continue to stir the pecans.
Step 10. Then spread the candied pecans out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow them to cool for 20-30 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- Snacking. Candied Pecans are delicious served alone as a snack.
- Charcuterie. Add candied nuts to a meat and cheese board. They compliment each other well.
- Oatmeal and Cereal. These sweet and crunch pecans make a delightful topping for oatmeal and cereal. The cinnamon and sugar coating is so tasty.
- Salad. If you like sweet and savory, add a spoonful of candied nuts to your salad. These are really good on spinach salad.
- Ice Cream. Top ice cream with candied pecans for a crunch and sweet treat. We love No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream and Salted Caramel Ice Cream Recipe.
Storage
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks to maintain crunchiness.
Refrigerator: Can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 weeks, especially in warmer climates.
Freezer: Freeze in a sealed container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Avoid Humidity: Keep in a dry place to prevent the sugar coating from becoming sticky.
Pro Tips
- Use Non-Stick Spray: Thoroughly coat the slow cooker to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Even Coating: Mix the nuts well with egg white and sugar to ensure every piece is coated.
- Low and Slow: Keep the slow cooker on low to prevent burning and allow even caramelization.
- Stir Occasionally: Gently stir the nuts every 30โ40 minutes for uniform coating.
- Cool Completely: Let the candied pecans cool fully before storing to maintain crunch.
- Experiment with Nuts: Try different nuts like walnuts, cashews, or almonds for variety.
More Slow Cooker Desserts
- Crockpot Peanut Clusters Recipe
- Easy Crockpot chocolate lava cake
- Crock pot chocolate chip cookie cake
- Crock Pot Apple Crisp
Try this recipe today for an easy treat without much work in the slow cooker. Don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating too!
Slow Cooker Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 4 cups Pecans Halves
- 1 Large Egg White
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 cup water
- Non Stick Cooking Spray
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg whites with the vanilla extract until the mixture is combined and frothy (1-2 minutes). Then stir in pecans until they are evenly coated.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the sugar, brown sugar and ground cinnamon until well combined.ย Pour this cinnamon and sugar mixture on top of the pecans and toss so that the pecans are fully coated with the sugar mixture.
- Spray the crock pot with non-stick cooking spray and then add the pecan mixture to the crock pot.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
- Stir the water into the crock pot for the last 30 minutes of the cook time to make the outer shell nice and crunchy.
- Then spread the candied pecans out on a baking sheet and allow them to cool for 20-30 minutes.
- Then the pecans are ready to serve, store or enjoy!
