Easy Candied Pecans

Ingredients

• 32 oz pecan halves
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 egg whites (Whipped until foamy; the transcript mentions that a splash of water may be added as an optional crispness tip.)
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a very large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. If you do not have an extra-large sheet pan, prepare two baking sheets so the pecans can be arranged in a single, even layer.

2. 2

   Place the pecans in a large mixing bowl. Make sure the bowl is large enough to toss the nuts thoroughly without spilling.

3. 3

   Whip the egg whites until foamy. If desired, incorporate the optional splash of water mentioned in the video before whipping.

4. 4

   Pour the whipped egg whites over the pecans. Stir thoroughly until the egg white evenly coats all of the nuts; this helps the sugar coating adhere and become crisp.

5. 5

   Add the white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt to the coated pecans. Break up any brown-sugar lumps, then stir very well so the sugars and spices are distributed evenly over every pecan.

6. 6

   Spread the coated pecans onto the prepared baking sheet. Arrange them in one even layer with as little overlap as possible.

7. 7

   Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 20 minutes, until the coating begins to set and look glossy and candied.

8. 8

   Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Use a spatula to stir the pecans and flip them so they cook and crisp evenly.

9. 9

   Return the pecans to the oven and bake for 20 minutes more. Watch them closely toward the end so the sugar coating does not burn.

10. 10

    Remove the pecans from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheet. The candy coating will firm and become crisp as it cools, after which the pecans are ready to serve.

Notes

The creator notes that the sugar amount is flexible: equal amounts of white and brown sugar are recommended, but slightly less sugar may be used. For a large batch, use two baking sheets unless you have an extra-large pan; overcrowding prevents an even coating from crisping. Store fully cooled pecans in an airtight container.

Nutrition per serving

• appetizer
• snack
• gluten-free
• baked
• holiday
• Christmas
• Thanksgiving
• football gathering