Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

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Air fryer candied pecans are incredibly easy to make and the perfect crunch for salad, yogurt, ice cream and oatmeal bowls. These quick candied pecans are delicious and made with just simple ingredients.

This easy air fryer candied pecans recipe is an all-time favorite of mine–especially during the holidays and cooler months. Cinnamon sugar pecans are great for salads, appetizers, snacks, and a great gift for friends and family.

Made with no egg and just a handful of simple ingredients, this air fryer nuts recipe is the best, so easy, and full of magical flavors! Add these sugar-coated pecans to the table with cranberry sauce and your other favorite seasonal recipes that are just so comforting and delicious.

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe (1)

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Glazed pecans are sweet, yet spicy and can easily be customized to fit your needs! Serve these candied nuts as gifts in little bags or just to snack on around the house whenever you’re wanting nutty flavors. These nuts are great for any occasion!

Ingredients

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe (2)

Brown Sugar– Light brown sugar is used to sweeten these nuts and create that perfect candied look. Feel free to use dark brown sugar or your favorite sugar-free granulated dark sugar.

Cinnamon– Ground cinnamon is used to give these nuts warm and spicy aromas and to balance the sweetness of the sugars. If you only have cinnamon sticks, then grate those on a boxed grater.

Ginger– Ginger gives these nuts a bright flavor. I used ground ginger.

Nutmeg– Spicy ground nutmeg is the perfect addition to the cinnamon for these air fryer candied nuts and ties this recipe together. Use ground nutmeg or grate a piece of the whole nutmeg.

Maple Syrup– Sweet maple syrup adds extra natural sweetness that coats the nuts perfectly.

Water– Purified water is used to create the base for the sugar mixture.

Pecans– You will want to make sure the raw pecans are halved. Use freshly picked pecans or some from the store!

Salt– A little bit of salt is used to give this spiced nut recipe a hint of savoriness that doesn’t allow these nuts to be too sweet.

How to Make Candied Pecans in the Air Fryer

Candied nuts made in the air fryer take way less time than cooking them in the oven. This recipe is fast and a great way to satisfy your craving for candied nuts!

First, line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminum foil. In a medium bowl, toss the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, water, pecans, and salt. Stir until combined.

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  • Next, pour the mixture inside the air fryer basket and air fry at 330 degrees Fahrenheit for eight minutes. Shake the basket halfway through. Cook the nuts until they are shiny and fragrant.
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  • Remove the nuts from the air fryer and transfer them to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread the air fryer candied pecans in a single layer onto the sheet and allow them to cool for at least ten minutes before serving.
Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe (5)

Recipe Tips

  • For additional flavors or other spice ideas, you can add ½ teaspoon of dry mustard and even ¼ teaspoon of ground cardamom.
  • Make sure the nuts have plenty of time to cool so they can harden.
  • For a little bit of spice, add cayenne pepper to the candied pecans mixture.
  • To make these nuts ahead of time, simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl (except the pecans) and refrigerate until ready to use.
Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe (6)

How Long to Cook Candied Pecans in the Air Fryer

Cook the candied pecans in the air fryer for at least eight minutes or until they are shiny and fragrant.

Cook the Candied Nuts in the Oven

To cook the pecans in the oven, preheat the oven to 250°F and bake them on a baking sheet for one hour while shaking every 15 minutes.

What to Serve with Glazed Pecans

Serve this air fryer candied nut recipe with other snacks such as popcorn, trail mix, desserts, or candies. You can also serve these sweet pecans over my healthy massaged kale and apple salad or with these air fryer plantains.

How do you Store Candied Pecans?

Store the candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week or in the refrigerator for three weeks.

Can you Freeze Candied Pecans?

Yes, you can freeze these egg free candied pecans. To freeze, just transfer them to a freezer-safe storage bag or container. Freeze the nuts in the freezer for up to four months.

If you don’t want to reheat them you can place them on the counter until they come to room temperature.

How to Reheat This Recipe

  • Air Fryer – Place the air fryer candied nuts in the air fryer basket and warm at 330°F for three to five minutes until the nuts are warmed through.
  • Oven – Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and warm the chilaquiles for at least fifteen minutes until crispy and hot.

Why are my Candied Pecans Sticky?

If your pecans are sticky, then they may not have had a long enough time to cook in the air fryer. The pecans will also harden as they cool.

More Air Fryer Recipes

  • Air Fryer Pecan Crusted Chicken
  • Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
  • Bread Pudding in the Air Fryer
  • Simple Air Fryer Recipes
  • Air Fryer Peach Crisp Recipe
  • Easy Air Fryer French Toast Recipe
  • Air fryer mini banana bread

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Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe (7)

Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes

Air fryer candied pecans are incredibly easy to make and the perfect crunch for salad, yogurt, ice cream and oatmeal bowls. These quick candied pecans are delicious and made with just simple ingredients.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 2 cups pecan halves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or foi.
  2. In a medium bowl toss brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, maple syrup, water, pecan, and salt until well coated.
  3. Pour the mixture inside the air fryer basket and air fry to 330ºF for 8 minutes and shake the basket halfway through. Cook the nuts until shiny and fragrant.
  4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat and spread the air fried nut in an even layer. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. .

Notes

  • For additional flavors or other spice ideas, you can add ½ teaspoon of dry mustard and even ¼ teaspoon of ground cardamom.
  • Make sure the nuts have plenty of time to cool so they can harden.
  • For a little bit of spice, add cayenne pepper to the candied pecans mixture.
  • To make these nuts ahead of time, simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl (except the pecans) and refrigerate until ready to use.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 419Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 136mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 5gSugar: 16gProtein: 5g

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated​, only the sodium in the other ingredients​ is calculated.

Easy Air Fryer Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

Stir them every 10 minutes or so to avoid them clumping together, or you can just break them apart with a spatula or your hands later. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

Can you vacuum seal candied pecans? ›

Make These Candied Pecans in Advance

Storing: For best taste and freshness, store these tasty snacks in an airtight container, such as a glass mason jar or a vacuum-sealed plastic container. They will keep for 2-3 weeks at room temperature.

How to make candied pecans less sticky? ›

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt makes these taste salty-sweet. If you'd prefer to not taste the salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325° F and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

What makes pecans soft? ›

Pecans should be stored in relative humidity of about 65-70%. Humidity higher than these values can cause the pecans to become soft and grow molds.

How long to soak pecans before eating? ›

Preparation:
  1. Place the pecans and salt in a large glass or stainless steel bowl along with 8 cups of water. The pecans will swell during the soaking process, so you want enough water to keep them covered.
  2. Leave them on the counter to soak for 4-8 hours. ...
  3. After they are done soaking, drain and rinse in a colander.

Should you wash pecans before you crack them? ›

Don't wash pecans. Don't run water over them or even use a damp towel to clean them. Especially in-shell pecans.

What causes stick tights on pecans? ›

Such "stick? tights" are caused by drought and heat stress in September and October. Pecans require water right up until the time of shuck split to reduce this problem. Nuts sprouting in the shuck before harvest (vivipary) are also reduced by late season water and/or stress reduction.

What happens if you don't soak nuts? ›

It is true that nuts contain phytic acid, or phytates, which can bind with minerals, making them unavailable to the body. But while soaking nuts in salted water may reduce phytic acid levels, the amount of phytates in nuts is too small to cause a mineral deficiency in either children or adults.

Why do people boil pecans? ›

You'll find out fast that boiling pecans lessens the likelihood of the shell shattering into a lot of smaller pieces.

Why do my pecans taste bitter? ›

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Why are my candied pecans grainy? ›

Either you used raw nuts, or you added them before the sugar had a chance to fully caramelize. Why is the sugar all crystallized and grainy looking? It means that the sugar has crystallized before caramelizing.

Do candied pecans go bad? ›

If you don't plan on eating your candied pecans right away, you may want to consider storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Refrigeration can keep the pecans fresh for up to three months, while freezing can extend their shelf life for up to six months.

How to tell if pecans are bad? ›

Fresh pecans have a distinct aroma, characterized by their sweet, nutty scent. They should have a firm, almost crunchy texture and a rich golden or amber color. On the flip side, bad pecans may show signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell, a shriveled appearance, or a soft and rubbery texture.

Why are my pecans mushy? ›

Humidity above these values can cause kernel molding and pecan texture deterioration (pecans become soft and rubber-like), whereas lower humidities will cause excessive drying. In-shell pecan kernels will darken under high humidity as a result of the tannic acid being dissolved from the shell lining.

How do you fix soggy nuts? ›

Just toasting them in a dry pan or oven should be enough to revive them, but they'll also go in any recipe that requires nuts. We got through most of ours by toasting them with spices, to eat as nibbles or to add crunch to soups, stews and salads.

How do you dry wet pecans? ›

Pecans often contain excessive moisture when they first fall. The nuts should be dried before they are put in storage. Drying can usually be accomplished by placing the pecans in a shallow layer in a warm, dry area for two weeks. Adding fans and heat can speed drying.

How do you keep pecan pie from getting soggy? ›

Blind Bake

The most common way to ward off a soggy pie crust is by a process called blind baking. Blind baking means you pre-bake the crust (sometimes covered with parchment or foil and weighed down with pie weights to prevent the crust from bubbling up) so that it sets and crisps up before you add any wet filling.

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