Sweet and Spicy Candied Bourbon Pecans are salty, sweet, and, well, just a little bit spicy. The taste of bourbon is very subtle, but it gives these pecans the perfect amount of something extra to make them so delicious and addicting.
I wish I could say something about this bourbon candied pecans recipe that didn’t sound cheesy, but they are seriously so delicious. They are easily one of the yummiest snacks that I have made in a long time! We love to serve them as a snack or appetizer around Christmas time or Thanksgiving with deviled eggs, bacon jam, and pimento cheese, but they are honestly the perfect snack for any time of the year.
These slightly spicy pecans have a sweet coating of sugar on the outside that gives them a little crunch – and they have just a little bit of heat with a soft, tender inside. Even if you are not a pecan lover, you just have to try them!
When I took them out of the oven, I tried one, then I ran outside and fed some to my husband, and he said, “Oh… those are tasty. Like really, really tasty.”
Table of Contents
- Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Candied Pecans Recipe
- Need More Tips to Make this Great Appetizer Recipe?
- 🥘 Ingredients in this Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans Recipe
- Can You Use a Different Kind of Nuts in Place of Pecans?
- 🥣 How to Make Bourbon Candied Pecans
- IMPORTANT Recipe Tip
- 🥫How to Store Candied Bourbon Pecans
- 🙋♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
- 🍳 How to Serve Bourbon Glazed Pecans
- Looking for More Fall Recipes?
More Helpful Information Below!
Be sure to check out below the recipe card for helpful tips, tricks, and substitution suggestions.
Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Bourbon
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ – ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3 cups pecan halves (pecan halves or baking pecans are what you want to look for – these are in the baking aisle)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (and take out anything that you store in it.)
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together bourbon, vanilla extract, and the egg white until the egg white is a little bit frothy.1 tablespoon Bourbon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 egg white
- Mix in pecans and be sure they are fully coated in the egg and bourbon mixture.3 cups pecan halves
- In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cayenne, and salt.½ cup brown sugar, ⅛ – ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Combine the sugar mixture with the coated pecans and toss to make sure that the pecans are fully coated with sugar.
- Spread the pecans evenly in one layer out onto a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat.
- Now, this is important – drop the temperature of the oven to 250°F – then bake the pecans for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, stir the pecans and spread them back out, then set them back in the oven for 10 more minutes.
- Stir the pecans one more time and cook for 10 more minutes (for a total of 30 minutes.) You will notice the pecans will start off wet and sticky and will gradually dry out a little and the sugar will crystallize.
- After the 30 minutes is up, the pecans should be almost all crystallized-looking (see photos for a better idea of what this means.) Basically, the sugar will lighten up and get nice and crunchy.
- Let the pecans cool on the baking sheet. They will harden up and the sugar will create a nice shell on the outside. Then, either serve them immediately or move them to an air-tight container for storage.
Video
Notes
How to Store Candied Bourbon Pecans
Store your pecans in a jar or airtight container for up to two weeks – we finish them much faster than that – but they will, of course, be best within the first few days.Helpful Tips
- Be sure to follow the oven instructions carefully – if your oven is too hot, the pecans can burn easily.
- This recipe is also really good with other kinds of nuts, just make sure that they are mixed RAW nuts – any assortment – just make sure they aren’t pre-roasted or salted.
- If you like spicy food, go all-in with 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. It has a little heat that lingers for a second after you finish chewing, then you are left with a sweet flavor. It might be too much for children or people who are really sensitive to spice, but we loved the heat level.
Special Equipment Needeed
- a baking sheet
Nutrition
Nutrition information is approximate and is automatically calculated, so should only be used as a guide.
Need More Tips to Make this Great Appetizer Recipe?
🥘 Ingredients in this Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans Recipe
- Bourbon – I like to use Bulleit Bourbon or Woodford Reserve. If you are making these for non-drinkers, you can use apple juice.
- Vanilla Extract
- Egg White
- Pecan Halves
- Brown Sugar – You can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar.
- Kosher Salt
- Cayenne Pepper – You can leave out the cayenne to make these less spicy, or to change up the flavor, you can use chipotle chili powder instead – it will give the pecans a smoky flavor.
Can You Use a Different Kind of Nuts in Place of Pecans?
Yes! You can use any kind of nuts that you want, but try to use ones that are intended for baking or are still in their “raw” state – do not use a container of almonds that are already roasted and salted, as they will get double cooked and double salted.
I would also recommend using whole nuts, as slivered almonds, cashew pieces, etc., will be really small and likely to burn quickly. Macadamia nuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, and peanuts are really good options!
🥣 How to Make Bourbon Candied Pecans
It could not be easier to make candied pecans – and these are sweet, spicy, and so flavorful.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (and take out anything that you store in it – mine houses our cast-iron pans.)
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together bourbon, vanilla extract, and the egg white until the egg white is a little bit frothy. (Picture 1)
Stir in the pecans and make sure they are fully coated in the egg and bourbon mixture. The more egg white mixture that gets into all the nooks and crannies of the pecans, the more the sugar will be able to stick to them. (Picture 2)
In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cayenne, and salt. (Picture 3)
Combine the sugar mixture with the egg and bourbon-coated pecans, then toss the pecans and make sure that the pecans are fully coated with the sugar mixture. (Picture 4)
Spread the pecans evenly in one layer out onto a baking sheet that is lined with parchment or a non-stick mat – these pecans are STICKY. (Picture 5)
IMPORTANT Recipe Tip
Drop the temperature of the oven to 250°F and bake the pecans for 10 minutes. The bourbon mixture can burn if cooked at too high of a temperature, so slow and low is best!
After 10 minutes, stir the pecans, then set them back in the oven for 10 more minutes.
Do this one more time for a total baking time of 30 minutes. You will notice the pecans will start off wet and sticky and will gradually dry out a little, and the sugar will almost puff up and crystallize.
After the 30 minutes is up, the pecans should be mostly crystallized-looking (see photos for a better idea of what this means.)
Let the pecans cool on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes, then either serve them immediately or move them to an air-tight container for storage.
🥫How to Store Candied Bourbon Pecans
Store your pecans in a jar or airtight container for up to two weeks – we finish them much faster than that – but they will, of course, be best within the first few days.
Have You Tried This Recipe?
Please rate it and leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you think!
🙋♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely – you can use water or fruit juice, like apple cider or apple juice. (If you use apple cider, you can add a tiny pinch of apple pie spice to get some really great fall flavors!) I saw a recipe using orange juice, but I will leave that one up to you guys to experiment with – that sounds like an adventure 😉 You can also try a little maple syrup to make maple bourbon pecans.
Yes! Just substitute the sugar for your favorite sweetener and replace the bourbon with water or sugar-free juice! (Watch more closely, though, as erythritol burns faster than brown sugar!)
🍳 How to Serve Bourbon Glazed Pecans
- Use them to top Sweet Vanilla Ice Cream with a little caramel drizzle. Praline Pecans are one of my favorite things!
- Place a bowl of them on a Charcuterie Board.
- Serve them as a Christmas or Thanksgiving Appetizer – they are even a great Super Bowl Party treat.
- Replace your traditional roasted pecans and toss them into or on top of salads to add some sweetness and crunch.
- These pecans also make great gifts. Candied pecans make a great hostess gift, especially over the holidays. Store them in a cute jar with a festive ribbon and deliver them to friends and family, or bring them with you when visiting people. (They can be kept at room temperature, so they are the perfect gift!)
✏️ Helpful Tips
- Be sure to follow the oven instructions carefully – if your oven is too hot, the pecans can burn easily.
- This recipe is also really good with other kinds of nuts, just make sure that they are mixed RAW nuts – any assortment – just make sure they aren’t pre-roasted or salted.
- If you like spicy food, go all-in with 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. It has a little heat that lingers for a second after you finish chewing, then you are left with a sweet flavor. It might be too much for children or people who are really sensitive to spice, but we loved the heat level.
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Oh my goodness! I followed the very easy recipe exactly and these pecans are dangerously delicious! I can definitely see making them as Christmas gifts for friends and neighbors! And I absolutely know that they won’t last two weeks at our house! Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear that! They are definitely addicting!
These pecans are addictive and soooo delicious!
Can you make this without the egg white for people who are vegan?
I have not tried it, but the egg does help the sugar stick to the pecans, so I think you would still need a binder of some kind. I wonder if you could use a tiny bit of aquafaba (from a can of chickpeas) or maybe soak some chia or flax seeds in water to make that “egg” substitute goo? That would probably help the sugar stick, and since the baking temperature isn’t high, it won’t burn. I just don’t know about the taste. If you only use a small amount, you probably won’t taste it. Please let me know if you try it!
These are like CRACK! Can’t stop eating them. I didn’t have any Bourbon so I substituted Napoleon Brandy and used 2 tbsp per batch.
That sounds delicious! So glad you like them!!
I’ve made this recipe twice. They are really great!
Thanks for the review! I’m so glad you like them!
I love them! Delicious and so easy!!! Thank you!!!
So glad you like them!