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    Home » Recipes » Courses » Snacks

    Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Candied Pecans

    Published: August 26, 2020 by Kari · 6 Comments · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

    RECIPE ↓
    a pin image of a bowl of candied pecans.
    a pin image of a bowl of candied pecans.
    a pin image of a napkin and bowl of candied pecans.
    a pin image of candied pecans on a baking sheet.
    a pin image of a bowl of candied pecans.

    Candied Bourbon Pecans are salty, sweet, and 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 these pecans that didn't sound cheesy, but they are so delicious. Like seriously one of the yummiest snacks I have made in a long time!

    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."

    a jar of candied pecans and a yellow and white plaid napkin.

    🥘 Ingredient Notes

    the ingredients in candied pecans, labeled.
    • Bourbon: I like to use Bulleit Bourbon or Woodford Reserve
    • Vanilla Extract
    • Egg White
    • Pecan Halves
    • Brown Sugar
    • Kosher Salt
    • Cayenne Pepper

    🍽 Equipment Needed

    • Measuring cups/Measuring Spoons
    • Two mixing bowls
    • A baking sheet with a non-stick baking mat (or parchment paper)
    • A rubber spatula

    🥣 How to Make It

    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 pecans and make sure they are fully coated in the egg/bourbon mixture. The more egg mixture on the pecans, the more the sugar can stick to them. (2)

    In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cayenne, and salt. (Picture 3)

    Combine the sugar mixture with the egg/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 out onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or a non-stick mat - these pecans are STICKY. (Picture 5)

    a process of images showing the steps to make candied pecans, steps 1 - 5.

    IMPORTANT: 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!

    an oven screen with a temperature of 250 degrees and a time of ten minutes.

    After 10 minutes, stir the pecans, then set them back in the oven for 10 more minutes.

    three images in a column showing the stages of candied pecans baking.

    Do this one more time 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 mostly crystallized-looking (see photos for a better idea of what this means.)

    a tray of candied pecans baking in the oven.

    Let the pecans cool, then either serve them immediately or move them to an air-tight container for storage.

    a baking sheet with cooked candied pecans on it.

    🙋‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions

    Can a different kind of nuts be used 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!

    Can you replace the bourbon with something non-alcoholic?

    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 😉

    Can you make Keto Candied Pecans with this recipe?

    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!)

    a jar of spilled candied pecans and a yellow and white plaid napkin.

    🍳 Serving Suggestions & Uses

    This pecans are an awesome snack but are also great as an appetizer and are a great dish to bring to a party. They are also great to keep in a jar in your kitchen - I guarantee they won't last a week!

    Button linking to the Pinterest page for Southern Bytes.

    🥫 Storage/Shelf Life/Reheating

    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 mixed RAW nuts - an assortment - just make sure they aren't pre-roasted or salted.
    • If you like spicy food, go all-in with ¼ 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.
    a jar of candied pecans and a yellow and white plaid napkin.

    Looking for More Fall Recipes?

    • Bourbon Spiced Pumpkin Butter
    • Pupkin Spice Pumpkin Dog Treats
    • Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo
    • Red Beans and Rice
    • Instant Pot Collard Greens

    Have You Tried This Recipe?
    Please rate it and leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you think!

    a spilled jar of candied pecans on a white and yellow napkin.

    Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Candied Pecans

    4.83 from 28 votes
    Kari
    Candied Bourbon Pecans are salty, sweet, and 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.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Cooling Tme 5 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 211

    Video

    Equipment

    • a mixing bowl
    • a baking sheet
    • parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat

    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 pecans (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.)
      an oven screen with a temperature of 350 degrees.
    • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together bourbon, vanilla extract, and the egg white until the egg white is a little bit frothy.
      a bowl of whisked vanilla extract, egg white, and bourbon.
    • Mix in pecans and be sure they are fully coated in the egg/bourbon mixture.
      a clear bowl with egg white coated pecans in it.
    • In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cayenne, and salt.
      a yellow bowl with brown sugar in it.
    • Combine the sugar mixture with the pecan/egg/bourbon mixture and make sure that the pecans are fully coated with sugar.
      a yellow bowl with sugar coated pecans in it.
    • Spread the pecans out onto a lined baking sheet.
      a tray of unbaked candied pecans.
    • Now, this is important - drop the temperature of the oven to 250°F - then bake the pecans for 10 minutes.
      an oven screen with a temperature of 250 degrees and a time of ten minutes.
    • After 10 minutes, stir the pecans, then set them back in the oven for 10 more minutes.
      a tray of candied pecans baking in the oven.
    • 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.
      a tray of candied pecans baking in the oven.
    • 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.
      a tray of candied pecans baking in the oven.
    • Let the pecans cool, then either serve them immediately or move them to an air-tight container for storage.
      a zoomed in image of a tray of candied pecans.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.25cupCalories: 211kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 3gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 104mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 2gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 40IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition information is approximate and is automatically calculated, so should only be used as a guide.

    Keyword bourbon candied pecans, candied pecans, spicy candied pecans, sweet and spicy pecans
    Tried this recipe?Mention @southernbytes or tag #southernbytes!
    « Instant Pot Collard Greens
    Maple and Bourbon Apple Butter »

    About Kari

    I am a WordPress Developer, Food Blogger, and Health Coach. I love to cook and experiment with fun new recipes. I hope you enjoy!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Micky barber

      April 29, 2022 at 5:31 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Kari

        May 04, 2022 at 10:05 am

        That sounds delicious! So glad you like them!!

        Reply
    2. Doris

      April 26, 2022 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this recipe twice. They are really great!

      Reply
      • Kari

        April 29, 2022 at 11:03 am

        Thanks for the review! I'm so glad you like them!

        Reply
    3. Rosemarie

      February 18, 2021 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      I love them! Delicious and so easy!!! Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Kari

        February 19, 2021 at 4:05 pm

        So glad you like them!

        Reply

    Please let me know what you think about the recipe :) Cancel reply

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    Hi, I'm Kari!

    I am a WordPress developer, food blogger, and health coach. I love to cook and experiment with fun new recipes. I hope you enjoy!

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