Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Candied Pecans

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

4.85 from 51 votes

Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Candied Pecans

Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Candied Pecans are salty, sweet, and just a little bit spicy. This delicious bourbon candied pecans recipe is an addicting bourbon pecans snack.

Prep Time5

Cook Time30

Cooling Tme5

Total Time40

Servings:

Calories: 211kcal

Author: Kari

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 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.

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.

Nutrition