We're excited to share our recipe for Air Fryer Candied Pecans with you! They have a tasty crunch, are so deliciously sweet, and are the perfect snack to pair with everything from ice cream and air fryer peaches in the summer to pies in the fall. Our candied pecan recipe even makes a great gift for Christmas over the holiday season. Best of all, they're ready in just 30 minutes!
Jump to:
Candied Pecans in the Air Fryer
Did you know that Georgia is the largest producer of pecans in the United States? The humid climate here is perfect for growing pecans. That's part of what we love so much about living in Georgia - pecans are delicious! Candied pecans are even better, though, and that's exactly why we worked on developing this recipe for air fryer candied pecans to perfection. Seriously, we cannot stop eating these!
It's easy, too; to air fry candied pecans, all you need to do is preheat your air fryer to 250°F, coat the pecans in an egg white wash, sugar, and spices, then air fry for about 25 minutes, stirring them half-way through. There you go - a quick snack with simple ingredients! There are many more steps and tips you can follow to make the best of your candied pecans, though, and we'll share them with you! Let's get air frying!
Ingredients
- Sugar: Our candied pecan recipe calls for white granulated sugar. While you can use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar, they contain molasses, which will alter the flavor of your pecans. It's up to your personal preference which you use, but don't skip out on the sugar - this is what "candies" the pecans!
- If you prefer a more pecan forward flavor, reduce the sugar by ½ in this recipe!
- Ground Cinnamon: We're using a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, and salt to create the seasoning for our candied pecans. A little bit of cinnamon is truly incredible paired with sugary-sweet pecans!
- Kosher Salt: Avoid using table salt, and instead opt for kosher salt or even fine sea salt for the best flavor.
- Egg White and Water: You will be creating an egg white wash using one egg white and water. This helps adhere the sugar and spice to the pecans so they can become properly "candied".
- Pecan Halves: The star of the show! You'll need about 10 ounces of pecan halves, but depending on the size of your air fryer, you may be able to candy up to 1 pound of pecan halves. We used a 7-quart air fryer for 10 ounces of pecans.
How to Air Fry Candied Pecans
Step 1
Preheat your air fryer to 250°F. While it preheats, mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in a small bowl. Set aside.
Step 2
Separate an egg white from the yolk. Whisk egg white together with 1 Tablespoon water until frothy.
Step 3
Toss pecans in the egg white mixture to coat, then slowly pour the sugar mixture into the bowl. Stir until the pecans are evenly coated in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Step 4
Carefully place an air fryer parchment paper liner and spread the pecans out on top of it in a single layer as much as possible. Some overlap is okay, but don't overcrowd your air fryer. Note: You don't need to use parchment paper. See tips below.
Step 5
Air fry at 250°F for 25 minutes, until the pecans are evenly browned. Stir them halfway through the cook time to ensure even cooking.
Step 6
When the pecans are browned evenly and to your liking, carefully remove them from the air fryer to pour onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. This keeps them from clumping together as they cool.
Step 7
Allow the pecans to cool - they get crunchier as they cool! While they do, immediately soak the air fryer basket in soapy water for easier cleanup.
Watch the Video
Recipe Tips
- You can still make this candied pecans recipe in the air fryer without the parchment paper if you don’t have it! Just be sure to immediately soak the air fryer basket for easy cleanup. If the sugar is left to harden, it will be much more difficult to clean.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer. As always, use the cook time as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
The following instructions are for toaster-oven style air fryers with a tray, such as the Breville Smart Oven Air. Note that these models take longer to cook than air fryers with a basket.
- Preheat air fryer to 250°F.
- Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt together in a small bowl, and set aside.
- Whisk egg white and 1 Tablespoon water together in a large bowl until frothy.
- Toss pecans in the egg white mixture to coat. Slowly pour in sugar mixture and stir until pecans are evenly coated.
- Carefully place parchment paper in preheated air fryer tray and spread pecans in a single layer as much as possible on top of parchment paper. A little overlap is okay. TIP: Line a baking sheet with foil and place it on the bottom rack of the oven for easier cleanup.
- Air fry at 250°F for 25-30 minutes until pecans are evenly browned, stirring pecans halfway through air frying.
- When pecans are evenly browned, carefully remove from air fryer and pour pecans onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. This keeps them from clumping together as they cool.
- Immediately soak air fryer tray basket in hot soapy water for easier cleanup.
What to Serve with Candied Pecans
Candied Pecan Variations
- A tiny bit of maple syrup added to the coating will add a delicious maple flavor to the pecans. If you like maple desserts, try it out!
- Try making other candied nuts, such as walnuts, peanuts, or cashews! You may need to adjust the timing.
- For even more flavor, use ½ Tablespoon pure vanilla extract and ½ Tablespoon water in place of the plain water called for in the recipe.
- Add a little kick of spice by using a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper in your seasoning mixture. The spicy-sweet flavor works well with pecans.
- Instead of cinnamon sugar, use a mixture of sugar and pumpkin pie spice for fall flavor!
Storage Instructions
- Store leftover candied pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. If you give them as a gift, be sure to include storage instructions! We recommend storing them in a mason jar with a pretty ribbon for gifting.
- You can freeze these candied pecans. First, let them cool and spread them out on a baking sheet. Put the baking sheet in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. Once they are frozen, move them to zip-top freezer bags. Lay them flat in the freezer for up to two months. When you want to eat them, thaw them in the refrigerator.
FAQ
Yes, you can try candying other nuts as substitutions for pecans depending on your taste preferences. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, and even peanuts are all fun choices. Just note that you may need to adjust the air frying time.
Try serving candied pecans over a salad for a sweet, tasty crunch! They are also always delicious with desserts or other sweet snacks, like sweet peaches in the summer, or pies in the fall with ice cream. Get creative, and enjoy!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Candied Pecans
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar white granulated
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1 large egg white
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 10 ounces pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 250°F.
- Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt together in a small bowl and set aside.
- Whisk 1 large egg white and 1 Tablespoon water together in a large bowl until frothy.
- Toss 10 ounces pecan halves in the egg white mixture to coat. Slowly pour in sugar mixture and stir until pecans are evenly coated.
- Carefully place air fryer parchment paper in preheated air fryer basket and spread pecans in a single layer as much as possible on top of parchment paper. A little overlap is okay. NOTE: Never put parchment paper in the air fryer without food as it could fly up into the burner and cause a fire.
- Air fry at 250°F for 25 minutes until pecans are evenly browned, stirring pecans halfway through air frying.
- When pecans are evenly browned, carefully remove from air fryer and pour pecans onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. This keeps them from clumping together as they cool.
- Allow pecans to cool. Pecans will get crunchier as they cool.
- Immediately soak air fryer basket in hot soapy water for easier cleanup.
Notes
- You can still make this candied pecans recipe in the air fryer without the parchment paper if you don’t have it! Just be sure to immediately soak the air fryer basket for easy cleanup. If the sugar is left to harden, it will be much more difficult to clean.
- Cook time may vary depending on your specific air fryer. As always, use the cook time as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
Comments
No Comments