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This candied maple pecans recipe is sweet, buttery, and lightly spiced with cinnamon. They only take a few minutes to get into the oven, and once they cool, they have a delicious crisp texture that makes it hard to stop at just a handful.
I love recipes like this around the holidays because you can set them out for a sweet snack, add them to a fall charcuterie board or a cheese board, or package them up for simple homemade holiday gifts. They’re also good sprinkled over oatmeal, yogurt, salads, or ice cream.
For more homemade treats that are especially good during the holiday season, try chocolate peanut butter balls, white chocolate cranberry fudge, and white chocolate macadamia cranberry cookies.
Why You’ll Love Candied Maple Pecans
- Just 5 ingredients: All you need are pecans, butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt. Made with simple ingredients, this easy recipe creates the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and cozy.
- Quick and easy: The pecans take about 5 minutes to prepare before they go into the oven.
- Great for snacking or gifting: Keep them on hand for snacks, use them as a topping, or package them in jars for a homemade gift.
Ingredients
Find the full list of ingredients, amounts, and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Pecans – Use raw pecan halves for this recipe. They’ll toast as they bake in the maple mixture.
- Butter – Melted butter adds richness and helps coat the pecans.
- Maple syrup – Be sure to use real maple syrup rather than imitation pancake syrup.
- Cinnamon – Adds just enough warm spice to complement the maple flavor.
- Sea salt – A little salt balances the sweetness and brings out the flavor of the pecans.
How to Make This Candied Maple Pecans Recipe
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making these Candied Maple Pecans:
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together melted butter, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and sea salt until well combined.
Step 2. Add raw pecan halves to the maple syrup mixture and toss until all of the pecans are evenly coated.
Step 3. Spread the pecans in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 4. Bake for 18–25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Cooking them a little longer will give the pecans a deeper roasted flavor and crispier texture. Watch them carefully during the last few minutes, as the maple syrup can burn quickly.
Step 5. Remove the pecans from the oven. They may still feel a little soft when they’re done, but they’ll crisp up as they cool.
Step 6. Let the nuts cool completely on the baking sheet before serving or storing, about 30 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
These easy maple pecans are delicious all on their own, but there are plenty of other ways to use them. Add them to homemade trail mix or granola, or sprinkle them over oatmeal, yogurt, or ice cream.
They also make a delicious crunchy topping for salads and are especially good with waffles, French toast, or pancakes. During the holidays, add a bowl to a charcuterie board or package the cooled pecans in a pretty jar for an easy homemade gift.
How to Store Candied Maple Pecans
- Cool pecans completely, then place in an airtight container or ziplock bag.
- Store at room temperature in a dark, cool place for up to a week.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to a month or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Recipe Tips
- Only use genuine sweet maple syrup; imitation syrup will not set properly and result in a sticky mess.
- If pecans are still sticky after they cool, you can bake them again at 325℉ for another 5-10 minutes. Watch carefully because the syrup can burn quickly.
- If using salted nuts, eliminate the added salt in the recipe.
FAQ
Yes, you can re-crisp pecans in the oven at 325℉ for about 5-10 minutes.
Yes, you can try other nuts like walnuts, almonds, or peanuts. Keep in mind that smaller nuts like peanuts will need a shorter bake time, about 12-15 minutes total. Softer nuts like walnuts can break apart more easily when stirring.
More Holiday Recipes
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Healthy Caramel Popcorn
- Easy Fudge
- Popcorn Balls
- Vanilla Cinnamon Candied Nuts
If you make this candied maple pecans recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment with a 5-star recipe rating and let me know! Thank you!
Candied Maple Pecans Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups halved raw pecans
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325℉. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir melted butter, syrup, cinnamon, and sea salt until well combined.
- Add pecans and toss to coat.
- Spread pecans in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake 18-25 minutes, stirring halfway through. Cooking a little longer makes a deeper roasted flavor and crispier texture. Watch carefully for the last few minutes as the syrup can burn quickly.Pecans may still feel a little soft when they are done, but they will crisp up as they cool.
- Let pecans cool completely on the baking sheet before serving or storing, about 30 minutes.
Notes
- Cool pecans completely, then place in an airtight container or ziplock bag.
- Store at room temperature in a dark, cool place for up to a week.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to a month or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Only use real maple syrup; imitation syrup will not set properly and result in a sticky mess.
- If pecans are still sticky after they cool, you can bake them again at 325℉ for another 5-10 minutes. Watch carefully because the syrup can burn quickly.
- If using salted nuts, eliminate the added salt in the recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
