Air Fryer Candied Pecans

5 from 4 votes

Air Fryer Candied Pecans - These sweet and spicy pecans are an easy recipe made from simple ingredients. This delicious snack has the perfect crunch for salads, are great for charcuterie boards, and make amazing gifts during the holiday season.

A quick and easy recipe made from simple ingredients you probably already have on hand in the kitchen.

Easy air fryer instructions and oven instructions.

* Adapted from Chef Franklin Biggs Sweet And Spicy Pecans recipe.

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Total Time10

Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 248kcal

Author: Seanna Borrows

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup water warm
¼ cup sugar (granulated) granulated white
1 cup pecan halves raw
2 tablespoons sugar (granulated) granulated white
1 tablespoon chili powder
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper ground

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 350°F. (See Note of Caution below.)

Make Simple Syrup. Mix warm water and sugar together until sugar has completely dissolved in the water. Simple way to heat the water is for 2 minutes in the microwave. That will be enough to dissolve the sugar.
1 cup water, ¼ cup sugar (granulated)
Soak. Add raw pecan halves to the simple syrup and soak them for 5 minutes.
1 cup pecan halves
Drain. Drain the pecans in a small fine mesh strainer, give them a gentle toss or two in the strainer to help remove excess water.
Make Sugar Mixture. In a medium bowl, mix the sugar and spices together until the spices are evenly disbursed and well-combined.
2 tablespoons sugar (granulated), 1 tablespoon chili powder, ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Coat. Coat the raw pecans with the sugar mixture and toss to combine, making sure they are coated evenly.
Air Fry. After the fryer has been preheated to 350°F, line the inside of the basket with a parchment paper liner. Then place the coated pecans in a single layer inside the parchment paper liner in the basket. Air fry for 3 minutes. (See note below)
Turn. Turn the pecans over in the basket so that they cook evenly. Using kitchen tongs, gently grab and release the pecans to turn them.
Air Fry A Second Time. Fry the pecans for another 2 minutes. During the additional time, the flavors will open up and you'll be able to smell the fragrance of the warmed nuts and spices.
Remove From Basket. Using kitchen tongs, remove the candied pecans from the basket. Place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet that has been lined with aluminum foil or a piece of parchment paper to cool.
Store. Once they have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. We recommend using a simple mason jar like the ones we use here.

Notes

Want to make them in the oven instead?

Just spread the nut mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet that has been lined with a sheet of parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Roast them in the oven for 5 minutes and turn them. Then roast them for another 5 minutes. Pull the baking sheet out of the oven and set it on the counter to cool. Then store them according to the recipe instructions.

Are Candied Pecans Gluten-Free?

This is a gluten-free nut recipe. However, is important to take responsibility for your own health. Make sure to read every nutrition label, research the ingredients you consume and learn how they are processed.

✳️ Caution: Lining Air Fryer Basket

Do not line an empty air fryer basket or the parchment paper liner may fly up into the heating element and catch fire. Wait to line the basket until after it has been preheated and you are ready to add the nuts to the basket. Always follow the air fryer safety precautions listed in the manufacturer's instruction book for your air fryer.

Substitutions and Variations

This Air fryer Candied Pecans recipe makes sweet and spicy nuts with a nice balance of sweet and heat. But feel free to experiment with the flavor profile to suit your tastes.

Want them crunchier? Soak for less time to make the nuts crunchier.

Less crunchy? Soaking nuts for longer, will make them softer.

Want them spicier? Add a little more heat by doubling the chili powder and cayenne pepper.

Sweeter?

Vary Ingredient Amounts - Reduce the amount of chili powder and cayenne pepper. But keep the other ingredient amounts the same.
Cinnamon Sugar Pecans - Eliminate the chili powder and cayenne pepper and sweeten them up by adding ground cinnamon and sugar or a little sweet maple syrup.

Cinnamon Sugar Almonds - Substitute raw almonds to make the cinnamon sugar almonds you find at the baseball park. Just add a little egg white to the simple syrup and whisk it until it is frothy. Then soak the almonds in the mixture. This will help the cinnamon and sugar to adhere to the almonds and create a sweet candy coating.

How To Store Them

Store in a cool, dark place to avoid turning rancid. They can be stored in a pantry at room temperature. But if the temperatures get too warm, refrigerate them or put them in the freezer.

How Long Do Candied Pecans Last?

They can last for a few weeks at room temperature, a month in the refrigerator, and a year or two in the freezer.

How To Use Them

Air Fryer Candied Pecans are the perfect snack for on the go, they're also great to put in salads, are a tasty add to charcuterie boards, and make amazing gifts to share with your friends during the holiday season.

Nutrition