Vegan Candied Pecans

Every holiday season, I set out a jar of vegan candied pecans on the kitchen counter. And every holiday season, it’s empty by the next morning.

Nobody ever admits to it, but I hear the lid. I hear the crunch. I see the little trail of sugar crystals on the counter. And I do have to warn our readers: these pecans (with no egg whites and no butter) are super addictive!

There’s a moment, about ten minutes into baking, when the whole house fills with this smell. Warm maple. Toasty nuts. A deep, caramel-like sweetness from the molasses.

Then I pull the tray out, shower the pecans with cane sugar and slide them back in. Four minutes later, the sugar is bubbling and the pecans are glistening like little golden jewels.

My maple candied pecans use just four ingredients, including maple syrup instead of honey, and they’re ready in 20 minutes. The hardest part is waiting for them to cool. (I always sneak one too early. Every single time.)

These days, I make a double batch every holiday, including Thanksgiving. One for us, and one for gifting. I pack them into little glass jars, tie them with ribbon and tuck in a handwritten tag. Neighbors, friends, hosts at holiday dinners. Everyone loves a homemade gift, and these are always a hit. Sometimes the simplest recipes make the sweetest memories.

Are Candied Pecans Vegan?

Pecans are vegan, but many candied pecan recipes use egg whites, butter or honey. My recipe uses none of the above, instead favoring just maple syrup, molasses and whole cane sugar to flavor the pecan halves.

What Are Candied Pecans?

Candied pecans are pecans that are glazed in sweeteners before being baked in the oven.

Many candied nut recipes offer the options of preparing them on either the stove or in the oven. You bake this version in the oven, making this recipe easy and hands-off for at least part of the preparation time.

Baking them in the oven offers a little more control than cooking them on the stove, as the heat tends to be more even than the stovetop method and there is less risk of burning the nuts and glaze.

Candied pecan recipes can vary in their ingredients across the board. Some include a mixture of egg white and white or brown sugar as a coating, and others may include the addition of spices like cayenne and cinnamon. 

These vegan candied pecans have all vegan and natural ingredients, including maple syrup, molasses, and cane sugar. The result is pecans that have a crunchy texture and a sweet and toasted flavor with natural sweetness.

Ingredients

These vegan candied pecans use only four key ingredients. Here is what you will need to make them:

• Maple syrup: This is essential for my recipe.
• Molasses: Alongside the maple syrup, molasses provides the signature flavor, so I don’t recommend substituting either.
• Pecan halves: Use raw, unsalted pecan halves or whole pecans rather than small pieces.
• Whole cane sugar: Light or dark brown sugars won’t work in this recipe, but you can substitute the whole cane sugar with coconut sugar if needed.

Instructions For Vegan Candied Pecans

These healthy candied pecans require only 20 minutes to prepare and bake, making them low-effort and a great option whenever you are searching for a healthier vegan snack. Here is how you make them:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix the maple syrup and molasses in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
   
   

   

2. Add the pecans and toss until they are coated.
   

   

   
   
3. Arrange them on the baking sheet in an even layer, and bake them for 10 minutes.
   

   

   
   
4. Remove the pecans from the oven, sprinkle them with the sugar, and continue to bake them for 4 minutes until the sugar bubbles.
   

   

   
   
5. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, place it on a rack, and allow the pecans to cool completely before serving them in a bowl.

Variations

Since these candied pecans without egg are so simple to make, they are easy to vary depending on your tastes. Here are some ways you could modify this easy pecan recipe:

• Make spicy candied pecans: If you are a fan of spicy candied nuts, you could add some cayenne pepper and cinnamon to the syrup mixture before tossing in the pecans. Feel free to add however much cayenne you like to get the amount of spiciness that meets your tastes.
• Make herb and garlic candied pecans: Those who love sweet and savory combinations will appreciate their pecans with the taste of herbs and garlic. To make this version, add garlic powder and your choice of dried herbs or chopped fresh rosemary to the glaze mixture. For dried herbs, feel free to use your favorites such as dried oregano, Italian seasoning, or dried rosemary. In the case of fresh herbs, rosemary is the best option as it is a woodier herb that will hold up well to the heat of the oven. However, it is best to avoid other fresh herbs that wilt easily such as parsley, tarragon, basil, or cilantro.
• Make candied mixed nuts: Pecans are utterly delicious in this recipe, but for something a little more special, you could replace them with a mixture of nuts instead. Peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews would all be excellent options with the sweet maple glaze.

Using Vegan Sweeteners to Candy Nuts

The main ingredient in this dish might be pecans but the true stars come in the sugars you choose to coat the nuts.

First, you have the molasses, which offers a deep and sweet flavor. Then you have the warm notes from the maple syrup and a rich and almost caramel-like flavor from the raw or whole cane sugar.

Tips for Crisp Candied Pecans

• Use parchment. The glaze gets sticky. Parchment makes cleaning up easy and keeps the pecans from clinging to the pan.
• Spread them out. A single layer means every pecan toasts and crisps evenly.
• Watch the last few minutes. Ovens vary, and nuts can go from golden to burned quickly. Pull them out as soon as the sugar bubbles.
• Let them fully cool. They’re soft and sticky when hot, and turn crunchy as they cool.
• Make a double batch. One for snacking, one for gifting. Trust me!

How to Use Candied Pecans

While these candied pecans with maple syrup can be enjoyed by the handful as a healthy snack, you can also add them into other dishes. 

• Consider using candied pecans for salads: For a holiday salad, toss them onto greens with pears or apples, dried cranberries and a maple vinaigrette. You could also sprinkle them over my kale and sweet potato salad, which is served warm and perfect for fall or winter.
• Stir them into roasted vegetable dishes. Scatter them over roasted Brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes. 
• Add them to holiday sides. Sprinkle them over my vegan mashed potatoes for a sweet, crunchy surprise. If you prefer sweet potatoes, add them to my mashed sweet potatoes. 
• Use them to garnish desserts. They are beautiful on top of cakes, cupcakes, cookies or a slice of my acorn squash pie or perhaps my chai masala pumpkin pie. 
• Include them in a snack board. Add a bowl to your holiday grazing board.
• Eat them at breakfast. Crumble candied pecans over oatmeal or dairy-free yogurt to elevate your everyday meal.

Gifting Ideas For Candied Pecans

One of my readers, Ella, said her kids could not stop eating these candy-coated pecans. They’re perfect for sharing! 

Here are just a few ways you can share them with your family, friends or neighbors:

• Mason jars. Fill small Mason jars, tie them with twine or ribbon and add a personal handwritten tag.
• Cellophane bags. Tie them with a festive bow for stocking stuffers or party favors.
• Hostess gift. Bring a pretty tin of pecans to holiday dinners. It’s always appreciated.
• Gift trio. Package a sweet-spiced batch, a spicy batch and a herby batch together.

Just remember to check for nut allergies before gifting.

How to Store Candied Pecans

Once they are completely cool, these candied pecans can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature until you are ready to serve them. They should stay fresh and crunchy for several days. 

Skip the freezer. Freezing candied pecans can make the coating lose its crunch. 

FAQs

Related

Vegan candied pecans are a deliciously sweet and crunchy addition to many of my vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes. For more dishes using pecans and other nuts, try these recipes:

• Chocolate pecan flan
• Healthy baked pecan-stuffed apples
• Healthy homemade trail mix