Once the holidays have started, the sugared nuts come out. Nuts make one of the best and most well known holiday snacks. From their appearance on pies, cakes, brownies but also fantastic for snacking, appetizers, AND gifting, there really is no end to the love that candied nuts can bring.
Candied pecans in a crockpot are a delicious way to enjoy nuts with the light flavor of cinnamon and vanilla all wrapped in the brown sugar. These addicting and delicious little bites are amazing for holiday seasons, make great gifts (think mason jars!) and are the perfect topping from salads to desserts.
The top of any holiday baking and making list, this same recipe can be duplicated with any nuts like almonds or walnuts. Leaving your house smelling delicious, slow cooked candied pecans go great in a bowl as an appetizer or snack at a party, potluck or cook out as well. Candied pecans also make THE BEST holiday treat!!
Expert Tips:
Get a great Slow cooker: Here is one (I own) and I really like.
What are candied pecans typically made for? Brown sugared Candied pecans are most well known for the Halloween through Christmas holidays, but don’t discount making a batch and sealing for salads too! They go amazing with spinach and strawberry salad. Plus, you can just devour them watching your favorite Netflix show or they make a super addictive snack and perfect as appetizers.
Give as gifts: Everyone always says give food as gifts and this is one of those foods. Make up sugared pecans, candied walnuts and even spicy nuts are great gifts to put into mason jars, tie with a bow, and gift out for the food holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Ingredients
These delicious Candied pecans in a crock pot are one of the easiest ways to enjoy nuts with the light flavor of cinnamon and vanilla all wrapped in the brown sugar. The slow cooker is not only simple (especially in seasons full of busy cooking), but also makes sugared pecans easy round for a delightful topping or snack.
Here are the main ingredients you will need to get started.
- raw pecan halves
- egg whites– it’s fine to crack an egg but I love to keep egg whites in a carton in the fridge. It’s so much easier than separation
- brown sugar + white sugar
- cinnamon
- vanilla
How to make Candied Pecans in a Slow Cooker
Prep work: Grease a slow cooker (crock pot) with nonstick cooking spray and add pecans to slow cooker.
Steps 1-3: Add egg whites to a mixing bowl and beat until foamy and light. Pour egg white mixture onto pecans and mix well to evenly coat all nuts.
Steps 4-6: Add white and brown sugar, ground cinnamon and vanilla o slow cooker and mix well to evenly coat.
Steps 7-8: Place a lid on the slow cooker and heat nuts on low for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Stir every hour. After 2 hours, mix well and add water, which helps glaze the nuts. Remove pecans from the crock pot and spread them (in a single layer) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cool on a baking sheet.
Step 9: Once cool, break apart any pecans that might be stuck together, and enjoy as a snack, give as a gift, or add as a topping to a salad or dessert. Store any left overs in an airtight container.
FAQ’s
yes, you can make candied pecans in the oven over a slow cooker. Try this oven baked candied pecans recipe if you prefer something quicker!
These pecans are fantastic in several desserts like homemade chocolate fudge or as a crunchy topping in things like ambrosia salad, Watergate salad, and Hawaiian cheesecake salad! Use for praline candies, fudge, salads, gifts, and oh so much more!
Nope! Pralines include caramel.
Keep in mind that all sugared nuts have to harden a bit FIRST. The pecans should safely harden after they are done roasting in the crock pot and left out to dry. However, if you find yourself in the issue of sticky pecans, turn to the oven. Place pecans on parchment paper and bake on 325 for about 10 minutes. Then let cool.
Yes, you can freeze pecans in an airtight zip lock bag to use later. They last about 2 months in the freezer and 3 weeks in the fridge.
This question might not even be needed as you will find that you probably eat the whole bag pretty quickly. But they can be stored for about 7-10 days as long as the humidity isn’t high. As always, make sure they are free from too much air.
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