These Slow Cooker Candied Pecans are not only a delicious treat, but they also make an easy (and tasty!) gift for others. By making them in a Crock-Pot instead of the oven, you also free up some time since you’ll have to stir the nuts less often to get them to cook evenly.
I don’t know why, but I didn’t get to taste candied pecans until I was an adult. I was at a fair and they smelled AMAZING so I paid the outrageous price to see if they tasted as good as they smelled. They did!
A friend of mine told me how to make them myself at home. The process involved coating the pecans and baking them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet at a very low temperature for an hour. I just had to stir them every 15 minutes to make sure they cooked evenly.
Ok, so that really does seem easy, right? And it is. Unless you have my personality and hate hanging out in the kitchen to be a slave to the kitchen timer.
I discovered that if I made the pecans in my slow cooker instead, I didn’t have to stir them nearly as often. And they turn out just as good!
How to Make Slow Cooker Candied Pecans
To make candied pecans, you only need a few simple ingredients. You’ll need pecan halves, of course. In addition, you’ll need:
- one egg white
- vanilla extract
- granulated sugar
- brown sugar
- cinnamon
- water
- cooking spray
Step 1: Prepare Slow Cooker
This is the MOST important step if you don’t want to spend the rest of your day/evening cleaning out the slow cooker after you’re done. Make sure to spray the entire interior of the crock with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2: Begin Glaze
Next, mix the vanilla extract together with the egg white in a large bowl.
Step 3: Coat Pecans
Add the pecan halves, sugars, and cinnamon to the bowl.
Stir well to coat the pecans thoroughly.
Step 4: Cook
Now it’s time to add the pecans to the slow cooker.
Cook on low for two hours. While it’s cooking, you’ll want to stir it twice (roughly every 40-50 minutes). After two hours, add 1/4 cup of water and give the pecans a stir.
Cook for another hour, stirring after 30 minutes.
Step 5: Cool
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then pour the pecans onto the sheet. Let them cool at room temperature for at least one hour. As they dry, the glaze will harden to form that delightful crisp, sweet candied shell.
What to Do With Candied Pecans
Candied Pecans are a delicious snack on their own. They are also a wonderful addition to salads cookies or to a Simple Charcuterie Board.
You can place them in treat bags to use as party favors or as a tasty surprise for friends or co-workers. Or, add a generous portion to a mason jar to create an easy, but welcome gift for any occasion.
Excited to make up your own batch of slow cooker candied pecans? Here are the exact measurements and printable recipe card:
📋 Recipe
Slow Cooker Candied Pecans
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups halved pecans
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup water
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker crock with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine egg white and vanilla extract. Whisk together until mostly combined.
- Add pecans, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir well to coat pecans.
- Pour pecan mixture into crockpot.
- Cook for 2 hours on low, stirring every 40-50 minutes.
- Add water and stir. Cook 1 more hour on low, stirring one more time between.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pour pecans onto parchment paper in an even layer.
- Let the pecans sit and dry for 1 hour.
Notes
Nutrition
Common Questions About Candied Pecans
Are candied nuts healthy?
It depends what you consider healthy, lol! The best option is plain nuts as they are very healthy for you. However, candied nuts have a significant amount of added sugar so they aren’t as healthy. They are much healthier than other options, though!
When do candied nuts go bad?
Candied nuts can last up to two months depending on how you store them! Put them in an airtight container and they will last a week at room temperature, 3 weeks in the fridge, or two months in the freezer.
How do you keep candied nuts crisp?
In order to avoid getting sticky and gooey candied nuts, you want to make sure there isn’t too much moisture. This means drying them out during cooking and storing them in an area that isn’t too humid. Humidity will take away the crisp texture and make them very sticky.
Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later so you can make it again and again!
Followed the recipe to the letter. Like others stated, the pecans were soggy. Did not have a humid kitchen. Don’t know why 1/2 c. water needed to be added. Will not try this again.
The water is supposed to help deglaze the nuts and dissolve the sugar, however, I did see some readers comment that they made it without the water and it turned out fine. If you’re willing to try again, maybe try without the water and see what happens. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out for you the first time you tried it.
Do you put the lid on crockpot when cooking?
Yes, you put the lid on the crockpot when cooking. That’s a great question!
I love the recipe. However, I think mine are going to be sticky. With the moisture on the crock pot lid and the water you add, I think it was too much. Any suggestions for the next batch??
When someone else had the same issue, here’s the response to them “It’s possible you have a humid kitchen. Do you happen to live in a humid location? In the future, you can likely cut the liquid in half. For your current batch, put them in the oven at 300 degrees F for an hour or two to dry them out. Then, move them to the freezer. Sounds strange, but that should harden up the coating.”
I didn’t add the water turned out fine
I’m glad the pecans turned out fine for you, even without the water. Thanks for letting us know.
This is worth a try!
Could I use walnuts instead?
Yes, you can use walnuts instead.
I use liners in my pots. It saves cleaning the pot and I just throw the liner away. I use the liners for almost all pot receipes.
Lifesaver! Thanks for this comment. I wasn’t sure if a liner would work for this! Thanks so much!
Very simple recipe and very easy to make. However, the 1/4 cup of water might have been too much liquid as my pecans lost their crispness and the tray was still soggy after several hours. I may sprinkle them with more white sugar and pop them in the oven to dry them out. What do you suggest?
It’s possible you have a humid kitchen. Do you happen to live in a humid location? In the future, you can likely cut the liquid in half. For your current batch, put them in the oven at 300 degrees F for an hour or two to dry them out. Then, move them to the freezer. Sounds strange, but that should harden up the coating.
These look delicious! Perfect for the holiday!
I have my pecans stored in the freezer. Do I need to let them come to room temperature before I make this or can I use them straight from the freezer? I will definitely be trying this recipe. I love candies pecans!
Hi Angie, I haven’t made them with frozen pecans, but I can’t think of why that would have an adverse effect on the outcome. You might just need to add slightly less water at the end since frozen foods usually hold some moisture.
How long will they stay fresh in the frig?
No more than 2 or 3 days because they start to get soggy from the moisture they collect in the fridge.
I love candied pecans. One of the ladies in the office used to give them as Christmas gifts. I’m for them anytime! I’ll be pinning your recipe. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
I am pinning this one, I think they would make wonderful gifts. I also love them in a salad (especially one with some fruit) instead of croutons. Thank you for bringing them to FF.
Perfect for the season and the slow cooker is the way to go! Happy New Year’s and Happy Fiesta Friday! Thanks for sharing with us!
Mollie
We love candied pecans and this is a wonderful recipe! Thanks so much for sharing your special talent with us at Full Plate Thursday and may you have a safe & prosperous new year!
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! When I was growing up a real treat for the family would be to stop at Stuckey pecan stores while we were traveling and get candied pecans to eat on the road trip. I am pinning the recipe and making a New Year’s resolution to make these crock pot pecans. I saw your post over at The Artsy Fartsy Link party.
love this slow cooker recipe, I love saving time and still reaching the same goal. Thanks for sharing it
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I had a student who made these for me every year, and they are so fantastic. I’m so excited to try your recipe in the crock pot! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party – hope your holiday was fantastic!! Have a great week.