These deliciously crunchy and sweet spicy maple glazed pecans are the perfect snack or recipe accountrement. They are great atop salads, waffles, pancakes, and numerous other meals, and they make a great Christmas gift.
Sweet and spiced nuts are a popular holiday snack, and for good reason!
They satisfy that innate need for crunch we all have, and they combine the craveable contrasting sweet and spicy flavors.
I actually made these one night for my Christmas salad, and once my husband got his hands on them, they were gone in minutes!
Flavored with maple syrup, they somehow remind me of the classic snack, Cracker Jack!
I think they would go great atop a sweet potato casserole, green salads, ice cream, or even just out of a bowl for guests to snack on, but beware, they are addictive!...hence the sneaky man who ate all of mine.
Ingredients needed
You'll need just four ingredients for these, making them both easy and quick to make.
Pecans - While pecans are pricey at the moment, along with everything else, they are an especially delicious nut. If you're looking for a less expensive alternative, try walnuts or even cashews.
Maple syrup - This obviously adds sweetness, and it's what creates that candy-coated crunch!
Sea salt - I love how the small addition of salt brings out all the flavors.
Cayenne pepper - This is optional, but the contrast in flavors is delicious. If you enjoy spice, I think you'll like including it in this recipe!
How to make maple glazed pecans
I love the convenience of using the stovetop for this recipe instead of the oven. It makes these pecans both quicker and easier!
This recipe moves fast, so it's best to have all of the ingredients measured out and ready to go at your side.
Begin by heating a dry skillet over medium high heat.
Add in all of the ingredients, being prepared for a slight sizzle from the syrup.
Continuously stir the nuts for 2-3 minutes, until the syrup is caramelized.
Transfer the pecans to a clean glass plate for cooling.
Recipe notes
In lieu of cayenne, cinnamon or pie spice are both delicious!
You can mix the syrup with the salt and cayenne together in bowl first, then add it to the pecans, though it's not necessary, and I typically don't do this. This allows for better distribution of the pepper, in particular. If you choose not to do this, the biggest issue is that you may get a strong bite of cayenne.
More recipes with crunch!
Addictive Peanut Butter Granola
Spicy Maple Glazed Pecans
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw pecans
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- a few dashes of cayenne pepper as desired
Instructions
- Begin by warming a dry skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the pecans, maple syrup, salt, and cayenne (it may sizzle a bit!).
- Stir the mix continuously until the maple syrup reduces down and caramelizes and the nuts are coated and toasted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Pour the mix onto a glass plate to cool. Pop them in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to help them harden.
- Break apart and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Charlotte Moore
Yes, they are crunchy bit taste like the praline pecans. They are very good just not what I was trying to make. I will they again. Thanks!!! At least I know how to make quick pralines. HAHAHA!!!
Charlotte Moore
I just made these and mine look like praline and not shiny like yours. Did I cook them too long? They are good but I wanted them the texture yours were. I used an electric skillet and turned them on about 350 then turned down. It seemed quick but must have been too long or too high.
Lauren
Hi Charlotte,
I'm not certain what happened, were they not crunchy? It sounds like you may have cooked them a bit too fast and at too high of a temperature.
dawn
this looks awesome! Have a Happy & Blessed Thanksgiving!
Lauren
Thanks Dawn, I hope you and your family have a great day as well! 🙂