Air Fryer Candied Pecans (4-Ingredients)
Just in time for the holiday season, here is a super easy recipe for crunchy and sweet Air Fryer Candied Pecans. Air fry this special treat for parties or as an edible gift. These candied nuts are great for snacking or for putting on salads.
Normally candied pecans are made in the oven or on the stovetop, but this time I used my air fryer and the results were delicious! Plus, it takes a lot less time to make these in the air fryer so it’s a win-win.
Not only are they made with pantry staples, but candied pecans are straightforward and easy to make. You just stir the ingredients together and then pour into the air fryer and let the hot air work its magic.
These sweet and salty nuts are perfect for salads, desserts, cheeseboards, or snacking. Try adding them to this gluten-free and dairy-free charcuterie board and watch them disappear.
They also make a fantastic edible holiday gift or hostess gift. Glazed pecans don’t usually last more than a day at my house, but they stay fresh for up to two weeks in an airtight container.
Air Fryer Candied Pecan Benefits
- It’s only four ingredients, three of which are pantry staples. If you keep eggs, sugar, and butter on hand then all you have to do is purchase pecans. Candied pecans from specialty shops can be pricey. Homemade candied pecans are just as delicious and more affordable too.
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegetarian so almost everyone can enjoy them. They make a perfect snack or a great gift.
- Air fryer pecans are a breeze to make. Just stir everything together and let the air fryer do the rest.
Ingredients
- Raw pecan halves – Pecans do go rancid after a while, so be sure to check the expiration date on the package. Taste one before making this recipe. If it tastes good, then you are good to go.
- Coconut oil or butter – Either will work great in this recipe, but you can use coconut oil for a dairy-free version.
- Egg white – The egg white is essential for this recipe. It acts similar to a meringue and gives the pecans their crunchy sweet texture.
- Sugar – Regular sugar works perfectly but you can use brown sugar for a more caramelized flavor if you like. You can also use coconut sugar for a slightly lower glycemic version.
See the recipe card below of the full recipe.
Recipe Steps
Step One
Line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil. Cut a few slits in the foil to let the air circulate (you can also use a piece of parchment paper).
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
In a medium bowl, combine the raw pecans, coconut oil, egg white, and sugar. Stir well until combined.
Step Three
Pour the pecans into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Set the temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 16 to 18 minutes.
Stop to shake the basket twice during the cooking time. This will prevent them from burning.
Step Four
Transfer the nuts to a serving dish and let them cool for at least 10 minutes before devouring.
The candied nuts will crisp up as they cool. Serve them at room temperature or even chilled. Store the nuts in a mason jar or other type of airtight container for up to 2 weeks. They’re a quick snack with perfect crunch.
These make amazing gifts! You can present them in little bags tied with a pretty ribbon. I hope you enjoy this Candied Pecans recipe made with simple ingredients as much as I do!
Recipe Tips
- Some air fryer models needs to be preheated. Please refer to the owner’s manual of your particular model to see if you need to preheat it before using.
- You can use whatever type of nut you like in this recipe, including almond or cashews.
- You can easily double this recipe depending on how big your air fryer is. Try not to crowd the nuts in the basket too much.
- The total time for this recipe includes 10 minutes for the nuts to cool and crisp up.
- You can add cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice to the mixture before air frying for a festive holiday take. Or, if you prefer a spicy version, add a dash of cayenne pepper to the mix!
Recipe FAQs
It’s best to let them cool first. Not only can hot sugar burn you but they crisp up as they cool. Let them cool for at least 10 minutes before devouring.
Besides snacking, candied pecans are great on salads, cookies, ice cream, chicken, salmon, oatmeal, or sweet potatoes.
I like to use a granulated sweetener in this recipe. You can use white sugar, light brown sugar, dark brown sugar, coconut sugar, date sugar, or maple sugar!
More Air Fryer Sweet Recipes You Might Like
- Air Fryer Apple Crisp
- Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Air Fryer Bananas
- Air Fryer Baked Apples
- Air Fryer Blueberry Muffins
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
Don’t Miss These Air Fryer Resources!
Air Fryer Candied Pecans (4-Ingredients)
Just in time for the holiday season, here is a super easy recipe for crunchy and sweet Air Fryer Candied Pecans. Make this special treat for parties or as an edible gift. These candied nuts are great for snacking or for putting on salads.
- Total Time: 36 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecan halves (you can also use almonds or cashews)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter, melted (use coconut oil or vegan butter for dairy-free diets)
- 1 egg white
- 1/4 cup sugar (you can use coconut sugar for a lower glycemic version)
Instructions
- Line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil. Cut a few slits in the foil to let the air circulate.
- In a medium bowl, combine the pecan halves, coconut oil, egg white, and sugar. Stir to combine.
- Pour the nut mixture into the air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 300°F for 16-18 minutes, stopping to shake the basket at least 1-2 times during the cooking time (be careful to not let them burn). The nuts should be a dark amber color when they are done.
- Transfer the nuts to a serving bowl or plate and let them cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. The nuts will crisp up as they cool.
Notes
- Some air fryer models needs to be preheated. Please refer to the owner’s manual of your particular model to see if you need to preheat it before using.
- You can use whatever type of nut you like in this recipe, including almond or cashews.
- You can easily double this recipe depending on how big your air fryer is. Try not to crowd the nuts in the basket too much.
- The total time for this recipe includes 10 minutes for the nuts to cool and crisp up.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Air fryer
- Cuisine: Holiday
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 151
- Sugar: 6.8 g
- Sodium: 6.9 mg
- Fat: 13.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.2 g
- Fiber: 1.3 g
- Protein: 1.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
These pecans look delicious. Pecans are my favorite nut. I have an air fryer with a rotisserie basket. Do you think the basket would work for this recipe?
Happy Holidays to you and thanks for all your wonderful healthy recipes!
Yes I think it should work just fine! 🙂
For a vegan option, could I use auqafaba instead of the egg white?
Great question and I am 99% sure that would work! Please LMK if you try it.
YUMMY!!! These go great on top of cooked sweet potatoes!