Published: · Modified: by Pam
These sweet and spicy candied pecans are so incredibly easy to make and have a unique flavor that is downright addictive!
Flavors of cumin, cayenne, and maple syrup come together in the most incredible way to make these pecans and they're ready in just 20 minutes.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love these sweet and spicy pecans
- Ingredients for Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to make Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
- Expert tips
- How to serve spicy pecans
- More edible gifts
- Recipe FAQs
- 📖 Recipe
Soon after Ritz-Carlton opened its beautiful hotel on Lake Oconee, Georgia, we stopped by to check it out.
We toured around and then stepped into the bar for a glass of wine and there, sitting on the bar, were a bowl of the most interesting and delicious spicy candied pecans ever.
I was apparently not the first person to feel this way, because the bartender had the recipe printed up on cards behind the bar.
In our house we call this easy recipe "Ritz Carlton Pecans", but, officially, the name is Ritz-Carlton Lodge Spiced Pecans.
If you love pecans, you're going to love us because we do, too! Check out our Homemade Chocolate Covered Pecans, our , our Banana Buttermilk Pancakes with Pecans and of course our Classic Pecan Pie.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love these sweet and spicy pecans
- Ingredients for Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to make Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
- Expert tips
- How to serve spicy pecans
- More edible gifts
- Recipe FAQs
- 📖 Recipe
Why you'll love these sweet and spicy pecans
- They are delicious- I've made these easy candied pecans many times over the years and everyone loves them. Recently I had a group of friends over and they all went nuts over these nuts!
- You can adjust the spice- It is very easy to change up the amount of cayenne you use to make these pecans more or less spicy.
- They are super versatile- We love to set these spicy candied pecans out on a charcuterie board or just in a bowl for happy hour as a sweet snack, but they're also a great addition to a salad. Be sure to make a big batch!
Ingredients for Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
- Pecans- We use pecans halves, which are one of our favorite Southern ingredients
- Maple syrup- Be sure to use actual maple syrup and not "maple flavored" syrup
- Cumin- This gives these sweet and spicy pecans their unique flavor
- Cayenne- The cayenne is what adds the kick, so adjust it according to your preference. We think they have just the right amount of heat.
- Kosher salt- Just a dash of Kosher salt brings out all the flavors.
For the full recipe and instructions, check out the recipe card below.
Substitutions and Variations
If you prefer less heat, just cut back on the cayenne accordingly.
This candied pecan recipe has the perfect balance of sweetness and cumin which is amazing all on it's own, so if you want to make your batch without the cayenne, that would be great, too.
How to make Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
- Preheat the oven to 350 and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Combine the spice mixture, the pecans, and the maple syrup and mix well.
- Arrange the pecans in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, and then stir.
- Bake an additional 5-10 minutes, watching carefully for brownness.
- Allow pecans to cool 5 minutes, then stir to loosen.
Expert tips
- Fair warning: Maple syrup will burn if you let it. Be sure to monitor your pecans closely after the first 10 minutes and if they start to get dark, remove them from the oven.
- Maple syrup is also sticky! Lots of people are surprised the first time they make them when their pecans are a little hard to get off sheet pan, even with parchment paper- Your fingers will be sticky when you're done, but I promise these sweet and spicy pecans are worth it.
- The size of pecans can vary pretty significantly which would most certainly affect cooking time, so be mindful of that when making this spicy pecans recipe.
How to serve spicy pecans
We love these pecans on their own as a spicy snack, but candied nuts are also perfect on a Southern Charcuterie Board or sprinkled over a salad like our Fall Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette.
They go great with this Carrot Pumpkin Soup with Brown Butter and this spicy recipe would also make an interesting addition to this Gullah Recipe for Sweet Potatoes.
We also love to give these as a gift during the holiday season and this spicy candied pecans recipe makes a great addition to any appetizer tray that you might take to a Christmas party.
More edible gifts
If you love making homemade edible gift for your loved ones, we're right there with you! These sweet and spicy pecans are a perfect gift! Here are some other edible gifts you'll love:
- Chocolate Covered Pecans
- Pineapple Preserves
- Sweet Potato Butter
- Bacon Bourbon Jam
- Quick Pickled Asparagus
Recipe FAQs
Can you adjust the spice in this recipe?
Absolutely! The amount of cayenne in the recipe will give them quite a kick, but feel free to tone it down if you prefer.
How long will candied pecans keep?
They can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Why did my spicy candied pecans burn?
You have to check your pecans after the first 10 minutes and keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't burn! Everything from the temperature of your oven to the size of the pecans and even whether or not you used cayenne can affect the cooking time, so your eyes are your best weapon!
If you make any of our recipes we'd love for you to leave us a comment and star rating. If you're into sharing your creations, snap a photo and tag us when you post it to Facebook or Instagram.
For a quick and fun look at this recipe check out the Google Web Story.
📖 Recipe
The Best Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
Pam
These sweet and spicy candied pecans are so incredibly easy to make and have a unique flavor that is downright addictive!
4.09 from 78 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 451 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 lb pecan halves
- ½ cup maple syrup not "maple flavored" syrup
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper use less accordiing to taste
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.
Arrange pecans in a single layer on parchment paper. Bake 10 minutes.
Stir, then bake an additional 5-10 minutes watching carefully for brownness.
Allow pecans to cool for 5 minutes, then stir to loosen from one another and parchment paper.
Notes
Cooking time can vary according to the size of pecans so be sure to check according to instructions.
Use real maple syrup, not "maple flavored" syrup.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Nutrition
Calories: 451kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 5gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gMonounsaturated Fat: 23gSodium: 294mgPotassium: 304mgFiber: 6gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 301IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Cindy Weidinger says
Thanks so much for adding this recipe to your blog! I sure did enjoy them and will definitely make the Ritz Carlton Pecans, but for me they will be Pam's Pecans!
Reply
Pam says
Thanks, Cindy! Just wanted to give credit where it's due -- haha! I wish I could claim such a good recipe as my own, that's for sure.
Reply
Kim says
We stayed at the Ritz their a few times for business convention. Wasn't far for us to drive since we live in Buford. Beautiful resort and the rooms are so cozy. I love any kind of nuts.
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Rhonda Bridges says
Went to the Ritz in Buckhead 20 years ago for a Christmas luncheon & loved their Sweet Potato Soup - and they kindly gave me the recipe! I make it every Thanksgiving! Love that they share recipes ???? Now I need to try these pecans!
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Pam says
I would love to try that sweet potato soup, Rhonda! I hope you like the pecans -- just be careful with the cayenne. They can give a pretty good kick!
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Suzanne Miller says
Hi Rhonda..
Would you be interested in sharing the Sweet Potato soup recipe from the Carlton Ritz?
Surely would love to have it!
Thank you ma’am 😊Reply
Carolyn says
These pecans are magnificent! Nothing like them.Pam says
Thanks, Carolyn!
Reply
Laura Dudley says
Don't know what I did wrong. I followed the recipe baked for 15 minutes at 350. Stirred and baked 10 minutes more and they burned. Certainly don't look like yours.Reply
Pam says
Laura, We have made these numerous times right by the recipe as have many of our readers. Perhaps your oven temperature is off or you put them towards the top or bottom of your oven? We would appreciate it once you figure out what happens if you come back and change the star rating.
Reply
Judy says
These pecans are amazing!! Mine burnt too. The 2nd batch I did for 10 minutes, stirred, and another 10 minutes, and they were great. I have a thermometer to verify oven temperature, and it was at 350°.
My daughter made these, and on half the amount, she didn’t use cayenne (for her young kids) . They baked side-by-side. The non-cayenne side burned. Maybe the capsaicin in cayenne? Just a weird little thing. 😀
Reply
Pam says
Hi Judy (and Laura),
I've been thinking and thinking about what may have happened to your pecans. I did some research on your theory about the cayenne affecting how brown the pecans got, and I couldn't find anything to support that, but it doesn't mean it isn't so. The biggest factor I think may be the size of your pecans. We traditionally have made them with large pecans and I know the original ones at the Ritz Carlton were quite large. It only makes sense if you used smaller pecans they would cook faster.In light of this, the recipe has been adjusted to check for brownness at a total of 15 minutes cooking time. Notes were also added in the recipe post about cooking time. Thanks for stopping by and enjoying our recipes!
Crystal says
My nuts came out pretty but sticky. I was afraid of burning them
Pam says
Crystal, if they're sticky maybe you didn't cook them quite long enough. They do stick together, but after they're completely cool you can break them apart.
Sara says
Delicious! I was hesitant of the amount of cumin and spice, but the cooked pecans are outstanding!Reply
Pam says
Thanks so much, Sara. Happy that you enjoyed them!
Reply
Evelyn Rhenwrick says
Can you use egg whites to help coat the pecans?
Reply
Pam says
Evelyn, we've never tried that, but the syrup coats the pecans and adds flavor.
Reply
Michelle says
How long will they keep fresh?
Reply
Pam says
Our best estimate would be 5-7 days at room temperature sealed up tightly. I would refrigerate them if you want to keep them longer than 7 days and freeze if longer than 10-12 days. We'ved never really tested the shelf life, because honestly they don't last long around our house!
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leslie mcnew says
Absolutely wonderful. I leave pecan mixture to soak awhile. I turn pan every 5 minutes and stir every 5 minutes. Terrific with bourbon and I have made 5 batches as everyone keeps asking for more!Reply
Pam says
They're addictive aren't they?
Reply
Rosemary says
This is a great recipe! Don't be scared of the tablespoon of cayenne. It isn't too much. The heat is noticeable but not overwhelming. With 5 pecan trees I am always on the lookout for new ways to use them. Everyone loves them!
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Pam says
So happy to hear it, Rosemary! And, thanks for the note on the cayenne. It can seem like a lot, but the flavors work so well together.
Reply
Allisa says
For this recipe do you use real maple syrup or the artificial maple syrup, there's such a huge difference in consistency and sweetness since the artificial stuff is actually maple flavored corn syrup. Just want to make sure I use the right one. I don't know if one vs the other might cause the burning issue I've read in the comments.
Thanks.Reply
Pam says
Hi Allisa, We weren't aware there was such a thing as artificial maple syrup so we had to look. I guess you're referring to maple "flavored" syrup by some of the big brands? Anyway, we have always used authentic maple syrup. Now that we know we'll go back and add a note to the recipe. Thanks for the heads up!
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Becky says
The size of the pecan and the quality of the pure maple syrup also impacts the timing. I have been making these for several years. I turn my oven to 345. Before pouring the pecans on the sheet I pour about 1/3 of the mixture on the pecans and stir well. Then I add another third and stir well. If they are totally covered then you can add more pecans and stir. I have found with the smaller pecans you can almost double the pecans. If you have standing maple syrup on your parchment and you don’t stir well and rotate pans and shelves they will burn so watch carefully or add more pecans or less syrup.Reply
Jeanne says
I just made another batch of these, I remembered them from months ago with fondness! My issue is scraping them off of the parchment but my goodness, it’s worth it!
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Pam says
Thanks, Jeanne! A star rating would be awesome. As far as getting them off the parchment we usually just pull them off with our hands, and then break up the pieces.
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