Description
Sweet, crunchy, buttery, and coated in warm cinnamon sugar, these Southern Church Lady Pecans are the ultimate homemade snack for holidays, parties, gifting, and everyday cravings. This easy recipe creates perfectly caramelized pecans with a crisp candy coating and rich Southern flavor in every bite. Whether you need a quick holiday dessert idea, a homemade food gift, a sweet party snack, or a cozy treat to enjoy with coffee, these candied pecans always deliver irresistible flavor and texture.
Ingredients
2 large egg whites
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 pound pecan halves
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 250°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites until frothy and foamy.
3. Add the vanilla extract to the egg whites and whisk briefly to combine.
4. Pour the pecans into the bowl and stir until evenly coated.
5. In a separate bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
6. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the pecans and stir thoroughly until every pecan is coated.
7. Spread the pecans evenly onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
8. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to ensure even caramelization.
9. Drizzle the melted butter over the pecans during the final few minutes of baking and stir gently.
10. Remove from the oven and allow the pecans to cool completely until crisp.
11. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for later.
Notes
Fresh pecans create the best flavor and crunch, so avoid using stale nuts.
Allow the pecans to cool completely before storing to keep the coating crisp.
For a sweet-and-spicy variation, add a small pinch of cayenne pepper to the sugar mixture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg