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Home » Cookies, Bars, & Nuts

Published: Jul 19, 2016 · Modified: Oct 10, 2024 by Pam

Sweet and Spicy Pecans

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pin image for sweet and spicy candied pecans

These sweet and spicy 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.

One reader's comment: "These pecans are magnificent! Nothing like them." Carolyn

white bowl of spicy pecans
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
  • Cookies, Bars, & Nuts

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.

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
  • Cookies, Bars, & Nuts
glass bowl with spiced pecans

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.

If you love pecans, you're going to love us because we do, too! Check out our Homemade Chocolate Covered Pecans, our Baked Camembert with Honey, Pears & Pecans, our Banana Buttermilk Pancakes with Pecans and of course our Classic Pecan Pie.

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.

graphic with woman reading The Flavor Bible.

How to make Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. Combine the spice mixture, the pecans, and the maple syrup and mix well.
  3. Arrange the pecans in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes, and then stir.
  4. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes, watching carefully for brownness.
  5. 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.
  • The age of your cayenne pepper affects its heat. Check the date on yours and you might want to do a teeny tiny taste test.

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

glass jar of spicy candied pecans

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
paper cups with sweet and spicy candied pecans

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.

📖 Recipe

pecans in bowl.

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

  1. Cindy Weidinger says

    July 19, 2016 at 10:26 am

    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

      July 19, 2016 at 10:37 am

      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
  2. Kim says

    July 24, 2016 at 3:01 pm

    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.

    Reply
  3. Rhonda Bridges says

    September 02, 2016 at 10:32 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Pam says

      September 03, 2016 at 7:25 am

      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!

      Reply
    • Suzanne Miller says

      October 30, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      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
  4. Carolyn says

    July 13, 2019 at 3:51 pm

    5 stars
    These pecans are magnificent! Nothing like them.

    Reply
    • Pam says

      July 16, 2019 at 10:13 am

      Thanks, Carolyn!

      Reply
  5. Laura Dudley says

    December 08, 2019 at 11:23 pm

    2 stars
    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

      December 09, 2019 at 9:45 am

      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

      December 06, 2020 at 12:24 pm

      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

        December 07, 2020 at 11:29 am

        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

        December 29, 2020 at 1:48 pm

        My nuts came out pretty but sticky. I was afraid of burning them

      • Pam says

        December 30, 2020 at 11:25 am

        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.

  6. Sara says

    October 03, 2020 at 12:18 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! I was hesitant of the amount of cumin and spice, but the cooked pecans are outstanding!

    Reply
    • Pam says

      October 06, 2020 at 9:28 am

      Thanks so much, Sara. Happy that you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  7. Evelyn Rhenwrick says

    November 29, 2020 at 11:45 pm

    Can you use egg whites to help coat the pecans?

    Reply
    • Pam says

      December 02, 2020 at 11:44 am

      Evelyn, we've never tried that, but the syrup coats the pecans and adds flavor.

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    December 14, 2020 at 11:48 am

    How long will they keep fresh?

    Reply
    • Pam says

      December 15, 2020 at 6:20 pm

      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!

      Reply
  9. leslie mcnew says

    December 21, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    5 stars
    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

      December 22, 2020 at 1:17 pm

      They're addictive aren't they?

      Reply
  10. Rosemary says

    December 23, 2020 at 11:03 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Pam says

      December 24, 2020 at 12:39 pm

      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
  11. Allisa says

    November 25, 2021 at 9:54 am

    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

      November 26, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      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!

      Reply
  12. Becky says

    December 21, 2022 at 6:32 pm

    5 stars
    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
  13. Jeanne says

    September 01, 2023 at 5:48 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Pam says

      September 01, 2023 at 5:54 pm

      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.

      Reply
4.09 from 78 votes (73 ratings without comment)

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