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Recipes

These Sweet and Spicy Pecans Are The Perfect Holiday Treat

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at BU chapter.

If you’re looking to wow at a holiday potluck this year, look no further than these sweet and spicy pecans. They’re crunchy, delicious, and (most importantly), easy to make! Eat them plain as a wintry snack, or read below for ways to use your candied pecans to make holiday dishes shine. 

Brown Sugar Pecans
Hannah Glickenhaus

Ingredients

-1 egg white

-8 oz pecans

-1/2 cup white sugar

-1 tablespoon cinnamon

-1 teaspoon ancho chile powder

-1 teaspoon salt

Tools

-1 small bowl

-1 large bowl

-Whisk or fork

-Sheet pan

Directions

Step One: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Step Two: In a small bowl, mix together sugar, cinnamon, salt, and ancho chili powder. Taste, and adjust amounts of cinnamon, chili, and salt to create your preferred blend of spices.

Step Three: In a large bowl, use a whisk or fork to beat the egg white until frothy.

Step Four: Add the pecans to the egg white and mix until all the nuts are evenly coated.

Step Five: Spread the pecans on an ungreased sheet pan. Sprinkle with sugar mixture, and mix together using a fork. 

Step Six: Bake for 45 minutes, stirring twice throughout.

How to Use The Pecans:  

-Put them on a charcuterie board. They taste amazing paired with goat cheese or strawberries. 

-Try throwing the candied pecans into a spinach and cranberry salad for an added crunch and burst of flavor. 

-Crumble them over oatmeal for a holiday treat.

-Top pumpkin desserts with the pecans—the spicy and nutty flavor pairs great with sweet pumpkin.