Candied pecans are one of my all-time favorite holiday treats—they’re sweet, savory, spicy, and perfectly crunchy, making them an irresistible snack for any occasion. During the holiday season, these Air fryer candied pecans are a must-have. With just a handful of simple ingredients and only 8 minutes in the air fryer, you’ll have a delicious, crunchy snack that’s perfect for this time of year or whenever you need a quick, little sweet treat! 🙂

Why I Love This Recipe

This air fryer candied pecans recipe has quickly become one of my favorites, especially around the holidays. It’s so easy to make, which is great for those times when you need a quick snack or a homemade gift. I love serving these pecans at family gatherings or just having them on hand—they add the perfect sweet, crunchy touch to any dish. They make for a delicious sweet snack, and every time I make them, I find myself wishing I had made a larger batch!

More Sweets and Snacks!

If you enjoyed these candied pecans, check out these delightful treats:

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this small-batch recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:

1 ½ cups pecan halves
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. maple syrup
1 tbsp. water
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
A few shakes of cayenne pepper

How To Make Candied Pecans

Set your air fryer to 390°F and allow it to preheat.
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the candied pecans. Use a spatula to stir everything together until the pecans are well coated.
Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or tin foil. Spread the coated pecans in a single layer over the lined basket.
Set the air fryer to cook for 8 minutes. Pause at the 4-minute mark to shake the basket and redistribute the pecans for even cooking.
Once cooking is complete, remove the basket and let the pecans cool to allow the candy coating to harden before serving.

Storage

Once cooled, I recommend storing the pecans in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for several weeks at room temperature. If you want to make a large batch, these candied nuts can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container or a freezer bag. This way, you can have a delicious snack on hand for those unexpected guests or as a last-minute treat during the fall season.

Serving Suggestions & Gift Ideas!

These candied pecans make a fantastic topping for salads like my Maple Dijon Brussels Sprouts Salad and Fall Harvest Kale Salad. They add a nice crunch on top of ice cream and bring a wonderful contrast of sweet and salty to a cheese board.

They also make a great gift! For a festive touch, consider packaging them in little bags or a mason jar tied with a pretty ribbon. Labeling them with gift tags makes for a great homemade gift that’s easy to share with friends and family during the holiday season.

Tips for Making the Perfect Air Fryer Candied Pecans

For easy clean-up, I like to line the bottom of the air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper or a parchment paper liner. This little trick helps prevent the pecans from sticking, making the entire cooking process a breeze!
If you’re thinking about making a bigger batch of candied pecans, just keep your air fryer’s size in mind. You can totally double the recipe, but make sure the pecans have enough room to cook evenly. You might need to do a couple of batches.
The cooking time is usually around 8 minutes, but I’ve noticed that every air fryer is slightly different, so I always like to keep an eye on my pecans to make sure they don’t burn. Giving the basket a shake halfway through helps them cook evenly, too!

If you’re in the mood for a sweet and salty snack that won’t take up much of your time, you have to try this easy recipe for air fryer candied pecans! This sweet and salty mix gives you perfectly crunchy, and absolutely delicious pecans every time. They make amazing gifts for friends and family and are quick to whip up for any last minute gatherings.

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