Pecans are a quintessential holiday ingredient, and the only thing better than pecans, are candied pecans. These Bourbon Maple Candied Pecans are made with six simple ingredients, and are perfect for adding to your favorite desserts, decorating your charcuterie boards, or simply snacking on throughout the day! They are naturally gluten-free and can easily be made vegan-friendly, for a holiday treat that the whole family will enjoy!
Friends, there’s something so special about holiday recipes. It feels like this time of year, all of our favorite foods are given a subtle, festive touch! Whether that’s by turning conventional cranberries into Frosted Cranberries, or giving my signature Life Changing Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies a peppermint twist, there are so many fun ways to make your favorite recipes more festive for the holiday season.
And when it comes to these simple little pecans, they are no exception. These candied pecans feel like the holidays in a bite! With warm cinnamon, sweet maple syrup, and a touch of bourbon, think of these pecans as the perfect snack to munch on while sitting cozy by the fire. Just be warned: you’ll want to eat the entire serving of them yourself!
Plus, these candied pecans are refined sugar-free and don’t contain corn syrup, like many pre-made candied pecans do too. Instead, we’re sweeting our pecans with real maple syrup, providing sweetness without any funky ingredients!
But in addition to being a delicious winter treat, these pecans also make the perfect holiday gift. Simply pile them into a little mason jar, and you’ve got the most adorable, edible gift ready in minutes. And who doesn’t love an edible gift?! It’s a surefire way to get someone a gift that they will love and enjoy!
What You Need to Make These Festive Holiday Pecans
All you need are six unique ingredients to bring these Bourbon Maple Candied Pecans to life!
- Pecan Halves: Of course, you need pecan halves in order to make these Bourbon Maple Candied Pecans! You can buy pre-chopped pecans, or chop them yourself.
- Maple Syrup: The maple syrup is one of my favorite parts of these pecans! It caramelizes in the oven and makes these pecans perfectly sweet.
- Unsalted Butter: You can use traditional dairy butter or plant-based butter, in this recipe. Both work just as well!
- Sea Salt: A pinch of sea salt ensures that these pecans don’t get too sweet.
- Bourbon: The bourbon is truly the best part of these pecans, so don’t skip them!!
- Cinnamon: A touch of cinnamon adds a warm and comforting touch!
Different Way to Make Healthy Candied Pecans
Don’t like bourbon? Don’t worry! These healthy candied pecans can be made a variety of different ways, to suit every flavor palette!
- If you’re not a fan of bourbon: If bourbon isn’t your cup of tea, no worries! Simply swap out the bourbon for 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract instead.
- If you like a little kick to your pecans: For an unexpected, spicy kick that perfectly compliments the sweetness of the pecans, try adding a dash of cayenne pepper to them. It may sound crazy, but trust me: it’s delicious!
- If you love the taste of pumpkin spice: Why not try pumpkin spice pecans?! To give your pecans that pumpkin spice touch, simply swap the cinnamon out for pumpkin pie spice, and replace the bourbon with 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. It’s that simple!
How to Make These Easy and Delicious Pecans
Making these pecans is so simple and easy, you’ll want to make them all the time! Simply start by preheating your oven to 325 F. Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
In a medium bowl, add your pecans, maple syrup, melted butter, sea salt, bourbon, and cinnamon and stir them together, making sure the pecans are coated in all of the ingredients. Then, transfer your pecans to a baking sheet and spread them out into a single, even layer.
Bake them for 23-25 minutes, making sure to toss them after the 10 minute mark, to ensure that they cook evenly. Once the pecans are toasty and dark, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool. The maple syrup will be sticky, but will harden once they cool!
Stir the pecans once more to coat them in the maple syrup, then let them sit and cool completely. Once they’re cool, serve them and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, or put them in a small mason jar as a gift!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! And, since I practically live on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your creations so that I can repost them! xx
** Photography by Bea Moreno
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Pecan Halves
- Ā¼ Cup Maple Syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter or Plant-Based Butter, melted
- 1 Ā½ Teaspoons Sea Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Bourbon
- Ā½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 325 F.
- Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, add your pecans, maple syrup, melted butter, sea salt, bourbon, and cinnamon and stir them together, making sure the pecans are coated in all of the ingredients.
- Transfer your pecans to a baking sheet and spread them out into a single, even layer.
- Bake them for 23-25 minutes, making sure to toss them after the 10 minute mark, to ensure that they cook evenly.
- Once the pecans are toasty and dark, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool. The maple syrup will be sticky, but will harden once they cool!
- Stir the pecans once more to coat them in the maple syrup, then let them sit and cool completely.
- Once they're cool, serve them and enjoy!
Rate & review
SELECT A RATING and tell me what you think!
What others are saying
I made these for our Christmas charcuterie and they are so delicious! We have lots leftover and they are great foe snacking on.
Just be warned that these are dangerously addicting! Soooo good!!!
Yay! I am so thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe so much, Natasha!
Iām making these for a second year in a row to include with my Christmas cookies. I am making a triple batch because so many people are asking for them.
I am so happy to hear that, Brenda! Thank you so much for making these cookies!
Iām making these as neighbor Christmas gifts again this year. They are sooo good! Multiple people asked for the recipe and I gave away the extras I had saved for our family. Learned my lesson and making more this year:)
How sweet! I am so happy to hear that these made for great neighbor gifts, Kristin! Thank you so much for your support!
These are the most amazing candied pecans I’ve ever had. I keep making and giving them away because making food for others is my love languageš Thank you for sharing!
I am so thrilled that you loved this recipe, Kendra! Thank you for your review!