Slow Cooker Candied Pecans
76 Comments Oct 17, 2024
Updated Jun 25, 2025
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Sweet, cinnamon-sugar-coated pecans made in the crockpot are perfect for snacking, gifting, or enhancing dishes like salads and desserts. These slow cooker candied pecans are worth the effort!
If you love a slow cooker candy recipe you may want to try my easy slow cooker peanut clusters or slow cooker Christmas candy.
Why this recipe works
Candied pecans are irresistibly crunchy, coated in a rich cinnamon-sugar blend. This recipe yields a generous 2 pounds, but they’ll disappear quickly! Using a crockpot allows you to effortlessly make a large batch, perfect for sharing.
Stored in an airtight container, they stay fresh for about a week and make excellent holiday gifts that also ship well. I couldn’t stop snacking on them, especially when stirring every 20 minutes. I’m pretty sure I ate half before they were even done!
I’ll definitely be making these again soon, hoping to squeeze in another batch before the holidays end.
What you need:
- Pecans: Whole pecans work best for this recipe. If you have extra pecans, make my slow cooker turtles.
- Egg whites: To get the sugars to turn into a glaze and stick to the pecans, you must use egg whites.
- Sugars and Spices: Brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Also, vanilla extract is used.
- {The full recipe is in the recipe card below the photos}
How to make candied pecans in the slow cooker:
- The recipe starts with egg whites and vanilla extract and is whisked together until very frothy.
- Then I add this mixture over the pecans and stir until the pecans are well coated with the egg white mixture.
- Then I pour over the sugar and spices over the wet pecans.
- Then it’s time for the slow cooker to “roast” the nuts. I cook the coated pecans for 3 hours on low, stirring every 20 minutes. Doing this keeps them from burning. When the cooking time is done, pour the nuts onto a baking sheet lined with wax or parchment paper. Cool for 30 minutes before storing or packaging into bags. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
- These make fantastic snacks on their own—we love packing them in lunches or setting them out for parties.
- They’re also perfect for adding to a charcuterie board, adding a delightful homemade touch!
- Crockpot candied pecans make lovely gifts; simply place them in small bags and tie them with festive ribbons. These also travel well for sending in holiday boxes to families in other states.
- You can also use them as a topping for salads, yogurt, or even hot fudge sundaes (try my slow cooker hot fudge).
Recipe FAQs
Some recipes call for adding water at the end of the cooking time. I do not do this. I love the way the nuts are at this stage. I think the water is to make them shiny and sticky, I think they are perfect as is.
About a week in an airtight container, if they last that long! You can even freeze these, though they get a little sticky if you do.
Other Slow Cooker Desserts and Snacks:
- Slow Cooker Sea Salt Chocolate Almond Clusters
- Slow Cooker Chex Mix
- Slow Cooker Candied Almonds
- Slow Cooker Peanut Clusters
- Slow Cooker Easter Peanut Clusters
- Slow Cooker Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
- Slow Cooker His and Hers Cobbler
- Slow Cooker Pecan Pie
Slow Cooker Candied Pecans
How to Video
Equipment
- hand mixer for beating egg whites
Ingredients
- 2 egg whites
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cup sugar
- 1 ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. nutmeg
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 lbs. whole pecans, unsalted
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk the egg whites and vanilla until very frothy, this may take a minute or two. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, stir until combined. Set aside.
- Put the pecans in a large bowl, pour over the eggs white and vanilla mixture. Stir until the pecans are evenly coated. Pour over the sugar mixture and stir until the pecans are coated.
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray or coat the bottom and edges with a little oil. Add the sugar coated pecans.
- Cover. Set the slow cooker to low temperature. Cook for 3 hours, stirring every 20 minutes.
- When the cooking time is done, pour the nuts onto a baking sheet lined with wax or parchment paper. Cool for 30 minutes before storing or packaging into bags. Enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- These make fantastic snacks on their own—we love packing them in lunches or setting them out for parties.
- They’re also perfect for adding to a charcuterie board, adding a delightful homemade touch!
- Crockpot candied pecans make lovely gifts; simply place them in small bags and tie them with festive ribbons. These also travel well for sending in holiday boxes to families in other states.
- You can also use them as a topping for salads, yogurt, or even hot fudge sundaes.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
These are incredible. Every single person who has had them has raved over them. We even tried to make them in the oven to speed up the process, but they didn’t hold a candle to the crockpot version!!!
Great to hear! I have an almond version coming out soon!
Hi there. Any suggestions for an egg white substitute? We have a family member with an allergy to eggs.
I found this kind of recipe that make work better? https://thebigmansworld.com/easy-stovetop-sugar-free-candied-pecans-paleo-vegan-gluten-free/
How kind of you! Thank you!
We have a pecan farm and make candied pecans both regular and vegan friendly. I use Chickpea juice as the egg white substitute. I froth my egg white and chickpea juice more then the OP, but that is just what we find works best. The 2 types taste exactly the same. My niece is Vegan and we have several vegan recipes we sell to the public.
That’s great info! Thank you.
Can you mix a few different nuts and pretzels or would that mess it up?
I don’t see why not!
I make these for the a thank you gift and because my slow cooker cooks really HOT I have to cook everything and hour less and still stand there and watch it.
Wish I had one of the old slow cookers again!
Can u freeze these
I really think they would freeze well!
Yes you can. Double seal them in freezer bags.
Mine are wet and not drying. I made exactly. I don’t understand why.
Cook a little longer? They may dry out after you spread them out.
Is it possible to use a liner with these or would that mess them up? I always try to use a liner when I can and I remember these leaving a sticky mess in my crockpot last time. Anyone tried it with a liner?!
I think a liner would work fine!
I used a liner and it worked great! It made it a little harder to stir, but SUPER easy clean up.
I have made these the past 3 years for Christmas. Everyone loves them. My anguish is that every time after the third or fourth 20 minute timer the pecans start to stick and no mater how much I stir they start to burn. I pick out the burnt pecans and I lose over a hundred pieces. I believe that I follow the instructions carefully … set the crockpot on low and I even stir before the 20 minute timer goes off. Any ideas???
I would switch your slow cooker to low or cook for less time.
I always add a tablespoon of water and mix. Keeps them from burning as I have the same problem even on low.
Hi, does the weather matter in making these candies in the crockpot? With candies made on the stove, the weather has to be cool and dry, right now over here it is damp and humid.
Thx!
I’ve never had an issue with these being sticky and I live in Oregon, though if it’s a constant issue for you, I’d proceed with caution.
Hey, just got my first batch tis evening, finally no rain:-) They are good! Couldn’t help eating some:-). These are better than the pralines i usually made. Will wrap them up for gifts! Thanks so much!!!!
Great to hear Maria!
Excellent. Big hit!!!
Love this recipe! I’ve made it several times and it’s always a hit. And so easy too!