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Maple Bourbon Pecans Recipe

maple bourbon pecans on brown parchment paper.
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5 from 2 reviews

These maple bourbon pecans are one of my favorite things to make around the holidays (or any time of year). They're healthier than traditional candied pecan recipes too!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 large egg whites (68g)
  • 1/3 cup (55g) lightly packed brown sugar, light or dark
  • 1/4 cup (59g) pure maple syrup
  • 2 Tablespoons bourbon
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (331g) unsalted roasted pecan halves

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and line a medium baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk egg whites until white and frothy (~90 seconds)
  3. Whisk in brown sugar, maple syrup, bourbon, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract until combined.
  4. Add pecans and toss until evenly coated.
  5. Spread into an even single layer on prepared baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove nuts and toss on pan with a rubber spatula.
  7. Bake another 15 minutes and toss again.
  8. Bake another 10-15 minutes.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 20 minutes.
  10. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Serving: These maple bourbon pecans are the perfect snack on their own but also make a great topping. I love serving them as a topping on:
  • Storing: Store these pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days (if they last that long). You can also keep them in the freezer for up to 1 month!
  • Making ahead: These candied nuts are so easy to make ahead of time! I feel like they get better over time too, so you can easily make these a few days ahead of time.
  • There will be extra liquid from the egg white coating mixture and this is totally normal! It will slowly turn into a glaze that will coat the pecans and help them become delicious clusters.
  • I always recommend using pure maple syrup instead of the cheaper stuff! Look for "pure maple syrup" as the only ingredient under the Nutrition Facts label to know if it's high quality or not.
  • Be sure to let the maple bourbon pecans cool completely before eating. They need to be at room temperature for the sweet coating of sugar to crystallize!
  • This recipe is fantastic around Christmas time and the holidays. One way I like to make them even more delicious is by melting creamy milk chocolate and drizzling it on top to make milk chocolate maple bourbon pecans! You can use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate. They're great to serve at holiday parties or pack in small plastic bags and tie with festive ribbons to give as perfect holiday gifts!
  • If you like sweet and spicy flavors, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to give these pecans some kick!
  • The bourbon flavor isn't overpowering in this recipe so if you want extra bourbon flavor, add an extra splash of bourbon or two!
  • On the other hand, if you don't have (or like) bourbon, you can omit it from the recipe altogether!
  • You can subsitutate any nut for pecans in this recipe: walnuts, almonds, peanuts, etc.
  • You can also use chopped pecans instead of pecan halves for smaller pieces!

Nutrition

Keywords: maple bourbon pecans recipe, candied bourbon pecans, spicy candied pecans, candied pecans recipe, cinnamon sugar pecans recipe

Find it online: https://the-perfect-pear.com/spicy-candied-pecans/