These Savory Spiced Pecans are a family tradition we whip up every Christmas and holiday season! They have the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors, thanks to a quick toss in butter, maple syrup, and Cajun seasoning. Roasted to a perfect crunch, they make an irresistible snack, appetizer, or even a thoughtful DIY gift!
London’s Tip: Allow the pecans to fully cool to room temperature before packaging. If stored too soon, excess moisture can accumulate, making them less crunchy. And when roasting, keep an eye (or nose!) on them—once you catch that nutty aroma, they’re perfectly done!
Every year growing up, we visited my grandparents for Christmas in a little town just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. My Nanny always had a big batch of her famous Cajun spiced pecans waiting for us to devour. She would lovingly package them in her vintage Christmas tins, alongside others filled with pecan pralines and her cherished icebox cookies (also known as Pecan Sandies).
It was a ritual we all looked forward to: a bite of her sweet cookies followed by a handful of her savory pecans—sweet, salty, repeat. Though my grandparents have since passed, making these spiced pecans has become a longstanding Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition in our home, keeping their memory alive with every batch. And I hope they bring just as much joy to your kitchen, too!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, you can jump to the recipe.
- Pecans: You’ll need 1 pound of whole, raw (not roasted) pecans. Choose either a lighter or darker variety based on your taste preference.
- Butter: Melted butter helps coat the pecans with the seasoning mix. For a dairy-free or vegan option, use a vegan butter stick or oil instead.
- Sweetener (optional): A touch of pure maple syrup balances the savory spices. Brown sugar also works great. You can also substitute with honey or agave nectar.
- Spice Mix: A blend of mild chili powder, regular paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of cinnamon. The chili powder and paprika create the savory base, while cayenne adds a spicy kick (adjust to taste or leave out for milder pecans). The garlic powder enhances richness, and just a touch of cinnamon keeps the flavors interesting without overpowering.
How to Make Spiced Pecans
Jump to the recipe for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.
- Make the coating. Whisk together the melted butter or oil, syrup, and all of the seasonings in a large bowl until well combined.
- Toss the nuts. Add the pecans to the bowl and mix until all of the nuts are evenly coated.
- Bake in the oven. Spread the pecans in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 25-30 minutes or until the nuts are toasted and aromatic. Toss nuts halfway through roasting. The lower oven temperature will allow the pecans to roast low and slow. This results in a more robust, naturally nutty flavor.
- Cool and serve. Remove from the oven and allow the nut to come to room temperature before serving. The pecans will appear pretty sticky when you first pull them out, but once they are cooled completely they should harden up. Add them to your favorite salads, munch on them for a snack, or package up as a cute DIY food gift.
Make Ahead & Storage: Mix the spices or make the entire recipe up to a week in advance. Store spiced pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, refrigerate for up to 4 weeks, or freeze for up to 6 months (note: refrigeration and freezing may affect texture).
Turn These Into a DIY Gift
These savory spiced pecans are one of the best food gifts to give for the holidays.
Not only are they naturally low-carb and gluten-free, but they can also easily be made dairy-free and vegan, too.
So just about everyone can enjoy them!
To make these into a mason jar gift:
- Add to a glass 8-ounce or 16-ounce mason jar.
- Tie a pretty ribbon around the neck of the jar.
- Optional: Attach a hand written recipe to the ribbon or a name tag.
FAQs
Not all recipes are gluten-free since they may have flour as an ingredient. However, the recipe you will find below is completely gluten-free and can be served to anyone with celiac’s disease.
It is not necessary to soak pecans before roasting but you certainly can. Just make sure to dry them thoroughly before seasoning and cooking.
First and foremost roasted pecans are great as a snack all on their own. They are also wonderful mixed into salads, baked into breads, or use them to garnish soups.
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Preheat the oven to 300°F.
Whisk together the melted butter, syrup, and seasonings in a large bowl. Add pecans and toss until well coated.
4 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ¼ – ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, 1 pound pecans
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the pecans out in a single layer. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the nuts are toasted and aromatic.
Let cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- Temperature: The low temp is what gives the nuts that perfect texture.
- Spices: You can easily sub the spice blend.
- Prep-Ahead: You can mix up your spices well before you need them. Or, this entire recipe can be made a week ahead of time.
- Storage: Keep the spiced pecans in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. You can use a plastic storage container or Christmas tin. You can also refrigerate them to extend the shelf life up to 3-4 weeks. However, the taste and texture will be slightly affected if refrigerated.
- Freezing: You can freeze these pecans for up to 3 to 6 months, but the texture won’t be the same upon thawing.
Calories: 230kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 184mg, Potassium: 136mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 429IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
