Description
Addictively crunchy candied maple pecans with alluring chai spices. Wrap these up for an easy holiday gift, or eat them out of hand, maybe with some cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pecans
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (60 mL)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (53 g)
- 1 large egg white
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 5 whole green cardamom pods
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp whole coriander
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 F (160 C).
- Line one half sheet baking pan with parchment.
- Lightly crush the cardamom pods to split the green outer part and remove the seeds. Discard the green pod pieces.
- Grind the cardamom seeds with any other whole spices you’re using in a small coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle. For me that includes the cloves, allspice, and coriander with the cardamom.
- Mix all the spices and salt with the brown sugar.
- Whip the egg white with a fork until foamy. Mix in the maple syrup and vanilla extract.
- Pour the pecans into the egg white mixture until coated.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar and spices over the pecans and toss thoroughly.
- Spread out the pecans on the prepared sheet.
- Bake the nuts for 25-30 minutes, stirring the nuts 2 or 3 times until the coating becomes crunchy, the nuts are well browned, and all the moisture has evaporated.
- Peel the parchment away from the nuts as soon as they’re cool enough to handle.
- Store the nuts in glass jars at room temp for about a week, or freeze for up to 2 months. The nuts will taste best after about 24 hours, when the spices have had a chance to meld and develop.
Notes
- Change up the spices: for a savory combo, use 2 tsp of a mild chile like guajillo chiles with 1/2 tsp garlic powder and a pinch of pecan in place of the spices. You can also use only cinnamon for cinnamon maple pecans (use 2 tsp).
- Use different nuts: almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, or even pumpkin seeds are all delicious. If the nuts are smaller than pecans, just watch them in the oven as they will take less time to bake.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Additional Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Baking building blocks
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 176
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 79
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 13
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 9
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 12