Celebrate the holiday season by baking deliciously warmed and spiced pecans!

Right up there with Christmas cookies, homemade fudge, and gingerbread houses – warm roasted sweet and spicy baked nuts are a favorite Fall and Winter holiday staple that I look forward to all year long. A deceptively simple recipe, this Spiced Pecan recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the coziness in between!

This is my Mom’s recipe, which makes it a tried and true classic that I have been loving for decades. She masterfully combines the buttery and sugary sweetness that we depend on with roasted nuts with a unique blend of cozy spices like cumin and chili powder to give a small kick that once roasted creates a mouthwatering balance of flavors I just know you are going to love.

Why Use Pecans For Spiced Nuts?

Though I love all spiced nut varieties, I am partial to the pecan for its natural sweetness and buttery crunch, not to mention its nearly floral aroma when roasted! Pecans have a high oil content making them uniquely suited for dessert baking and deliciously versatile to adapt to both sweet and spiced palettes.

Holiday Party Pairing Ideas

There is nothing quite like the smell of oven-roasted pecans tossed in melted butter, sugar, and a perfect combination of spices to put me straight in the spirit – and not to mention make absolutely perfect gift sachets for all your upcoming holiday parties or dinners!

Need something to pair your spiced nuts with? How about Salted Nutella Fudge, Homemade Sugar Cookies, or for something extra fun – showstopping Spingerle Cookies! The truth is, these spiced pecans are good enough to eat on their own, but they also make excellent companions to other holiday treats.

Tools Needed to Make Spiced Pecans

Spiced Pecans come together quickly and don’t require much in terms of equipment! All you will need is a whisk and baking sheet, I also recommend a silpat baking mat if you have one.

Ingredients to Make Spiced Pecans

Easy-to-find pantry staples make up these delicious roasted pecans, so chances are you already have everything you need already!

– Pecan Halves
– Melted Butter
– Granulated Sugar
– Cumin
– Chili Powder
– Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
– Salt

How to Make My Mom’s Spiced Pecan Recipe

This is a quick and snappy recipe that just takes mere minutes to prepare! After you put them in the oven comes the good part- just watch as your home fills up in those slightly spiced and very buttery and sugary scents!

Step One: Preheat your oven to 325F/165C. 

Step Two: Mix together the pecan halves and melted butter.

Step Three: Whisk together the remaining ingredients and sprinkle over pecans. Toss to coat.

Step Four: Pour out onto a parchment lined rimmed baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes until toasted.