Cajun Spiced Pecans (Printable)

Crunchy pecans coated in smoky Cajun spices. A bold Southern snack with garlic, cumin, and cayenne heat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Nuts

01 - 4 cups raw pecan halves

→ Spice Blend

02 - 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
08 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Coating

10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine melted butter, olive oil, and brown sugar. Whisk until well blended.
03 - Add pecans to the bowl and toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
04 - In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
05 - Sprinkle the spice mixture over the coated pecans and toss until all nuts are evenly seasoned.
06 - Spread the seasoned pecans in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
07 - Bake for 18-22 minutes, stirring once at the halfway mark, until nuts are toasted and fragrant.
08 - Remove from oven and allow pecans to cool completely on the baking sheet to achieve desired crispness.
09 - Transfer cooled pecans to an airtight container for storage up to 2 weeks.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The perfect balance of sweet, savory and spicy turns ordinary pecans into an addictive snack that disappears faster than you can make it.
  • These pecans take just minutes of active prep time but taste like youve been laboring in the kitchen all day.
02 -
  • Never skip stirring halfway through baking or youll end up with unevenly cooked nuts with some burned and others underdone.
  • The nuts will appear slightly soft when first removed from the oven but will crisp up beautifully as they cool, so resist the urge to bake them longer.
03 -
  • Toast the pecans for 5 minutes before adding the coating to intensify their natural flavor and ensure maximum crunch in the final product.
  • Keep the oven temperature no higher than 325°F, as the sugar and spices can burn quickly at higher temperatures, ruining the entire batch.

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