Cajun Spiced Pecans Snack (Printer-friendly)

Savory pecans coated in a bold Cajun spice blend, ideal for snacking or salad toppings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Nuts

01 - 4 cups raw pecan halves

→ Egg Wash

02 - 1 large egg white
03 - 1 tablespoon water

→ Cajun Spice Mix

04 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
05 - 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
08 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk the egg white and water until frothy.
03 - Add the pecan halves to the egg wash and toss to coat evenly.
04 - In a separate small bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper.
05 - Sprinkle the spice mix over the pecans and toss until well coated.
06 - Spread pecans in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
07 - Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and fragrant.
08 - Remove from oven and cool completely on the baking sheet. Pecans will crisp as they cool.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The egg white trick creates this perfectly light, crunchy coating that actually sticks to every single nut
  • You get that perfect sweet and heat balance that keeps everyone reaching back into the bowl
  • They make your house smell amazing while baking, which is basically a bonus air freshener
02 -
  • The pecans will feel soft when they first come out of the oven, but they crisp up beautifully as they cool, so dont be tempted to bake them longer
  • Stirring halfway through is nonnegotiable for even coating and preventing the ones on the edges from burning before the center cooks through
  • If you can smell them strongly before the timer goes off, check them early because sugar burns faster than you think
03 -
  • Buy your pecans from a store with high turnover because old pecans taste rancid and no amount of spice can fix that
  • Weigh your nuts rather than using cup measures for more consistent results across batches
  • Let the spice mix sit for a day before using if you want the flavors to meld together