Spicy and Sweet Pecan Recipe

Get ready for a delish holiday snack that provides the best of sweet and spicy.

Folks seem to like my EASY Candied Pecan Recipe but I know there are people out there like me who love some bite to their holiday sweets.

So, I am sharing a spicy sugar pecan recipe that uses chile powder and garlic powder for an extra holiday "kick".

You might need to watch the kiddos snacking down on toooo much of this delicious treat--it's spicy and it could backfire on them or give them some really bad breath.

• 2 cups of sugar - granulated sugar works best
• 1 and a half teaspoons of salt - I recommend sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of red chile powder, ground
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 2 egg whites or a substitute that helps things to stick
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 pounds of shelled and roasted pecans

• 2 baking sheets
• Parchment paper or Silpat
• 2 Mixing bowls
• Measuring spoons
• Spoon to ladle the pecans into and out of egg whites and spice mixtures and to turn them during baking
• airtight containers to store the nuts (if they last long enough to bother!)

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Line the two baking sheets with parchment
3. Mix together the sugar, salt, nutmeg, chile powder, cinnamon and garlic powder in a mixing bowl.
4. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the egg white and water, or mix other binding ingredients if you are vegan, until frothy but not peaked.
5. Add pecans to the egg mixture and coat them by stirring them and tossing them into the mixture.
6. Drain the egg mix out of the bowl but leave the pecans.
7. In small handfuls, use a spoon to keep your hands clean, throw the pecans into the spice and sugar mix and coat them. The pecans shouldn't be clumpy, just coated.
8. Place the coated pecans on the parchment covered baking sheet.
9. Bake on the middle rack for 40 to 50 minutes and flip halfway through to assure full browning. Keep track of the pecans, ovens will vary on baking time.
10. Remove and let the nuts cool before eating.

If you didn't buy roasted pecans, you will need to roast the raw nuts before coating them and baking them.

Just spread out the raw pecans directly on the baking sheets and put them in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Keep track of the roasting prgress and don't let them burn. You may need to leave them in a bit longer depending upon your oven.

Then let them cool before proceeding with the spicy, sugar baking.