Savoury Roasted Pecans – The Perfect Christmas Snack or Appetizer

These savoury pecans are the perfect addition to any charcuterie board or as a delectable homemade gift during the Christmas season! This recipe is full of warm herbs and spices and is super simple to make.

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There’s something magical about the smell of roasted nuts filling the kitchen during the holidays. These savoury roasted pecans are the ultimate Christmas snack — perfectly crunchy, salty, and seasoned with just the right balance of spice and salt. They’re an easy, make-ahead treat that’s ideal for holiday parties, charcuterie boards, or homemade edible gifts. With only a few simple ingredients, this savory pecans recipe delivers big flavor without any complicated steps. Whether you’re hosting a cozy gathering or looking for a thoughtful Christmas food gift, these roasted pecans are guaranteed to be a festive favorite.

How to use savoury pecans

• chopped up in a seasonal holiday salad with butternut squash and goat cheese

• gift them to your friends and family as a delicious homemade gift. This recipe also makes a great teachers appreciation gift!

• or just eat them by the handful (that's what I do!)

Ingredients

• pecans - I buy the bulk bags from Costco and store them in my freezer to prevent them from going rancid

• powdered sugar

• egg whites from 1 egg - you can use the yolk later to make a custard or in a breakfast omelet

• spices

  • salt

  • garlic powder

  • rosemary - you can use fresh or dried

  • paprika

  • fennel seeds

  • ground pepper

  • a pinch of cayenne pepper

  
  

How to Make Savoury Roasted Pecans

step 1: Preheat oven to 250 F.

step 2: In a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the egg whites until they are frothy. You don't want them to turn into meringues but you want to make it fluffy enough that the whites have lost their slimy consistency.

step 3: Once the eggs have fluffy, add the spices and powdered sugar and mix until incorporated.

step 4: Add pecans to bowl and mix with a spatula until nuts are completely covered.

step 5: Bake for 30 minutes, then turn heat down to 200F and bake for an additional 25, occasionally stirring. Remove from oven. The nuts will be slightly tacky but will get crunchy once they are cooled.

Variations

You don't have to stick to just pecans! You can dress this up in so many ways and make it your own:

• Change up the nuts. Add macadamia nuts, almonds, peanuts, whatever you like! I've made this recipe by purchasing a 100% nut trail mix from the store and using that instead of just pecans.

• Add mix-ins: Pretzel sticks, corn nuts, or any other salty, crunchy snack makes a great addition to this recipe! Just add them in after the nuts are done baking and have cooled.

These savoury roasted pecans prove that the best Christmas snacks are often the simplest to make. With just a handful of pantry ingredients and a few minutes in the oven, you can create a delicious, crunchy, and festive treat that everyone will love. Whether you’re serving them at a holiday party, adding them to your charcuterie board, or packaging them up as a homemade Christmas gift, these flavourful nuts are sure to impress. If you try this recipe, let me know in the comments.

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