Last Minute Christmas Snacks

Candied Pecans and Cranberry Jalepeño Dip

Today, the day right before Christmas Eve is food prep and grocery shopping day. On Christmas Day my family keeps it easy with an appetizer spread and all of the Christmas sweets. If you’re anything like me, it’s always hard to find the right snacks to bring {that are easy}. Today, I am sharing my famed candied pecans and my sister’s app that everyone raves about. I promise, both are very easy and so delicious!

These candied pecans are really easy! They have simple ingredients that you probably already have and they fill your home with the perfect Christmas smell. These yummy little bites are delicious on their own, a beautiful addition to a charcuterie board, a cute little gift when packaged, and yummy on a salad. Here is the simple recipe:

Candied Pecans

2/3 cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound {4 cups} halved pecans
1 egg white, room temperature, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 325º. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside {I use two baking sheets to prevent overlap}.
In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
In a separate large bowl, combine pecans and egg white and toss until pecans are evenly coated.
Add sugar mixture to bowl with pecans and stir/toss to combine.
Pour pecan mixture onto prepared baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, stirring then after the first 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let the pecans cool on the baking sheet.

Cranberry Jalepeño Dip

I recently made this dip for a little gathering and it was a crowd favorite! I cannot take credit for this recipe as it’s what my sister always brings to our Christmas {thank you, Anna for this gem!}. I’m going to leave the link right here for you to check this out. It’s really easy, so fresh, and a delight to the sweet/savory tastebuds. Despite having jalepños in it, it is not spicy if you don’t add the jalepeño seeds or ribs (white part in the pepper}.

Cranberry Jalepeño Dip

Now it’s time for me to make my grocery list and get to the store! I’m am still deciding what to make and bring for an appetizer to our family gathering. Pinterest, here I come :).