Quick Answer: Candied pecans: Kirkland Signature Praline Pecans (40 oz at Costco). Sweet and savory: Trader Joe's Maple Spiced Nut Mix. Smoky: Blue Diamond Smokehouse almonds (about $6).
Our top picks
One sweet nut and one smoky nut beside the cheese do more than a big bowl of plain mixed nuts.
All 6 picks
Prices are store listings and reviews checked October 2026.
Best candied pecans
Kirkland Signature Praline Pecans
- Size
- 40 oz tub
- Coating
- Praline
- Where
- Costco
Why it's here: Whole pecan halves in a thin praline shell, and one tub covers several holiday boards. Costcuisine gave them 8.5/10 for taste.
Watch out: About 20 g of sugar per serving, and one reader reported walnuts in a tub, so check the label for nut allergies.
Why we picked it (sources)
Costcuisine scored taste 8.5/10 and lists the 1.13 kg tub (Costcuisine); Costco lists the 40 oz size (Costco).
Best sweet-savory mix
Trader Joe's Maple Spiced Nut Mix
- Nuts
- Almonds, pecans, pepitas
- Glaze
- Maple and rosemary
- Ranked
- #2 of 12 TJ nuts
Why it's here: Almonds and pecans in a buttery maple-rosemary glaze with pepitas and cranberries: sweet, but savory enough for a cheese board.
Watch out: A seasonal item, so buy it in the fall.
Why we picked it (sources)
Tasting Table ranked it #2 of 12 Trader Joe's nuts (Tasting Table).
Best smoked
Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds
- Size
- 12 oz
- Score
- 9/10 at Sporked
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 at Target
Why it's here: Sporked's best smoked almond: very salty and savory with a rich smoky flavor, and it's in nearly every store.
Watch out: Very salty, so keep them away from salty cheeses like feta.
Best smoked at Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's Mesquite Smoked Almonds
- Smoke
- Mesquite
- Ranked
- #3 of 12 TJ nuts
- Where
- Trader Joe's
Why it's here: Smoky, well salted and very snackable; Tasting Table ranked them third of 12 Trader Joe's nuts.
Watch out: The seasoning settles at the bottom of the bag, so shake before pouring.
Why we picked it (sources)
Tasting Table ranked them #3 (Tasting Table).
Best honey-roasted
Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Almonds
- Coating
- Honey roasted
- Score
- 8/10 at Sporked
- Where
- Most grocery stores
Why it's here: A heavy, toasty coating that Sporked says is only a few steps from candied almonds, for less than candied pecans.
Watch out: The coating is heavy and sweet; one small bowl is enough.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked scored it 8/10 (Sporked).
Best sweet heat
Trader Joe's Sweet and Spicy Pecans
- Heat
- Mild
- Ranked
- #9 of 12 TJ nuts
- Best with
- Blue cheese, salads
Why it's here: Sweet pecans with a little heat, good next to blue cheese or crumbled over a salad board.
Watch out: Small bag and more sweet than spicy; Tasting Table ranked it low for plain snacking.
Why we picked it (sources)
Tasting Table ranked it #9 and suggests it as a salad topper (Tasting Table).
Which nut goes with which cheese
- Candied or praline pecans with blue cheese, brie and fresh goat cheese. The sugar balances salt and tang.
- Smoked almonds with aged cheddar, Manchego, aged Gouda and salami.
- Maple or honey nuts with sharp cheddar and a fall or holiday board.
- Keep them crunchy: add sugared nuts last and keep them away from grapes, jam and other wet items.
- How much: about 1 oz of nuts per guest in total; one sweet and one savory bowl is plenty.
More in our ingredient guides: candied pecans and smoked almonds.
Candied nut questions
What are the best candied pecans to buy?
Kirkland Signature Praline Pecans at Costco for a crowd. Trader Joe's Maple Spiced Nut Mix if you want sweet and savory together.
Are praline pecans the same as candied pecans?
Close. Praline pecans have a buttery brown-sugar coating; candied pecans can be any sugar glaze, sometimes with cinnamon or spice.
What cheese goes with candied pecans?
Blue cheese, brie and goat cheese. The sweetness balances salty, tangy cheese.
How do I keep candied nuts crunchy on a board?
Put them out last, in their own small bowl, away from fruit and jam. Store opened bags airtight.
How many nuts per person?
About 1 oz per guest in total, split between a sweet nut and a savory one.
How we picked these, and sources
No single test compares candied nuts. We used Tasting Table's ranking of 12 Trader Joe's nuts, Sporked's flavored almond test, a Costcuisine review and store listings for size and price. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Costcuisine: Kirkland Signature Praline Pecans
- Costco Business Center: Kirkland Praline Pecans, 40 oz
- Tasting Table: 12 Trader Joe's nuts, ranked
- Sporked: the best flavored almonds, ranked
- Target: Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds, 12 oz
For plain nuts, see the best nuts for a charcuterie board and the best Marcona almonds. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
