Easy Keto Candied Pecans Recipe — A Full Living (2024)

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These Easy to make Keto Candied Pecans are ready in just a few minutes using only 6 ingredients. Your favorite candied nuts are now so much better for you when they're made sugar free! They're less than 1 net carb per serving, making them perfect for a low carb or keto diet. Make these all holiday season, include them as part of this fall harvest salad.

Easy Keto Candied Pecans Recipe — A Full Living (1)

If you've never tried a sugar free candied pecans recipe, you're going to fall in love! Skip the sugar and replace with a high quality brown sugar replacement that's sure to impress, and lighten up the holidays ever-so-slightly without sacrificing flavor.

You may want to make a double batch, these candied nuts are super easy to enjoy in one sitting. They're naturally gluten free, and a great sweet low carb snack. Most conventionally available candied pecans have over 10 grams of net carbs in a one-ounce serving. No thanks, we'll pass and make our own in minutes. 😉

Ingredients:​

Easy Keto Candied Pecans Recipe — A Full Living (2)
  • Pecan halves - Or you could use chopped pecans if you prefer smaller pieces to add to things like salads, etc.
  • Butter - Either salted or unsalted. We often like using salted, grass fed butter for that added layer of flavor. Just be mindful of the salt you add later on.
  • Sugar free sweetener of choice - We prefer using our favorite brown sugar substitute, Swerve brown. This zero calorie sweetener is one of most used ingredients in our recipes. It's made with mostly erythritol, it's plant based, and will get a nice crispy coating on the nuts. You can use any sweetener you prefer, however. We'll talk more about this later on in the post.
  • Ground cinnamon - For that lovely, warm flavor.
  • Kosher salt - To balance the sweetness. Be mindful of the salt you're adding though if you're using salted butter. Start out slow, and add to taste.
  • Vanilla extract - Technically optional, but recommended for a lovely warm flavor.

How to Make Low Carb Candied Pecans:​

Step 1: Melt Butter & Toast the Pecans

Heat your skillet over medium heat. Add in the butter and melt, then stir in your pecan halves and toast for about 2 minutes, moving around constantly.

Add in your sweetener, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. Stir and toast over medium heat until the sweetener coats the pecans.

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Easy Keto Candied Pecans Recipe — A Full Living (4)

Step 2: Add Sweetener & Seasonings

Add in your sweetener, cinnamon, and salt. Stir constantly over medium-low heat to melt the sweetener to create a sauce and coat the pecans.

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Easy Keto Candied Pecans Recipe — A Full Living (6)

Step 3: Add Finishing Touches

Remove from heat, and add in vanilla extract, stirring constantly as it bubbles.

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Step 4: Transfer to Parchment Paper

Transfer the pecans to a parchment lined baking sheet to harden. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before enjoying.

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Easy Keto Candied Pecans Recipe — A Full Living (9)

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 10 days or use in another recipe, but we doubt they will last that long! 😉

Frequently Asked Questions:

What's The Best Sweetener to Use For This Sugar Free Keto Candied Pecan Recipe?

Monk fruit & erythritol are the best options for a crisp, crunchy traditional candied pecan. Add to taste, as some people prefer things more sweet than others.

Brown Sugar Swerve is our top choice.

If you want the nuts to come out glossy and more sticky, opt for an allulose based sweetener or a sugar free maple syrup.

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Can I Make These Candied Pecans Dairy Free or Vegan and Sugar Free?

Yes, very easily! We use a plant based sweetener for this recipe, so the only swap you need to make is the butter.

We use butter for the rich, toasted flavor it adds, but you could use coconut oil or vegan butter for dairy free or vegan!

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Shop This Recipe!

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Here's More Recipes To Try:

  • Sugar Free Apple Crisp
  • 15 Minute Low Carb Cinnamon Trail Mix
  • Low Carb Dark Chocolate Nut Bars

Please let us know if you guys give this keto candied pecans recipe a try, and be sure to share with us on Instagram@afullliving, so we can share your creations!

If you love this recipe, please consider sharing it with a friend and also leaving a rating and comment so others can find this recipe. Thank you for your support!

Until next time,
Briana & Chamere

📖 Recipe

Easy Keto Candied Pecans Recipe — A Full Living (13)

Keto Candied Pecans (Stovetop Recipe)

Briana

These Easy to make Keto Candied Pecans are ready in just a few minutes using only 6 ingredients. Your favorite candied nuts are now so much better for you when they’re made sugar free! They’re less than 1 net carb per serving, making them perfect for a low carb or keto diet.

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Cooling time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 10 people

Calories 169 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat your skillet over medium heat. Add in the butter and melt. Add in your pecan halves and toast for about 2 minutes, stirring often.

  • Add in your sweetener, cinnamon and salt. Stir and toast over medium-low heat until the sweetener coats the pecans.

  • Transfer your pecans to a parchment lined baking sheet to cool and dry for 10-15 minutes. Serve them up on top of a salad, in cookies and other desserts, and enjoy!

  • Store at room temperature in an air tight container for up to 5 days.

Video

Notes

  • Sweeten to taste with your preferred sweetener. Brown erythritol is our top choice, as it produces a nice molasses-like flavor and will get nice and crunchy on the nuts.
  • Adding some sugar free maple syrup replacement or allulose sweetener will produce a glossier nut.
  • For dairy free or vegan, simply replace butter with coconut oil or your favorite vegan butter substitute.

Nutrition

Serving: 40gCalories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 2gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 143mgPotassium: 84mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 117IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @AFullLiving on social!

Easy Keto Candied Pecans Recipe — A Full Living (2024)

FAQs

How many pecans a day on keto? ›

With carb restriction of about 20-50g per day, adding pecans to your keto diet is a good idea, since you'll get 1g of net carbs if you eat about 19 halves of pecan nuts. The nuts also have about 70% fats, which is an excellent addition in achieving ketosis.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

Stir them every 10 minutes or so to avoid them clumping together, or you can just break them apart with a spatula or your hands later. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Why are my candied pecans soggy? ›

Why are my candied pecans soft and sticky? If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

How long do homemade candied nuts last? ›

To Store: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. To Freeze: They freeze well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

What is the lowest carb nut? ›

As you may have noticed, brazil nuts are the lowest carb nut and rich in selenium.

Can you eat unlimited nuts on keto? ›

While nuts are overall great to include on a keto diet, it's important to limit your portions to a serving or two (1–2 oz.) per day. For reference, one ounce of nuts is about the size of a small handful. Avoid nuts that have been treated and flavored with other ingredients, such as sugar and other glazes.

How to make candied pecans less sticky? ›

Salt: 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt makes these taste salty-sweet. If you'd prefer to not taste the salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Pecans too sticky: If your nuts are still sticky after cooling, heat your oven to 325° F and bake for 5 to 10 minutes to help harden the candy coating.

Why do you boil pecans before cracking? ›

Boiling pecans before cracking them can actually help prevent the shell from shattering.

Why do you soak pecans before roasting? ›

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

How many pecans does it take to make 1 lb? ›

For a pound of nutmeat, you will need 2½ pounds of in-shell pecans. In order to help you maintain the highest quality pecan meats, we have developed the following guide to help you understand the best way to handle and store your pecans.

How many cups is one pound of pecans? ›

Measurements and Substitutions

If you happen to have pecans in their shells, remember that 1 pound equals 3 cups shelled, about 4 cups pecan halves, and about 3 3/4 cups chopped nuts. Equivalents to know when using shelled pecans are that 1 pound equals 4 cups and 1 cup of pecan halves equals 3/4 cup chopped.

Can dogs eat pecans? ›

These nuts are toxic for dogs. Eating them can result in pets becoming sick and needing immediate veterinary care. “The reason pecans are considered toxic is that they contain a compound called juglone, also found in walnuts, that is harmful to dogs,” advises Dr.

Do candied pecans go bad? ›

If you don't plan on eating your candied pecans right away, you may want to consider storing them in the refrigerator or freezer. Refrigeration can keep the pecans fresh for up to three months, while freezing can extend their shelf life for up to six months.

Can you freeze candied pecans? ›

Can you freeze candied pecans? Yes! To freeze, allow the pecans to cool completely after baking, and then transfer them to an airtight container (a ziplock bag works well) where they will keep up to 2 months.

Are pecans good for you? ›

Raw pecans pack a 1-2-3 punch of protein, healthy fats, and fiber that can help keep you energized and satisfied. Pecans are a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which help lower blood pressure. Most of the fat found in pecans is a healthy type called monounsaturated fat.

How many pecans should you eat a day? ›

Like many other nuts, pecans contain a high percentage of fat and can lead to diarrhea if too many are eaten in a short amount of time. Over-consumption may also lead to digestive issues like gas and bloating. Recommendation: One ounce (15-19) pecan halves per day.

How many carbs in a handful of pecans? ›

In fact, a handful of pecans (one ounce of pecans) contains only 4 grams of carbohydrates! That means that nutrient-dense pecans can add flavor, nutrition and disease-fighting properties to any diet that limits carbs.

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