Candied Pecans {Gluten Free, Vegan & Low Carb}

With the holidays coming up, I thought I'd make something simple to make and can easily be made into a cheap and delicious gift.  You can put these on top of cookies, in salads, in oatmeal or yogurt, Greek yogurt of course!  

The possibilities are endless.

Pecans are loaded with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals.  They contain healthy fat (monounsaturated fatty acids) and can help lower cholesterol.  

Yes, they are good for you, but once you put all this deliciousness on them, they are higher in calories.  Trust me, you make these once and you will want to make them over and over again.  

Be careful.  You can't stop at a few.  

At least I can't.  Everything in moderation. 

I know, you're saying, "Here she goes again with that moderation nonsense" but it's true.  

Eat what you want in small amounts.  No deprivation.

Deprivation leads to mindless eating and possibly overeating which can be a vicious cycle.

Just make smart choices. I know, it's easier said than done.

Especially around the holidays!

Why does it seem like everywhere I turn there are sore snacks, treats, cookies and cocktails during the holiday season?

It doesn't help that I bake 12-15 dozen different cookies every year. I love it!

It really brings me joy to bake, especially during the holidays. I give about ¾ as gifts and the rest to my family on Christmas Eve.

We usually have a party at my house and the Kelly family loved their cookies. It makes me happy.

These candied pecans are so simple to make and are great to give as an easy, homemade holiday gift.

I love giving and getting homemade gifts, who's with me? Especially ones that are as delicious as these pecans.

You can easily make these sugar free by substituting your favorite sugar free sweetener for the maple syrup. It's really that easy.

I made them recently with monk fruit instead of maple syrup and they were insanely delicious. 

And low carb, Keto and sugar free.

They make the perfect low carb snack.

A dangerously delicious, addictive low carb snack.

The perfect combination of sweet and salty. You can never wrong with sweet and salty.

When I have given these as a holiday gift I put them in cute little mason jars and tie a cute ribbon around the. Adorable presentation and super easy!

By the way, Target is selling cute mason jars for the holidays. I saw red and green ones, but they even had adorable ones with snowflakes and gingerbread men.

Now THOSE would make super cute gifts! I love Target.

Ok, back to these pecans...

Yes these are perfect as a snack or even a treat or dessert, but you can also add them to oatmeal, salads like my Arugula Beet Salad with Candied Pecans and Gorgonzola Cheese or top them on my Gluten Free Pecan Pie.

It's time to get creative. Just because these are ridiculously simple to make doesn't mean you still can't make them fancier.

No one has to know how easy they are to prepare. It will be our secret.

But all bets are off when they ask for the recipe. And trust me, they always ask for this recipe.

Candied Pecans

These healthier candied pecans are simple to make, low carb, vegan and gluten free!

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: brunch, Dessert, Snack, treat, vegetarian

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 239kcal

Author: Lauren Kelly

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 ounces pecan pieces roughly 2 cups
• ▢ 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ ⅓ cup 100% maple syrup or sugar free sweetener of choice
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
• Place pecans on a baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat on top.
• Roast pecans for 5 minutes. Remove from oven.
• Place the remaining ingredients into a small bowl and mix well. Add toasted pecans and maple syrup mixture to a resealable plastic bag and shake to coat thoroughly.
• Bake is preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until browned, making sure to stir frequently. Allow to cool for a few minutes and break apart. Your house will smell amazing!

Notes

To store in the refrigerator, place cooled candied pecans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days

To store in the freezer, place cooled candied pecans in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 19IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

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