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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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

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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 pecan nuts can I eat 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 many net carbs are in candied pecans? ›

Trader Joe's Candied Pecans (1 serving) contains 6g total carbs, 4g net carbs, 19g fat, 2g protein, and 200 calories.

Can diabetics eat candied pecans? ›

Since nuts are low on the glycemic index, pecans can slow the body's absorption of carbohydrates down, which ultimately leads to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels; just ensure you're using unsalted, dry-roasted pecans and not candied pecans that can be high in sugar and added fat.

How do you keep candied pecans from sticking together? ›

Under-cooking the pecans is the likely cause of stickiness, but the risk is low when they're oven-baked. After the sugar-coated nuts have darkened and turned very fragrant, about 20 minutes in the oven, stir the pecans and separate any pieces that have stuck together. Continue to bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Can eating too many nuts kick you out of ketosis? ›

However, nuts do have some digestible carbs - so you'll need to watch your intake if you're looking to maximize your ketones. For example, that same 1oz serving of cashews mentioned above has 6g net carbs per serving. And while 1 serving won't have nearly enough carbs to kick you out of ketosis, 5-6 servings might.

What is the healthiest nut on keto? ›

Almonds take the top spot on the list of keto friendly nuts. Pecans are a delightful addition to the keto arsenal. With roughly 1-2 grams of net carbs per ounce, pecans make it easy to stay within your carb limits.

What is one serving of candied pecans? ›

Nice!
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 0.25 cup (30g)
How many calories are in Candied Pecans? Amount of calories in Candied Pecans: Calories 190Calories from Fat 153 (80.5%)
% Daily Value *
How much fat is in Candied Pecans? Amount of fat in Candied Pecans: Total Fat 17g-
17 more rows

What is a serving of candied pecans? ›

There are 160 calories in a 1 ounce (28.000g) serving size of Candied Pecans. The calorie breakdown is 79% fat, 23% carbs, and 5% protein.

Do pecans help lower a1c? ›

Pecans have a very low glycemic index, which means that eating them does not cause a spike in blood sugar, even in people with diabetes. Eating pecans can even offset the effects of higher glycemic index foods when eaten as part of the same meal.

Who should not eat pecans? ›

Those with a tree nut allergy should not consume pecans or other tree nuts. Pecans are also high in calories and could contribute to weight gain if consumed in high amounts.

What nuts lower blood sugar quickly? ›

Peanuts help diabetics control their blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes from developing in the first place. It has a low glycemic index, and eating pistachios helps people with Type 2 diabetes improve their glycemic status.

Why won't my candied nuts dry? ›

If your nuts don't harden fully, that means the sugar wasn't cooked long enough and didn't caramelize. Cook the nuts longer next time!

Why are my candied pecans grainy? ›

If you do, the sugar will sezzle, and you end up with an unpleasant grainy texture instead of a smooth shiny caramel. If that happens you need to start the oven. Remove from stovetop on time. The way to know it is time to remove these candied pecans on stovetop from heat is when the sugar has turned a golden color.

Why are my candied pecans still sticky? ›

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.

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.

How many net carbs in a handful of pecans? ›

Pecans have the lowest net carb content of any nut. In fact, one ounce of pecans contains just 1.1 grams of net carbs! This means that you can enjoy pecans as snacks and in some of your favorite pecan recipes all while sticking to a low-carb diet.

Are walnuts or pecans better for keto? ›

Pecans contain the least amount of carbs out of all nuts, with only one ounce of pecans containing just one gram of net carbs. They're also loaded with an array of important nutrients like thiamine, magnesium, and phosphorus.

What is the lowest carb nut? ›

The carb counts of different nuts vary quite a bit, though. The three lowest carb options are to the left – Brazil, macadamia and pecan nuts. These should be the first choices for nuts when following a low carb diet as they are low in carbs, high in fat, and most people find them delicious!

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