These sugar-free candied pecans are crispy, crunchy and seriously addictive, you won’t believe they are healthy! Made with just 4 ingredients, this healthy candied pecan recipe is completely paleo and vegan!
Healthy Stovetop Candied Pecans Recipe
I shouldn’t play favorites when it comes to nuts, but come the festive season, I am ALL about pecans.
Especially if it’s glazed and candied…with a healthy twist.
It’s strange that I don’t share more pecan-heavy recipes on here! We’ve had maple pecan fudge, pecan pie no bake bars and my favorite stovetop sugar free candied pecans. It’s now time to elevate your tastebuds to some skillet roasted candied pecans.
There is nothing more tantalizing than the smell of freshly roasted candied pecans. The combination of warm cinnamon spices and the crystallization of sugar makes it the ultimate sweet snack.
Crispy, crunchy, sweet and slightly salty, candied pecans are pretty much a gift to taste buds.
Unfortunately, candied pecans are loaded with sugar, butter and often times, syrup, to give it the ultra-sweet flavor and texture.
While they taste delicious, they would definitely be something to be eaten in moderation.
To combat this, I’ve taken my sugar-free candied pecan recipe and given it an even healthier makeover. You won’t find any maple syrup, any sugar or even any butter in my healthy sugar-free candied pecans recipe.
However, you’ll still be enjoying crispy, crunchy, sweet and cinnamon-spiked pecans.
Before you roll your eyes thinking this must be some complicated, difficult recipe, you’ll be proven wrong!
You only need 4 ingredients and less than 10 minutes to make these deliciously addictive and accidentally healthy candied pecans.
Made 100% sugar-free, this homemade healthy candied pecans recipe is completely paleo and vegan-friendly. It’s also suitable for those following a keto and low carb diet.
Are candied pecans good for you?
Candied pecans, made correctly, can be apart of a healthy diet. Pecans are high in fiber, rich in vitamin E and provide plenty of zinc.
Outside of the nutrients, they are a low carb, heart-healthy nut, loaded with protein and healthy fats. Although they have been ‘candied’, the granulated sweetener used is all-natural and contains zero calories!
How do you make healthy candied pecans?
Making healthy candied pecans is so easy- You simply combine all the ingredients (minus the pecans) until it simmers, and then add the pecans and voila- It will reduce and crystalize beautifully.
The granulated sweetener I used was monk fruit sweetener. It is a paleo and keto-friendly sweetener which resembles sugar.
Please note- I can only vouch for this granulated sweetener, along with traditional brown or white sugar. Other sugar-free sweeteners may yield different results.
How do you make candied pecans on the stove?
Making candied pecans stovetop is my favorite method. It is extremely quick, easy and takes less than 10 minutes!
It’s my preferred method of making healthy candied pecans, as it is so much quicker and less hands-on than making them in the oven!
As mentioned earlier, it’s simply allowing all the ingredients, minus the pecans, simmer away until the granulated sweetener has completely melted.
You then add the pecans and keep stirring until the pecans are evenly coated and begin to crystallize.
That’s it!
With the holiday season approaching, and those celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas too, it’s the perfect paleo and vegan-friendly holiday dessert, holiday gift or really a wholesome snack to enjoy anytime!
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Sugar Free Keto Candied Pecans (Paleo, Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sweetener of choice, divided * See notes
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 3 cups raw pecans
Instructions
- Heat a large pan or skillet on medium heat.
- When hot, add 1 cup of your granulated sweetener, water, and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined. Allow to heat up, stirring occasionally.
- When the sweetener has completely melted, add your pecans. Start to mix around the pecans in the liquid mixture, ensuring each nut is evenly coated. Continue stirring occasionally, until the sweetener begins to crystallize on the pecans. Turn heat off.
- Remove the pan from the stove and allow to sit for 2-3 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to break apart the pecans before they crystallize together.
- Once cooled, toss with the remaining half cup of granulated sweetener and cinnamon and cover in a sealed container.
Notes
Nutrition
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How are these sugar free?
With all due respect, did you read the recipe?
If you use brown sugar won’t they then not be sugar free?
Yep, but not everyone is concerned with the sugar 🙂
How many servings in that recipe?
12-16
When my mother and I would go to Trader Joe’s, our favorite items were the honey sesame almonds and the candied pecans! We’d snack them on the way back home and end up with empty bags of nuts after we arrived! Can’t blame us, eh? These candied pecans look wonderful for topping off any dessert or salad, but not gonna lie, I think most of us would take a crack at them BEFORE we’d do any of that! They probably are just that irresistible.
Can you use this recipe with cashews too? Myself I just love pecans but my father in law loves cashews. Do you think this would work?
Absolutely! 🙂
Thank you. I just made them using Swerve today and they are amazing! Thank you for the fantastic recipes!
hey Barb…how much swerve did you use? TIA
How big is 1 serving?
Around 1/4 cup
What is the serving size? They look delious.
12-16
These are delicious and super simple.
I have Truvia, can I use that as my sweetener? If so how much?
I haven’t tried with that, but I’d use the same amount and see
I used Truvia the first time I tried these, and they were way too sweet for my taste. This time, I used half cup of Swerve brown sugar and a quarter cup of Truvia. I also added a little sea salt after removing from the heat, and i tossed only in the cinnamon.
Yum! Love the substitutions!
I used frozen pecans and the finished pecans were a bit soft. Is that the way they are supposed to be or did the frozen pecans make them softer?
I’ve only used fresh pecans, I can’t vouch for the frozen kind 🙂
Is Monk Fruit In The Raw the Sweetener you used in this recipe? And if so, is it really Granulated like real sugar or is it a Powder?
It’s granulated, just like sugar 🙂
How much salt?
Add 1/4 teaspoon 🙂