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This easy and delicious healthy candied pecans recipes is made with maple syrup, vanilla, and a pinch of sea salt. Bake them with fluffy egg whites to get the sweet and sticky texture. Serve them as an appetizer or put them on top of salad or sweet potatoes.
This candied pecans recipe almost made it into WMM Thanksgiving Week but I decided to save it for today! However, I did share it on top of this autumn pear salad and they are the perfect sweet and crunchy addition.
There’s so many things you can do with candied pecans. You can put them on top of a salad, like I did, or you can add them to a sweet potato casserole, top your morning oats with them or just eat them plain before you serve your Thanksgiving meal.
The best part? They come together so quickly. There’s only a few simple steps until you have this recipe in your oven and your whole house smells amazing!
Ingredients You Need
You only need a few ingredients to make these paleo candied pecans.
- Raw pecans: you could do this with other nuts like walnuts or almonds.
- Egg white: Aquafaba works for a vegan option.
- Ground cinnamon and vanilla: for sweet flavor. You can try other spices like nutmeg, cardamom, or even savory spices like chili powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper.
- Maple syrup: coconut sugar works just as well.
In fact, you might have all of these ingredients in your pantry and fridge right now! Most of these are staples in our house, we usually just have to buy the pecans.
How to Make Naturally Sweet Candied Pecans
- Whip egg whites: start by whipped your egg white until it’s frothy. This step takes about 1-2 minutes.
- Mix it together: Next add the cinnamon, vanilla, sea salt and maple syrup to the egg white and gently mix it together. Add the pecans and stir gently until all of the pecans are coated.
- Bake: Spread into a single layer on a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Bake in the oven at 300°F for 20-25 minutes, stirring half way through for even baking.
- Cool: Allow the pecans to cool on the baking sheet for about 30 minutes. They will start to harden even more and then they’re ready to eat!
Ways to Serve
Once you make these easy candied pecans, there are so many things you can do with them. Here is a list of my favorite ways to use them:
- Over a spinach salad
- On top of overnight oats or oatmeal
- On top of a sweet potato
- Sprinkled on top of ice cream
- Inside cookies, like maple pecan cookies.
- Over goat cheese and pomegranates for an appetizer
- Plain and simple just as a snack
How to Store
Room temperature: they will last up to two weeks in an airtight container, like a mason jar.
In the refrigerator: they will last up to 4 weeks
In the freezer: they will last up to 2 months
I recommend making a double batch of this recipe and freezing some for later! It’s especially a great idea to do this during the holidays so you always have an easy, healthy snack on hand for guests and gifts.
Healthy Candied Pecans (Refined Sugar Free)
Save this Recipe!
Ingredients
- 3 cups pecans
- 1 large egg white
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Add the large egg white to a bowl and beat or whisk thoroughly for 1-2 minutes, until frothy. Add the ground cinnamon, vanilla, salt and maple syrup to the egg white and gently stir.1 large egg white, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- Add the pecans and fold them in until pecans are fully coated.3 cups pecans
- Pour pecans onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread into an even layer and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through for even baking.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes, or until pecans harden.
- Store in an air tight container at room temperature for 2 weeks, in the refrigerator for 4 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Equipment
- Sheet Pan
- Electric mixer, stand mixer, or whisk
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
About how many cups pecans do you use for the recipe ingredients?
You use 3 cups!
Hi. I assume it’s 1/4 cup maple syrup?