Sugar Free Candied Pecans Recipe (on the stovetop)
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These Sugar Free Candied Pecans are the perfect keto friendly snack for those of us with a sweet tooth but trying to cut down on the sugar!
Easy Low Carb Sweet Treats
I try to keep my net carb count and sugar levels below a certain amount each day. (My goal is net carbs of 45, fyi.) I eat lots of veggies and I do like my fruit/protein smoothies on occasion.
While these items are super healthy, they do have carbs and natural sugars, so that means I don’t have a lot of room for added sugars. (I do occasionally indulge, but I try to keep that to a minimum, lol.)
To stay on track when everyone else is enjoying their carb-loaded desserts and treats, I reach for my stash of sugar-free goodies or I might whip up a batch of sugar-free ice cream. (That ice cream <and this ice cream maker> is a lifesaver, lol. At some point, I’ll share my sugar-free ice cream version with you. The recipe needs to be fine-tuned just a bit. It’s made with eggs, lite coconut milk, almond milk, and a few other ingredients. Sometimes it turns out perfectly, other times it’s kind of icy- probably because I just eyeball my ingredients instead of precise measurements, lol).
Sugar-Free Candied Pecans
Today, I want to share one of my favorite treats with you. I love nuts and always have them on hand for snacking, but these candied pecans are amazing as a special sugar-free sweet treat.
I’ve been making them quite often and hubby and I just can’t get enough! (Tomorrow, I’m sharing a non-sugar-free version of these in a buttered pecan ice cream recipe. Be sure to check back for that recipe- it’s unbelievably good and your non-sugar-free family and friends will love it!!)
To make these candied pecans sugar free, I use Swerve. (Swerve is a sugar substitute that is a mix of erythritol and oligosaccharides. This combination works well in baking and will also caramelize.) I don’t know if other sugar substitutes will caramelize, as Swerve is the only one I’ve tried in this recipe.
Ingredients in this Sugar-Free Candied Pecans Recipe
Want to give these Sugar Free Candied Pecans a shot? Here are the ingredients needed:
- 1 cup whole unroasted/natural pecans
- 3 tbs butter
- 4 tbsp Swerve Sweetener
- pinch of salt
- optional: Cinnamon
Yes, that is all it is!
How to Make Sugar Free Candied Pecans
(Scroll down to find the Printable recipe card at the bottom of the post)
- Melt butter in large pan over med-high heat.
- Add swerve and a pinch of salt, stir with a spatula until completely dissolved.
- Add pecans, reduce heat to medium and gently stir/toss pecans until toasted and butter/sugar mixture thickens just a bit. (about 5 minutes.)
- If you like cinnamon, try adding a dash of cinnamon.
- Watch pecans closely they go from being done to burned, very fast.
- Transfer pecans to a plate or parchment paper and let cool.
- Break up pecans and store in an airtight container in the fridge
Want a few more tried and true low carb recipes? See all the low carb recipes I have shared here: Low Carb Recipes
I know everyone has their own opinion on sugar substitutes, but what do you think- is this something you would try?
(FYI, by reducing our sugar/carb intake- I lost 35 lbs and hubby lost 50+ 2 years ago and have managed to keep it off by staying on a mostly low carb way of eating.)
Sugar Free Candied Pecans
- Prep Time: 1
- Cook Time: 6 to 7
- Total Time: 10 minute
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These Sugar-Free Candied Pecans are the perfect keto-friendly snack for those of us with a sweet tooth but trying to cut down on the sugar!
Instructions
- Melt butter in large pan over med-high heat.
- Add swerve and stir with spatula until dissolved.
- Add pecans, reduce heat to medium and gently stir/toss pecans until toasted. (about 5 minutes.)
- Watch pecans closely they go from being done to burned, very fast.
- Transfer pecans to a plate and let cool.
- Break up pecans and store in an airtight container in the fridge
Enjoy!
Notes
For a yummy alternative, try adding 1/4 tsp of cinnamon or a smidge of vanilla!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4th of recipe
- Calories: 266
- Fat: 29
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 3
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Could I use ghee instead of butter? I am dairy-sensitive, I can only tolerate ghee, can’t have coconut oil either…
I’ve not tried that, but I don’t see why not. If you do, let us know how it works out.
Excellent!
★★★★★
Just oh my scrumptious little snack. Recipe is perfect.
★★★★★
These were absolutely wonderful! Thanks for the great recipe!
★★★★★
Have made these so many times!! So good, Also made with walnuts and sliced almonds! So tasty!!!!!
★★★★★
I just made these and added cinnamon. They were AMAZING!!
Just warning you, they’re addictive and be prepared for them not to last. My family couldn’t stop eating them.
★★★★★
I made these and they were so good. The next batch I made I added a tbsp of 100% cacao powder and made chocolate pecans. Gonna try this on almonds next for a great sweet keto treat. Thank you!
★★★★★
Wonderful…I just made them and can’t stop eating them. Boyfriend, who hates everything Keto I make, loves them.
★★★★★
Added 1 tbsp of cocoa powder and made with vegan butter. It’s delicious
★★★★★
I wanted to make these in advance for Christmas present so ,how long do you think they will last?
Really tasty. I used walnuts, added a bit of cinnamon and salt to the Swerve. Really hit the spot. Having a few with some sharp white cheddar and a nip of red wine.
★★★★★
Is it 3 tablespoons butter?
yes
These sugar free candied pecans look delicious, I just want to devour it off the screen! Thanks for sharing, jamie!
Yummy!
★★★★★
I love this recipe! I don’t get the “swerve” after taste in these. Recipe calls for 1 Cup, I actually used close to 2 Cups, there was enough mixture for it. I also added cinnamon and cayenne! Sweet with a little heat….yum. I also sprinkled with salt. I will never NOT use cinnamon, very festive! Thanks for the great recipe.
★★★★★
I’m confused about the carb count as swerve has 4 carbs per teaspoon. Please help@
I only count net carbs and subtract sugar alcohols.
Great receipe! Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
I am looking forward to making these tomorrow. I have made the full-sugar version in the crockpot and they were amazing, so I’m sure I will love these, too. I was wondering if these could be made in the oven after melting butter, mixing with the swerve, tossing with the nuts and then spreading on a baking sheet?
I think they could, just be sure to stir frequently as pecans burn easy.
Would a butter substitute work?
I assume you are talking about an oil, like coconut? Sounds yummy, but I’ve never tried it. Let us know if you do. I am sure there are others that have the same question