Whether you're baking for the holidays or snacking on a weekday, Healthy Maple Candied Pecans provide the perfect salty-sweet combo with a satisfying crunch! I love them overtop salads, oatmeal, grain bowls, or on their own as a tasty snack.
Warm Healthy Maple Candied Pecans fresh out of the oven are heavenly! I love to put them in a bowl on the counter as a holiday appetizer, but they're just as good as an everyday snack. They're one of my favorite things to make because they have the perfect, addictive sweet and salty flavor combo. Plus, they make my entire house smell incredible. I use candied pecans like these ones in a lot of my recipes because of their amazing flavor and satisfying crunch. Pure maple sugar adds the most delicious, subtle sweetness to the nuts!
Healthy Candied Nuts
I used pecans in this recipe, but walnuts would also be delicious. I've done pecans, walnuts, or even a mix of the two with really tasty results every time! I oftentimes double the recipe which you can easily do by pressing "2x" as the scale in the recipe card below.
For a nut-free option see my Sweet & Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. So addictive!
How to Use Candied Pecans
Having a batch of these on hand is endlessly useful! There are so many ways to use candied nuts...
- On top of salads
- With quinoa bowls
- Sprinkled over oatmeal or yogurt
- As a topping for Blender Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream
- By themselves for snacking at home or on-the-go
Health Benefits of Pecans
Pecans add a nice plant-based protein boost along with healthy fats, so they're great for making vegan meals well-rounded. They're also a great source of fiber, so they're good for digestion, as well as copper and zinc. Pecans have thiamine (or vitamin B1) that helps your body convert carbohydrates into energy. I'll always say YES to that!
These healthy candied pecans are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and best of all, refined sugar free! They are filled with sweet, savory flavor that adds such a wonderful touch to any dish.
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Healthy Candied Pecans (refined sugar-free)
- Total Time: 11 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Whether you're baking for the holidays or snacking on a weekday, Healthy Maple Candied Pecans provide the perfect salty-sweet combo with a satisfying crunch! I love them overtop salads, oatmeal, grain bowls, or on their own as a tasty snack.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw unsalted pecan halves (or walnuts)
- ½ tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon pure maple sugar or coconut sugar
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the pecans, avocado oil, maple sugar and salt on a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper and toss until evenly coated. Spread the nuts out so they are not touching.
- Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then enjoy! You can sprinkle with more salt or pure maple sugar if desired.
- Store leftovers (once completely cooled) in an airtight container at room temperature for us to 3 days.
Notes
You can use maple syrup in place of the maple sugar in this recipe but the result will be more sticky/messy. It is still delicious!
- Prep Time: 3
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Appetizer or Snack
- Method: Oven
Keywords: candied nuts
Abby says
These are so good and make a great DIY gift!
Elaine Gordon says
Aw, thank you so much, Abby! I agree - it would make a fun holiday gift for sure!
Rebecca Lewis says
This recipe is perfect! Not too sweet with a touch of salt. We going to be traveling in a couple of days and I’ll need to make more for our snack basket.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear you love it and plan to make more for your trip! Safe travels! 🙂
Jeanne says
Candied pecans are perfect to top on salads or just for snacking.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much for the five star rating, Jeanne! I agree, candied pecans are delicious on salads and I also love to snack on them! Best, Elaine
Nicole says
These are so simple but seriously SO GOOD! I can’t get enough!!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Nicole! I'm so happy to hear you loved them! I'm addicted to them too 🙂 Best, Elaine
Tara says
Easiest recipe. I constantly see candied pecans at TJ and they usually cost more than getting regular pecans and making it yourself. Always so much better making them fresh!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Tara! I agree! 🙂