Keto Candied Pecans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are pecans good for keto diet? ›

When it comes to pecans, they're one of the best nuts that are good for a ketogenic diet. Pecan nuts are very low in carbs and high in fats. An ounce of pecans( about 19 halves) has approximately 1g of net carbs, 4g of total carbs, 20g fats with about 196 calories.

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

If your pecans are soft, it's most likely because they weren't baked long enough and are still retaining moisture. The sugar needs to bake long enough to caramelize and form a brittle coating on the nuts.

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.

While nuts are overall great to include on a keto diet, it's important to limit your portions to a serving or two (1–2 oz.) per day. For reference, one ounce of nuts is about the size of a small handful.

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.

Nuts that are keto-friendly and low in carbs include almonds, macadamia nuts, pecans, and other nuts. Nuts are a great addition to a ketogenic (keto) diet. Ketogenic nuts will be high in healthy fats and low in carbohydrates. They should also be rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

Fat – Pecans contain about 20 grams of fat in an ounce, while almonds have 14.2 grams in the same amount. Carbohydrates – Pecans contribute 4 grams of carbs to the diet, compared to 6.1 grams from almonds. Fiber – Pecans have 3 grams of fiber, compared to 3.5 grams from almonds.

If you beat too long, the candy will seize and start to crumble. If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky. Work quickly to drop heaping tablespoons of pecan praline mixture onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Do you refrigerate candied pecans? ›

Storage Instructions: Candied nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for several weeks. Freezing Instructions: They freeze well in an air-tight container for up to two months. Nuts: use any kind of nuts with this recipe, like walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, or pistachios.

How long will candied pecans keep? They will keep for up to two weeks in an airtight container at room temperature, at least three weeks in the refrigerator, or up to two months in the freezer. No matter where you store them, keep in a tightly sealed, airtight container.

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!

REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: To reheat, pop the pecans into an air fryer at 275°F for 5 to 10 minutes.

Wet pecans allow the salt to stick easily to the nuts. Plus, soaking nuts helps neutralize enzyme inhibitors, which can harm your digestion, and reduce phytates, which decrease nutrient absorption. Just submerge your nuts in water while the oven is heating up and you'll be good to go.

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!

At 8.3 grams of net carbs per 1 ounce (which is roughly 18 cashews), each cashew comes with just under 0.5 grams of net carbs. For this reason, it is best to avoid cashews on a keto diet. Opt for dry roasted macadamias instead.

Thus, while nuts and seeds are great to include on a ketogenic diet, it probably would be wise to limit your portions to a serving or two (1–2 oz.) per day. An ounce of nuts is about the size of a small handful.

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.