Watch out! Paleo Cinnamon Pecan Brittle is so good it’s addictive. Lightly sweetened and made with 5 healthy ingredients, it’s a wonderful holiday snack. I love serving it as an appetizer or dessert at our Hanukkah parties, but it’s so delicious that I make it throughout the year as an after school snack or lunch box treat.
I made this easy nut brittle recipe with pecans instead of peanuts so that it would be paleo, and so those of you with peanut allergies can enjoy it. It also has far less sugar than other brittle recipes, so it’s a great low-carb dessert.
Don’t let the fancy name of this dish fool you because it’s so easy to throw together, you can prepare it right before your guests arrive and enjoy the amazing smell of warm cinnamon and nuts that will fill your home as it toasts in the oven. If you’re going to a party at someone’s house, and you’re the guest, this easy desssert makes a lovely hostess gift when placed in a little tin or box, that is then tied with a pretty ribbon.
Cinnamon Pecan Brittle
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- ¼ cup agave nectar or honey
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups pecans
Instructions
- In a large bowl, Whisk together egg white, agave, salt, and cinnamon
- Toss nuts in the egg white mixture to coat
- Pour nut mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet
- Bake at 300°F for 30 minutes, until nuts are browned
- Allow nuts to cool for 5 minutes, then break apart and serve
I came up with this Cinnamon Pecan Brittle recipe when I messed up something I was making from Dorie Greenspan’s lovely cookbook, Around My French Table
. I started out with a Spiced Nuts project, though when I pulled these out of the oven, I realized that I had actually made a healthy nut brittle. So, I made the recipe several additional times, tweaking each version along the way until I was pleased with this new permutation.
Here are some of my other low-carb dessert recipes!
Lois says
I hate to be unkind, but this recipe is awful. It’s not a brittle that you crack and break apart. It is a bunch of sticky pecans that you’d better scoop up with a spoon. There’s no way to mess it up because the recipe only has a few steps. It’s just that the ingredients really don’t come together. Quite a waste of expensive pecans. The only serious and delicious brittle uses Karo and I doubt if that’s Paleo.
Elana says
Lois, if you use the ingredients and brands called for in this recipe it is amazing :-)
Jane says
I wonder if instead of vanilla or in addition to vanilla l put mapelene. Has anyone tried it. I’m thinking pralenes
Elana says
Thanks Jane, would be interesting to know :-)
Charisu says
My husband is a diabetic and the honey raises his blood sugar.He LOVES this recipe. I don’t think Agave nectar is good for health, due the fructose content—especially for diabetics. Is there any sweetener with a liquidity and stickiness like honey that will not impact blood suagar? I tried Stevia—a disaster and failed recipe—awful! What can I do?? Do you have any ideas??
Elana says
Charisu, I haven’t tried that so not sure. Here’s a link to my Keto Diet Recipes page for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/keto-diet/
I hope you find something you like!
Elana
Taylor says
Love this recipe! I had the same issue as some others originally, about it being soft in the middle. Now, I just spread it far enough apart that it doesn’t have a middle. I also bake approximately 5 minutes longer. I like it a little crisp on the edges. I then let it cool for 5 minutes and then put the batch in the freezer for about 10 minutes. It makes it really crispy. I leave in the fridge thereafter, and it remains crispy. When it gets room temp, it looses its crispness. Thank you for providing this recipe. It’s a great healthy alternative to store bought brittle.
Elana says
Taylor, thanks for letting me know that you love this recipe :-)