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
Equipment
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!
Iris says
Mmm…I love when a mistake turns into something even better! Happy New Year Elana!
Elana says
Thanks Iris. Happy New Year!
Heather Babcock says
That looks AMAZING!!!
Elana says
Thanks Heather!
Tracee says
Oh yum…this looks so good. Great mess-up!
Elana says
Thanks Tracee!
Susan Maki says
Divine!! Just popped some in my mouth and they are yummy!! It was hard waiting for them to cool, but so worth the wait :-) Thanks Elana!
Susan Maki says
BTW – didn’t have enough pecans so I added some almonds I briefly ran through the food processor and some pumpkin seeds.
Elana says
Susan, thanks for letting us know how adaptable this recipe is and that it was divine!
Valerie @ City|Life|Eats says
This recipe sounds wonderful. I also wanted to thank you for your cookbook and blog – I recently was able to reintroduce almonds and duck eggs successfully, and since last month have been cooking and baking from your cookbook and enjoying it tremendously. :)
Elana says
Valerie, so glad to hear you are enjoying my blog and cookbooks!
Cindi Johnson says
Wow ~ Add a couple of other spices and the original recipe you were trying (spiced nuts) is what my mom made every Christmas for many, many years… and I have continued the tradition. I have never met anyone else with that recipe. The brittle version must be excellent because the spiced nut version is a hit every time. I really encourage others to try it.
Elana says
Thanks Cindi!
Mia says
This looks great! Thank you for sharing.
Elana says
You’re welcome Mia!
Tamra says
Thanks for this recipe. brittle was my go to Christmas present. But with white sugar. Now I can make it for me with Agave!
And to those that add their ideas-Thank you!
Elana says
You’re welcome Tamra!
Lisa M says
This sounds so good! I’ll have to make it soon.
Elana says
Thanks Lisa!
Lauren says
What a serendipitous discovery! I always loved nut brittle as a kid, but this version appeals to me now so much more than those sugar- & butter- laden brittles. I’m looking forward to making this!
Elana says
Lauren, I agree! So much better than those sugar and butter laden brittles!