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!
Michele Masson says
Can you sub something for the egg whites? I can’t have eggs.
Elana says
Michele, I haven’t tried that so not sure. Here’s a link to my Egg-Free Recipes page:
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/egg-free/
Enjoy!
Elana
ncherven says
Do you soak the pecans before using?
Elana says
Ncherven, I use plain, raw pecans for this recipe, that are not soaked :-)
Kristin says
ADDICTIVE!!! I can NOT stop eating them!! I do believe this may become my go-to dish to take to social events =)
Elana says
Kristin, so great to hear these were ADDICTIVE!
Allison says
For everyone who had problem with it being sticky, stick it in the freezer! Mine was a little goopy after 30 minutes too, so I let it cool in the freezer for a while. I could have let it set a while longer (the outside edges were hard, but the middle was still soft), but I just broke it all up and threw it in a container and popped that back in the freezer. It will keep it crunchy, I’m sure, and keep me out of it since I can’t seem to stop eating! YUM!!
Reiko says
Another way to avoid a gooey middle is to not have a middle at all! That is, drop them on the sheet separately instead of spread them in a layer. I have yet to try this technique, but I can’t imagine it failing :)
Elizabeth says
I made these tonight and they taste great. Mine are sticky thought and not brittle – so you think I should bake them longer?
Elana says
Elizabeth, if that happens, put the brittle back in a warm oven (with the heat off) to dry them out a bit more :-)
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
Do you think you could make this vegan somehow?
Elana says
Samantha, I haven’t tried that so not sure. Here’s a link to my Vegan Recipes page for you!
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/vegan/
Enjoy!
Elana
KR says
I just made these and mine turned out gooey. I left them in the oven for another 10 min but it didn’t help. Any suggestions?
Mindy says
I had the same problem…gooey. Still pretty tasty, but not brittly. Any ideas on how to fix?
marla {family fresh cooking} says
I love how little agave is in these pecans – must try this recipe asap! xo
Elana says
Thanks Marla!
connie newman says
looks Yummy!
Elana says
Thanks Connie!
Kenna says
This recipe is delicious and easy! As soon as I read the post today I went to the kitchen and in a matter of minutes my house was filled with a sweet, nutty smell. They are tasty little treats!
Thanks again!
Elana says
Thanks Kenna! So glad to hear this recipe is delicious and easy!