Gingerbread Pecans (Sugar-Free)

Reduce inflammation and keep your heart healthy with omega 3s.

Gingerbread Pecans

Pecans roasting on an open fire… and toasted to perfection! These roasted nuts have a festive twist and provide plenty of nourishment. Nuts are packed with omega 3s which reduce inflammation and keep our hearts healthy. Specifically, one study found that pecans may help lower levels of LDL cholesterol enough to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 25%. These spiced pecans are free of refined sugars and make a great snack on their own, or are lovely sprinkled on oatmeal or granola. Warning: may cause kitchen to smell like a bakery.

Gingerbread Pecans

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pecans
  • 1/2 tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 tspn cinnamon
  • 1/4 tspn ginger
  • 1/4 tspn all spice
  • 1/4 tspn nutmeg
  • pinch of salt
  • splash of pure maple syrup

Gingerbread Candied Pecans

How to:

  1. Preheat oven to 250 deg F (cooking nuts above 250 deg F can produce harmful toxins).
  2. Stir oil, spices, and syrup in a small bowl.
  3. Drizzle over pecans in a larger bowl and toss to coat them.
  4. Spread out pecans in one layer on a baking sheet (I lined mine with parchment paper) and cook for 40-50 minutes.

PCOS Powers:

  • pecans = high in ellagic and oleic acids which may help lower LDL cholesterol, protect against cardiovascular disease and lower breast cancer risk, high in magnesium which is anti-inflammatory and lowers blood pressure
  • cinnamon = may help balance glucose levels, lower cholesterol, and decrease triglycerides in blood
  • ginger =  anti-inflammatory, may help decrease LDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c
PIN FOR LATER:

Gingerbread Candied Pecans (sugar-free)

References:

  1. S. Rajaram, K. Burke, B. Connell, T. Myint and Joan Sabate’. 2001. A Monounsaturated Fatty Acid-Rich- Enriched Diet Favorably Alters the Serum Lipid Profile of Healthy Man and Women. Journal of Nutrition 131:2275-2279.
  2. Sherman L. Cinnamon improves blood pressure and blood sugar in diabetics. The Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2011:76.
  3. Najarzadeh A, Mahammadi M, Jalali B, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Talaei B, Fallahzadeh H. The Effect of Ginger on Blood Glucose, Lipid and Lipoproteins in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial. Journal of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. 2012;20:383-395.
  4. Grzanna R, Lindmark L, Frondoza C. Ginger-an herbal medicinal product with broad anti-inflammatory action. J Med Food. 2005;8:125-132.

Author: Dr. Dylan Cutler, Ph.D.

Dr. Dylan Cutler is the founder of Phruitful Dish. She's a holistic health content creator, vegan, athlete, feminist, social activist, and PCOS fighter. She obtained her Ph.D. in obstetrics and gynaecology specializing in PCOS management using nutrition, movement, and mindfulness. She resides in Victoria, Canada on unceded Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ territories.

93 thoughts on “Gingerbread Pecans (Sugar-Free)”

  3. Looks and sounds great! Definitely want to try it but hold the pumpkin/cinnamon and ad extra maple syrup! Look forward to some good cooking at Xmas!

    Date: Sun, 13 Dec 2015 20:54:26 +0000 To: [email protected]

  5. These look great! Perfect for stocking stuffers or hostess gifts. As much as I love holiday treats, I prefer to make something that is healthy too.

    1. Thanks Laura 🙂 I agree! I think there are enough treats presented to me that are far from nutritious, sometimes in situations or times difficult to turn down, that if I am going to make something myself I want to feel great about it.

  6. I’ve just bought a bag of pecans, and that’s how they’re going to be made! Plus, I have all the other ingredients, so… We like snacking on nuts, but never that fancy. Time to bring them to the next level ;-).

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  12. I loved candied pecans but I have a feeling I am gonna love this festive version even more!

  15. My mom loves these pecans, but hasn’t had them do the sugar content. I am excited to make these for her for Christmas! She will be thrilled!

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  25. These look and sound so delicious! My mama, daddy and husband would love them! I’m pining this so I can make them when my mama and I do all our Christmas baking!

  30. I’ve always wondered how I could toast pecans without burning them. Now I know! This should be something I would like to try, though I don’t have coconut oil. I don’t mind the kitchen smelling like the bakery though 😉 JanD

  34. These look amazing! I’m always trying to find something unique to make for holiday gifts for the office and these look like they might do the trick. Package them in some cute little bags or boxes and I’m good to go! Thank you for the inspiration!

  38. I love when the house smells like a bakery. We just started out Christmas baking and might have to put this on my baking list.

  65. These are one of my favorite Christmas snacks. I think the ones we eat are not gingerbread flavored though. I’m gonna have to taste test the recipe.

  68. That looks like the perfect snack! It’s definitely one recipe I’d love to try! It looks so good.

  69. This looks delicious! And I love all the nutritional information you shared and also how there’s no sugar added. So many great and healthy spices! Will have to try this.

  74. I’m not usually partial to nuts that have been spiced up this way. I find most are too sweet, and I don’t like the hard candy coating some develop. Your recipe sounds quite different. I’ll have to give it a try! I love ginger, so that’s a huge plus 🙂

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