Warm fall spices make these low-carb roasted Pumpkin Spice Pecans a refined sugar-free treat! Serve these party nuts as a low-carb snack, as part of a cheese board, or add them to a salad. Ready in 20 minutes. Download your free gift tags and give a jar of these to someone special!
Who's in the mood for Pumpkin Spice Pecans?
Can you believe it's pumpkin season again? Summer often ends suddenly here in the Pacific Northwest and we shift into Fall and all it brings. We're ready for soups and stews, cozy sweaters, socks and shoes, and anything with pumpkin spice!
I often make these roasted Pumpkin Spice Pecans to top this Fennel Apple Chicken Salad. When I found myself snacking on them right off the baking sheet, I knew they'd make a great hostess gift, too!
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- No refined sugar: All the flavour, without egg whites or refined sugar!
- Easily adaptable to your diet. This recipe works with both coconut oil or butter, with 0-calorie sweetener, or coconut sugar, maple syrup or brown sugar.
- Gift them: These spiced nuts make an ideal holiday food gift for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Packed into small jars or bags and tied with a ribbon and a tag, I'm sure they'd be welcomed and appreciated. In fact, it's probably best to give them away because they are so addictive!
But first, make a batch for that Fennel Apple Chicken Salad before you give the remainders as gifts, because that salad is one to remember.
🛒 Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make a batch of these tasty pumpkin spice pecans.
- pecans: Choose whole fresh pecans.
- butter: or coconut oil
- pumpkin pie spice: see the note below for the easy homemade recipe for pumpkin spice mix, or buy it ready-made.
- sweetener: your choice. I often use a powdered Monkfruit sweetener that has the consistency of confectioner's sugar. You can also use maple syrup or coconut sugar or brown sugar.
- salt: just a hint of sea salt or Kosher salt heightens the flavour even more!
Instructions
This is a quick and easy recipe, ready in about 20 minutes.
- Melt butter (or coconut oil) and add pecans, pumpkin pie spice, sweetener and sea salt. Toss to combine.
- Spread out on a baking sheet, roast for 10 - 15 minutes, turning halfway through. Check after 5 to 7 minutes (as all ovens vary in temperature.)
- Watch carefully, as pecans will burn easily. Remove from the oven when they begin to brown and become fragrant, as they will continue to cook once they've been removed from the oven.
- Cool and enjoy!
🥄 How to make pumpkin pie spice at home
While you can buy Pumpkin Spice Mix ready-made, it’s ridiculously easy to make your own and you can be sure that the spices you’re using are fresh. Mix the following spices, store them in a small jar, and label it.
To make your own Pumpkin Spice Mix, combine:
- 3 tablespoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground allspice
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground cloves
Then you'll have it ready to make other pumpkin recipes, like these
- Pumpkin Pecan Coffee Cake with Caramel Sauce
- Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins with Maple Pecan Streusel
- Pumpkin Spice Bread
- Pumpkin Spice Shortbread Cookies
- or my favourite Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
- and more! Search "pumpkin" in the search bar.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
These low-carb party nuts make a delicious cocktail snack. They make a tasty addition to a cheese board, and they add sweetness and crunch to a salad. Of course, they make a great hostess gift.
Try them on any of the following fall and winter salads:
❓ How long will spiced nuts keep?
Stored in an airtight container, these spiced pecans will last up to a month. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
🔁 Variations
To keep these party nuts appropriate for a low-carbohydrate or keto diet, use a natural zero-calorie sweetener. I use Swerve confectioner's sweetener which has the consistency of icing sugar. I wanted these nuts to be lightly glazed and the finely ground sweetener worked well.
For a paleo diet, you can use maple syrup or coconut sugar. Honey has a tendency to burn more easily than maple syrup.
For Whole30, eliminate the sweetener and simply enjoy the spices.
🔖 Free Printable Gift Tags
Click on the button below to download your free gift tags.
🌟 Did you make this pumpkin spice pecans recipe?
When you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a star rating below. Thanks in advance! I love hearing from you.
This post has been popular since it was published in 2018. It has been updated with extra information.
📖 Recipe
Low-Carb Roasted Pumpkin Spice Pecans
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups pecan halves, raw
- 2 tablespoons butter, or ghee or coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice, see Recipe Note #1
- ½ teaspoon sea salt, Himalayan for keto diet
- 2 tablespoons sweetener, See Recipe Note #2
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Melt butter in a medium bowl in a microwave or in a small saucepan on the stovetop.
- Add pecans, spices, salt and sweetener and stir to thoroughly combine.
- Transfer to baking sheet, spread out and bake for 10 - 15 minutes, turning half way through. Watch carefully, as they will burn easily. They will continue to brown after you remove them from the oven. Let cool before serving.
Notes
2 tablespoons ground ginger
2 tablespoons ground nutmeg
1.5 tablespoon ground allspice
1.5 tablespoons ground cloves 2. For a Keto diet, use a zero-calorie sweetener like Swerve or Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener.
For Whole30, eliminate sugar.
For Paleo, use maple syrup.
Eloise
These are incredibly delicious and so easy to make! I plan to make them for gifts for Thanksgiving.
Elaine
Great idea! So glad you like them, too!
Julia
When you say turn once, do you mean flip them over or to turn the pan (such as clockwise)? Thanks in advance!
Flavour & Savour
Hi Julia, I turn the pecans over part way through with a flipper or spatula so they brown more evenly. Thanks for your question!
Dierdre
Pinning this one for Christmas gifts! Thank you!
Lathiya
What an amazing choice of snack..this pumpkin spice pecans sounds great. Love to munch on this all day
Danielle
I love pecans and pumpkin spice! The combo is so unique and sounds so tasty!
Jessie
Pumpkin Spice and Pecans!! this sounds like a great snack to keep around all fall!!
Sandi
Love that it is a sugar free alternative. My kids definitely don't need sugar. Thank you for sharing.
Matt @ Plating Pixels
Love spiced nuts. This has me excited for fall!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Matt! These ones are always devoured quickly!