We love nuts. It’s true that they are high in both calories and fat. You do have to watch your portions, especially if you are trying to lose weight. But, the fat in them is healthy, and they are a great source of protein, fiber and nutrients. When you follow portion sizes, they can actually help you lose weight; studies indicate it’s because of their high amount of fiber. They’re also highly filling and packed with vitamins and minerals.
Because of these attributes, we’re so excited to celebrate National Pecan Month with four delicious recipes! We’ve shared pecan recipes in the past but never in their own blog. Today, we are focusing purely on pecans, one of our favorite nuts.
If you like your snacks to be a mix of sweet and spicy, this is for you! It’s more of a snack than a dessert. We are huge fans of spiced nuts. They often only appear around the holidays. But, we think once you add a little kick to them, they leave the holiday season and turn into a year-round snack! A serving has 101 calories, 1.5 grams of protein, 2.2 grams of carbs and 1.6 grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
We think one of the most wonderful things about baking is the fact that baked goods come in all different textures. Sometimes you want soft or gooey. But, these pecan bars deliver the crunch! And, with browned butter, they are extra nutty and delicious! You’ll note that, despite having a crust and topping, the recipe only has five ingredients. You combine them in different ways to achieve completely different results! If you try these, we think they will be a real hit! A serving has 170 calories, three grams of protein, 2.5 grams of carbs and two grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
Everyone loves brownies. But, these butter pecan blondies will have falling in love with the paler baked good! We cannot resist the vanilla and low-carb brown sugar taste of them! The secret to these blondies is to cream the butter and “sugar” well. That helps them be light instead of stodgy. A serving has 181 calories, 3.4 grams of carbs and one gram of fiber. Get the recipe.
When we think of decadent desserts, our minds turn to cheesecake, and these certainly fit the bill! These bars are easy to make and absolutely amazing. You get a one-two punch of pecans in the crust and topping that give the bars wonderful flavor and texture. We cannot sing the praises of this treat enough! A serving has 139 calories, 12 grams of carbs and two grams of fiber. As the carbs mostly come from sugar alcohol, there are only three grams of net carbs in a serving. Get the recipe.
We hope these four recipes help you celebrate pecans and enjoy this delicious nut!
