We are absolutely nuts for pecans. These buttery, energy-boosting packages of delicious nutty flavor offer amazing health benefits! They are so versatile, too. You really can’t go wrong whether you snack on pecans or add them to favorite recipes when you are cooking up a storm.

People use pecans in all kinds of ways in the kitchen. Sprinkled over salads, desserts or a main dish, they are delish. Some people like to nosh on raw pecans! Salted or sweetened, pecans are a tasty and filling snack.

Pecans are also rich in healthy fats – which make them perfect for a smooth and creamy nut butter.

No matter how you choose to enjoy them, pecans are loaded with all kinds of nutritional perks. Hearty pecans are:

• Brimming with energy at 690 calories per 100 grams
• Loaded with vitamin E (good for cell health and getting rid of free radicals that can trigger cancer)
• Chock full of ellagic acid, a strong antioxidant that fights inflammation, free radicals and infections
• Bursting with B vitamins that help boost your metabolism
• Rich in vital minerals and other nutrients that nurture wellness
• Packed with protein and fiber

Here’s one of our favorite pecan recipes. Bake up a batch of these tasty cookies and enjoy! They even make a great gift.

Looking for a stocking stuffer idea? Make a cookie kit!

Get ready to give the sweetest (and saltiest) gift of all time. Here’s what you'll need: four baggies, colorful ribbon, scissors and your dry ingredients.

Begin by adding the sugar into the first baggie (½ cup granulated sugar and ½ cup packed brown sugar).

Next, mix together 1½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of baking soda and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Add this mixture to your second baggie.

In the last two baggies, add ½ cup of chopped pecans and 3 tablespoons of semisweet chocolate chips.

Tie the four baggies together with colorful ribbons and you have  a giftable Pecan Bar Cookie Kit.

Attach our tag with the recipe instructions. Just make sure the receiver doesn’t have any allergies.

Click on the image below to print out the decorative tag for your cookie kit. Or print this nutcracker gift tag to use when you give another nutty treat.

Source: Nutrition in a Nutshell,  I Love Pecans, 2021.

Originally published 11/17/2016; Revised 2021