April 14th is National Pecan Day, and we’re always eager to celebrate any holiday that revolves around food! National Pecan Day was initiated by the National Pecan Shellers Association and was first celebrated in 1996.
“Pecan” is actually a Native American word of Algonquin origin, and it was originally used to describe “all nuts requiring a stone to crack”. A pecan is not truly a nut though. Technically it’s a drupe – a fruit with a single stone or pit, surrounded by a husk. The husks are produced from the flower, and what we know as the nut develops from the endocarp and contains the seed. Pecan trees are the only nut trees native to North American, and it’s said that both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson planted them on their properties.
Pecans are an excellent source of protein, and they’re packed with vitamins and minerals, such Vitamin E, beta-carotine, thiamin, folate, magnesium, zinc, iron, calcium, and manganese. Pecans are also loaded with antioxidants that are known to ward of such illnesses as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. Adding pecans into your diet can help reduce your cholesterol, prevent coronary artery disease, and increase your metabolism.
Pecans are also delicious and extremely versatile. Amber Shea Crawley put pecans to creative use in her book Practically Raw Desserts, making cookies, bars, brownies, pie crusts, and even frosting with them. Here are a few of our favorites.
5 Raw Vegan Desserts Recipes for National Pecan Day
Pecan Shortbread Cookies – These cookies are crisp on the outside, tender on the inside and are made with only four ingredients. You could practically make these with your eyes closed!
Pecan Chai Spice Bars – Not only does “pecan chai” sound like “pecan pie,” but these bars taste a little like pecan pie—with some Eastern flair added.
Turtle Bites – In these “turtle” treats, oozy caramel is encased in a sugar-free chocolate shell and topped with crunchy raw pecans.
Maple Streusel Coffee Cake Squares – These treats are made with a combination of pecans, walnuts, and rolled oats, and are a perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
German Chocolate Cake – This delicious chocolate cake is topped with a coconut-pecan frosting that’ll rival any you’ve ever tried.
All recipes are from Practically Raw Desserts by Amber Shea Crawley.
