A mini sugar-free pecan pie that serves just two. It’s the ultimate keto dessert recipe for the holidays and so easy to make. 6 ingredients and 35 minutes start to finish!
Pecan pie has always ranked up there as one of my all time favorite desserts, and the holidays wouldn’t be complete without it. And while I have an absolutely fabulous full-size Keto Pecan Pie, I thought it would be fun to do an easy small batch version.
Because let’s face it, pecan pie is a big dessert that takes a fair bit of time and serves 10 to 12 people. If it’s just a small gathering, or if most of your family doesn’t enjoy a rich gooey pie filled with pecans, then it’s not always worth all the work.
Plus I adore that gooey, pecan-studded custard filling so much, I wanted an easier way to be able to whip it up any time the cravings strike. And somehow in the fall, they seem to strike fairly often.
Love this sugar-free pecan pie recipe? I’ve got more where that came from! Check out my Keto Pecan Pie Protein Bars for an easy energy snack. My Pecan Pie Cheesecake is also a fan favorite. And the low carb Pecan Pie Bundt Cake makes a stunning holiday dessert recipe.
How can pecan pie be keto friendly?
Excellent question, my dear reader. Excellent question indeed. Thankfully, pecans themselves are very low in carbohydrates, and in conventional pie, it’s the crust and the sugary filling that makes it so unhealthy.
This easy pecan pie recipe does away with the crust altogether, so the carb savings are huge there. Of course, my easy keto pie crust is pretty low carb as it is, but this mini dessert for two doesn’t need any crust at all.
Swapping out the sugar for low carb sweeteners is a trickier matter, since no keto sweetener behaves just like sugar. But I find that a combination of both Swerve Brown and some Bocha Sweet helps me achieve the perfect gooey center with minimal carb impact.
Tips for Easy Pecan Pie for Two
If you watch my video, you will see how simple this mini pecan pie is to make. But there are some tricks to getting that perfect gooey center so I want to give you all the best tips I can.
The mix of sweeteners is critical: Swerve Brown gives you that deeper caramel color and flavor, and the Bocha Sweet helps keep the filling from re-crystallizing as it cools. I know many people will ask about substitutes so I will try my best to answer that here and now.
What to do if you don’t have Swerve Brown: You can use any erythritol based sweetener plus 1/2 teaspoon molasses. Don’t freak out, that tiny bit of molasses has only 2.5 grams of carbs so it only adds 1.25g per serving.
What to do if you don’t have Bocha Sweet: There are several other sweeteners that will keep your filling soft and gooey. Both allulose and xylitol are good replacements here.
Keep the filling on low heat: All you really need to do here is melt the butter and whisk in the sweeteners until smooth. Then immediately remove from the heat. Because you are going to whisk in an egg and you don’t want it to curdle and cook with the heat.
Use chopped pecans: Because this pie for two is so small, chopped pecans create a more cohesive filling. But I always save a few pecan halves for decorating the top.
Don’t overbake! The outside edges of this little easy pecan pie bake and set quickly, and they puff up a lot. But you want the center to not be quite set when you take it out of the oven. It should even look a little liquid. Because this is in a ceramic dish, it continues to bake for a little while when it’s out of the oven.
Want to take this easy pecan pie over the top? Try adding a few sugar-free chocolate chips when it’s still warm, and some keto whipped cream. It’s pure heaven!
More delicious Keto Thanksgiving desserts:
- Keto Pecan Pie Bars
- Pumpkin Cream Pie
- Keto Pumpkin Roll
- Pumpkin Cake with Streusel Topping
- Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Easy Keto Pecan Pie
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pecan halves, divided
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 1/2 tbsp Swerve Brown
- 1 1/2 tbsp Bocha Sweet
- 1/4 tsp caramel extract, or vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F.
- Set aside 6 to 8 pecan halves to top the pie, then use a sharp knife to chop the rest. Set aside while preparing the filling.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and two sweeteners. Whisk until the butter is melted and the sweeteners are dissolved, about 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the egg, then stir in the chopped pecans. Pour the mixture into one 8-ounce ramekin or two 4-ounce ramekins. Place the reserved pecan halves decoratively on top.
- Place the ramekins on a cookie sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sides are set but the center is still wobbly. Remove and let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
- Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream or some keto ice cream. Share with your favorite person!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Thank you for the recipe I’m making it right now, however I didn’t see in the written instructions went to add the caramel extract. I went to your video and it was indicated there.
I was craving something sweet and I’m just starting this low-carb life and found your site. Thank you again.
Can I use LaKanto Monkfruit in place of the Bocha Sweet?
No, because it’s mostly erythritol, like Swerve, and your filling will re-crystallize. See the blog post for appropriate BochaSweet subs.
By chance will Allulose liquid work in place of Bocha Sweet. I have Xylitol, but I also have Allulose liquid that I’ve never used and just wondered if it would work here. Thank you in advance. Your recipes are wonderful!
I haven’t ever used it so I can’t say for sure. Sorry!
Very easy, quick and super yummy gooeyness made with xylitol, erythritol and molasses. It was delicious warm on its own. Perfect portion control too…
Might want to add a step to the procedures for adding in the extract. I love the magic bars. I’m sure I’ll love this.
Made this tonight in 2 small ramakin’s. I didn’t have caramel extract so I used 1/8 tsp maple and 1/8 tsp vanilla. Over cooked it, was lazy and just poured HWC over it…didn’t change the fact that it was Absolutely DELICIOUS! Love your blog and video’s. Thanks!
How long do you cook when you use 2 small ramakins?
Not sure, I would keep a close eye on them.
I want to make this for the two of us, but I’d really like to include a crust. Can you give me any advice? 1/3 your crust recipe? Size of dish?
I’m sorry, I haven’t tried anything like that so you will need to experiment.
OK. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks anyway.
Made it as you described with no crust to celebrate pi day. So delicious! Turned out perfectly. We didn’t miss the crust. A happy pi day for us 😉 Thanks so much for all the care you take perfecting these recipes.
Adding the caramel extract after adding the egg should be in the written instructions.
I have been baking this Easy Keto Pecan Pie at 325 deg. for 25 minutes + 5 + 5 + 5 * 10 (50 minutes so far and it is done around top outside edge but underneath and center is fully liquid like very thin pancake syrup. Is there supposed to be flour or a thickening in ingredients? ? I finally removed the cookie sheet and it looks done after 1 hour.
Well something went wrong on your end because as you can see from the comments, this one works out well for the vast majority. I honestly can’t say unless you tell me all the ingredients you used…
Perfect timing! Got BochaSweet In today and have ordered 6 inch pie plates. Am planning on mini Pecan Pies for Christmas for a few Friends.
Enjoy!
Just wondering…I found Bocha Sweet online, but one just said Bocha Sweet and but there was also “powdered” Bocha Sweet…is there a difference? Don’t want to order the wrong one. Thanks!
Either will work but the granulated is better (not powdered)
Thanks for the recipe. It looks wonderful. The recipe states use an 8 oz ramekin (or 2- 4 oz) but the ones I see online seem to be deeper than the one you have. Please provide the depth and diameter. Thanks so much.
The depth doesn’t matter if the capacity is sufficient. These are what I use: https://amzn.to/33TyAld
Thank you.
Carolyn, can I use JUST Bochasweet in place of the Swerve Brown (using the molasses sub as suggested)? I am trying to experiment with moving away from Swerve as it does appear to have a mild laxative effect on me which I do not like. I would love your thoughts.
I think so. I haven’t ever tried it this way.
Never mind about ramekin size see it in the recipe sorry
THANK YOU so much for this recipe, and for saying I could use allulose for gooeyness! i have that, and wasnt excited about buying a 5th sweetener! I saw your recipe on High Falutin Low Carb video. This is great because we can taste test.
Glad you have some mini versons on your site!!!
I had a big separation problem with the Wholesome Yum pie, and she didnt know why. O’m going to try youra,
Glad to finally see what you look like, after just starting to use your recipesknowing it is better
Thanks Judy. This is a mini one… are you looking for the full size one? It’s here and you can use allulose in that one too. https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/best-low-carb-maple-pecan-pie/
Hi Carolyn, I did this size for portion control and to taste test! Wow! We loved it!! You should have seen my hubby’s face.
I had allulose left over from making keto ice cream last summer, and I am so glad to know it will work in these 2 recipes.
Looking forward to making it for Thanksgiving. A few of the people don’t eat dairy, but I don’t think margarine would do it justice. Or would it?
XOXOXOXO
No, margarine would not work here (and it’s awful for you anyway!). You could try ghee which is clarified butter and many dairy-free people still eat it but I would ask them first.
Thanks, Carolyn, but I don’t think the ghee would work for dairy free. They can eat something else!!!
I made the recipe again, testing out the Maple extract I have instead of vanilla extract. Much better.
I’m sure your caramel extract is “the bomb,” but I have so many extracts already and 8 different sweeteners!
Thank you so much for your reply. I’m glad to find another baker. I’m looking forward to your recipes!!!
Just made these……used the Swerve brown and monkfuit (Lakanto) powdered. I used a drop of maple extract and a nut butter extract instead, I didn’t have any caramel. Anywho, they turned out great!! Thank you so much for the recipe!
THANK YOU, thank you… Because of this pie I was finally able to convince my husband (and kids) to go on this Keto adventure with me. I have Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and my doctor suggested I try this way of eating to help with the aches and pain (had it since I was a pre teen). After a few days I started to notice that I was able to get out of bed quicker. My husband loves to cook and he prepares our meals everyday. I have been trying to get him to join me (I’m not much of a cook compared to him) for months. He tried a few things but wasn’t impressed . I made this as soon as I saw it. Had to make two because of the recipe 😉 When it was cooling down he and the kids kept asking what the wonderful smell was. Now they are team Keto,lol… So thank you again. They are excited to try more of your treats.
Wow, that is amazing, I am so glad my recipe was the deciding factor. And I am so very happy you are finding some success dealing with your RA with keto. I hope it only gets better from here!
Is there another sweetener that can be used In place of the Bocha sweet??
Please read the full blog post as I answer this question.
I think I may have baked mine too long, but it was delicious none-the-less! I’ll definitely be trying the recipe with the crust as well! But this was the perfect size since I’m the only one eating keto desserts around here… Lucky me!
OMG, this was great. Just the perfect size for a treat, although I could have eaten the whole thing by myself, at one sitting ????????????. Thank you once more for a delicious treat.