These delicious Keto Cookie Bars are loaded with two kinds of chocolate, pecans, and keto peanut butter cups. Rich, tender, and gooey, they put other low carb dessert bars to shame!
There are some desserts that are so good, you want to make them every day. These Loaded Keto Cookie Bars fall firmly in that category. They are so rich and delicious, and absolutely packed with chocolatey goodness, that you can’t stop thinking about them.
I created this recipe soon after my husband died. My sister and sister-in-law were both here, helping me sort through everything that needed to be done. We were devastated and leaning heavily on each other. And I wanted a mouthwatering dessert that was ultra gooey but still easy on my blood sugar.
So I took my popular keto blondie recipe and loaded it up with all sorts of sugar-free add-ins. Of course, they didn’t take away any of my grief, but they tasted damn good! I’ve made them countless times since then, and they do give me a tiny sliver of joy every time.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Almond flour: This is an almond flour-based recipe and it won’t work very well with coconut flour or other nut meals.
- Sweetener: I prefer using my brown sugar replacement for a richer flavor. Other granulated sweeteners may also work. See the Sweetener Options for more details.
- Collagen: Collagen adds gooeyness to the cookie bars, and I particularly love this recipe with the salted caramel collagen from Perfect Keto. If you don’t have any, you can skip it OR you can add an extra egg yolk to the dough.
- Chocolate chips: I used dark chocolate chips from Lily’s.
- Peanut butter chips: You could also use white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or just more chocolate chips.
- Pecans: Chopped pecans add delicious crunch. Walnuts would be great too.
- Peanut butter cups: I used Lily’s cups, but you could easily use my homemade version instead.
- Baking staples: Butter, eggs, baking powder, vanilla, salt
How to Make Keto Cookie Bars
- Combine the dry ingredients: Whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, collagen, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the wet ingredients: Stir in the butter, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Stir in the goodies: Add the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, pecans, and chopped peanut butter cups.
- Press into the pan: Press the dough into a 9×9 inch baking pan.
- Bake: Bake until just barely set (you want them gooey!).
- Cool: Let them cool in the pan before cutting into bars.
Carolyn’s Tips for Success
Bakeware: I have made these keto cookie bars in both a metal pan and a glass pan. Metal bakes through faster than the glass, and they end up a bit more firm. Both work but if you use glass or ceramic, be prepared for it to take a little longer.
Underbaking: I like to remove mine from the oven when the center is still looks a little uncooked. They continue to cook a little after they come out of the oven and will firm up more. But if you prefer them more firm, take them out when the center is set properly.
Servings: I recommend cutting these into 20 bars to keep the carb count in check. They are so rich and packed with chocolate that a small piece is enough!
Sweetener Options
I prefer to use an erythritol-based sweetener for this recipe. But you can use allulose or xylitol, with some precautions and caveats. They may bake differently and get darker with allulose, so keep your eye on them in the oven. And they will likely be softer and more cakey, rather than gooey.
More Delicious Keto Bars
Keto Cookie Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups (224 g) almond flour
- 1/2 cup (100 g) brown sugar replacement
- 1/3 cup (78.86 g) collagen protein, (aka collagen peptides)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (113.5 g) butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 ounces (85.05 g) sugar free chocolate chips
- 3 ounces (85.05 g) sugar-free peanut butter chips, (or white chocolate chips)
- 1/3 cup (36.33 g) chopped pecans
- 4 keto peanut butter cups, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF and lightly grease a 9×9 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, collagen protein, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the butter, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Add the chocolate chips, chopped pecans, and chopped peanut butter cups. Mix in until well distributed.
- Press the dough into the prepared baking pan and bake 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and just barely set on top.
- Remove and let cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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So freaking good! My spouse LOVED these! They were supposed to be for his lunch this week but he said, “I’m sorry, after one bite I knew I was going to need a few!” He had gotten himself a tall glass of milk and that was his lunch! I’m going to make another batch! Because I needed an extra bite too! Nothing sounds better than a loaded keto cookie so I sent the link to my daughter in-law because I knew she would love them too! You are best keto “kooker” ever! 😀
What can I use to replace collagen? It upsets my stomach
This looks beyond delightful! Would Equip Protein powder be the same as collagen peptide? I have to be dairy free.
Yes, it tends to act the same way since it’s beef bone protein. (I think, anyway… check your label!).