These easy-to-make Keto Tagalong Bars taste just like the original Girl Scout Cookie! You won’t believe they are low carb and sugar-free.
Way way back, in the early days of dreaming up low carb recipes, I created some peanut butter shortbread bars. And it took me by surprise, how good they were. Everything came together just perfectly.
My husband took one bite and said they tasted like his favorite Girl Scout cookies, Tagalongs. I was absolutely thrilled with such a comparison. And we made them frequently for a few months.
But as a recipe creator is wont to do, I moved on to make many other wonderful keto cookies and cookie bars. I perfected my Keto Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. I created some gorgeous Salted Caramel Bars. And I conquered the perfect texture for Keto Shortbread Cookies.
I all but forgot my lovely Tagalong Bars in the meantime. Until now!
Why you need these in your life
If you find it difficult to resist the siren’s call of Girl Scout Cookies, then this recipe is for you! They are a delicious sugar-free copycat of the famous Tagalong Cookies.
But unlike individual cookies, these bars are remarkably easy to make. You press the crust into a pan and bake it. You make an easy peanut butter filling and pour it over. Then you melt some sugar-free chocolate and spread it on top. Done, finished, finito!
I actually have a recipe for Keto Tagalong Cookies as well and I love them. But they are definitely more time consuming.
And these bars have just a fraction of the carbs compared to real Girl Scout Cookies. Only 4.1g net carbs per serving!
Ingredients you need
- Almond flour: A good fine almond flour makes the best shortbread crust. I do not recommend coconut flour here. But if you can’t eat almonds, you can try sunflower seed flour.
- Sweetener: I recommend an erythritol based sweetener for the crust, such as Swerve Granular. Don’t use allulose or BochaSweet, as they will prevent the crust from crisping up. You will need a confectioner’s style sweetener for the filling.
- Butter: Good shortbread crusts always use butter!
- Peanut butter: I use a good creamy natural peanut butter like Santa Cruz. They have a no-stir version that means you can just scoop it and measure it out.
- Heavy cream: Heavy cream helps create a delicious peanut butter filling with a frosting-like consistency.
- Caramel or vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is an easy pantry staple. But if you can get your hands on some caramel extract, it adds amazing flavor!
- Sugar free chocolate: ChocZero is one of my favorite brands and you can use the dark chocolate or milk chocolate chips for these bars. Also use FOODDREAMER for 10% off your order!
Step by Step Directions
1. Prepare the shortbread crust: Combine the almond flour, sweetener, and salt in a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine. Sprinkle the butter pieces overtop and continue to pulse until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
2. Bake the crust: Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of a greased 8×8 inch baking pan and bake at 350ºF for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove and let cool.
3. Make the peanut butter filling: In a microwave safe bowl, combine the peanut butter and butter and cook until melted and it can be stirred together. You can also do this in a pan on the stove over very low heat. Stir in the powdered sweetener until well combined and then whisk in the cream and the extract.
4. Spread over the crust: Pour the mixture over cooled crust and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
5. Make the topping: In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chopped chocolate and the butter. Heat on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until smooth. Be careful not to overheat and make your chocolate seize.
6. Spread over the filling: Spread over the chilled filling. Return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set the chocolate.
Expert tips
While almond flour makes the crust more like real shortbread, you can use other nut or seed flours for these bars. It won’t be as fine looking, and you may need a little additional butter to help it hold together better. I do not recommend coconut flour for a crust like this.
Many natural peanut butters don’t contain any salt. If you use unsalted butter and unsalted peanut butter, you may want to add ¼ teaspoon fine salt to the filling. It will bring out the sweetness more.
Melt the chocolate carefully in the microwave, in short increments. But you can also do it in a pan over very low heat. I like to use the same bowl or pan I did the peanut butter filling in so there are fewer dishes to wash at the end!
Frequently Asked Questions
Tagalong cookies are a popular treat sold by American Girl Scouts. They feature a shortbread cookie covered in chocolate, with a sweetened peanut butter filling. They are also known as Peanut Butter Patties.
Conventional Tagalongs have 13g of carbs per serving. These Keto Tagalong Bars have only 6.8g carbs and 2.7g fiber per serving. So they have a net carb count of 4.1g.
You can store the bars on the counter in a covered container for up to 4 days, or in the fridge for up to 8 days. They can also be frozen for several months.
More Girl Scout Inspired Recipes
Keto Tagalong Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ¼ cups almond flour
- ⅓ cup Swerve Sweetener
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup butter chilled and cut into small pieces
Peanut Butter Caramel Filling
- ⅔ cup creamy natural peanut butter
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon caramel extract can use vanilla extract
Chocolate Topping
- 3 ½ ounces dark chocolate chips, sugar-free
- 2 tablespoon butter
Instructions
Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and lightly grease an 8×8 inch metal baking pan.
- Combine the almond flour, sweetener, and salt in a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine. Sprinkle the butter pieces overtop and continue to pulse until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.
- Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan pan and bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove and let cool.
Peanut Butter Filling
- In a microwave safe bowl, combine the peanut butter and butter and cook until melted and it can be stirred together. You can also do this in a pan on the stove over very low heat.
- Stir in the powdered sweetener until well combined and then whisk in the cream and the extract. Pour over cooled crust and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
Chocolate Topping
- In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chopped chocolate and the butter (you can use the same bowl or pan from the peanut butter mixture).
- Heat on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until smooth. Be careful not to overheat and make your chocolate seize.
- Spread over the chilled filling. Return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set the chocolate.
Debbie Froehlich says
Hi
I made these bars this morning
The taste of the short bread was excellent, however it was so hard, could not cut it. Peanut butter layer too soft and sweet for me it did not really cling to the crust, I made the chocolate layer more like a genache was easier to spread. otherwise I followed the recipe exactly, not sure I love it and I wanted to.
Carolyn says
What sweetener did you use?
Melanie says
Do you feel almond butter could be substituted?
Arlie says
This might be silly, but would a glass pan rather than a metal pan change the cook time?
Carolyn says
Yes, it might. So keep your eye on it.
Jerri says
Made these and left them on the counter when I went to bed. The next morning, my husband says, “What are those? Those can’t be some of your healthy stuff!” He continued to exclaim how ridiculously good they are. WINNER!!
Angela Diaz says
Hi Carolyn just wanted clarification on one ingredient. In one section of the ingredients it states heavy cream and another says heavy “whipping “ cream. Which one is correct? Is there a difference? I always have the wrong one on hand when I’m ready to make a recipe
Carolyn says
Same thing. They are exactly the same thing. 🙂
Adri says
Really easy to make, and delicious. I used an allulose/erythritol/stevia blend in the crust, and just allulose in the PB layer. I increased the amount of sweetener in the PB a little bit, since allulose is not super sweet. Thanks for the recipe!
Joan says
I would love to know what blend you used. I can’t handle the “cooling effects taste of Swerve”. It’s too much erythritol for me. As well as it upsets my stomach. Please share!
Briane Eggert says
Hi! I’m excited to make these. Could I substitute the THM baking blend for the almond flour? Any tips for this substitution? Thanks!
Carolyn says
I am sorry, I don’t use it. I find it much too dry. If you do try it, you will need to add more butter.
Katrina Wood says
If I could give it 10 stars, I would! These are far better than actual Tagalongs, as homemade usually is, but I’m a Girl Scout leader, and have tried the Tags from both bakeries. These bars are easy, quick, and my family loved them too. Decadent, indulgent, delicious and keto! I added unflavored collagen protein powder to the filling, about a Tablespoon more PB, and a generous “chef-sized” pinch of salt.
Carolyn says
Thanks so much!
Rebecka says
Do these freeze well?
Carolyn says
I would think so, as long as they are tightly wrapped up.
Ronica says
Read this post a few days ago. Already made it twice! People at work love them and so does my husband. It’s a winner! Thank you again! Super easy to make too!
Kendall says
Can u use a little of the caramel sauce and peanut butter instead of extract
Carolyn says
Sure… it will make it softer, though.
Sue says
Tagalong Girl Scout cookies were always my favorite. These are even better with the addition of the caramel. The only negative thing I have to say is it is extremely difficult to refrain from eating more than one a day!
Terri B says
These are amazing! My new favorite snack!
Flavia says
I really love the recipe, and the chocolate layer on the top is the best my mouth is already watery. I must try this.
Kay Thompson says
These are THE BEST! I keep them in my fridge at ALL times. I usually double the recipe, putting it a 9×13 pan. However, I cut them into much smaller little squares than recipes states..
I’ve also used the crust recipe for keto pies. Yummmmm
Julie says
Are you kidding me?!? These were the best thing I’ve eaten in a long time!! And so easy. Thanks for the awesome recipes!!!
Lorrie says
These bars are amazing! It takes me back to my childhood. What a wonderful food memory!
Thank you ✌️
Kate says
I made these exactly as described, and they’re fantastic. Soooo easy (almost too easy, I’ll be making them often!). My litmus test for low carb treats and desserts is the reaction of my non-diabetic husband, who can eat anything he wants, and does – he also gave them a big thumbs up, and said he wouldn’t have known they were low carb if I hadn’t told him. I have many other recipes bookmarked from your site to try, thank you so much, Carolyn!
Carolyn says
Glad to hear it!
gjeanieg says
These are wonderful! Hubby said the were “GREAT!” Thank you, Carolyn!
Melissa says
I just made these this evening but wasn’t sure how to store these . Should they remain in the fridge ? Thank you !
Carolyn says
They are fine on the counter for 3 or 4 days, fridge after that.