Keto Pecan Cookies With Cream Cheese Filling

These Keto Pecan Cookies With Cream Cheese Filling are a sandwich-type cookie with a rich, nutty base and a luscious cream cheese filling. You’ll want to make this warm, toasty, classic cookie with a twist for the Holidays this year. Each bite offers a delightful blend of buttery pecans and smooth, creamy center.

Keto Pecan Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling

Inspiration comes from many places and this one was a little different. A follower on Facebook tagged me in a recipe post for a regular, not low carb or sugar-free, pecan cookie with cream cheese filling. She asked if they could be keto-fied for her cookie tray this year. So I took it as a challenge to get this one up on the blog as soon as possible. I didn’t want to disappoint! So special thanks goes to that follower and Simply Stacie for the recipe inspiration on this one.

I created a drop cookie version instead of traditional shortbread because I think it pairs better with the cream cheese. The cookies taste delicious on their own, but even better when sandwiched with the 2-ingredient cream cheese filling.

I chose two different sweetener types for the cookie dough base to give the flavor a little complexity, improve texture, and balance the sweetness. Brown sugar-free sweeteners often have a deeper, more caramel-like flavor, which goes well with pecans and the Holidays, while the white granulated sugar-free sweetener provides basic sweetness without overpowering the subtle flavors.

The assembly is easy! Just smear a little dab of cream cheese in between two cookies and you’re all set.

Ingredients for Keto Pecan Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling

Pecan Cookie Dough

You just need a few simple ingredients to make these delicious cookies. The best part is that all of them will fit into a keto lifestyle while catering to that sweet tooth that tends to come out around the Holidays.

1. Coconut Flour – This is a staple in keto baking due to its low carbohydrate content and high fiber. One of my favorite keto flours to bake with, coconut flour provides structure to baked goods, but it’s highly absorbent, so it’s used in smaller quantities compared to regular flour. It imparts a light, airy texture and a slight coconut flavor. Plus it’s great for nut-free baking.
2. Brown Sugar-Free Sweetener – This sugar substitute replicates the taste and texture of brown sugar without the carbs. It often contains sugar alcohols or natural sweeteners like Monk fruit or stevia, sometimes blended with flavorings to mimic the molasses flavor of brown sugar. It’s crucial for adding depth and richness to the flavor profile.
3. White Granulated Sugar-Free Sweetener – Typically a blend of sugar substitutes like erythritol, Monk fruit, or stevia, this sweetener replaces regular white sugar. It’s essential for providing sweetness without the carbs and helps in achieving a desirable texture in cookies.
4. Unsalted Butter – Butter adds richness, flavor, and moisture. It also helps in the leavening process, contributing to the cookie’s texture. In a keto diet, butter is a favorable ingredient due to its high-fat content and low carb. You can also use coconut oil to keep it dairy-free.
5. Eggs – Eggs are crucial in binding the ingredients together, especially important in gluten-free baking like with coconut flour. They also help in leavening and add structure to the cookies, making them less crumbly.
6. Vanilla Extract – Vanilla adds flavor depth and aroma. It’s a common ingredient in baking to enhance the overall flavor profile of the cookies. You could also experiment with Almond Extract.
7. Baking Powder – This is a leavening agent that helps the cookies rise. In keto baking, where gluten isn’t present to trap air, leavening agents like baking powder are especially important for ensuring a light, appealing texture.
8. Salt – A small amount of salt can enhance the overall flavor of baked goods, balancing the sweetness and adding depth to the flavor profile.
9. Chopped Pecans – Pecans add a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. They are also keto-friendly due to their high-fat, low-carb content, making them ideal for adding variety in texture and taste.

Cream Cheese Filling

1. Cream Cheese – In a cream cheese frosting or filling, it provides a rich, creamy base. It’s naturally low in carbs and high in fat, fitting perfectly within the keto diet parameters. It also pairs well with sweeteners and flavors to create a smooth, spreadable filling.
2. Powdered Sugar-Free Sweetener – This sweetener is used to add sweetness to the cream cheese filling without the carbs. The powdered form is preferred as it blends smoothly into the cream cheese, avoiding any graininess that granulated sweeteners might cause.

How to Make Keto Pecan Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling

Create Pecan Dough

1. Add room temperature butter and sugar-free sweeteners to a large bowl.
2. Cream together with an electric hand mixer until sugars have dissolved. It should look light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix until incorporated.
4. Finally, add the dry ingredients, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt, to the wet ingredients. Mix until just mixed. Careful not to overmix! Coconut flour gets thick quick.

1. Add chopped pecans.
2. Fold in gently. Using a small cookie scoop, create cookie dough balls and add to cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Flatten or use a fork to apply a criss-cross pattern. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350°F (175°C) until golden brown. For soft cookies, take them out around the 12 minute mark. For a crisper cookie, let them stay in until 15 minutes.

Create Cream Cheese Filling

1. Add cream cheese and powdered sugar-free sweetener to a small bowl.
2. Mix well until super creamy and ready to spread on some cookies.

Assemble the cookies

Wait until your cookies have cooled completely, then take a spatula and spread some cream cheese filling between two cookies. These are best enjoyed right away, but you can place in an airtight container to keep in the fridge for about a week, or up to 3 months in the freezer. You know, if you are saving them for your Holiday dessert cookie tray!

Add these to your Holiday baking list right away…plus it’s an easy recipe. Just dump and stir like regular cookies. These low carb cookies will quickly become a sweet treat staple to make around Fall and Winter times.

The recipe card below has full instructions plus all of the notes and extra tidbits to make sure you achieve the perfect low carb dessert this Holiday season. I want to make sure yours taste and bake up just like mine.

If you enjoyed this low carb holiday cookie, you’ll love these other keto recipes:

• Keto Pizzelle – Italian Cookies with Coconut Flour
• Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
• Keto Crème Brûlée Cookies
• Keto Martha Washington Candy | Made With Keto Chow