For those moments when a sweet craving hits, these keto no bake cookies are the perfect solution. They're a no-fuss, no-muss treat that requires minimal effort and delivers maximum flavor. These cookies are not only delicious but also align perfectly with a ketogenic lifestyle, being low in carbs and high in healthy fats. Sweet, crunchy and portable, these keto no bake cookies are the perfect low carb treat.
Why Choose Keto No Bake Cookies?
Traditional cookies often rely on refined sugars and flours, making them unsuitable for a keto diet. These no-bake alternatives, however, utilize keto-friendly ingredients to create a satisfyingly sweet treat without derailing your dietary goals.
Here are some reasons why you should make these cookies:
- Quick and Easy: Ready in minutes, these cookies are perfect for satisfying sudden sweet cravings.
- No Baking Required: Avoid heating up your kitchen, making them ideal for summer.
- Keto-Friendly: Made with low-carb ingredients, perfect for ketogenic diets.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable with your favorite nuts, seeds, and flavorings.
- Kid-Friendly: A fun and easy recipe to get the kids involved.
Ingredients for Keto No Bake Cookies
The beauty of these cookies lies in their simplicity. Most of the ingredients are likely already in your pantry. Here's what you'll need:
- 4 tbsp butter: The butter will help them set and harden in the fridge so definitely don’t skip it!
- 8 tbsp peanut butter: You can use almond butter, but for this keto friendly recipe natural peanut butter is fine and actually preferred for its Reeces like combo with cocoa powder. If you like crunchy peanut butter you can try that too, however we think the recipe is best with that super creamy peanut butter base.
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder: Cocoa powder is what gives these no bake peanut butter cookies their rich chocolate-y element. Make sure you buy 100% unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp powdered erythritol: Powdered erythritol is a low carb keto friendly sweetener that’s not only low in net carbs, but also 100% sugar free. A powdered sweetener also prevents keto recipes like this no bake cookie from being super grainy.
- 15 drops liquid stevia: Liquid stevia is another keto sweetener that we use in low carb baking. It is much more concentrated in sweetness than sugar, so you only need a little.
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is a tasty addition to all keto baked goods. Plus vanilla extract packs a punch so you only need a small amount. The amount we use makes the nutrition information of vanilla practically negligible on a low carb diet.
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes: Unsweetened coconut flakes are actually great on a keto diet. When you buy them unsweetened (without added sugar) they have tons of fat and fiber. Fat and fiber together is a hunger crushing combination. Coconut also tastes tropical and refreshing in cookie recipes which is why we knew it would be a delicious addition to these low carb cookies.
- 3/4 cup raw pecans, chopped: Pecans are actually one of the most keto/ low carb nuts out there! Next to walnuts and macadamia nuts, pecans are one of the highest fat nuts. They are also low in total carbs with a bit of fiber to make the net carbs even lower!
- Optional mix-ins: Hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, different nuts, or sugar-free chocolate chips.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create your own batch of delicious keto no bake cookies:
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- Combine Ingredients: In a large microwave safe bowl, add the butter and peanut butter. Melt them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. You’re looking for the peanut butter to be super runny in this recipe so it coats all the mix-ins evenly.
- Mix: Fully combine the melted butter into the peanut butter using a large spoon. Add in the remaining ingredients.
- Incorporate: Combine until everything is fully incorporated.
- Form Cookies: Scoop cookie dough onto baking sheet into 10 cookies and flatten with a spoon.
- Chill: Place a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze 30-45 minutes until hardened and ready to eat.
- Enjoy: Once firm, these cookies can be enjoyed straight from the freezer or fridge.
Tips for Perfect Keto No Bake Cookies
To ensure your cookies turn out perfectly every time, consider these helpful tips:
- Sweetener Adjustment: Taste the batter before chilling and add additional sweetener as needed to reach your desired sweetness level.
- Nut Butter Consistency: While you may like thick nut butters for toast, in this recipe the thinner the better. Runny nut butter is going to make for a creamy mixture that combines easier.
- Texture Matters: Texture is everything in this recipe so you want to be sure to keep the pecans nice and chunky. The same goes for the coconut flakes.
- Vegan Option: It’s pretty easy to turn these no bake cookies vegan. Simply replace the butter with coconut oil and you’ve done it. Since these need to be stored in the fridge the differences in the melting points between butter and coconut oil won’t come into play.
- Nut-Free Version: We’ve a nut free version of this recipe and it was quite delicious. Instead of using pecans we went with chopped pumpkin seeds. A few people on instagram have also made this recipe using sunflower seeds.
- Cookie Scoop: There might not be any bigger fans of cookie scoops than Matthew and I. We use our cookie scoop at every opportunity and this recipe is no different. You can leave these no bake cookies in a call form, or you can press them out before putting them in the fridge.
Variations and Add-Ins
One of the best things about these cookies is their versatility. Feel free to experiment with different flavors and textures to create your own unique variations:
- Chocolate Chunk: Add sugar-free chocolate chips for an extra chocolatey experience.
- Nutty Delight: Incorporate different nuts like almonds, walnuts, or macadamia for a variety of flavors and textures.
- Coconut Macaroon: Increase the amount of coconut flakes and add a touch of coconut extract for a tropical twist.
Sweeteners: Choosing the Right One for You
Selecting the right sweetener is crucial for maintaining a keto-friendly recipe. Here's a breakdown of suitable options:
- Erythritol: A popular choice due to its low net carb count and minimal impact on blood sugar. Powdered erythritol is recommended to prevent a grainy texture.
- Stevia: A natural, highly concentrated sweetener. Use sparingly, as it can be quite potent.
- Allulose: Another low-carb sweetener that works well in powdered form.
- Lakanto or Swerve: These are powdered sugar-free sweetener options.
Storing Your Keto No Bake Cookies
These keto no bake cookies will last in either the fridge or the freezer for a very long time. We personally like to store them in the freezer and eat them straight from there as a quick dessert. It’s sort of like putting candy bars or Oreo’s in the freezer.
A Nostalgic Treat, Reimagined
As a child, I remember a neighbor always making haystack cookies and it was always such a treat. Sometimes she made them with oatmeal and other times she made them with crunchy chow mein noodles. The chocolate butterscotch chow mein version was always my favorite, and since I only had them on special occasions, it always felt like an extra special treat. With this low carb haystack no bake cookie recipe, I used unsweetened desiccated coconut to give it that familiar no bake cookie crunchy texture.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
More Keto Recipes to Explore
Want another recipe to cure that sweet tooth? We’ve got all the easy keto sweets for you, no bake, microwaved and baked! If four isn’t enough definitely check out the desserts section on our food blog and hit the ground running! We’ve got plenty of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack recipes, perfect for meal prepping and feeding the kids while on summer break. If you’re like us and cookies are one of your favorite desserts, you’re in for a treat. From basics like chocolate chip all the way to lemon cookies with a lemon glaze. We’ve got it all!
- Easy Keto Airfryer Cookie: You asked we listened! More airfryer recipes so you can enjoy cookies all season long.
- Soft Baked Ginger Cookies: Soft and chewy gingerbread cookies packed with spices and flavor. They may not be cutout little gingerbread-men, but they are still just as tasty!
- Keto Walnut Snowball Cookies: A holiday classic. It’s a walnut cookie rolled in powdered sweetener that even the non-ketoers will love.
- Fudgy Keto Chocolate Cookies: Rich and fudgy chocolate cookies. These cookies are packed with chocolate and are fudgy enough they could pass for a brownies texture.
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