Keto Chocolate And Pecan Cookies And Benefits Of Soaking Nuts – Recipe

Cookies don’t have to be full of sugar and other unhealthy ingredients – these cookies are perfect treats!

I had a checklist when creating this recipe; it had to:

• to be low in carbs & paleo-friendly
• include coconut flour and coconut oil
• taste as good as my mom’s cookies!

The last one was quite challenging but I’ve been told they are delicious! 🙂

Although I do post recipes for low-carb treats on my blog, I don’t myself eat sweets that often. Like most treats, I wouldn’t recommend eating too many of them, especially if you are trying to lose weight.

Ingredients (makes 60 cookies)

• 4 large eggs, free-range or organic
• ¾ cup extra virgin coconut oil (160g / 5.8 oz), add ¼ cup if too dry (total 220g / 7.7 oz)
• ½ cup Erythritol (non GMO) or other healthy low-carb sweetener from this list (80g / 2.8 oz)
• 15-20 drops liquid Stevia extract (Clear / Chocolate / Cinnamon)
• ½ cup raw cacao powder (40g / 1.5 oz)
• 1 cup fine coconut flour (120g / 4.2 oz)
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 bar dark 85% chocolate (100g / 3.5 oz)
• 60 halves pecan nuts (90g / 3.2 oz)

Note: When looking for ingredients, try to get them in their most natural form (organic, without unnecessary additives).

Instructions

1. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk with melted coconut oil. Add Erythritol and stevia and mix in well. Erythritol doesn’t dissolve unless heated. For best results, powder it first.
2. Add cinnamon and cocoa powder.
3. Mix in well using a whisk.
4. Add the coconut flour and process well.
5. Place the dough into a plastic foil and in the fridge to harden for at least 1 hour.
6. After 1 hour, preheat the oven to 175 C / 350 F. Using the foil or two sheets of parchment paper, roll the dough out until it’s about ¼ inch / ½ cm thick.
7. Use a cookie cutter to create your shapes. I used a 2 inch / 5 cm cookie cutter.
8. Place the cookies on a baking dish lined with parchment paper leaving little gaps between each cookie. Roll the remaining dough and repeat until all the dough is used up.
9. Place in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. When done, remove from the oven and let them cool down. Make sure that the they are completely cool before you add the chocolate topping.
10. Melt the chocolate in a water bath. Using a small ¼ tsp measuring spoon, pour the chocolate on top and press the pecan halve in. If you have any chocolate left, just spoon it on top of the pecan halves.
11. Transfer to a serving plate when the chocolate is completely solid.

Why try soaking nuts

Some people have digestive issues when eating nuts. It’s actually not that rare. However, it’s not always caused by an allergy and they don’t have to stop eating them.

There are “anti-nutrients” such as lectins, phytates and enzyme inhibitors that seem to be the reason for many people having digestive issues when eating raw nuts. While roasting helps to reduce the “anti-nutrients”, soaking the nuts first is even more effective.

Soaking and dehydrating not only makes nuts deliciously crispy, but their nutrients are better digested and absorbed by your body.

Pecan nuts need to soak for at least 6-8 hours, cashew nuts 6 hours and hard nuts like hazelnuts or almonds 8-12 hours.

Simply place them in a bowl, cover with water and leave them to soak overnight. Drain and spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and dehydrate at 55-65 C / 150 F for 12-24 hours, turning them occasionally, until completely dry. When done, store in an airtight container.

Nutritional values per cookie

Macronutrient ratio: Calories from carbs (5.7%), protein (7.7%), fat (86.6%)

Recipe By Martina Slajerova