Holiday Pecan Toffee Bites (Low Carb) are a simple four-ingredient take on Christmas crack made with toasted pecan halves, butter, brown sweetener, and sugar free chocolate chips.
We pour the hot toffee over pecan halves in muffin liners, bake, and then let the chocolate chips melt on top. You get the same crunchy bite as classic Christmas crack without the carbs or crackers.
As someone who makes low-carb recipes almost daily, I test them for blood sugar response. I've made plenty of holiday toffee to know what works, what fails, and how to keep the crunch without the sugar.
If cookies are part of your holiday season, you'll probably enjoy some of my other Christmas cookie recipes. These Low Carb Orange Cranberry Shortbread Cookies, Low Carb Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Low Carb Grinch Cookies, Low Carb Crockpot Peanut Clusters, Low Carb White Chocolate Coconut Clusters or these Low Carb Pistachio Snowball Cookies will keep you in the holiday spirit.
Jump To:
- What are low carb holiday pecan toffee bites?
- Why does this recipe beat typical Christmas Crack for keto and low-carb diets?
- Nutritional Comparison
- Ingredients you'll need for the Low Carb Holiday Pecan Toffee Bites
- Step by step instructions
- How to make low carb holiday pecan toffee bites?
- Recipe Tips
- Recipe Variations
- Are Holiday Pecan Toffee Bites Diabetes Friendly?
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More holiday recipes
- Recipe Card
What are low carb holiday pecan toffee bites?
- A four-ingredient low-carb Christmas crack made with pecan halves, butter toffee, and melted sugar free chocolate chips.
- Instead of classic cracker toffee, this version skips the crackers and uses toasted pecans as the base.
- Great for low carb and keto because it avoids crackers, uses a brown sweetener (sugar substitute), and keeps each toffee bite portion-controlled by making them in muffin liners.
Why does this recipe beat typical Christmas Crack for keto and low-carb diets?
- Traditional Christmas crack use saltines, Ritz crackers or graham crackers, which add high carbs and sugar.
- This low carb Christmas crack skips the crackers and keeps the base nut-only.
- Pecans are naturally lower in carbs than crackers; they add healthy fats and create a nuttier flavor than any cracker substitute.
- Butter, a brown sweetener, and sugar free chocolate chips give you the same toffee texture and chocolate finish without the sugar spike from regular toffee and chocolate.
Nutritional Comparison
- These Holiday Pecan Toffee Bites are much lower in carbs and sugar than the classic Christmas crack.
- Each bite contains roughly 125 calories, 13g fat, 1g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugar, and 1g protein.
- Traditional versions made with crackers and regular sugar can jump to 15 to 25 grams of carbs per piece, depending on the base and chocolate used.
- Using pecans, a brown sweetener, and sugar free chocolate chips helps to keep the carbs low without losing the toffee taste or crunch.
Ingredients you'll need for the Low Carb Holiday Pecan Toffee Bites
- Toasted Pecan Halves or swap with walnuts or almonds
- Butter (salted or unsalted). I like using salted butter for this recipe.
- Brown Low Carb Sweetener
- Sugar Free Chocolate Chips
- Sugar Free Sprinkles (optional)
For sweeteners, erythritol blends and monk fruit blends work well in low carb Christmas crack.
Allulose melts smoothly but can stay softer, so it's better if you prefer a chewier toffee.
* See the recipe card for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Step by step instructions
How to make low carb holiday pecan toffee bites?
- Step 1: Preheat oven and add pecans.
- Step 2: Make toffee mixture
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 24 muffin liners on a sheet pan or in a muffin tin. Toast the pecans in a pan and then add 2 to 3 pecan halves to each liner.
STEP 2: Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat, allow to melt and brown a little. Once melted, add the brown sweetener. Whisk and cook until the sweetener is dissolved and the mixture is bubbling.
- Step 3: Add toffee to bites and bake.
- Step 4: Melt chocolate and freeze
STEP 3: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the toffee mixture into each muffin liner over the pecans. Transfer to the oven and bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes, until the toffee is bubbling.
STEP 4: Remove from the oven and quickly add about 1 tablespoon sugar-free chocolate chips to each bite.
Let sit for 1 to 2 minutes, then use the back of a spoon to smooth the melted chocolate.
If using sprinkles, scatter a little over each bite. Transfer the bites to the freezer to cool and set, about 30 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- If the chocolate chips don't melt fully, place the bites back into the warm oven that's been turned off for a couple of minutes. The gentle heat will melt the chocolate without burning it.
- Use good-quality muffin liners or parchment-style liners. Thin paper liners can stick to the toffee once it hardens.
- Toast the pecans before assembling for a deeper, richer flavor in each bite.
- Let the bites freeze until fully firm to get the same crunchy snap you expect from low carb Christmas crack.
Recipe Variations
- Swap pecans for almonds or walnuts, or use a mix of nuts to change the base flavor of your low carb toffee bites. You can also use chopped nuts instead of whole or half.
- Use dark, milk, or white sugar free chocolate chips to shift sweetness and richness.
- Add sea salt, crushed keto cookies, sugar free sprinkles, cinnamon, or flavored extracts like peppermint or orange for easy holiday twists.
- Topping them with crushed pistachios and unsweetened chopped cranberries is also a nice treat.
- Turn the mixture into clusters, mini cups, or a flat bark if you want a different shape while keeping the low carb Christmas crack vibe.
Are Holiday Pecan Toffee Bites Diabetes Friendly?
- These toffee bites are low carb, sugar free, and high in fat, which generally gives a steadier blood sugar response.
- Portion control still matters because nuts and chocolate are calorie-dense and can add up quickly, which is why we prefer the bites.
- Pairing low carb Christmas crack treats with a protein-forward meal or a fiber-rich low carb snack can help support steadier blood sugar after eating them.
Storage
- Store the low carb pecan toffee bites in the fridge for the best results. They will stay firm, crunchy, and stable for up to a week.
- Freeze for longer storage. Keto Christmas crack freezes well and keeps its snap for up to a month.
- Room temperature works for a few hours, but the chocolate can soften, especially with sugar free chips.
- For gifting these bites, portion the bites into holiday tins or parchment-lined cookie tins. Separate layers with parchment to keep the tops smooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Using a brown sweetener like a monk fruit blend gives you the same crunchy toffee texture without sugar.
Toasting adds more flavor and crunch, but the recipe still works if you skip it.
Yes, but the toffee will be softer. Allulose doesn't set as hard as erythritol blends.
Hungry for more?
Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Recipe Card
Holiday Pecan Toffee Bites (Low Carb)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup Salted Butter
- 1 cup brown sweetener
- 1.5 cup sugar free chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon low carb sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Heat a dry skillet over medium heat and add the pecan halves. Toast for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Line 24 muffin liners on a sheet pan or in a muffin tin. Add 2 to 3 toasted pecan halves to each liner. This will be the base of your low carb pecan toffee bites.
- Add the butter to a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the brown low carb sweetener.
- Whisk the butter and sweetener together as the mixture heats. Cook, whisking often, until the sweetener has dissolved and the mixture is bubbling and slightly thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes. This is your sugar free toffee layer.
- Working carefully, spoon about 1 tablespoon of the hot toffee mixture into each muffin liner, covering the pecans. Try to distribute the pecans evenly so they're coated in toffee.
- Transfer the pan to the oven and bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes, until the toffee is bubbling around the edges. Remove the pan from the oven and set it on a heat-safe surface.
- Immediately add about 1 tablespoon of sugar free chocolate chips to the center of each bite. Let sit for 1 to 2 minutes so the chips soften, then use the back of a spoon to gently spread the melted chocolate over the top. If using sugar free sprinkles or flaky salt, scatter a small amount over each low carb Christmas crack bite.
- Place the pan in the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until the pecan toffee bites are firm and the chocolate is fully set. Once set, transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge or freezer until you're ready to serve.
Notes
- Don't overcook the toffee. If it gets too dark, it can turn gritty once cooled. Pull it as soon as it's bubbling and slightly thickened.
- Use good-quality muffin liners or parchment-style liners. Thin paper liners can stick to the toffee once it hardens.
- Work quickly when spooning the toffee. It firms fast, so having your liners prepped and close to the stove makes things easier.
- If the chocolate looks dull after setting, let the bites sit at room temperature for a minute or two before serving. The shine returns as the chocolate softens slightly.
- For extra crunch, add a few crushed pecans on top before freezing.
Important Information
For more information, tips and variations please review the recipe video and content above and below the recipe card.
Updates and Revisions
If the video and recipe card differ, follow the recipe card for the latest ingredients and instructions.
Nutritional Information
Nutrition info is estimated and varies by ingredients, measurements, and portions.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooked food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more food guidelines
Tammy Casady says
These are out of the world awesome! The only problem I had was that the cupcake paper stuck to the candy.
Oscar Chimenti says
oops, you must have skipped over the recipe tips sections where I mention to use good-quality muffin liners or parchment-style liners. Thin paper liners can stick to the toffee once it hardens.
Tammy Casady says
🤦🏻♀️yes I didn’t see that tip until I had posted. Thanks
Oscar Chimenti says
I like these because they taste like real Christmas crack but without the sugar. The toasted pecans and chocolate make them a quick, perfect holiday bite.