Low-Carb Pecan Turtle Cheesecake Bars

This recipe is shared with permission from Kim at Low Carb Maven. Click here for the original recipe and notes, and explore her website for lots of other low-carb recipe ideas.

Servings: 16

Note: You will need a coffee grinder or food processor for this recipe. It also calls for overnight refrigeration before final assembly.

Ingredients:

• 1 recipe Low-Carb Caramel Sauce (or store -bought sugar-free caramel sauce)
• 1 recipe Low-Carb Hot Fudge Sauce (or store-bought sugar-free hot fudge sauce)

For the Brown Sugar Pecan Crust:

• 1 cup toasted pecans, ground
• 1 cup almond flour
• ¼ cup whey protein powder (I use Isopure zero carb)
• ⅓ cup Sukrin Gold, powdered
• 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted

For the Vanilla Cheesecake:

• 2 ½ packages cream cheese, softened (20 oz)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon Stevia Glycerite (or more of your favorite sweetener to taste)
• ⅔ cup low-carb powdered sugar/Sukrin Melis
• ½ cup heavy cream, whipped

For the Topping:

• 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
• caramel sauce for drizzling
• fudge sauce for drizzling

Instructions:

Preparation:

1. Prepare the homemade low-carb caramel sauce and low-carb hot fudge sauce. They can be made several days before. Alternately, purchase sugar-free caramel sauce and sugar-free hot fudge sauce from the store.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and toast all of the pecans (2 cups). Cool.
3. Spray a 9X9 inch square baking pan with baking spray and line with a sheet of parchment long enough so that it hangs over two sides. This will help you remove the bars in one large piece for easier cutting and serving.

Brown Sugar Pecan Crust:

1. Grind the Sukrin Gold in a coffee grinder and add it to a medium bowl.
2. Grind the pecans in a coffee grinder or small food processor and add them to the bowl with the sweetener.
3. Add the rest of the dry ingredients and whisk together thoroughly.
4. Melt the butter and mix it into the dry ingredients. The mixture should hold together when squeezed gently in your hand. If not, add 1-2 tablespoons more melted butter.
5. Dump the crust ingredients into the prepared pan and lay a piece of waxed paper over the mixture. Using a flat-bottomed glass, very firmly press the mixture into the pan.

Cheesecake Layer:

1. Wipe out the bowl and add the softened cream cheese. Mix gently with a hand mixer to loosen up the cream cheese. Add the vanilla and stevia glycerite and mix until completely incorporated.
2. Sift the powdered sugar/Sukrin Melis into the cheese mixture and beat until light and fluffy.
3. In a smaller bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff. Visually divide the whipped cream into thirds and gently fold each third into the cream cheese mixture.
4. Pour the cream cheese layer into the pan and evenly spread over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining chopped pecans over the top of the cheesecake. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Assemble:

1. Heat the caramel and hot fudge sauces in the microwave until warm and of a pourable consistency. Stir each. Remove the cheesecake from the refrigerator and run a thin, sharp knife around the inside edge of the pan. Grab the parchment paper overhanging the sides and lift the Pecan Turtle Cheesecake out of the pan. This takes a little care and patience. Cut into 16 bars. Drizzle the caramel and hot fudge over each bar before serving.

NOTE: I like putting the sauces in a small squeeze bottle to decorate the tops of the bars. The sauce can also be spooned into plastic bags. Snip the corner of each bag and squeeze the sauces over the bars.

Nutritional Information for 1 Serving:

Calories 439, Fat: 42g, Carbs: 13g, Fiber 8g, Protein 6g