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    Home » Recipes » Cookies and Bars

    Caramel Gluten Free Butter Pecan Cookies Recipe

    Published: Feb 20, 2020 · Modified: Dec 8, 2020 by Sandi Gaertner · 29 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    a pinterest collage of pecan cookie photos

    If you love butter pecan flavor, give these gluten free butter pecan cookies recipe a try. You will love these fun caramel bits I found to go in these cookies!  Try these and try a few more gluten free cookie recipes too

    butter pecan cookies on a cookie sheet
    Jump to:
    • Why these cookies are great:
    • Ingredient notes:
    • Recipe step by step directions:
    • Gluten Free Flours
    • Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:
    • Gluten Free Cookies:
    • Recipe
    • Community

    Butter pecan is one of my favorite ice cream flavors. Do you have a favorite flavor of ice cream that would be fun to create a cookie around? If you love caramel as much as my kids, this gluten free caramel apple cake and these gluten free caramel cupcakes are definitely worth trying too!

    I have learned my kids will devour any cookies with melted caramel bits...I may need to find a way to hide more veggies in my cookies. Caramel camouflage may just be the sneaky way to achieve this (insert evil grin.) If you want a more grown-up cookie, give this Gluten Free Coffee Flour Cookie recipe a try!

    Why these cookies are great:

    There is something about the creamy goodness mixed in with that butter and nutty pecan flavor that makes me buy this flavor all of the time. Add caramel sauce, and it is heaven. 

    These cookies took a little time to create. Lots of trial and error to get the flavors just right. I used Kraft caramel bits to get the caramel flavor into the cookies. (*Note to be careful when you take these out of the oven. The melted caramel is HOT!)

    If you prefer a classic cookie recipe, you will want to make these Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies too!

    Ingredient notes:

    • Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe with both Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Blend and King Arthur Measure for Measure. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
    • Xanthan Gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
    • Pure vanilla extract - I do not recommend using imitation vanilla.
    • Butter - Use vegan butter if you want these cookies to be dairy-free.

    Recipe step by step directions:

    Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend. Pour the pecans in and mix well so the pecans are evenly dispersed.

    Gluten Free Flours

    whisked wet ingredients in a bowl

    Step 2: In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend. Pour the wet ingredients on top of the dry ingredients. Mix well.

    butter pecan cookie dough

    Step 3: The gluten free butter pecan cookie dough is a little more firm than other cookies I have made. Let the dough sit for 5 minutes to absorb the liquid.

    pecan cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet

    Step 4: Use a cookie scoop to drop the dough balls onto a cookie sheet. You can pat the cookies down if you prefer a flatter cookie. 

    Step 5: Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes at 350º F. Remove them from the oven and move the cookies to a cooling rack. Be careful and use a spatula so you don't get burned by the hot caramel.

    a stack of three cookies on a plate

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

    Can you make this nut-free?

    You can make these cookies nut-free by skipping the pecans.

    Can you make this dairy-free?

    You can make these cookies dairy-free by using vegan butter. I haven't found dairy-free caramel chips so you would need to substitute them with something like Enjoy Life dairy-free chocolate chips.

    Can you freeze them?

    Yes!! We often make a double batch so we can freeze some of the cookies! Just let the cookies fully cool, then add to a freezer bag. Zip the bag closed squeezing as much air out as possible.

    How long will these cookies keep?

    These cookies will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

    pecan cookies with a bite taken out

    Gluten Free Cookies:

    • Crisp Delicious Gluten Free Butter Cookies are the star of any bake sale!
    • If you love sprinkles, these Gluten Free Funfetti Sugar Cookies are a wonderful treat.
    • My take on the classic cookie with some shredded coconut! Gluten Free Coconut Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Gluten Free Cookies and Cream Cookies
    • Chocolate-Dipped Gluten Free Coconut Macaroons
    • The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
    • Gluten Free Chocolate Frosted Cookies {Crumbl Copycat}

    Recipe

    Gluten Free Butter Pecan Caramel Cookies

    Sandi Gaertner
    Easy gluten free butter pecan caramel cookies
    5 from 2 votes
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    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections Save RecipeSaved!
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Gluten Free Cookies and Bar Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 18 cookies
    Calories 165 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowls
    • Whisk
    • Cookie scoop
    • Cookie sheet

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cups gluten free flour blend * see note
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup toasted pecans unsalted
    • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons butter melted
    • ¼ cup sugar
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • ½ cup Kraft caramel bits

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
    • Spray coconut oil onto a cookie sheet.
    • In a large bowl, add dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
    • Add all wet ingredients, pecans, and caramel bits.
    • Mix well.
    • Use a cookie scoop to drop cookie balls onto a baking sheet.
    • Bake 10 minutes until done.
    • Cool on a cooling rack.

    Notes

    1. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
    2. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
    3. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
    4. These cookies will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 86mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 184IUCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
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    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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    If you love the recipes you are finding on my blog, I would love for you to sign up for my newsletter (and get my free gluten free lemon desserts e-cookbook!)

    (*Note this post was updated from an older March 2015 post. Here is the old photo below

    « Vegan Mexican Casserole {Comfort Food!}
    Slow Cooker Gluten Free Mushroom Soup »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nicole

      February 21, 2020 at 4:41 pm

      Sandi, these cookies look amazing! And all those new photos....I just wanna grab1 through the screen.

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        February 21, 2020 at 10:02 pm

        LOL thank you so much Nicole, glad you like the new photos :-).

        Reply
    2. jenna

      February 21, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      I've been on a huge pecan kick lately!! Can't wait to give these a try using your dairy-free suggestions. I think I saw some vegan caramel chips on amazon the other day. I'll have to check them out 🙂

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        February 21, 2020 at 10:03 pm

        We are pecan fanatics as well 🙂

        Reply
    3. Cinnamon Flowers

      April 01, 2016 at 11:49 am

      If you want to use a premade flour such as Mama's Gluten free almond flour or cup for cup, would you use 3 cups plus the Xanthan gum (if the mix doesn't have it) ?

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        April 01, 2016 at 3:07 pm

        Hi, you definitely want to add 1 teaspoon xanthan gum if your gluten free flour blend doesn't have it already. Cup4Cup has dry milk in it. This will work for this recipe, but it doesn't work for any of my baked recipes with lemon juice...just an fyi. Thank you for taking the time to write 🙂

        Reply
    4. Julie

      March 31, 2015 at 6:30 pm

      Can a gluten free flour be substituted, if so how much? These look wonderful!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        March 31, 2015 at 6:35 pm

        This is a gluten free recipe. Are you asking if you can use a different gluten free flour Julie? I used Authentic Foods Gluten Free Flour Blend, I assume other blends will work as long as they don't contain bean flour. Also check if you use a different blend that it has xanthan gum. If it doesn't you will want to add a teaspoon. Good luck. Sandi

        Reply
    5. Linda

      March 31, 2015 at 5:11 pm

      These look so good! I love the combination of butter pecan and caramel. If only I could eat dairy! Thanks for sharing at Gluten-Free Wednesdays. I'll be highlighting these cookies this week.

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        March 31, 2015 at 6:36 pm

        Hi Linda, Thank you so much. I wonder if you could use this dairy free caramel for the cookies? http://www.adventuresofaglutenfreemom.com/2010/11/handcrafted-dairycasein-free-chewy-caramels/

        Reply
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