Ranger Cookies are flavored with pecans, coconut, and chocolate chips, and there are endless variations of this popular recipe. These Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies are delicious for a more carb-conscious version of this classic cookie!

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Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies on serving plate

We’re heading into the time of year when there are cookies and other sweet treats everywhere you look. I doubt many people are religiously dieting during December, but even for those of us who are just trying to limit our consumption of holiday sweets, it can be a challenge.

For a few years now I’ve been experimenting with recipes for sugar-free or low-sugar cookies for the holidays, and this recipe for Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies is my version of a classic cookie where I’m switching out some ingredients to make a more carb-conscious version.

These Ranger Cookies are full of flavor from pecans, oatmeal, unsweetened coconut, Lily’s Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips (affiliate link), and whole wheat pastry flour, and I make them with Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link), which is my favorite sweetener for sugar-free or low-sugar cookies.

What ingredients do you need? 

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

What are Ranger Cookies?

Some people say that Ranger Cookies are named for forest rangers who like these cookies for their energy-boosting ingredients. Other say the cookie originated in Texas and was originally called the ‘Texas Ranger Cookie’ or ‘The Lone Ranger Cookie. But for sure these are intended to be a cookie filled with nuts, chocolate, coconut, oatmeal and fiber cereal that will give you energy when you need it.

What sweetener did I use?

I’m a huge fan of Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) and my preferred brand is Lakanto Monkfruit Zero Calorie Sweetener. You can use either Classic Monkfruit or Golden Monkfruit for this recipe, but for recipes where there isn’t much liquid I find the Classic Monkfruit will dissolve a little better.

What if you don’t have whole wheat pastry flour?

I haven’t tried making the Ranger Cookies with other types of flour, but I did find a few places online that said all-purpose flour can be substituted for whole wheat pastry flour. Regular whole wheat flour is more coarsely ground and might not work as well. I am intrigued by the idea of substituting Almond Flour for the whole wheat pastry flour, but I haven’t tried that.

More Tasty Sugar-Free Cookies:

Check out My Favorite Flourless Sugar-Free Cookies for more cookies ideas without sugar.

Low-Sugar and Whole Wheat Ranger Cookies with Pecans, Coconut, and Chocolate

How to make Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  1. Whole wheat pastry flour is a type of whole wheat flour that’s more finely ground than traditional whole wheat flour, and it’s a great ingredient for baking.
  2. Toasting the pecans on a small cookie sheet placed in the oven really brings out their flavor in these cookies.
  3. Then process together the bran cereal, oatmeal, coconut, and chocolate chips until it’s a coarsely ground mixture. (It took a bit longer than I expected to get the chocolate chips ground up.)
  4. In a small bowl, mix together the whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Use a small hand beater to cream together the margarine (or butter), Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) or sweetener of your choice, egg, and vanilla.
  6. Then add the flour mixture and beat on low until it’s all combined.
  7. Stir in the oatmeal-pecan mixture and mix until all ingredients are well combined.
  8. Use a tablespoon to scoop out heaping balls of dough and arrange 2 inches apart on cookie sheet that’s been sprayed with non-stick spray. (The recipe said 16 cookies, but I only got 12.)
  9. Bake cookies at 375F/190C for 16-20 minutes, or until the bottom is golden and the top of the cookies feels dry.

Square image for Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies shown on orange plate.

Want more ideas for sugar-free desserts?

Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies on serving plate
Yield: 12 cookies

Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

These Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies have whole wheat pastry flour, pecans, coconut, and sugar-free chocolate chips and they're delicious for a healthier cookie option!

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup pecan halves or pieces
  • 1/4 cup bran cereal
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
  • 1/4 cup Lily's Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup butter (see notes)
  • 1/4 cup Monkfruit Sweetener, or sweetener of your choice
  • 1 egg
  • 1 T vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375F/190C.
  2. Put pecans on a small baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 6 minutes, or until they are becoming fragrant and lightly toasted. Let pecans cool for 2-3 minutes.
  3. While pecans are toasting add bran cereal (I used Fiber One, which has no added sugar), rolled oats (I used Bob’s Red Mill Extra Thick Rolled Oats), unsweetened coconut, and chocolate chips to food processor.
  4. Add pecans as soon as they are cool, then process until the mixture is coarsely ground.  (It took about a minute for me to get the chocolate chips ground.)
  5. In a small bowl, combine whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, and salt.
  6. In a larger bowl, use a hand beater on high speed to cream together the butter (or margarine), Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link), egg, and vanilla.
  7. Add the flour mixture and use a low speed to mix until all ingredients are combined.
  8. Remove beaters and use a spoon or rubber scraper to mix in the oatmeal-pecan mixture, stirring until it’s well blended into the batter.
  9. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.
  10. Use a tablespoon to scoop out heaping spoonfuls of batter and place them 2 inches apart. (Original recipe said 16 cookies, but I only got 12.)
  11. Bake cookies 16-20 minutes, or until the bottom is golden and the top of the cookies feel dry.  (Cookies in the photo were baked for 18 minutes.)
  12. Let cool 20-30 minutes.  These cookies freeze well.

Notes

I prefer Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) for baking but use any sweetener you like. I'd make these with Lily's Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips (affiliate link) but use any chocolate chips that are low in sugar.

Since this recipe came from an old South Beach Diet cookbook it recommended making the cookies with margarine. I am not a margarine fan, but you can definitely use it if you prefer!

Recipe adapted slightly from The South Beach Diet Parties and Holidays Cookbook.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 227Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 154mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

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Low-Sugar Whole Wheat Ranger Cookies finished cookies on plate

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Sugar-Free Ranger Cookies made with an approved sweetener and using margarine would be approved for phase 2 or 3 of the original South Beach Diet. Sugar-free chocolate chips would be the best choice for South Beach or low-glycemic diets. These Ranger Cookies are too high in carbs for traditional low-carb diet plans, even with the carb-conscious changes I made.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Desserts and Baking Recipes for more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan.You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe for a more carb-conscious Ranger Cookie was posted in 2010. It was last updated with more information in 2023.

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