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Home » Recipes » Dessert

Low Carb Shortbread Cookies

by Oscar Chimenti, Last Modified: June 29, 2022 This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. See the Disclosure Policy linked in my footer.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Just like the traditional shortbread cookies but without all the sugar spikes. Diabetic friendly sugar free shortbread cookies. #sugarfree #keto #lowcarb #christmas #cookies

Low Carb Shortbread Cookies are a favourite during the holidays. Made with only 4 ingredients, these cookies are rich, buttery, crispy and crumbly with a light sweet taste.

Sugar free shortbread cookies taste like the traditional shortbread cookies but without the carbs and sugar spikes and only 1 gram of carbs per serving.

shortbread cookies on parchment paper with christmas decorations this recipe
Jump To:
  • 🥘 Ingredients Used
  • 👨🏻‍🍳 Steps by step instructions
  • 👨🏻‍🍳 Recipe tips
  • ♨️ Recipe variations
  • 💭 Frequently asked questions
  • 🍽 Other sugar free recipes you might enjoy
  • Low Carb Shortbread Cookies

Buttery keto shortbread cookies are a perfect snack for the holiday season. Unlike sugar cookies these shortbread cookies are less sweet and a little softer with a buttery flavour.

I love this time of year as I enjoy spending time in the kitchen developing new ways to make traditional recipes into low carb recipes. I often will explore the usual holiday cookies and come up with a modified diabetic friendly recipe, along with a few other holiday appetizers and meals. See my Gingerbread Cookies for a chewy and soft holiday inspired treat.

🥘 Ingredients Used

Made with only 4 ingredients this shortbread cookie recipe is simple to make and you won't believe they are sugar free and gluten free.

  • Blanched Almond Flour: ground blanched almonds were used for this recipe which gives it a slightly nutty flavour. There are shortbread cookies made with coconut flour instead if you have a nut allergy.
  • Butter: supporting the flaky and tenderness to these keto christmas cookies
  • Erythritol: this is my favourite sweetener as I find it is the closest sweetener to sugar and as a type 2 diabetic it does not seem to spike my blood sugars. You can also use granular monk fruit sweetener instead.
  • Vanilla Extract: used to enhance the flavours of all the ingredients

👨🏻‍🍳 Steps by step instructions

How to make Low Carb Shortbread Cookies

STEP 1: In a large bowl with a hand mixer or you can use a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and erythritol until well combined and fluffy, about a minute. Then mix in a the vanilla extract and then slowly mix in the almond flour a little at a time.

mixer with butter and erythritol in a bowl

STEP 2: Once mixed, use your hands to knead the dough together and shape the shortbread cookie dough into a ball.

dough shaped into a large ball in a bowl

STEP 3: Roll out 12 - 1 inch dough balls and place onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Using a fork indent a cross hatch into the cookies.

unbaked shortbread cookies on a parchment sheet

STEP 4: Place in freezer for 10 minutes and then bake in a 350°F preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until they are lightly golden around the edges. Allow to slightly cool on the baking tray until they are firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.

shortbread cookies laying in singles and 3 stacked next to a jingle red ball

👨🏻‍🍳 Recipe tips

Top Tip: Freeze the raw cookies on the parchment lined cookie sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes before baking.

  • Serving: enjoy these keto cookies with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea. A cup of low carb or sugar free hot chocolate is also I great way to enjoy these sugar free cookies
  • Storage: keep them at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
  • Freeze: freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

♨️ Recipe variations

These melt in your mouth cookies are great on their own but here are a few variations that you might enjoy for these keto cookies recipe.

  • Chocolate - these keto cookies are great dipper in melted low carb chocolate and set to cool on a wire rack to allow the chocolate to harden. You can also use sugar free chocolate chips to make chocolate chip cookies
  • Sprinkles - if you have any low carb or sugar free sprinkles they also go well on these low carb cookies.
  • Nuts - adding some pecans or walnuts to the cookie dough batter is a nice touch to these cookies

See my Keto Thumbprint Cookies for another holiday recipe.

💭 Frequently asked questions

What is the secret to a good shortbread almond flour keto cookie?

Good quality butter is what makes these cookies so special.

What is the difference between shortbread and sugar cookies?

Although both are delicious, sugar cookies are lighter and shortbread cookies are more dense.

Why do you put shortbread cookies in the freezer before baking?

We put them in the freezer to keep the butter in them cool so they don't fall flat while baking.

Are these almond flour shortbread cookies keto friendly?

Each cookie contains only 1g of carbs per serving and are likely to fit into a keto diet. They are also low carb, sugar free and diabetic friendly.

🍽 Other sugar free recipes you might enjoy

  • Sicilian Almond Cookies (Low Carb)
  • Sugar Free Butter Pecan Ice Cream (Ninja Creami)
  • Keto Strawberry Mousse (Sugar Free)
  • Keto Lemon Mousse (Sugar-Free)
low carb shortbread cookies with holiday christmas decorations
Shortbread cookies on parchment with christmas decorations

Low Carb Shortbread Cookies

Oscar
Just like the traditional shortbread cookies but without all the sugar spikes. Diabetic friendly sugar free shortbread cookies.
5 from 55 votes
Print Pin This Recipe
Prep Time : 10 mins
Cook Time : 18 mins
Freeze before baking : 10 mins
Total Time : 38 mins
Course : Dessert
Cuisine : American
Diet : Diabetic, Gluten Free
Servings : 12 cookies
Calories : 70

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • Mixing Bowls

Ingredients
  

  • 5 tablespoon softened butter
  • ⅓ cup erythritol
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups almond flour
Get the New E-bookCheck out Low Carb Comfort Food!

Instructions
 

  • Cream together the softened butter and erythritol until well combined and fluffy, about a minute. Then mix in a the vanilla extract and then slowly mix in the almond flour a little at a time.
  • Use your hands to knead the dough together and shape into a ball.
  • Roll out 12 - 1 inch dough balls and place onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Using a fork indent a cross hatch into the cookies.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Place cookies in the freezer for 10 minutes and then bake in a 350°F preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until they are lightly golden around the edges. Allow to slightly cool on the baking tray and then move to a cooling rack.

Notes

Top Tip: Freeze the raw cookies on the parchment lined cookie sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes before baking.

This recipe card provides the basic details to make this recipe. For more information, questions or variations please review the content above the recipe card.

Updates and Revisions

If conflicting information between the video and recipe card, the recipe card will always have the most up to date information, ingredients and instructions.

Click here to add your own private notes.

Nutritional Information

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0g
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🌡️ Food safety

  • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
  • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
  • Wash hands after touching raw meat
  • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking 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

More Dessert

  • Ninja Creami Tiramisu Ice Cream (Sugar Free)
  • Keto Tiramisu Mousse
  • Keto Gingerbread Cake
  • Keto Hot Chocolate

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jeri

    December 16, 2021 at 9:09 pm

    5 stars
    Shortbread cookies are my favorite cookies to make at Christmas, and I am loving this low-carb version!

    Reply
  2. Amanda Scarlati

    December 16, 2021 at 6:08 pm

    5 stars
    These cookies were so good. The perfect texture!

    Reply
  3. Addie

    December 15, 2021 at 10:36 pm

    These are so easy and delicious! We loved them.

    Reply
  4. Kayla DiMaggio

    December 15, 2021 at 8:27 pm

    5 stars
    These low carb shortbread cookies are so delicious! I love how easy they were!

    Reply
  5. Megan Ellam

    December 15, 2021 at 5:24 pm

    5 stars
    I make these all the time and they are just perfect.

    Reply
  6. Alexandra

    December 15, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect for festive baking, these shortbread cookies are absolutely delicious.

    Reply
  7. nancy

    November 26, 2021 at 12:59 pm

    5 stars
    shortbreads are always so fatty - i love this low cal version!

    Reply
  8. Jean

    November 25, 2021 at 11:04 pm

    5 stars
    These low-carb shortbreads are so delicious, perfect for the occasion.

    Reply

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Oscar in the kitchen

I am a Type 2 Diabetic and enjoy creating low-carb and diabetic-friendly recipes that are good for you! All recipes are developed to help you make great food without the highs and lows of diabetes.

More about me...

Healthy Low Carb and Diabetic Friendly Book Cover

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