So I am obsessed with this (keto) shortbread cookies recipe. It’s easy, low carb, gluten-free, and tastes like a legit old-school classic buttery shortbread.
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Top them off with a little or a lot of this cream cheese frosting, and you’re good to go for the holidays.
Unless you’re behind on Christmas shopping, decorating, and meal planning, and you keep forgetting to move the Elf on the Shelf:)
Here’s how this cookie recipe comes to the rescue. It’s a simple, gluten-free, low-carb homemade cookie you can put together in 20 minutes, even if baking is not your jam.
These shortbread cookies are also perfect for holiday cookie swaps. They’re lovely enough to give as gifts or serve at parties, and they’re also a super fab way to treat yourself after a long day of adulting.
Oh, and you should know that this recipe passed my husband’s (who’s not on a diet) and picky-eating kids’ tests with flying colors. Boom!
Keto Shortbread Cookies Ingredients
This recipe is simple and almost failproof -> The secret is getting the right ingredients into your mixing bowl.
Blanched Almond Flour—Use blanched almond flour, not almond meal, or the texture will be grainy.
Confectioners (Powdered) Erythritol—In case you haven’t noticed, I’m using a lot of So Nourished, but if you’re on team Swerve, nobody will call you out.
Softened Salted Butter—Go ahead and judge me if you want, but I’m a salted butter girl through and through. Try to use room-temperature butter—softened butter will make creaming the butter and erythritol easier.
Making Keto Shortbread Cookies Step By Step
You’ll start by creaming the butter in a large bowl with a hand or stand mixer. If you’re using softened butter, this will only take a minute on medium speed.
Next, add the sweetener and mix again on medium until everything is combined. Then add in vanilla. (About three minutes)
Start adding the almond flour gradually—I added 1/2 cup, mixed it, and then added more until all 2.5 cups were combined.
I will tell you right now that at this point in the game, you may start doubting your dough because it does not look pretty. Stay strong. You’re on the right track.
Next, take a mini cookie scoop or tablespoon to form 24 cookies on a cookie tray or baking pan lined with parchment paper (space about an inch apart)
If you want the look of old-school shortbread cookies, use a spoon or your hand to flatten each cookie and sprinkle it with granulated erythritol. If you don’t flatten these, they will hold their ball-style shape after baking.
Tips You Need To Know To Make The Best Low-Carb Almond Flour Cookies
Softening Butter Tip—If you forgot to soften the butter, you could soften it in 2 minutes by slicing it into chunks and using the paddle attachment on your stand mixer, OR you could try to soften it a little in the microwave in 5-second intervals.
Line Your Pan with Parchment Paper – You won’t have to worry about the cookies sticking to the tray (Bonus: You can reuse parchment paper)
Use a Cookie Scoop – If you want your cookies to be the same size, look fabulous on a dessert tray, etc.
Almond Flour Cookies Crisp as they Cool—Don’t be afraid to take them out of the oven even if the center appears too doughy. Almond flour cookies crisp up after a couple of hours. (They are also always better the next day!)
Freezing Instructions For Making Ahead
Scoop out the dough as if you were baking, then place the pan of raw cookie dough in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. Then, place the cookie dough balls in a zip-lock freezer bag with the recipe name, baking temperature, and heating instructions—you may need to add a minute or two to the baking time since you’re working with frozen dough.
Things You May Need To Bake Shortbread Cookies
Cookie Scoop – Use a mini-cookie scoop like this one to make your life easier and all of your cookies the same size
Stand Mixer – Treat yourself to the ultimate kitchen tool – this KitchenAid Mixer works for you.
Cookie Sheet – These will last a lifetime:)
If You Like This Cookie Recipe, You Need To Check Out These Keto Desserts!
I know you’re here for the cookies, but I promise these low-carb desserts are worth trying, too.
Keto Peanut Butter Cookies with Almond Flour – The Holy Grail of healthy cookie recipes – in 30 minutes!
Keto Cream Cheese Frosting—This is a delicious and rich cream cheese frosting without powdered sugar. It’s a must-have topping for all of your low-carb cookies, cakes, and more!
Keto Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodle Cookies—This low-carb, chewy, healthy dessert tastes as good as homemade sin topped with chai spice cinnamon sugar.
Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies – Almond flour, butter (or coconut oil), sugar-free chocolate chips, and vanilla create a crispy on the outside, chewy inside, close-to-perfect low-carb cookie.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fat Bombs – The quickest and most simple no-bake, edible low-carb cookie dough recipe
Keto Peanut Butter Balls – Super easy 3-ingredient no-bake peanut butter balls with 1.8 net carbs each! (paleo and vegan-friendly)
Cream Cheese Fat Bombs – How does a quick and easy keto dessert with less than one carb sound? Trust me, you need this recipe in your life:)
PrintThe Easy Keto Shortbread Cookies Recipe With Almond Flour (Low Carb Gluten-Free Butter Cookies)
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- Author: Heather Burnett
- Total Time: 20
- Yield: 24 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These Keto Shortbread Cookies with almond flour taste like classic buttery shortbread cookies – but they are a healthier, low carb, gluten-free and keto-friendly version with only 2.3 net carbs and 3 WW SmartPoints per cookie!
Ingredients
- 2.5 Cups Blanched Almond Flour
- 1/4 – ½ Cup Confectioners Erythritol (I use So Nourished)
- 1/2 Cup Salted Butter – Softened
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
- 2 Tablespoons Granulated Erythritol (So Nourished) – Optional
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 350
- Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Using a hand or stand mixer cream butter and confectioners erythritol.
- Add vanilla then add ½ cup of almond flour – blend – then add more. Dumping it in all at once will make it harder to combine.
- Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to form 24 cookies on a cookie tray or baking pan lined with parchment paper (space about an inch apart)
- Use a spoon or your hand to flatten each cookie then sprinkle with granulated erythritol
- Bake for 10 – 12 minutes
Notes
Finishing Touches:
Top with this low carb cream cheese frosting
Sprinkle with Granular So Nourished or Swerve
For My Friends on Weight Watchers – 3 SP per serving
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American