Keto Christmas Cookies: 13 Low Carb Holiday Classics for a Cookie Tray Everyone Can Share

Keto Christmas cookies mean nobody at the party has to skip the cookie tray. If you eat low carb, or bake for a parent, spouse or friend who does, the holidays can feel like one long list of no. These recipes change that. Each classic gets a simple swap: almond or coconut flour in place of wheat flour, a granulated sugar substitute in place of sugar, and plenty of real butter. The cookies look and taste like the ones grandma made, with a few honest texture notes along the way. Below are 12 holiday favorites, from snickerdoodles to linzer cookies, with an easy recipe for each. Preheat the oven..

Keto Christmas Cookies for the Whole Family

Same cookie tray, same cozy kitchen, a lot fewer carbs. Most guests will not be able to tell which plate is which. A few tips first: almond flour gives a tender, buttery crumb, while coconut flour soaks up a lot of liquid, so never swap them one for one. Chill the dough so the cookies hold their shape, and let them cool on the pan, because low carb cookies firm up as they cool. A keto diet usually keeps carbs under 50 grams a day, and the Harvard Nutrition Source keto diet review suggests talking with a doctor and a dietitian before you start one..

You will need: 2 cups almond flour, 1/2 cup softened butter, 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt.

How to make it: 1. Beat butter and sweetener until fluffy. 2. Beat in egg and vanilla. 3. Stir in almond flour, baking powder and salt. 4. Chill the dough 30 minutes. 5. Shape, bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes. 6. Cool completely on the pan before moving.

Almond Flour Shortbread, the Easiest Keto Christmas Cookies

Shortbread is the easiest cookie to make low carb, because it is mostly butter anyway. Almond flour makes it tender and a little nutty. Roll the dough between two sheets of parchment and cut stars, trees and hearts. Keep the cut-outs thick so they do not crack.

You will need: 2 cups almond flour, 1/2 cup cold butter cubed, 1/3 cup powdered sugar substitute, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp salt.

How to make it: 1. Pulse everything in a food processor until a dough forms. 2. Roll 1/4 inch thick between parchment. 3. Chill 20 minutes. 4. Cut shapes and place on a lined sheet. 5. Bake at 325 F for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges turn golden. 6. Cool on the pan.

Snickerdoodles With a Cinnamon Crust

Soft in the middle with that famous crackly cinnamon top. A granulated sweetener mixed with cinnamon makes the coating, and a little cream of tartar gives the classic tang. Of all the keto Christmas cookies here, these taste the most like the original. They come out puffy and settle as they cool. Which cookie is your must have on the tray?

You will need: 2 cups almond flour, 1/2 cup butter softened, 1/2 cup granulated sugar substitute, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cream of tartar, 1/2 tsp baking soda, pinch of salt. Coating: 2 tbsp sweetener and 1 tbsp cinnamon.

How to make it: 1. Beat butter and sweetener, then the egg and vanilla. 2. Stir in almond flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. 3. Chill 30 minutes. 4. Roll into balls and coat in cinnamon sweetener. 5. Bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes. 6. Cool on the pan.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

The peanut butter blossom is easy to adapt, since peanut butter does most of the work. Use natural peanut butter with no added sugar, and press a sugar-free chocolate drop into each cookie as soon as it comes out of the oven. Kids and grown ups both reach for these first.

You will need: 1 cup natural peanut butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar substitute, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 cup almond flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 18 to 24 sugar-free chocolate drops.

How to make it: 1. Mix peanut butter, sweetener, egg and vanilla. 2. Stir in almond flour and baking soda. 3. Roll into 1 inch balls. 4. Bake at 350 F for 9 to 11 minutes. 5. Press a chocolate drop into each center right away. 6. Cool until the chocolate sets.

Gingerbread Men With Simple Icing

The warm spices are what make gingerbread taste like Christmas, and they are all naturally low carb. A spoon of blackstrap molasses is optional for that deep flavor; a little goes a long way. Gingerbread men are the most fun keto Christmas cookies to decorate. Decorate with a simple icing made from powdered sweetener and a splash of cream.

You will need: 2 1/2 cups almond flour, 1/4 cup coconut flour, 1/2 cup butter softened, 1/2 cup brown sugar substitute, 1 egg, 2 tsp ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp molasses (optional). Icing: powdered sweetener and cream.

How to make it: 1. Beat butter and sweetener, then the egg and molasses. 2. Stir in flours, spices and baking soda. 3. Chill 1 hour. 4. Roll between parchment and cut out men. 5. Bake at 350 F for 8 to 10 minutes. 6. Cool, then pipe on the icing.

Thumbprint Cookies With No-Sugar-Added Jam

Thumbprints are a holiday tray favorite. Roll the almond flour dough into balls, press a dent in each, and fill it with a no-sugar-added raspberry or cherry jam. They are pretty keto Christmas cookies for gift tins. A dusting of powdered sweetener makes them look snowy. Raspberry or cherry: which jam would you pick?

You will need: 2 cups almond flour, 1/3 cup butter softened, 1/4 cup granulated sugar substitute, 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp almond extract, 1/3 cup no-sugar-added jam, powdered sweetener.

How to make it: 1. Beat butter and sweetener, then the yolk and extracts. 2. Stir in almond flour. 3. Roll into 1 inch balls on a lined sheet. 4. Press a dent in each with your thumb. 5. Fill with jam. 6. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 14 minutes and dust with powdered sweetener once cool.

Magic Cookies, the Viral Keto Christmas Cookies

This one went viral for a reason. Magic cookies are made from just a few things: butter, egg yolks, sweetener, coconut, dark chocolate and nuts, with no flour at all. They bake up chewy and golden, a lot like a candy bar in cookie form. One of the most popular keto Christmas cookies on YouTube has more than a million views.

You will need: 4 egg yolks, 1/4 cup butter melted, 1/4 cup granulated sugar substitute, 1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut, 1/2 cup sugar-free dark chocolate chunks, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1/2 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Whisk egg yolks, butter, sweetener and vanilla. 2. Stir in coconut, chocolate and walnuts. 3. Scoop mounds onto a lined sheet. 4. Press lightly. 5. Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes until golden. 6. Cool completely before moving.

Cream Cheese Cut-Outs With Sugar-Free Icing

Cream cheese makes these cut-outs soft and easy to roll. Decorate them with snowmen, snowflakes and mittens using a sugar-free royal style icing. They are perfect for a cookie decorating night with the family. If you also bake regular ones, our keto bread and low carb fall bakes have more swap ideas.

You will need: 2 1/2 cups almond flour, 2 oz cream cheese softened, 1/4 cup butter softened, 1/3 cup powdered sugar substitute, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/4 tsp salt. Icing: 1 cup powdered sweetener, 1 egg white, food coloring.

How to make it: 1. Beat cream cheese, butter and sweetener. 2. Add egg and vanilla. 3. Stir in almond flour and salt. 4. Chill 1 hour, then roll between parchment. 5. Cut shapes and bake at 350 F for 8 to 10 minutes. 6. Cool, then decorate with icing.

Chocolate Crinkle Keto Christmas Cookies

Fudgy chocolate cookies rolled in powdered sweetener so they crack into that snowy pattern as they bake. Cocoa powder is naturally low in carbs, so these taste rich and chocolatey. Roll them twice in the coating for the boldest crinkles.

You will need: 1 1/2 cups almond flour, 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 cup granulated sugar substitute, 1/4 cup butter melted, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking powder, pinch of salt, 1/3 cup powdered sweetener for rolling.

How to make it: 1. Mix almond flour, cocoa, sweetener, baking powder and salt. 2. Stir in butter, egg and vanilla. 3. Chill 30 minutes. 4. Roll into balls and coat twice in powdered sweetener. 5. Bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes. 6. Cool on the pan.

Pecan Snowballs

Also called Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes, these melt in your mouth. Toasted pecans and almond flour make them rich and nutty. Roll them in powdered sweetener while warm, then again once cool. These keto Christmas cookies keep well for a week. They look like a bowl of fresh snow on the table.

You will need: 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup pecans toasted and finely chopped, 1/2 cup butter softened, 1/3 cup powdered sugar substitute, 1 tsp vanilla, pinch of salt, extra powdered sweetener for rolling.

How to make it: 1. Beat butter and sweetener. 2. Add vanilla. 3. Stir in almond flour, pecans and salt. 4. Roll into 1 inch balls. 5. Bake at 325 F for 15 minutes. 6. Roll in powdered sweetener while warm and again when cool.

Chocolate Chip Keto Christmas Cookies for Santa

Every tray needs a chocolate chip cookie. Brown the butter first for a toffee like flavor, and use sugar-free chocolate chips. A spoon of coconut flour helps them stay chewy instead of flat. Serve them warm with a glass of milk for Santa.

You will need: 2 cups almond flour, 1 tbsp coconut flour, 1/2 cup butter browned and cooled, 1/2 cup brown sugar substitute, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 3/4 cup sugar-free chocolate chips.

How to make it: 1. Brown the butter and cool 10 minutes. 2. Whisk in sweetener, egg and vanilla. 3. Stir in flours, baking soda and salt. 4. Fold in chocolate chips. 5. Scoop and bake at 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes. 6. Cool on the pan 10 minutes.

Coconut Macaroons Dipped in Dark Chocolate

Coconut macaroons are almost keto already. Unsweetened coconut and egg whites bake into golden, chewy mounds, and a dip in sugar-free dark chocolate makes them look bakery fancy. They are among the simplest keto Christmas cookies to make. They are also naturally gluten free, so more guests can enjoy them.

You will need: 3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut, 3 egg whites, 1/2 cup powdered sugar substitute, 1 tsp vanilla, pinch of salt, 3 oz sugar-free dark chocolate melted.

How to make it: 1. Whisk egg whites, sweetener, vanilla and salt until frothy. 2. Fold in the coconut. 3. Scoop mounds onto a lined sheet. 4. Bake at 325 F for 18 to 20 minutes until golden. 5. Cool completely. 6. Dip the bottoms in melted chocolate and let set.

Low Carb Linzer Cookies

Linzer cookies are the showstopper of any tray: two buttery almond cookies with a jam window in the middle. They take a little patience, but they are worth it. Fill them just before serving so they stay crisp. A quick note: low carb does not mean calorie free, and sugar alcohols can upset some stomachs. If you have diabetes or follow a medical diet, talk to your doctor before changing how you eat. Which cookie are you baking first?

You will need: 2 1/2 cups almond flour, 1/2 cup butter softened, 1/3 cup powdered sugar substitute, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/3 cup no-sugar-added raspberry jam, powdered sweetener for dusting.

How to make it: 1. Beat butter and sweetener, then the egg and vanilla. 2. Stir in almond flour, cinnamon and salt. 3. Chill, then roll between parchment. 4. Cut rounds and cut a small window in half of them. 5. Bake at 325 F for 10 to 12 minutes and cool. 6. Dust the tops, spread jam on the bottoms and sandwich.