Easy Keto Shortbread Cookies

These keto shortbread cookies are rich, buttery, and flat-out delicious.

It’s an almond flour cookie recipe that uses simple ingredients. This recipe is an authentic shortbread cookie that is low in carbs, gluten-free, and keto-friendly!

If you’re a fan of shortbread cookies, you’re going to love these low-carb shortbread cookies.

Imagine a keto cookie recipe that allows you to enjoy the traditional flavor of shortbread minus all the carbs.

Clocking in at 1.1 net carbs per cookie, these are butter cookies that won’t spike your blood sugar, making them perfect for a low-carb diet.

That’s what this keto cookie recipe offers, and in case you don’t know, I have a complete list of Keto Cookies that any cookie lover doing keto would enjoy exploring.

Here is our coconut flour shortbread cookie recipe in case you need a nut-free version.

Keto Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies were always a favorite of mine back when I baked them with traditional flour and sugar cookies, which were the norm for my family. The richness that the butter provided in those cookies was pretty addictive.

Of course, now I embrace the fat and just push away the bad carbs. So, coming up with a keto shortbread cookie recipe option was a must.

Can I tell you that these keto shortbread cookies did not disappoint?

I mean, what’s not to love? These cookies have the same texture and taste as traditional shortbread cookies without the worry of being kicked out of ketosis.

Not only are these keto shortbread cookies a tasty solution for individuals on a ketogenic diet, but even if you’re not doing keto, these are sugar cookies you can share with the entire family.

Ingredients Needed For Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies

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The following are the ingredients you’ll need for these low carb cookies; note that the full printable recipe is at the bottom of the page.

• Unsalted butter (butter should be cold)
• Sugar substitute
• Vanilla extract
• Finely milled almond flour
• Baking powder
• Sea salt
• Finely chopped pecans ( optional)

How To Make Keto Shortbread Cookies

First, measure and sift the almond flour, then combine it with the sugar substitute, salt, and baking powder in a medium-sized bowl.

I recommend sifting even when using finely milled almond flour because it ensures great results every time.

If you’re including finely chopped pecans, add them to the dry ingredients.

Take the butter out of the refrigerator and slice it into about 30 pieces.

In a separate bowl, blend the butter and vanilla extract into the flour mixture using your fingers, rubbing the butter into the flour until the dough forms together.

Next, press the dough into an ungreased square pan or onto parchment-lined cookie sheets, and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes to achieve the traditional shortbread texture.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

If baking individual cookies, form a cookie roll, wrap it in plastic wrap or wax paper, and chill for an hour before slicing and baking on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.

Press the tops of the shortbread with a fork before baking, then bake until the edges are lightly golden brown, about 25–30 minutes.

For shortbread bars, I pressed the chilled cookie dough into an ungreased 12×12-inch pan, added the fork tine marks, and then baked for 35–40 minutes until golden brown.

Allow the cookies to cool completely before slicing and serving. Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to five days or frozen for up to three weeks.

Tips To Perfect Keto Shortbread Cookies

When making authentic keto shortbread cookies, leave the food processor alone and use your fingers instead. 

Not using an electric mixer will ensure the cookies have the perfect texture.

We all love to save time in the kitchen, but I promise you that these cookies are worth the little extra time it takes to do them by hand.

Consider making these during the holiday when you want to slow down and enjoy the moment. 

Sure, if you use a food processor or stand mixer, these keto cookies can be ready to bake much sooner, but for a true shortbread with a nice crumbly texture, you’ll need to use your fingers to form the dough.

The reason is that shortbread cookie dough should not be overhandled. By using your fingers, you can ensure you do not overprocess the dough and that it has little pockets of air that give it a delicate crumb when it bakes.

I opted to add finely chopped pecans to these keto shortbread cookies, but you can safely leave them out and not impact the recipe.

Another vital tip when making keto shortbread cookies is to make sure that your butter is cold. It doesn’t have to be ice-cold but should not be at room temperature.

The butter should be cold enough to slice it and retain its shape easily.

My recipe calls for refrigerating for at least 45 minutes before baking. That extra step is important in getting the texture right.

If you choose to form the dough into logs, refrigerate for about an hour so that you can slice and bake them instead of baking them in a pan.

These keto shortbread cookies need to be baked in a 300-degree oven. This helps the cookie have the “short” bread texture. Cooking them at a lower temperature for a longer period of time helps the cookies be crisp.

Embracing Health Fats While Doing Keto

One of the things that completely shifted my mindset when I went keto was the fact that fat was not the enemy. For years, I banished all fat from my diet.

Today, I understand the critical role healthy fats offer and how they are vital to the process of being in ketosis. This simply means I have no problem enjoying a cookie that features butter as the main star.

If I am allowed butter on a low-carb keto plan, I will take advantage of this and use it in abundance. Not only does fat enrich the flavor of food, but it also keeps your hunger hormones stable.

Customizing Your Keto Shortbread Cookies

Having created a shortbread cookie recipe that was low in carbs meant that I could now have a favorite cookie back in my life.

I decided to elevate this recipe by adding some chopped pecans. You can, of course, choose to use any other low-carb nuts or leave them out entirely.

What’s more, you could also add 1/2 cup sugar-free chocolate chips to these and have another keto shortbread cookie option.

If you’re a fan of shortbread cookies, I’ve also created these keto brownie shortbread cookies you would also enjoy. It’s a shortbread brownie combo.

I always encourage you to feel free to customize my recipes once you have mastered them. But follow the steps exactly before you attempt to customize for the best results.

Tag Us

I sure hope you will give this recipe a try. Once you do, make sure you remember to tag us on Instagram and Facebook. It’s what encourages this girl to keep sharing and perfecting her recipes.

Be sure to also check out our Amazon Store for recommendations. You might be surprised by how many great keto options are at your disposal.

Grab Our Books!

In case you don’t know, we have authored two books for you, Essential Keto Bread and Essential Keto Desserts, both inspired by your requests over the years. It’s my prayer these keto cookbooks will help make keto a delicious breeze for you.

Join Our Jesus And Keto Movement 

Looking for an online support system to help you stay on keto? As a family, we came to the keto diet, looking at it from a Christian perspective. As believers, we live our lives supported by God’s grace.

So when the Holy Spirit led us to combine our Christian faith and the keto diet, we did so in hopes of finding lasting transformation.

When we followed the Holy Spirit’s prompting, we got on the path to real transformation. 

Knowing firsthand the benefits of this decision, we have created a closed Christian group that is using the keto diet to transform their lives. 

We invite you to join our Private Facebook Group and see if it’s not the key you have been missing.

Be sure to request our FREE Jesus and Keto E-Book (First 7 Days). We hope it blesses you.

Fittoservegroup Keto App

Looking for a fast way to access our keto recipes? We’ve got you covered. There’s an app for that. Yup, there’s a Fit To Serve Group App that will make your keto diet a delicious breeze!

Access hundreds of recipes that are all sugar-free, gluten-free, and keto-friendly.

Enjoy early access to recipes before they go live on the website. Plus, there are bonus recipes that are exclusive to the app.

Make your own personal cookbooks that you can use to organize your favorite recipes.

Search recipes by title, ingredients, keywords, and categories, and of course, every recipe shows complete nutritional facts.  Get the Fit to Serve Group App for easy-to-follow keto recipes made with easy-to-source ingredients.

The app is loaded with hundreds of yummy recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even desserts!

Learn more by visiting our Fit To Serve Group App Page.