Sugar Free Shortbread Cookies take just four ingredients and about a half hour to make .
These buttery cookies are crumbly and tender, making them perfect for about any occasion.
What you will read about in this recipe.
- What makes shortbread cookies so good?
- Why we like this recipe for sugar free shortbread cookies.
- Ingredients needed to make shortbread cookies without added sugar.
- How to make Sugar Free Shortbread Cookies
- Tips for making the best sugar free shortbread cookies.
- How to store shortbread cookies.
- Print the recipe for easy sugar free shortbread cookies.
What makes shortbread cookies so good?
This is no added cookie recipe based upon a traditional favorite.
Shortbread cookies are known for their buttery flavor that is enhanced with sugar and vanilla extract to make a perfect cookie.
Did you try my recipe for Sugar Free Gingerbread Cookies ?
Those sugar free gingerbread cookies are a delicious keto low carbohydrate alternative to the usual gingerbread cookie. Both this recipe for shortbread and that for gingerbread are nice holiday cookie baking ideas that have no added sugar in them.
My cookies have been dipped in melted chocolate for added flavor and because I like chocolate. You can find sugar free chocolate for melting here.
Why we like this recipe for sugar free shortbread cookies.
These cookies are full of buttery and crunchy goodness in every bite. Making them without the added sugar makes these cookies even better!
Here is what else we like about this recipe.
- This is a simple, yet classic cookie that about everyone loves.
- Make your cookies like mine, dipped partially in melted sugar free chocolate and topped with chopped nuts.
- Serve your cookies with a glass of milk or cup of coffee.
- Make your cookies into cookie sandwiches by pairing two cookies with Sugar Free Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting in the center.
- Add a cookie or two to a bowl of Sugar Free Chocolate Ice Cream for a yummy dessert.
Ingredients needed to make shortbread cookies without added sugar.
- Butter. Your butter should be at room temperature for better blending. If you are using unsalted butter, you can add a half teaspoon of salt to your flour.
- Sugar Alternative. Use a granular sugar alternative that measures like sugar and that can also be baked with.
- Flour. This recipe calls for all purpose flour. You can use an alternative flour as long as it measures and bakes like all purpose flour. Keto folks can use a keto low carbohydrate flour .
- Vanilla Extract. Added for additional flavor.
- For the optional melted chocolate, you will need sugar free chocolate for melting and chopped nuts such as pecans.
Expert Tip👉 Use a fork or a whisk to break up any lumps in your flour. This will help make blending the cookie ingredients together more consistent.
How to make Sugar Free Shortbread Cookies
Prep Time:15 minutes.
Bake Time: 20 minutes.
Servings: 24 small cookies.
- Preheat your oven to 350 and prepare your baking sheets with parchment paper or a baking mat. If you are planning on refrigerating your cookie dough before baking the cookies you can skip this step for now.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together your butter and sugar alternative until light and fluffy. Then add the vanilla extract to the bowl.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and set your mixer on low. Then add the flour to the mixer and mix until just combined (the dough should be crumbly).
- If you are refrigerating the dough, lay out a piece of plastic wrap and transfer the dough on to the wrap, shaping it into a disc shape so that it can be wrapped in the plastic. Refrigerate the dough for at least a half hour to up to a couple of days.
- When you are ready to bake your cookies, take the dough out of the refrigerator and roll it out to about a half inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut the cookies out and place them on to your prepared baking sheets at least an inch and a half apart.
- Bake the cookies for 18-20 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden brown. Then let the cookies cool on the baking sheet to room temperature.
- To make the melted chocolate, use a microwave safe bowl to melt the chocolate, stopping to stir every every 20 seconds until smooth (about a minute or so). Then Coat half of each of the fully cooled cookies with melted chocolate and top with the chopped nuts. Allow this to set before enjoying or storing your cookies.
Expert Tip👉 Baking times for these cookies can vary depending the size of your cookies. It is best to keep an eye on the cookies while they bake.
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Tips for making the best sugar free shortbread cookies.
Use a good butter that is cool rather than at room temperature. The butter should not be softened to room temperature as the butter is needed for the structure of this cookie and if it is too soft, the cookies will be soft rather than set.
More helpful tips for you.
- My cookies were made with regular all purpose flour. You can alternatively use a keto low carbohydrate flour for low carb cookies as long as the flour measures and bakes like all purpose flour.
- Optional but, a good idea, you can refrigerate your dough before baking the cookies.
This is a good idea if your cookie dough seems soft as it will help the butter solidify which will prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking. - Make the cookie dough in advance. Simply wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to two days or freeze it for up to a week and let it thaw a bit before rolling it out.
How to store shortbread cookies.
These shortbread cookies should be stored in an airtight container once they have fully cooled. If properly stored, these cookies should keep for for about a week at room temperature or up to a few weeks when frozen.
Here are some similar recipes that you may also like.
Print the recipe for easy sugar free shortbread cookies.
Sugar Free Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Butter - soft
- ½ cup Sugar Alternative - see post for details and alternatives.
- 2 cups Flour - see post for details and alternatives.
- ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
Optional- Sugar Free Chocolate (½ cup) for melting and chopped nuts (2 tbsp) for topping.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 and prepare your baking sheets with parchment paper or a baking mat. If you are planning on refrigerating your cookie dough before baking the cookies you can skip this step for now.
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together your butter and sugar alternative until light and fluffy. Then add the vanilla extract to the bowl.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and set your mixer on low. Then add the flour to the mixer and mix until just combined (the dough should be crumbly).
- If you are refrigerating the dough, lay out a piece of plastic wrap and transfer the dough on to the wrap, shaping it into a disc shape so that it can be wrapped in the plastic.
- When you are ready to bake your cookies, take the dough out of the refrigerator and roll it out to about a half inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut the cookies out and place them on to your prepared baking sheets at least an inch and a half apart.
- Bake the cookies for 18-20 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden brown. Then let the cookies cool on the baking sheet to room temperature.
- To make the melted chocolate, use a microwave safe bowl to melt the chocolate, stopping to stir every every 20 seconds until smooth (about a minute or so). Then Coat half of each of the fully cooled cookies with melted chocolate and top with the chopped nuts. Allow this to set before enjoying or storing your cookies.
Recipe Notes
Also, please see the actual recipe post for further details on this recipe. Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used. See thesugarfreediva.com for details on this recipe.
most recently updated:
October 3, 2023*About Sugar Alternatives
Specific sugar alternatives are not given in the recipes presented on this site. Only suggestions are given as to the 'kind' of alternative to use. It is up to you to select the alternative to use that suits your needs best. If the recipe is heated or cooked, it is best to use an alternative that can be heated or cooked with for best results. This site does not endorse any specific ingredients,
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Nutrition
Please note: Nutritional data has been calculated using a tool that comes with this recipe card and not by me. This means that Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that you use. The accuracy of this tool may differ from other tools as expected. Also note that there is no instructional value to the video that may be attached to this recipe. It is only there for visual pleasure. For more information about the images in this recipe, please refer the the recipe instructions. Thank you!
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Sugar Free Shortbread Cookies, a simple dessert or snack recipe for buttery and crumbly cookies made with no added sugar. keto LC Option.
Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.