Keto Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate (4-Ingredient)

Keto shortbread cookies with chocolate that have only 4 INGREDIENTS & 7 g net carb each! They are made with almond flour in less than 30 minutes and are low carb, gluten-free, and sugar-free. Simply the best almond flour shortbread cookies ever! So BUTTERY and delish! 

Are you excited for Valentine's Day? I sure am! These low carb shortbread cookies made with only 4 ingredients are sure to bring joy to your sweetheart without stretching their waistline. 

If you or your loved one is on a keto diet, has diabetes, PCOS, or simply doesn't want to gain weight, these gluten-free shortbread cookies are a fab option.

WHAT ARE KETO SHORTBREAD COOKIES MADE OF?

They are made with 4 ingredients: erythritol, butter, almond flour, and chocolate chips. Unlike the 3-ingredient shortbread cookies which are a 3, 2,1 cookie recipe, these keto shortbread cookies call for 3 parts almond flour, 1 part butter, and 1 part erythrtitol, making a 3,1,1 keto cookie recipe. They are then drizzled with chocolate.

But just like the 3-ingredient shortbread cookies, these 4-ingredient shortbread cookies are eggless and unleavened with a snappy, buttery texture and nutty flavor. 

INGREDIENTS FOR EASY, 4-INGREDIENT KETO SHORTBREAD COOKIES

To make these almond flour shortbread cookies, you only need 4 ingredients:

1. Erythritol
2. Unsalted Butter
3. Blanched Almond Flour 
4. Chocolate Chips

ERYTHRITOL

Instead of caster sugar (or superfine, or baker’s sugar), we are using a keto sweetener -- erythritol or Swerve. But you can use monk fruit, xylitol, stevia, or any other keto-approved sweetener.

BUTTER

You can use unsalted American butter, but it is hard to dispute that European butter makes the best keto cookies. It contains less water and has a richer flavor than its American cousin. Be aware that using salted butter can be risky. Not all brands contain the same amount of salt, bringing a risk of the salt overpowering the flavor of these cookies, which are already sugar-free. 

Butter must be at room temp!

BLANCHED ALMOND FLOUR

You can't make almond flour shortbread cookies without almond flour, right? 🙂 For the best texture, use a finely ground blanched almond flour, which is ideal for pastries and baking. 

Blanched almond flour means that the skins of the almonds have been removed, yielding a lighter texture and color than the unblanched almond flour. 

Although you can use unbleached almond flour for making these keto shortbread cookies, they won't be as light in color and fine in texture as the ones made with the blanched flour.

SUGAR-FREE CHOCOLATE CHIPS

You may use any sugar-free chocolate (chips or bar) to melt and drizzle over the cookies. 

TOOLS TO MAKE ALMOND FLOUR SHORTBREAD COOKIES:

You'll need these simple pieces of equipment to make our shortbread cookies with chocolate:

• Hand or Stand Mixer – this makes the mixing of the cookie dough easy and quick. Or if you prefer, use a whisk to mix dough by hand.
• Baking Sheet -- use a large one lined with parchment paper to bake all the cookies at once. 
• Cookie Cutter – use to cut cookies into the shape that you want. 
• Microwave – for melting the chocolate-- or if you prefer use a double-broiler. 
• Oven -- to bake the cookies.

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING KETO COOKIES WITH ALMOND FLOUR

• If you wish, you can make the keto cookie dough ahead. To do this, place the dough into a plastic bag and remove most of the air. Then either place it in the fridge for up to 7 days or freeze for up to 2 months. 
• If your butter isn’t at room temp, cut the stick(s) into chunks/slices and microwave on 50% power in 5-10 second intervals until softened but not melted.
• Use any keto sweetener of choice.
• Do NOT overmix the dough so that the cookies won't turn out crumbly!
• Let the dough chill for at least 20-30 minutes so that it can set and be ready for cutting out. 
• Cut cookies at least ¾-inch thick so that they won't brown all over instead of just on the bottom.

HOW TO MAKE KETO SHORTBREAD COOKIES WITH CHOOCLATE

1. CREAM THE BUTTER: The first step is creaming the butter until it is just creamy but not fluffy. Overbeating it will add too much air, causing the cookies to spread more than usual when baked.
2. ADD SWEETENER: The second step is to add erythritol or another sweetener to form a paste that is smooth but not fluffy. 
3. ADD THE ALMOND FLOUR: The third step is to add the almond flour using low to medium-speed. As you mix it with the mixer, the dough will be crumbly so scrape down the sides of the bowl and then form into a ball using your hands (SEE PIC. 1). This will help the dough to come together without overworking it. 
4. ROLL OUT THE DOUGH: The fourth step is to roll out the dough to ¾- inch thickness between 2 sheets of parchment paper (SEE PIC. 2), and then cut out cookies into whatever shape you want! (SEE PIC. 3) If the dough is rolled out too thin, the cookies will brown pretty much all over instead of only on the bottom.
5. CHILL THE DOUGH: The fifth step is to chill the dough on a lined baking sheet in the fridge for 20-30 minutes or until set. Make sue to cover dough with parchment paper. 
6. BAKE: Cut keto cookie dough into 2.5 to 3 inch cookies. Place onto a lined baking sheet and bake for about 13-15 minutes, or until set and cookie bottoms have lightly browned.
7. DRIZZLE WITH/DIP IN CHOCOCLATE:  Once keto cookies are cool, melt ½ cup of dark chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl and heat for about 1-2 minutes, mixing until fully melted and smooth. If desired, stir in ½ teaspoon of oil to keep chocolate from re-solidifying quicker. Then either drizzle melted chocolate over the cookies using a fork, or dip the top of the cookies into the melted chocolate and let harden. 

VARIATIONS

You can enjoy these low carb shortbread cookies with chocolate by themselves, make them into Keto Millionaire's Caramel Chocolate Shortbread or flavor them to make Cinnamon Pecan Shortbread. You can decorate them for Christmas, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, etc. It's up to you!

 

KETO SHORTBREAD FAQ's

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN LOW CARB SHORTBREAD COOKIES ARE DONE?

The cookies are ready when they just start to change to a light brown color on the bottom.

CAN YOU MAKE DAIRY-FREE SHORTBREAD COOKIES?

Yes, you can! To make dairy-free shortbread cookies with a buttery flavor, use a dairy-free butter.

IS ALMOND FLOUR GOOD FOR KETO?

Yes! Almond flour is ideal for keto, paleo, and gluten-free baking. But since its macros vary by brand, choose one with 10 or less net carbs per cup.

CAN YOU SUBSTITUTE ALMOND FLOUR FOR REGULAR FLOUR?

Yes, you can! But be aware that the proportion is not always the same. In cakes, for example, you may use a 1:1 cup replacement. But for almond flour shortbread cookies, if using the same volume of almond flour and all-purpose flour, you will have to cut the amount of butter in half for this keto shortbread cookie recipe, otherwise they will be too soft to form a dough.

If making coconut flour shortbread cookies instead, the general rule is to use ¼ cup of coconut flour for each 1 cup of almond flour, or a combination of both flours (⅓ cup coconut flour and ⅔ cup almond flour for each cup of almond flour in the recipe).

HOW DOES ALMOND FLOUR AFFECT BAKING?

Almond flour adds a mildly sweet and nutty flavor to baked goods. By adding fat, baking with almond flour also extends the shelf life of baked goods, helping retain moisture.

WHY ALMOND FLOUR IS BAD FOR YOU?

Unless you are allergic to nuts, almond flour is better for your blood sugar than regular flour. It is low in carbs but high in healthy fats and fiber. Almond flour is actually healthy!

CAN KETO SHORTBREAD COOKIES BE FROZEN?

Yes! Store dough in a plastic bag (with most of the air removed) for up to 2 months.

CAN GLUTEN-FREE SHORTBREAD BE MADE AHEAD?

Yes! You may even store baked, cooled gluten-free and keto shortbread cookies at room temp in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks (without the chocolate drizzle). They will taste just as good as the day they were baked.

OTHER COOKIE RECIPES:

• Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies (LOW CARB)
• Salted Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Cookies (GF)
• Ginger Molasses Cookies (GF)
• Walnut Cookies (NO CHILL)
• Pecan Cookie Balls (NO BAKE)
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies (SUGAR-FREE)
• Flourless Mounds Cookies

 

PIN & ENJOY!