Keto Cranberry Almond Shortbread Cookies
Keto Cranberry Almond Shortbread Cookies
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Keto Cranberry Almond Shortbread Cookies are quick and easy to make and they taste amazing. This is an adaption of the tried and tested fabulous recipe for Low Carb Shortbread Cookies and are just right in time for the festive season. The addition of dried cranberries with slivered or chopped blanched almonds goes wonderfully with the buttery shortbread texture. There’s also the option to drizzle with a little lemon glaze which goes wonderfully with the flavors. Please don’t limit these fabulous treats to the festive season, as they go beautifully served simply with a cup of tea or coffee any time.
Cranberries
Store bought cranberries are full of sugar and are generally sweetened with apple juice so make sure you check the ingredients list before buying. I love to make my own dried cranberries. They are really easy to make and are a lot better than any product you can buy as you control what ingredients are used. Check out the recipe here Sugar Free Dried Cranberries
Alternatively try to buy cranberries that are as low in sugar as possible.
Sweeteners
Feel free to switch the sweetener in the recipe for one of choice. You may not get quite the right crisp factor with alternatives but they will still work in this recipe. Erythritol is renowned for giving a little crunch to recipes such as cookies, and it is why I try to use it when I making cookies. Leaving your cookies out the bench for a little while will crispen up your cookies. Don’t be in a rush to pack your cookies away into an airtight container too quickly, and ensure they are completely cool before you do.
If you want to switch sweeteners, remember that stevia/monk fruit blends are generally more concentrated than erythritol or xylitol on their own so you don’t need as much in recipes. I would suggest trying to add 2-4 tablespoons of a stevia/monkfruit blend but taste the dough as well to make sure it is sweet enough. If you want to use any other form of sugar such as coconut sugar, try using equal amounts to what is specified in the recipe for erythritol. Always taste the dough to make sure it is going to be sweet enough for you, as our definition of sweetness can vary, so adjust according to your taste.
How to create your shortbread rounds
There’s an option to slice your cookies from a cookie dough roll (the easiest option) or you can use a cookie cutter. Should you want to use a cookie cutter, I recommend rolling your cookie dough out between 2 sheets of baking paper for ease of cutting your cookies. Not only do you get more even cookies but it is also easier to slide your cookies off the baking paper as they don’t stick to it. Note- make sure that you chop your cranberries quite small so it makes it easier to cut your cookies out of the dough.
Try using a spatula to lift the cookies onto the baking tray if using a cooking cutter. If you want to make shortbread fingers I would also recommend rolling the dough out between baking paper and then use a sharp knife to cut the cookies into fingers. Use a fork to press into the ends to create the shortbread finger look.
Storing Keto Cranberry Almond Shortbread Cookies
Keto Cranberry Almond Shortbread Cookies are best eaten fresh although these tend to be eaten very quickly in our house so there’s no need to store them longer term. When you bake without using preservatives and additives, foods don’t tend to last as long as processed foods. That’s a good thing though, as it means you aren’t eating foods full of additives and preservatives. If you don’t think you can eat these cookies within 3-5 days, you can just bake half a batch and freeze the remaining cookie dough. Just defrost it overnight in the fridge to use at another time. The dough defrosts really well, bakes up well and means you can have fresh cookies on tap. You could also leave the dough in the fridge for up to 3 days prior to baking, so just bake a batch at a later date.
Options to Decorate Your Keto Cranberry Almond Shortbread Cookies
While these cookies taste divine simply on their own, you can be a little adventurous with decorating them. Try sifting a tiny amount of low carb icing sugar mix/confectioners sweetener or powdered sweetener on top for a simple finish. You could also dip part of the cookie in melted dark chocolate or drizzle the chocolate on the tops for variation. Another great way to decorate them is to make some low carb icing by blending a couple of tablespoons of confectioners sugar with a tiny amount of water or lemon juice to get a pipeable consistency. Pipe or drizzle the icing mix onto the cookies and allow to firm up before storing (or eating!)
More delicious cookies recipes
If you are after some other lovely cookie recipes, check out these recipes for Anzac Biscuits (Coconut Caramel Cookies), Keto Choc Chip Cookies and delicious Low Carb Ginger Spice Cookies. There is also this fabulous recipe for Low Carb Almond Cranberry Biscotti that you should check out and a few other recipe that I highly recommend-
Keto Lemon Pistachio Cookies
White Chocolate and Macadamia Cookies
Cranberry Almond Shortbread
and this fabulous recipe for Low Carb Shortbread
Happy Baking!
Kx
Ingredients
- 125 gms butter room temperature
- ½ cup erythritol -or adjust for sweetness and see notes for alternate sweeteners
- 200 gms almond meal/flour
- 30 gms coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup sugar free dried cranberries chopped fine
- ¼ cup slivered or chopped blanched almonds
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon rind optional
- A pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 155 C/310 F fan forced
- Beat the butter and sweetener with electric beaters until creamy alternatively just use a fork. Add the egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture and beat until combined. Finally add the remaining ingredients and continue to beat until combined. Bring the mixture together and create a smooth ball with the dough.
To Create Cookie Dough Rolls and Slice The Cookie Rounds
- Cut the dough ball in half. Shape each half into a cylindrical shape. Place a length of cling wrap on the bench and place one cylinder along the middle of the wrap. Using your hands, start to create a smoother shape, cookie size in diameter, compressing the dough to remove any pockets of air. The dough will be slightly sticky especially if it is warm.
- Roll the cylinder up in the cling wrap and continue to roll and shape it into a nice round shape. Square off the ends and twist the cling wrap on the ends to seal. Repeat the process with the other half of the dough.
- Place the dough the fridge (or freeze) for approximately 30 minutes or until the dough is firm. If the dough isn't too sticky, you can slice the round of dough immediately.
- To slice into biscuit rounds, simply unwrap dough and using a sharp knife, slice off cookies approximately 5 mm/0.2" thick, ready to bake. Smooth off edges with hands to get the desired shape. Heat from your hands will soften the cookies so don't over handle.
Cookie Cutter Method
- Ensure your cranberries have been cut quite small and chop your almonds smaller to help with ease of cutting out cookies. Roll your dough out between 2 sheets of baking paper to about 5 mm/0.2 mm thick. Remove the top sheet of paper and cut your shapes out of the dough. Use a spatula to slide the cookies off the paper and onto your baking paper ready for baking. If the cookie dough is too soft, refrigerate for 30 minutes or until it firms up slightly.
To Bake
- Place cookies onto baking paper with space in between. Bake for about 15 minutes or until cooked through, at 155 C/310 F fan forced. Allow cookies to cool on the tray before moving onto a cooling rack to cool down completely. Take care as they are delicate when they are warm. Adjust oven temperature if the cookies are browning too much.
- Cookies will crisp up slightly as they cool. These cookies are best eaten fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. You can dust them with icing/confectioners sweetener or drizzle with low carb icing sugar mixture to decorate.
Decoration Options
- -Sift a tiny amount of low carb icing sugar mix/confectioners sweetener or powdered sweetener on top for a simple finish. -Dip part of the cookie in melted dark chocolate or drizzle the chocolate on the tops for variation. -Make sugar free icing by blending 4 tablespoons of confectioners sugar with a tiny amount of water or lemon juice to get a pipeable consistency. Pipe or drizzle the icing mix onto the cookies and allow to firm up before storing (or eating!)
Recipe Notes
Nutritional Information
