These gooey mozzarella cheese sticks are covered in zero-carb breadcrumbs and then fried until golden and crispy. It's the perfect finger food for parties and game nights!

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Keto Fried Mozzarella Sticks

Deviled eggs are the ideal low-carb snack for a keto diet and make a fantastic party appetizer. These Everything Bagel Deviled Eggs are a fun twist on traditional deviled eggs. If you really want to take these up a notch they’re delicious with a little smoked salmon added into the yolk mixture!

The Healthiest Deviled Eggs You'll Try

These are some of the healthiest deviled eggs you'll ever try and here's why.

Eggs contain everything needed to bring forth life. Not surprisingly, they’re packed with nutrients including choline. They also contain zero carbs and have a 1:1 ratio of healthy fat to protein. Eggs contain the highest biological value protein of any whole food, meaning their amino acid composition is the most easily absorbed and used by the body!

Egg yolks are high in cholesterol which has given them an unfairly bad reputation for causing heart disease. In fact, cholesterol is heart-protective and eating whole eggs may help reduce heart disease risk.

We are also using heart-healthy avocado oil mayonnaise which is high in monounsaturated fats and low in omega 6s.

Finally, fish roe (in this case salmon roes) contains DHA, the most active type of omega-3 fats. DHA can decrease triglycerides and cardiovascular risk and protect against insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It can also improve learning ability and protect against cognitive decline!

More Mediterranean Keto Recipes

With the perfect balance of fats and nutrients, this low-carb recipe is a classic example of a Mediterranean-Keto meal. In fact, together with three co-authors, we developed over 100 more recipes exclusively for the The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook.

This book is the first of its kind to include Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratios, full saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat breakdowns, and it's jam-packed with science and fun facts that will nourish not only your stomach but also your mind!

Preparation time

Hands-on:    10 minutes
Overall:     20 minutes

Nutritional values (per serving, 2 deviled eggs)

Total Carbs 1.1 grams
Fiber 0.1 grams
Net Carbs 1 grams
Protein 7.6 grams
Fat 14.2 grams
of which Saturated 2.7 grams
Energy 161 kcal
Magnesium 7 mg (2% RDA)
Potassium 74 mg (4% EMR)

Macronutrient ratio: Calories from carbs (3%), protein (19%), fat (78%)

Ingredients (makes 6 servings)

  • 6 large eggs
  • 4 tbsp avocado oil mayonnaise (60 g/ 2.1 oz) - you can make your own
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • pinch of black pepper
  • 1 small jar salmon roe (50 g/ 1.8 oz)
  • Optional: chives to for garnish

Instructions

  1. Place the eggs in a large pot and cover with cold water by 2 1/2 cm (1 inch). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling cover and remove from the heat, set aside 8 to 10 minutes. Rinse the eggs with cool water then peel and cut in half.
  2. Scoop out the yolks and place them in a small mixing bowl.
  3. Add in the mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper. Mix until smooth. If the mixture is too runny (this can happen if your yolks are still warm), chill for 30 minutes.
  4. Fill the center of each egg with the yolk mixture top with salmon roes, about a teaspoon each.
  5. Optionally, garnish with fresh chives. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day.


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Salmon Caviar Deviled Eggs

Are you already planning your New Year's celebration menu? These keto roll-ups are the perfect bite-sized appetizers everyone will love.

I made them for a recent Christmas dinner party and I wish I made more because they didn't last for too long. Everyone was asking for the recipe which is surprisingly simple.

Horseradish, ham and cheese are a common flavor combination in Czech and Eastern European cuisines. These roll-ups are inspired by rolled ham with horseradish mousse, a traditional Czech wedding appetizer.

I hope you like these roll-ups as much as we did. Happy Holidays everyone!

Recipe Tips

All you need is four ingredients — sliced cheese, ham, cream cheese and horseradish. That's it!

You can use any hard cheese as long as it's not too fatty and can hold it's shape when melted. Low moisture, part-skim Mozzarella, Gouda or Emmental or Gruyere slices work really well with ham, cheese and horseradish. If you don't have sliced cheese, grate an equivalent amount of whole blocks on the parchment paper and shape into a rectangle.

Feel free to add fresh chopped herbs such as parsley, spring onions or chives. If you're not a fan of horseradish, use a tablespoon or two of finely chopped capers or pickled jalapeños instead.

Serve 2 to 4 roll-ups as an appetizer, or 6 to 8 roll-ups an a lunchbox option alongside some dressed greens or simple salads.

Preparation time

Hands-on:    15 minutes
Overall:      1 hour 30 minutes

Nutritional values (per serving, 2 roll-ups)

Total Carbs 2.8 grams
Fiber 0.1 grams
Net Carbs 2.7 grams
Protein 11.6 grams
Fat 14 grams
of which Saturated 8.4 grams
Energy 170 kcal
Magnesium 13 mg (3% RDA)
Potassium 173 mg (9% EMR)

Macronutrient ratio: Calories from carbs (6%), protein (25%), fat (69%)

Ingredients (makes 16 roll-ups)

  • 9 square slices of Mozzarella, Gouda, Emmental or Gruyere (225 g/ 8 oz)
  • 225 g cream cheese or soft goat's cheese (8 oz)
  • 2 to 3 tsp grated fresh horseradish or prepared horseradish
  • 140 g quality thin-cut ham slices (5 oz)
  • Optional: fresh herbs such as parsley or chives

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 150 °C/ 300 °F (fan assisted), or 170 °C/ 340 °F (conventional). Line a baking tray with strong parchment paper. Lay the mozzarella cheese slices on the parchment paper, overlapping slightly. Depending on the size of the slices, you should get a rectangle that's about 28 cm (11 inch) x 20 cm (8 inch).
    Note: Mozzarella, Gouda, Emmental or Gruyere slices will all work well in this recipe.
  2. Place in the oven bake until just melted, for 3 to 5 minutes. Do not over bake or crisp up, you only want the cheese to connect and create a large sheet. Once melted, remove from the oven and set aside to cool down.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the cream cheese filling by mixing the cream cheese and horseradish (you can use freshly grated or prepared. Optionally you can add fresh chopped herbs such as chives or parsley).
  4. When the cheese is about room temperature or slightly warmer, pay the ham slices all over, leaving a small gap from the edges.
  5. Spread the horseradish cream cheese on top.
  6. Use the parchment paper as a guide to roll up the ham & cheese into a long tight roll. Place in the fridge and chill for at least an hour or overnight.
  7. When ready to serve, use a sharp knife to cut into 16 slices, each one about 1 1/2 cm thick (0.6 inch). Wipe the knife between cuts to create clean cuts.
  8. Serve 2 to 4 rolls per serving as an appetizer. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 4 days.


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Keto Ham & Cheese Horseradish Roll-Ups

Crunchy low-carb biscotti flavored with orange zest and bourbon. Enjoy for breakfast treat or as an after dinner dessert by dunking in tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.

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Boozy Keto Chocolate Orange Biscotti

Christmas wouldn't be complete without Stollen! Traditional Stollen is a German Christmas cake that's common in many other European countries. It's a popular cake in the Czech Republic where it's often made alongside "Vanocka", a braided Christmas bread that's close to Stollen but less sweet.

There are many ways Germans and Czechs make Stollen. I've always known and loved the one made with yeast but other variations can be prepared with cream cheese, marzipan and most of them include candied fruits. Some types of Stollen are soft and fluffy while others are dense and have to be chilled for 3 to 4 weeks before serving.

I wanted to keep this low-carb recipe fairly simple and ready to serve without compromising on the flavor. Just like my Keto Panettone, this Low-Carb Stollen cake uses yeast for extra flavor as well as fresh lemon zest and sugar-free cranberries soaked in rum.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Recipe Tips

To activate the yeast, you can use an inulin-based sweetener such as yacon syrup or sugar. This ingredient is essential for activating the yeast. Don't panic, no sugar will be left after the fermentation of yeast! Note that although the yacon syrup is included in the nutrition facts, there's likely zero contribution which will drop the carb count of this recipe even more.

Traditional Stollen uses candied fruits and candied citrus peel which are replaced with my homemade Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries soaked in rum for a lower carb option. Apart from lemon zest, you can add more flavor by adding some fine orange zest and/or cinnamon or sugar-free vanilla extract.

This low-carb Stollen is light and fluffy without being overly sweet. I personally skip the sweetener dusting on top although it creates a pretty effect. Powdered Erythritol, Swerve or Allulose are all good options.

If you're not too keen on sweetener dusting, sprinkle with flaked or slivered almonds instead. To do that, add them right after brushing with egg and keep the baking foil or parchment loosely on top the whole time to keep them from burning.

This recipe uses psyllium powder. To make your own psyllium husk powder, place whole psyllium husks in a coffee grinder and process until powdered. If you use ready-made psyllium powder, just make sure it's the right one. (photos for comparison included).

Preparation time

Hands-on:    20 minutes
Overall:     2 hours 45 minutes

Nutritional values (per serving, 1 slice)

Total Carbs 9.3 grams
Fiber 4.4 grams
Net Carbs 4.9 grams
Protein 6.6 grams
Fat 14.5 grams
of which Saturated 4.5 grams
Energy 189 kcal
Magnesium 50 mg (13% RDA)
Potassium 211 mg (11% EMR)

Macronutrient ratio: Calories from carbs (11%), protein (15%), fat (74%)

Ingredients (makes 16 servings)

Cranberries:
Cake - wet ingredients:
  • 1 cup warm unsweetened almond milk (240 ml/ 8 fl oz)
  • 1 tbsp yacon syrup (15 ml) or honey (won't affect the carb count)
  • 1 cube fresh yeast (50 g/ 1.8 oz) or 1 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast (15 g/ 0.5 oz)
  • 3/4 stick unsalted butter, melted (85 g/ 3 oz)
  • 4 large egg whites
  • 2 large egg yolks, divided
  • zest from 1 organic lemon
Cake - dry ingredients:

Instructions

  1. The day before you want to make the cake, make the Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries and then soak them in the rum. Add the rum and gently heat it until just boiling. Spoon into a container and cover and leave to soak overnight until all the cranberry raisins are plump and most of the rum has been absorbed.
  2. Turn the light on in the oven (only the light). The temperature should be about 40 °C/ 100 °F, but no more than 45 °C/ 110 °F. If you don't have this option on your oven, preheat the oven to the lowest setting (mine is 50 °C/ 120 °F).
  3. Pour warm almond into a bowl. Add yacon syrup (or honey) and stir until fully dissolved. (Don't panic, no sugar will be left after the fermentation of yeast!) Crumble fresh yeast into the bowl (or sprinkle in 1 1/2 tbsp/ 15 g of dry active yeast). Open the oven for about 30 seconds to cool down slightly before placing the yeast inside and close the door. The light will be enough to keep the bowl warm. Allow to proof for 10 minutes. When ready, the yeast will be frothy and will grow in volume. Once the yeast has proofed (it will become foamy), remove the bowl from the warm oven. Keep the light in the oven on.
  4. Place all of the remaining dry ingredients in another bowl. Sift in almond flour and coconut flour, add whey (or egg white) protein powder, psyllium powder, Erythritol (or Allulose), xanthan gum, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Mix to combine or use a hand mixer to process well. (Instead of cream of tartar, you can use the same amount of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar and add it to the eggs before mixing with the dry ingredients).
  5. Melt the butter. Place all of the egg whites and 1 egg yolk in a bowl. You'll need the remaining egg yolk to brush on top of the bread. Add the egg whites and egg yolk into the bowl with the proofed yeast together with the melted butter.
  6. Use a hand mixer or a stand mixer and process until well combined. Add the dried mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time and process well. Gradually add more until you use all of it.
  7. Fold in the fine lemon zest and soaked cranberries (excluding any leftover rum).
  8. Transfer the dough into a tray lined with parchment paper and form into a loaf, about 28 x 15 cm (11 x 6 inch). Place in the oven and let it proof with the oven light on for 60 minutes.
  9. Once the dough has proofed, remove from the oven. Preheat the oven to 160 °C/ 320 °F (fan assisted), or 180 °C/ 355 °F (conventional). The dough will be spread out and flatter. Use one side of the parchment paper and fold it lengthwise. Gently brush the reserved egg yolk mixed with a teaspoon of water on top of the bread without pressing too much (do not deflate the bread).
  10. Bake for 10 minutes and then loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. (The cake will brown faster if you use Allulose so you may need to keep it on the whole time.)
  11. Remove from the oven. Once completely cool.
  12. Optionally, dust with more powdered low-carb sweetener. This step is optional as it makes the cake quite sweet.
  13. Slice and serve with butter on top. Store at room temperature loosely covered with kitchen towel for up to 3 days. To store for longer, freeze in batches of 2 to 4 slices for up to 3 months.


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Keto Stollen Christmas Cake

The ultimate cookie is a very personal matter with some people preferring crunchy, others chewy, while some prefer theirs to be soft and more cake-like.

This guide will step you through everything you need to know to make your perfect keto cookie.

Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites for products we genuinely use and recommend.

The Role of Ingredients in Keto Cookies

Nut & Seed Flour vs Nut & Seed Butter

Most keto cookies will require you to use nut or seed flour, or nut or seed butter as the main component of the recipe. Both provide the base of the cookie, and the choice here will impact not only the flavor of the cookie, but also the texture.

Almond flour is usually the go-to for most low-carb cookies, however some recipes will use a combination of almond flour with coconut flour to create a softer cookie. Recipes that rely solely on one type of flour substitute generally tend to be a little denser.

Nut butters make lovely chewy cookies (think almost fudgy!) or crumbly cookies depending on which kind of nut butter you use and whether you use homemade or store-bought. For instance, cashew butter will make very smooth and chewy cookies while pecan butter will result in a crumblier texture.

Store-bought nut butters often contain additional ingredients, mostly oils which tend to make denser cookies, while homemade nut butters prepared with raw or toasted nuts will typically make a crumblier cookie.

Seed butters such as tahini and sunflower seed butter are more suitable for making a less crumbly and more chewy nut-free cookie.

Coconut Flour

Coconut flour can be used in conjunction with either almond meal or nut butter to create a more traditionally textured cookie and also help balance out the flavor of almond flour cookies which can have a strong flavor for some palates.

Note, however, that coconut flour soaks up a lot of liquid and recipes using coconut flour need to have additional liquids and/or fats. Coconut flour alone can also be used but will create a relatively dense, dry cookie (if no enough liquids are used) or a cakey cookie (with sufficient liquids).

Eggs

Eggs are used to bind the cookie dough. Eggier doughs can also be used for a more cakey cookie. Egg substitutes will help bind the ingredients but will not result in the same rise and fluffy texture as cookies made with chicken or duck eggs. Egg substitutes will create more dense, less risen cookies.

If using an egg substitute such as flax egg or chia egg, make sure to use ground the chia or flax seeds. Mix them with water and let sit for at 10 to 15 minutes before using. To substitute one large egg, use 1 tablespoon of ground chia seeds or ground flax seeds, plus 3 tablespoons of water.

Sweeteners

There are many different options for sweetening your keto cookies, each resulting in different textures and flavors.

In terms of white sugar replacements, Erythritol is best if you want a crispier cookie, as well as Erythritol blends like Swerve. Cookies straight from the oven will be soft. To get a crispy cookie, you do need to wait a few hours after baking for maximum effect. Also keep in mind that cookies made with Erythritol-based sweeteners will have a cooling aftertaste. This can work well for some recipes but may not be suitable for others.

If you’re after a chewier cookie, Xylitol or Allulose are good options. Make sure you keep Xylitol well hidden if you have a pet as it's toxic to dogs, cats and other animals due to its effects on blood sugar.

Allulose, which has zero effect on blood sugar and is typically better tolerated than Xylitol, and has no cooling aftertaste. Allulose also has the ability to caramelize and depending on the recipe, this can add more flavor.

There’s also the option of using sweetener blends with Monk fruit or Stevia, though these tend to be less suitable for cookies. The only exception are blends that are made with Erythritol.

For a brown sugar replacement, your best bet is a brown sugar substitute like Sukrin or Swerve, or alternatively try combining some white sugar replacement with a small amount of blackstrap molasses.

Another option for sweetening is using pumpkin puree or our Low-Carb Apple Butter (which is already sweetened). Both are perfect for fall-inspired cookies and will result in a chewier, softer cookie.

For a very chewy, gooey cookie, use Allulose syrup. Clear or brown maple-flavored Allulose syrup make soft and super chewy Keto Granola Bars, and will work just as well for cookies.

There are a few options available on Amazon. The brand I use and like is RxSugar. If you live in the US you can get RxSugar 20% off by using this link or by using the code KETODIET20 at checkout.

Also see our Guide to Low-Carb Sweeteners which includes a sweetener conversion chart to help you substitute one sweetener with another.

Thickeners and Binders

  • Xanthan gum acts as a thickening agent in keto cooking, and also helps to bind ingredients in gluten-free baking, resulting in a less crumbly cookie. Xanthan gum is almost always required in recipes that don't use eggs.
  • Similar to xanthan gum, guar gum is a thickening agent that can be used to help bind the cookie mixture.
  • Glucomannan (konjac) powder is a pure soluble fibre which contains no starch or sugars. It’s a great alternative to corn starch and adds a lovely chew to cookies.
  • Gelatin powder is another great addition to keto cookie batter if you are after a chewy cookie.
  • Arrowroot powder can be used as a grain-free substitute for cornflour, and can be used to help lighten cookie dough so that it isn’t as dense. However, this ingredient is high in carbs and we don't recommend using more than 1-2 tablespoons per recipe.
  • Cream cheese can be used in keto cookies to help bind the cookies. The resulting cookie has a soft texture and slight tangy flavor from the cream cheese.
  • Flax meal and ground chia seeds are great for binding and creating less crumbly cookies. You won't need to use more than a few tablespoons per recipe.
  • Psyllium powder can make cookies softer and more cakey as long as you use enough liquids. It can also be used in crunchy cookies and crackers as a binder when fewer liquids are used and the cookie is baked on low temperature for longer.

Sunflower Seeds for Green Effect

Are you after a natural way to color your cookies? Sunflower seeds and sunflower seed flour contain chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant that gives the seeds the ability of turning green under certain conditions. Cookies like those would be perfect for St. Patrick's Day or Halloween! When chlorogenic acid mixes with alkaline baking ingredients such as baking soda, it turns green. Chlorogenic acid is beneficial because it may slow down the release of glucose into the bloodstream after a meal.

These 5 Ingredient Keto Green Cookies are an example of how you can use sunflower seeds and create green cookies which are also nut-free and dairy-free.

Allergy-Free Keto Cookies

All of our keto cookies are gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb and keto-approved. If you have any further dietary restrictions, here are some tips.

Nut-Free Keto Cookies

Keto cookies can potentially be a challenge for those that don’t include nuts in their diet as a lot of keto cookies use nut butter or flour as the main ingredient. Luckily, there are quite a few options for nut-free cookies.

The most obvious way is using seed butter or flour as a base instead. Seed butters such as sunflower or tahini produce a really lovely chewy cookie, making them a great base ingredient option.

Coconut flour can also be used. However, when used on its own it can produce a drier, crumblier cookie, and needs to have adequate liquids and fats to ensure that this doesn’t happen. An alternative to coconut flour is coconut butter (aka coconut manna) which will work similarly to nut and seed butters but will result in a crumblier cookie.

Another option for a nut-free cookie is to use cream cheese combined with other ingredients such as cacao powder. Cookies made with cream cheese will be quite soft and delicate and have a subtle tart flavor — think cheesecake in cookie format!

Recipes to try:

Dairy-Free Keto Cookies

Most keto cookies are either dairy-free to start with, or can easily be made dairy-free by substituting butter with virgin coconut oil or palm shortening (in case of palm shortening, use sustainable sources). Keep in mind that the resulting texture of your cookies will vary. Coconut oil cookies seem to flatten out (spread) more than those baked with butter. Also, since there's no milk solids, the cookies made with coconut oil won't brown up as easily to give those lovely golden edges.

Recipes to try:

Egg-Free Keto Cookies

Egg-free cookies are a little trickier, although still doable! While eggs can be substituted for chia or flax eggs (see conversion here), the result may not be exactly the same.

To ensure that the ingredients still bind together, it can be a good idea to include a binder such as xanthan gum or ground psyllium husks. Using nut butter or coconut butter can also help bind all the dry ingredients.

Recipes to try:

Coconut-Free Keto Cookies

While a lot of keto cookies contain coconut flour, coconut oil or coconut butter, it's easy to make coconut-free keto cookies. Coconut oil or palm shortening can be substituted 1:1 for butter. However, this substitution will have an impact on the texture of your cookies so make sure to check the Dairy-Free Cookies section too.

Recipes to try:

Sweetener-Free Keto Cookies

For cookies without any added sweeteners, think of including ingredients which are naturally sweet — pumpkin puree, sweetener-free vanilla extract, vanilla powder, coconut butter or coconut oil, cinnamon and berries. You can just skip the sweetener in any cookie recipes although it will affect the texture which may get more dense, less crispy (if you skip Erythritol-based sweetener) or less chewy (if you skip Allulose).

You can always make a savory cookie instead. Check out our Savory Add-ins section.

How to Get Your Desired Cookie Texture

Chewy Keto Cookies

For a chewy cookie, almond meal (almond flour) works best. You can also use nut or seed butters which will result in a really nice chew. Just make sure not to confuse regular almond flour (ground blanched almonds) with fine defatted almond flour which is much finer and absorbent and would produce dense cookies.

In terms of sweeteners, Xylitol and Allulose are best for that perfect chewy texture. The addition of some binders like glucomannan (Konjac) powder and gelatin will also help create a chewier texture. If you want truly gooey cookies, you can add some Allulose syrup.

Finally, using only egg whites instead of whole eggs will produce a dense and chewy cookie like these Keto Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies.

Recipes to try:

Soft and Cakey Keto Cookies

The addition of coconut flour to almond flour (rather than making 100% almond flour cookies) will help you create a more cakey texture, as well as the addition of xanthan gum. Adding in some arrowroot powder can also help to create a softer, less dense cookie.

Another ingredient essential for making cakey keto cookies are whole eggs. Egg yolks will produce a richer, softer cookie, and egg whites will help make your cookies lighter and airier.

Recipes to try:

Crispy or Crunchy Keto Cookies

There are a few methods and ingredients that can create a crispier cookie.

Firstly, using Erythritol or Swerve as sweetener will yield a crispier cookie compared to other keto sweeteners. Keep in ind that the cookies won't be immediately crisp up but instead it can take a few hours for them to harden. To speed this process up, pop the cookies in the fridge or freezer for up to an hour.

Secondly, chilling the dough in the fridge before baking, and then rolling the cookies out flatter will also help with a thinner, crispier cookie.

Thirdly, cookies made with a combination nut butter and nut flour tend to yield a crispier cookie rather than using just one or the other.

Lastly, omitting egg whites or whole eggs will produce crunchier cookies. Shortbread cookies which are egg-free are some of the crunchiest cookies you can make. If you only use egg yolks, this will also produce a harder, crunchier cookie compared to cookies made with whole eggs or egg whites only. This 2-Minute Keto Chocolate Chip Cookie is an example of a cookie recipe that only uses egg yolks.

Recipes to try:

Troubleshooting - How To Fix Cookie Recipes

Cookies Are Too Crumbly

Crumbly cookies are usually a result of the cookie dough not binding properly. To fix this, you can add an extra egg, or binders such as some xanthan gum or guar gum, psyllium powder or flax meal.

Too Sweet or Not Sweet Enough Cookies

Sweetness is always a personal choice. You may need to tweak any recipe depending on your own preference. We tend to use less sweeteners in our recipes but a lot of regular and keto recipes online tend to lean towards being overly sweet, so you may wish to reduce the sweetener content to fit your palate.

Also see our Guide to Low-Carb Sweeteners which includes a sweetener conversion chart to help you substitute one sweetener with another.

Cookies Are Too Flat

Cookies that are egg-free or have a high-fat content (or both) can spread out quite quickly. To prevent this from happening, they can be rolled into balls or scooped out using a cookie scoop and then baked in this shape, so they are not flattened out (we used this technique in our Keto Apple Cinnamon Snickerdoodles).

It can also help to refrigerate the dough before baking as this will solidify the fats. The type of fat you use can also impact the spread, with coconut oil spreading more than butter.

How To Avoid Burnt Edges on Cookies

Nut flours tend to burn at a higher temperature or if cooked for longer periods of time. The golden rule to keto baking is to bake your cookies low and slow. Most cookies bake best at 160-170 °C/ 320-340 °F (conventional), or 140-150 °C/ 285-300 °F (fan assisted) which is ideal for nut flour based cookies (note that this may vary depending on the oven). Also make sure to rotate the tray half way, or even twice if needed, as ovens that don't bake evenly can cause burnt edges on one side and under-baked cookies on the other.

Cookies Are Bitter

Stevia paired with chocolate can result in a bitter cookie, so if making chocolate cookies, it may be best to choose another sweetener. Pure stevia powder or stevia drops should always be combined with another low-carb sweetener.

Cookies Have an Aftertaste

Sweeteners are the main reason for cookies to have an aftertaste. Apart from stevia which can make your cookies bitter, there are other sweeteners that can cause an aftertaste.

Erythritol, Xylitol and sweeteners containing these ingredients will add a slight cooling effect (same as the one in sugar-free chewing gums despite containing no mint). This cooling effect doesn't necessarily have to be unpleasant and can in fact work in some recipes like these Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies.

If you don't the cooling aftertaste, use other sweeteners. Allulose tastes just like sugar with no aftertaste and it is by far the best low-carb sweetener option. Just remember that it will make any cookies chewy, not crunchy.

There are a few options available on Amazon. The brand I use and like is RxSugar. If you live in the US you can get RxSugar 20% off by using this link or by using the code KETODIET20 at checkout.

Melted Chocolate Chips

Nobody wants melted chocolate chips in their cookies! If using homemade chocolate, you need to add a stabilizer (such as soy or sunflower lecithin) if you want to use the chocolate for baking. Alternatively, store bought chocolate made from cacao solids contains a stabilizer and will hold its shape well. Dark chocolate such as Lindt 85% or Lindt 90% are great options and can be roughly chopped and used as chocolate chips.

Keto Cookie Add-ins

There is a number of ways to jazz up a keto cookie based on your personal flavor preferences.

Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds will add a delicious crunch to any keto cookie. Almost any nut or seed can be added to a cookie batter. Larger nuts can be chopped into smaller pieces or pressed on top of each unbaked cookie.

Recipes to try:

Chopped Chocolate and Chocolate Chips

You can add chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate to your favorite cookie dough. While chocolate chips are more of a traditional way to go, you can use chocolate bar chopped into pieces as the odd shapes and smaller edges means that the chocolate is better dispersed through the cookie, giving you a bigger chocolatey hit with each bite.

Our favorites are chopped dark chocolate such as Lindt 85%, Lindt 90%, Lily’s sugar-free chocolate and chocolate chips and unsweetened chocolate.

Recipes to try:

Herbs, Spices & Aromatics

Fresh or dried herbs can make a lovely addition to cookies. Think rosemary, thyme, mint or lemon verbena. Try adding some cinnamon for warming subtle sweetness and zest of your favorite citrus fruit for a tangy flavor boost.

Recipes to try:

Savory Add-ins

Cookies don’t need to be sweet! Whether you're avoiding sweeteners or don't simply have a sweet tooth, we've got you covered! Try adding in crispy bacon, herbs or spices such as garlic or onion powder, cumin, curry powder, paprika or turmeric.

Recipes to try:

Cookies with Filling

What's better than one cookie? Two cookies sandwiched together with a cream, ice-ceram or or fruity jam filling!

Recipes to try:

Keto Cookies From Our Test Kitchen

As part of our research in putting together this guide, we wanted to test a few different ingredients and techniques.

First we tested using the same recipe but with three different sweeteners (Sukrin Gold, Xylitol, Erythritol blend and Allulose). The look of the cookie didn’t change too much (other than a darker cookie for the one made with the Sukrin Gold), however, the flavor and texture was impacted (See the tips for sweeteners in the section above.)

Next, we mixed up the ingredients and techniques. The main focus was the difference between nut butters and flours, butter vs coconut oil, and how cooking them at room temperature compared to refrigerated impacted the end result. Cooking from a refrigerated dough (rather than room temperature) will make more of a crust and lead to a crispier cookie.

For a crispier cookie, the best results were achieved with a combination of nut butter and almond meal, refrigerated cookie dough before baking, then pressed flattish (these will spread while cooking). All crispy recipes were made with Erythritol-based sweeteners. These cookies also had a more “café-style” domed top so if you’re after an aesthetic cookie, this is your best bet.

For a chewy, more cakey option we used almond meal only. However, we found these were a little too dense, and preferred the slightly softer cookie made with a combination of almond meal, coconut flour and xanthan gum combination. For a truly soft and chewy cookie, Allulose was our best bet.

My personal favorite cookie overall? Perhaps number 2 — this one was almond meal, coconut flour, xanthan gum, Xylitol (or Allulose), egg and butter. This was the perfect cookie slightly crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside without being too dense. A small addition of coconut flour also helped with the flavor, balancing out the almond meal so that it wasn’t too overpowering.

The bottom line is that after having tested all of these cookies, we found that everyone prefers a slightly different flavor and texture. Some of our testers liked cookie number 4, some liked cookie number 6 better. We hope that this guide helps you find your perfect cookie!



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The Ultimate Guide to Baking Low-Carb Cookies

This keto hot chocolate is a tasty and satisfying keto treat for cold winter nights. It's infused with cinnamon, star anise and ginger for the ultimate festive twist. We've got almond milk infused with warming spices combined with whipping cream, sweetener and unsweetened chocolate. This is the perfect treat for Christmas!

Hot Chocolate Toppings and Add-ins

You can keep this keto hot chocolate plain or add any of these add-ins and toppings:

  • whipped cream topping
  • sugar-free marshmallows (you can even make your own marshmallows)
  • grated dark chocolate, cacao powder or cinnamon for dusting
  • For extra protein add 1-2 scoops Perfect Keto Collagen or your preferred collagen powder
  • For extra creaminess add roasted almond butter or Perfect Keto Nut Butter. I prefer roasted as it enhances the flavour. Instead of unsweetened chocolate, you can use 85% dark chocolate or 90% dark chocolate and skip the sweetener.

Want to add toppings and add-ins and see how they affect this recipe? You can make any adjustments directly in the KetoDiet App by cloning any of the recipes from my blog and customizing them to fit your macros and preferences.

Love hot chocolate? Make sure to check out these recipes too!

Preparation time

Hands-on:    10 minutes
Overall:     30 minutes

Nutritional values (per serving, 1 glass)

Total Carbs 9.8 grams
Fiber 3.4 grams
Net Carbs 6.4 grams
Protein 5.8 grams
Fat 27.2 grams
of which Saturated 15 grams
Energy 271 kcal
Magnesium 93 mg (23% RDA)
Potassium 614 mg (31% EMR)

Macronutrient ratio: Calories from carbs (9%), protein (8%), fat (83%)

Ingredients (makes 2 servings)

Instructions

  1. Place the almond milk in a sauce pan. Add cinnamon stick, star anise and ginger powder.
  2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Take off the heat and cover with a lid to let the flavors infuse for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the aromatics and return to the heat.
  3. Add cream and low-carb sweetener (Allulose or Erythritol) and heat up until simmering. Add the dark chocolate and stir until dissolved. Take off the heat. Optionally, use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. If you prefer your chocolate sweeter, add more sweetener to taste.
  4. Divide the mixture between 2 serving glasses.
  5. Optionally, top with whipped cream, sugar-free marshmallows and dust with cacao powder or cinnamon. Serve immediately while still hot.


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Keto Gingerbread Hot Chocolate

This open-face keto pastry is stuffed with caramelized red balsamic onions and creamy brie cheese. A delicious winter dish that's perfect for Christmas!

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Keto Caramelized Onion & Brie Galette

Traditional Christmas pies made with keto shortcrust pastry filled with homemade sugar-free cranberry and clementine mincemeat. A classic festive dessert everyone will love!

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Low-Carb Mince Pies

Fruity festive mincemeat made low-carb with green apple, clementine and sugar-free cranberries, all delicately flavored with fresh citrus zest, warming spices and brandy.

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Low-Carb Cranberry and Clementine Mincemeat

Gooey keto pecan pie bars flavored with brown butter and bourbon. These are the best pecan pie bars you'll ever try!

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Keto Brown Butter Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars

I love Mediterranean dishes. In fact, I devoted a whole book to Mediterranean cooking, the keto way!

This baked dish is inspired by Moussaka, one of the most beloved Greek recipes. But unlike the classic version which uses potatoes and eggplant, this one is using just one ingredient — cauliflower. I simplified the dish by creating three layers rather than multiple layers you'd usually see in a classic Moussaka.

The beef base is flavored with spices, herbs, tomatoes and red wine. I suggest you don't skip the wine as that is what gives it the ultimate umami. If you're avoiding alcohol, there will be very little left anyway as cooking and baking will remove 80 to 90% of it.

Then we've got kefalotyri cheese. Again, I recommend you don't substitute the cheese but if you have to, grated parmesan or grated Greek talagani or halloumi will work well too.

The top layer consists of cauliflower florets cut into small pieces and covered in creamy cheese béchamel sauce delicately flavored with nutmeg and bay leaf.

This low-carb casserole is perfect for meal prep and batch cooking. It freezes well and will make a satisfying keto lunch or dinner option. To reheat, pop in the oven or microwave for a few minutes and you are good to go. If frozen, let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Enjoy!

Preparation time

Hands-on:     30 minutes
Overall:       1 hour 15 minutes

Nutritional values (per serving, about 280 g/ 10 oz)

Total Carbs 10.2 grams
Fiber 3.4 grams
Net Carbs 6.8 grams
Protein 30.3 grams
Fat 45.6 grams
of which Saturated 21.6 grams
Energy 586 kcal
Magnesium 53 mg (13% RDA)
Potassium 786 mg (39% EMR)

Macronutrient ratio: Calories from carbs (5%), protein (22%), fat (73%)

Ingredients (makes 8 servings)

Beef filling:
  • 2 tbsp ghee or extra virgin olive oil (30 ml)
  • 1 medium red onion, diced (100 g/ 3.5 oz)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium celery sticks, dliced (80 g/ 2.8 oz)
  • 1 kg ground beef (2.2 lb)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 1 large can tomatoes (400 g/ 14.2 oz)
  • 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine (120 ml/ 4 flo oz)
  • 1 cup grated Greek kefalotyri cheese or parmesan cheese (120 g/ 4.2 oz)
Topping:
  • 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets (600 g/ 1.3 lb)
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream (240 ml/ 8 fl oz)
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (45 g/ 1.6 oz)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the beef filling. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and chop the celery.
  2. Heat a large pan greased with ghee or olive oil over a medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until fragrant, for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and celery. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add the beef and break into small pieces using a spatula. Cook until opaque and lightly browned, for about 10 minutes.
  4. Add the cinnamon, cloves, oregano, bay leaves, tomatoes, salt, pepper and dry red wine. Bring to a simmer and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes. When done, set aside. Remove the bay leaves just before it's ready to assemble.
  5. While the beef is cooking, cut the cauliflower in small florets. Place in a steamer pot and cook until tender, for 8 to 12 minutes. Remove the lid and let the steam escape. Set aside.
  6. To make the béchamel cheese topping, place the heavy whipping cream in a saucepan. Add egg yolks, nutmeg, bay leaf and a pinch of salt. Whisk until fully combine and then gently heat up while stirring to prevent the yolks from curdling. Once the mixture is hot and starts to thicken, add the grated cheese and stir in. Cover with a lid and set aside for 10 minutes to let the bay leaf infuse the béchamel. (Note: if it does curdle, use a stick blender to make it smooth again.)
  7. When ready to assemble, preheat the oven to 170 °C/ 340 °F (fan assisted), or 190 °C/ 375 °F (conventional). To the bottom of a large deep casserole dish add the prepared beef.
  8. Top with half of the grated Greek kefalotyri cheese (or use parmesan cheese).
  9. Add the cooked cauliflower florets. If they are too big, chop to smaller pieces.
  10. Remove the bay leaf from the béchamel sauce and evenly pour the sauce over the cauliflower. Top with the remaining kefalotyri cheese (or parmesan cheese).
  11. Place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, rotating the dish halfway to ensure even browning.
  12. When done, remove from the oven and let it cool down for a few minutes before serving.
  13. Eat warm. This casserole can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.


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Keto Greek Beef And Cheese Casserole

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