The Recipe for how to make Sugar Free Shortbread Cookies (2024)

Published: Oct 3, 2023 by thesugarfreediva. · This post may contain affiliate or amazon links.
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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.

No added sugar shortbread cookies recipe.

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.

What are shortbread cookies?

Tips for making 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

• No sugar added oatmeal and raisin cookies
• Sugar Free Holiday Linzer Cookies
• 3 Ingredient Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cookies
• Sugar Free Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
• No Bake Sugar Free Chocolate Cookies
• Sugar Free Keto Gingerbread Cookies

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How to make this recipe for shortbread cookies even better.

• Instead of using a granular sugar alternative, use a powdered sugar alternative (that also measures like sugar and that can be baked with) for finer and 'sweeter' cookie.
• Use almond extract or lemon extract instead of the vanilla extract for added flavor.
• Chill your dough and roll it out to use a cookie cutter for a shaped cookie.
• One of my favorite things to do is to use a cookie press to make these cookies into interesting and impressive shapes.

How to serve sugar free shortbread.

• 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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The Recipe Card for "Sugar Free Shortbread Cookies

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.

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Please let me know and I will work on getting that recipe for you. Happy baking, eating, and enjoying life! Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can thus however, vary especially with ingredients that are used.

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This recipe was recently updated. 10/23

Here is the original recipe.

Original no added sugar shortbread cookie ingredients.

• Softened Butter- 3 sticks (¾ lb).
• Sugar Alternative- 1 cup equivalent to sugar .
• Vanilla Extract- 1 teaspoon.
• All Purpose (AP) Flour- 3 ½ cups (can sub in equivalent in low carb or gluten free similar product).
• Salt- ½ teaspoon (omit if using salted butter.) Optional- melted chocolate or other option for topping cookie with.

How to make sugar free shortbread cookies

• When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 and prep your cookie pans.
• Using a mixing bowl, cream together your softened butter and sugar alternative. Then stir in your vanilla extract.
• Mix in your flour and salt.
• You can refrigerate your cookie dough by wrapping it in plastic.
• Refrigerated dough usually responds better for cookie cutters so it could be a good idea to roll out the dough then wrap it in plastic and refrigerate.
• If you are using a cookie gun/press split the dough in half and refrigerate one half while you work with the other. This will prevent it from getting too soft for use.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes for smaller cookies and up to 18 -20 minutes for larger cookies. The smaller cookies are generally the pressed cookies that are in shapes. The larger cookies are usually the hand-formed cookies that are thicker ½"+. You will know that your cookie is done when the edges begin to brown.
• Allow the cookies to cool before topping.