Keto Cookies: Gluten-Free Indulgence Or Misleading Marketing?

Cookies are a popular dessert and snack food, but many people are unable to enjoy them due to dietary restrictions. For those on a ketogenic diet or with gluten intolerance, finding a suitable cookie recipe can be challenging. However, there are several recipes available online that cater to these specific dietary needs. These recipes typically use alternative ingredients such as almond flour, coconut flour, and sugar substitutes to create delicious cookies that are both keto-friendly and gluten-free. By following these recipes, individuals can enjoy a sweet treat without compromising their dietary restrictions.

What ingredients can be used to make keto cookies gluten-free?

Gluten-free keto cookies can be made using a variety of ingredients, and the options are endless. Here are some ideas for ingredients to use in your keto cookies:

Almond Flour

Almond flour is a popular choice for gluten-free and keto baking. It has a fine texture and a nutty flavour that works well in cookies. It is also a good source of protein and healthy fats. When using almond flour, it is important to note that the cookies may have a denser texture compared to traditional cookies.

Coconut Flour

Coconut flour is another gluten-free and keto-friendly option. It has a distinct coconut flavour and is high in fibre. Coconut flour is very absorbent, so it is important to use the right amount in your cookie recipe. Too much coconut flour can result in dry and crumbly cookies.

Butter

Butter is a key ingredient in many cookie recipes, and it is no different for keto cookies. It provides a rich, creamy texture and a delicious buttery flavour. If you are looking for a dairy-free alternative, ghee or coconut oil can be used as substitutes, but the flavour and texture may vary.

Sweeteners

The type of sweetener you choose can have a significant impact on the texture and taste of your keto cookies. Some popular options include erythritol, monk fruit sweetener, and xylitol. These sweeteners can provide a similar sweetness level to sugar while keeping the carb count low. However, they may affect the crispness and chewiness of your cookies, so choose according to your desired texture.

Eggs

Eggs are essential in cookie recipes as they help bind the ingredients together and provide structure. They also contribute to the moisture and richness of the cookies.

Chocolate

What's a chocolate chip cookie without chocolate chips? You can use sugar-free or dark chocolate chips, or even chop up a chocolate bar into small bits for a more decadent melt-in-your-mouth experience.

Nuts and Seeds

Adding nuts and seeds to your keto cookies can provide a nice crunch and extra flavour. Some options include pecans, walnuts, and chopped almonds. Just be mindful of the portion size, as nuts and seeds can be high in calories and fat.

Baking Soda and Baking Powder

Baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents that help give your cookies a light and airy texture. They also contribute to the browning and crisping of the cookies during baking.

Salt

A pinch of salt enhances the flavour of your cookies and can help balance out the sweetness.

Optional Add-Ins

You can also get creative and experiment with additional ingredients such as extracts (vanilla, almond, etc.), spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.), and sugar-free sprinkles.

How do you make keto cookies from scratch?

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 2 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1/3 cup granulated monk fruit sweetener (or up to 1/2 cup if you like them very sweet)
• 1 large egg (at room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 tbsp sour cream (optional, but recommended)
• 3 cups almond flour

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and sweetener until fluffy and light in color.
• Beat in the vanilla extract, salt, and egg. Beat in sour cream, if using (optional).
• Beat in the almond flour, 1/2 cup (64 g) at a time. The dough will be soft. If it sticks to your hands when you touch it, refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Use a medium cookie scoop (about 1 1/2 tbsp, 22 mL volume) to scoop balls of the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet. Flatten each ball with your palm.
• Bake for about 12-15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool completely in the pan before handling (cookies will firm up as they cool, but are intended to be soft).

Tips:

• If the dough is too sticky, chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• You can also wet your hands to prevent the dough from sticking to them while flattening.
• For chocolate chip cookies, fold in sugar-free chocolate chips into the batter, or dip the baked cookies in melted chocolate.
• For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of lemon or orange zest to the dough.

Can you make keto cookies without gluten taste good?

Yes, you can make keto cookies without gluten that taste good! In fact, there are a plethora of recipes for gluten-free keto cookies, including chocolate chip, shortbread, snickerdoodles, and more. Many of these recipes use almond flour or coconut flour as a substitute for wheat flour, which is high in gluten.

Ingredients

The ingredients for keto cookies will vary depending on the recipe, but some common ingredients include:

• Almond flour or coconut flour
• Butter or coconut oil
• Sweetener (such as erythritol, monk fruit sweetener, or stevia)
• Eggs
• Baking soda and/or baking powder
• Chocolate chips or chunks
• Nuts (such as pecans or walnuts)
• Extracts (such as vanilla or almond extract)

Tips for Making Gluten-Free Keto Cookies

• Use a high-quality almond flour that is super finely ground and blanched. Almond meal is not recommended as it can make the cookies grainy or gritty.
• If using butter, let it soften at room temperature before creaming it with the sweetener.
• Cream the butter and sweetener until light and fluffy, this is essential for the best texture.
• Chilling the dough is important to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
• If using coconut sugar, you may need to chill the dough before baking to achieve a thicker cookie.
• For crispier cookies, pre-flatten the dough before baking and use parchment paper. For cakier cookies, keep the dough ultra-chilled and don't pre-flatten.

Recipes

• Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies: These cookies are chewy, lightly crisp, and customizable. They use a combination of almond flour, coconut flour, and konjac powder for the best crumb and bite.
• Keto Shortbread Cookies: These cookies have a soft, delicate, and chewy texture and use almond flour, butter, sweetener, and vanilla extract as the main ingredients.
• Keto Sugar Cookies: These cookies have a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and are made with almond flour, coconut flour, granular monk fruit sweetener, butter, egg, sour cream, and vanilla extract.
• Low-Carb Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies: These cookies are dairy-free and refined sugar-free, using almond flour, coconut oil, eggs, stevia, baking soda, cinnamon, and sugar-free chocolate chips as the main ingredients.
• Perfect Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies: This recipe has vegan and keto options and uses a combination of almond flour, coconut flour, coconut oil or butter, coconut sugar or brown sugar, almond butter, egg, and chocolate chips.

What are some tips for making gluten-free keto cookies?

Ingredients

Use blanched almond flour, not almond meal. The former has a finer texture and will yield better results. If you need a nut-free version, use coconut flour instead.

For the best flavour, use butter. You can use ghee or coconut oil for a dairy-free option, but the flavour and texture won't be the same. If you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to balance the sweetener.

Use a sweetener that yields the best texture and doesn't dry out the cookies, such as Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend. You can also use other granulated sweeteners from the list of approved keto sweeteners, but be aware that texture and flavour will vary.

Technique

Cream the butter correctly. Start with a lower speed on your hand mixer to avoid making a mess, then increase the speed once the butter starts to incorporate. This will create little pockets of air, resulting in more cookies with a delicate crumb.

Use butter that is soft but not too soft. If it's too warm, it won't form air pockets. Let it soften naturally instead of using the microwave.

Don't over-beat the butter. Doing so will break down the air. Five minutes is the perfect amount of time.

Add the almond flour gradually. If you dump it in all at once, it won't mix as well and you'll end up over-mixing, affecting the final texture.

Scrape the sides of the bowl when creaming the butter, and again after adding the almond flour. This will ensure that all the ingredients are evenly incorporated and that the cookies are the same density.

Pack the dough gently into the cookie scoop. If it's too loose, it might fall apart when you release it. One lightly packed tablespoon of dough, flattened to about 1/3" thickness, will give you delightful low-carb shortbread cookies.

Adjust the oven time as needed. Many factors will affect the baking time, including cookie thickness, the type of pan you use, and the outdoor temperature. Check on your cookies after 10 minutes in the oven, then every couple of minutes after that.

Be patient after baking. When they first come out of the oven, your cookies will be too soft and crumbly. Let them cool completely before handling them so that they can firm up.

Storage

Keto cookies will last a while on the counter—at least a few days in an airtight container. They can also be stored in the fridge for over a week. You can also freeze the dough or the baked cookies.

Are there any good keto cookie recipes?

Yes, there are plenty of good keto cookie recipes! Here are some ideas for you to try:

Keto Shortbread Cookies

These cookies are made with almond flour, butter, and a confectioner's sugar substitute. They are soft, delicate, and chewy, and can be made in just 10 minutes. You can also add an optional chocolate dip.

Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are soft, chewy, and customisable. They have only 1.5g net carbs per cookie and can be whipped up and frozen for up to 3 months. You can also make a double chocolate version.

Keto Sugar Cookies

These cookies have a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and contain about 2 net carbs each. They are made with almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, granular monkfruit sweetener, butter, egg, sour cream, and vanilla extract. You can also add an optional sugar-free frosting.

Keto Chocolate Cookies

These rich chocolate cookies have under 2 net carbs each.

Keto Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies come to about 1 net carb each.

Keto Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies have only 4g net carbs each and are made without any flour.

Keto White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

These cookies are packed with sweet white chocolate chips and salty macadamia nuts. Each cookie has about 3 net carbs.

Keto No-Bake Cookies

These fudgy cookies will remind you of classic no-bake chocolate cookies without all the carbs. They have just 1 net carb per cookie.

Keto Coffee Cookies

These cookies are made with espresso coffee and will give you an energy boost without the sugar crash.

Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies (Award-Winning Recipe)

These cookies are soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips. They require just 6 simple ingredients and take less than 12 minutes to make.

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