Soft low carb chocolate cookies in a chocolate peppermint coating. Sugar-free and grain-free and perfect for the holidays. Kids love this egg-free keto cookie! This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill.
So I think this is going to be my last cookie recipe before the holidays. Well, maybe. I mean, probably. Sort of. I don’t know, it’s hard to say. I can neither confirm nor deny. Who knows how things will go? It’s just one of those things you really can’t predict. Because my problem every year is that I have 18 billion ideas for low carb cookies and not nearly enough time to execute them all. And of all the ones I do actually find time to test out, I end up with not enough time in my calendar to actually post them all. And every year I find that the closer we get to Christmas, the more people weary of treat recipes and want other things instead. Savoury things. Dinner things. Breakfast things. But enough with the damn cookies already, lady!
I have several other cookie or cookie-like recipes in the hopper and I just don’t know how to get them all out to you before you’re sick of them. I had a couple of really great recipes last year that got overlooked because I tried to post them too close to the big day. But on the other hand, I love holiday cookies so much, I love creating them and sharing recipes for them. So to be very frank, while my mind tells me that this should be the last cookie recipe of the season, my heart tells me MORE MORE MORE! More cookies! Don’t ever give up on the cookies!
Classic battle between head and heart. Which one will win? Well, no matter what, I still vow to bring you the best recipes I can, whether or not they are cookies or dinner, cake or appetizers, sweet or savoury, there’s always something good going on around here.
Whether or not these delicious Chocolate Peppermint Stars are the last of the cookies, you know they’ve got to be good. The dough is egg-free and quite easy to make. Bob’s Red Mill Super Fine almond flour and some butter and cream cheese make a fantastic soft sugar cookie dough that rolls out easily and holds together really well. Once they’re baked, you dip them in chocolate and decorate as desired. My littlest had a ball being my helper and sprinkling the cookies with fun things. I also caught her sneaking bits of dough to munch on. But since it was completely egg-free, it wasn’t an issue at all.
Oh and if you get tired of cutting them out? You can just roll the remaining dough into truffles that don’t even need to be baked. Just freeze and then dip! I’m betting a few of you will just turn the whole lot into truffles…
- 2 cups almond flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup Swerve Sweetener
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 4 ounces cream cheese cut into small chunks
- 7 ounces sugar-free dark chocolate chopped
- 1 ounce cocoa butter
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- Holiday Sprinkles (optional)
- Crushed sugar-free peppermints (optional)
- 1 to 2 ounces Sugar-Free White Chocolate (optional)
- 1 tsp coconut oil
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Preheat the oven to 325F and line two baking sheets with silicone liners or parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cocoa powder, sweetener, and salt. Stir in the butter and peppermint extract. Sprinkle the cream cheese over the surface. Use a pastry cutter or two sharp knives to cut the cream cheese in until the dough looks unified and comes together easily.
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Turn the dough out onto a large sheet of parchment or waxed paper and pat into a rough circle. Top with another piece of parchment or waxed paper. Roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick. Use a 3-inch star-shaped cookie cutter to cut as many stars as you can. Lift the cookies out carefully, using a knife or offset spatula to loosen, if necessary. Re-roll the dough and cut more cookies until the scraps are too small to roll out. (Any scraps can be rolled into truffles that don't even need baking!)
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Bake 15 minutes, switching the position of the trays in the oven halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking. Remove and let cool completely. Then place the cookies in the freezer for at least 1 hour (helps make the coating process easier).
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In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, combine the chocolate and the cocoa butter. Stir until melted and smooth. Stir in the peppermint extract.
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One at a time, drop the cookies into the chocolate and flip over with a fork to coat both sides. Remove and set on a pan lined with waxed paper. Sprinkle with a few holiday sprinkles, or crushed peppermints, if using. Repeat with remaining cookies and place in the fridge for 20 minutes or so to set the chocolate.
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To drizzle cookies with a little white chocolate, break up the white chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and add the coconut oil. Heat on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until smooth. Place in a ziplock bag with the very corner snipped of and decorate as desired.
Makes about 24 three inch star-shaped cookies. Each cookie has 2.19g NET CARBS.
Food energy: 124kcal
Total fat: 11.17g
Calories from fat: 100
Cholesterol: 11mg
Carbohydrate: 6.54g
Total dietary fiber: 4.35g
Protein: 3.06g
Erythritol: 7g
Many thanks to Bob’s Red Mill for partnering with me to bring you this post!
Kat says
Never too many cookie recipes! But I enjoy all things that you post. Thank you!
Carol McRee says
Yum! Chocolate and peppermint! A favorite combo…. definitely going on the “must make” list!
TanYa says
OMG, it just hit me! What if you used the chocolate sauce and peppermint topping to drizzle over some low carb vanilla ice cream and make a “klondike” bar?!? I love this flavor combination. Carolyn, you are awesome!
Carolyn says
Sure, sounds delicious!
Karen says
No such thing as too many cookies. Just sayin’. Go with your heart – it knows what it wants. =))
txgrandma says
Too many cookies? I think not. Thanks so much for all your great recipes. I have yet to try anything from here that I didn’t (and usually everyone else) love!
Annette says
How would you suggest storing these? Best in the fridge or can they be sealed and kept at room temperature? These look delish…and I can’t wait to make them this weekend!
Cora Sears says
Could Splenda be used instead as it’s less expensive? Can always count on your recipes, thanks.
Erin says
Swerve is so much more delicious! Have you tried it? It really is worth the extra $
Dana says
Swerve behaves differently in baking than bulk Splenda does. You could try the Splenda, but you would likely get a radically different cookie.
That said, Swerve tastes “plant-y” to me. You might notice the taste too. It’s not bitter, just different. Maybe the chocolate and peppermint will overpower that part, maybe it won’t. So if you don’t like what Splenda does in this recipe, other sweeteners you can try are Sukrin, Just Like Sugar, or Virtue Sweetener. (Google them.) I think they come closer to Swerve in baking quality than bulk Splenda would do.
(I personally have no objections to Splenda, just that the dextrose and maltodextrin you typically see paired with sucralose don’t behave like sugar alcohols, which in turn do behave more like sugar in baking.)
Casty says
More, more, more! Keep em coming! Love all your recipes!
Susan Pelter says
Carolyn, you are a genius! These look gorgeous and I love your cookie recipes. Since I hate peppermint and love anything spicy or gingerbread-y, I’m thinking these would be wonderful if you took out the peppermint and added spices instead. I’ll report back! In the meantime, Merry Christmas, and thanks for all your fabulous recipes!
Carolyn says
Sure, that would be lovely!
Dori says
I hate to be that person. But is there any dairy free option???? Used to love GIrl Acout thin mints – would love to make some gluten and dairy free. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Carolyn says
Not for this recipe, since it relies on cream cheese. But you could use my thin mints recipe with coconut oil in place of the butter… https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/2011/02/homemade-thin-mints-low-carb-and-gluten-free.html
Whitney says
You could use KiteHill’s almondmilk based cream cheese. It is soy and dairy free but works like dairy based cream cheese in recipes.
April says
Now that we’ve found Keto/low carb goodies, I don’t have migraines and yucky tummy. I can finally eat ALL THE SWEET THINGS! Keep ’em coming and we’ll keep eating!
Sally says
Question on storing cookies. I have been trying a variety of them – they are all great. I would like to make a variety for the Christmas holiday. Not sure how long they will keep, what is the best way to keep them. I am thinking about making them the Monday/Tuesday of Christmas week for that week – hopefully last till the New Year. I have froze some of them and that worked okay. But I find they are better (except the thin mints- great frozen) when I do not freeze them. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.
SAlly
Carolyn says
many of my recipes can be frozen ahead of time. But if they are glazed or dipped in chocolate, it’s best to do that just a little before giving or serving. But if you just want to make and refrigerate, that can be good too. Not sure they’d last the full two weeks, though.
Erin says
Does this dough come together in the food processor? Has anyone tried?
Bernadette says
I used my food processor. It worked well. 🙂
Sally says
Thanks for your quick reply. Might do them in batches for each holiday.
della says
“Bake 15 minutes, switching the trays of cookies halfway through the baking time.”
I’m confused by this? what are you switching?
Thanks
Della
Carolyn says
Sorry, the position of the trays in the oven. One will inevitably be closer to the bottom and thus closer to the heating element, so you want to change them halfway through for more even baking.
della says
Oh golly, that makes sense now, I only have one tray so it never entered my mind.
Thank You!
Carolyn says
Only one cookie sheet! Goodness, how do you survive??? 😉
Taylor Kiser says
Chocolate and peppermint cookies equals happy Taylor! Keep the cookie recipes coming!! These look ahhmazing!
Andrea says
I can’t wait to make these! Is there anything I could substitute for the cocoa butter?
Carolyn says
Use a tbsp of regular butter or coconut oil
Marv says
These are TO DIE FOR!!!!
Gina @Running to the Kitchen says
SO dang cute!! Love these!
Kathy says
I HIAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ANOTHER COOKIE – YOUR WALNUT CARDAMON SNOWBALLS. I plan to make them for Christmas. I see you used stevia in these. Can you use all swerve or is stevia essential? If all sweve is ok, how much would you use (orginal recipe called for half a cup). Thanks.
Carolyn says
You can use another few tablespoons of Swerve. Or you can just leave it at a half cup. To be honest, I like things less sweet these days…
Erin @ Texanerin Baking says
I love me some Bob’s Red Mill!
Diane Wesson says
I’ve been looking all over. Where do you get the sugar free white chocolate? I’d love to dip these in White Chocolate peppermint.
Shannah Ortiz says
I also need a link for sugar free white chocolate!!
Marv says
Just finished my third batch, these things are GREAT Carolyn! I’m making Lily rich though…
(Seriously, we’d be lost without your hard work. Thank you!)
–Marv
Carolyn says
Thanks, Marv. I’ve already made Lily rich many times over! 😉
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com says
Carolyn, these are gorgeous! And I love the classic combination of peppermint and chocolate. I use my star cutter more than any other, I think.
Rebekah R says
Could I use organic whole wheat flour in place of almond flour? And the sweetener could I substitute honey? I’m thinking of last minute experiments before Christmas lol
Carolyn says
I do not use regular flour nor honey so I cannot guide you in this.
Lori Kling says
I did not have any luck with these cookies. I am not sure if I may have done something wrong, like forgot an ingredient or if I just did not care for them. To be honest everyone that tried them didn’t care for them. Are they supposed to not be very sweet? I will try them again to make sure that it was not a baking error on my part!
I do appreciate all of the recipes that you post, everyone of them, aside from this one has been amazing.
Carolyn says
Did you use any kind of different sweetener? Or what kind of chocolate did you use for the coating?
Lori Kling says
I used Lilly’s chocolate. I did not use swerve sweetener because I ran out, I can’t remember the brand but it was erythritol. There was just something off. I was so excited for these. I will try them again but will use swerve next time.
Carolyn says
Erythritol plain is not as sweet as Swerve. It’s about 70% as sweet. That might be it, I can’t say for sure.
Patricia Clayborn says
Also, erythritol has a “cooling” effect that is offputting to some people. You can mitigate that sensation by adding in a small amount of an alternate sweetener such as stevia, sucralose, or monk fruit. 😀
Pamela says
I miss new to keto lifestyle – where can I purchase Swerve? and sugar- free chocolates?
Carolyn says
There should links in the recipe to help!
Kori says
I want to try these! Do you have some sugar fee peppermints you can recommend? Or sprinkles?
Carolyn says
No such thing as sugar free sprinkle but these xylitol mints would work. http://amzn.to/2klpT10
Patricia Clayborn says
Please do not use any xylitol based products if you own a dog! (Look up ‘xylitol poisoning in dogs’ for the reasons why.)
Sarah Rosow says
I’ve got the cookies made (yum!) and am trying to figure out what chocolate to use for the coating. I’ll probably just go buy some more Lily’s bars but I’m wondering if I could make do with a combo of what I’ve got: one Lily’s dark chocolate bar (2.8 oz) one 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate bar, and some lily’s chips. I’m thinking of combining the two bars and adding a little sweetener. Think that would work? Or, has anyone tried melting lily’s chips with success? Thanks!
Carolyn says
The chips don’t melt as willingly so I’d add a little coconut oil in there to help them along…
Coryelle Higdon says
Has anyone tried using peppermint essential oil?
Christy says
Where did you find sugar free white chocolate for drizzling? Thank you!!
Carolyn says
It was a xylitol sweetened one from KZ Clean Eating but they don’t seem to make it anymore
Denise says
Would it be possible to use melted cocoa butter as a white drizzle with some added Swerve maybe?
Carolyn says
Yes but be forewarned, it melts into liquid and really has no in-between state so it’s hard to “drizzle”.
Hillary says
I made these with the same ingredients you suggest and the dough came out very, very moist and difficult to work with. I had freeze the dough for a while before cutting out my shapes because it was so sticky. Even then, the shapes were crumbly and difficult to manage . I really want to like them – but what should I do differently?
Carolyn says
So it could be the brand of cocoa powder as some are more absorbent. Try adding another tbsp of cocoa and perhaps a bit more almond flour.
Hillary says
Thanks! Will definitely try that. They tasted delicious though and got rave reviews on them.