A collection of the best keto Christmas cookies for gifting and celebrating! Want to get a jump on your low carb holiday baking? I’ve got 20 wonderful make-ahead, freezable cookie recipes that won’t blow your healthy diet.
How much of a planner are you when it comes to holiday baking? Are you a pre-Thanksgiving, get all your ducks in a row early kind of baker? Or are you a mid-December, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants cookie maker?
Do you rifle through your low carb recipe collections, seeking out the contenders and giving them a test drive well in advance? Or do you bake as you go, when you just happen upon a recipe that appeals to you?
If you’re like me, you’ve already been hunting up and dreaming up low carb cookie recipes for weeks. Possibly even months!
It’s funny, because in much of my life, I am not really the planner type. But when it comes to keto Christmas cookies, I start the process very early. Very early indeed! I am an Early November, maybe even Late October holiday baker. I just love holiday treats, I love baking them, love sharing them, love everything about them. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.
Making cookies in advance
Let’s face it, if you start baking too early, you’re going to run into some issues. Like stale and moldy cookies, which aren’t going to help you spread the holiday cheer. But on the other hand, if you start baking too late, you might run into a time crunch trying to get it all done. What to do, what to do?
Part of the planning process is deciding what Keto Christmas Cookie recipes can be made in advance and frozen. Not all recipes fit this bill, as some change too much upon freezing and thawing. But others have just the right consistency to be frozen without incident.
A few things to keep in mind when planning your keto holiday cookies:
- Most basic almond flour or coconut flour cookies freeze just as well as conventional cookies and don’t change consistency upon thawing. By “basic”, I mean ones that don’t have gooey fillings or tons of frosting.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing in a container or plastic bag. This allows the cookies to firm up properly before storing. Warm cookies will also give off condensation in the freezer which could ruin them.
- Flash freezing the cookies works well. Place them individually on a cookie sheet, not touching, and place the cookie sheet in the freezer. Then remove and place them in your container of choice. This helps them not stick together during the freezing process.
- Raw cookie dough freezes well. Some cookies are actually best frozen in their raw form. Consider doing this for drop cookies like chocolate chips and peanut butter. And my famous Chewy Ginger Cookies! The easiest way to do this is to roll them into balls and flash freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to a zippered freezer bag once they are solid. Let them thaw before baking.
- Slice and bake cookies like pinwheels are actually designed to be frozen before baking, as it allows you to slice them more thinly.
Freezable Cookie Recipes
I’ve gathered together 20 of the BEST Keto Christmas Cookies, all of which will be good for about a month when wrapped up air-tight. So you can get ahead now and have time in December to relax and enjoy the festivities.
1. Keto Sugar Cookies
This cut out sugar cookie recipe produces sturdy but tender cookies that freeze well both frosted and unfrosted.
2. Chewy Keto Ginger Cookies
The best way to make these ahead is to roll the dough into balls and freeze on a cookie sheet. Then store in a plastic bag in the freezer. Simply let thaw on the cookie sheet when you are ready to bake.
3. Chocolate Peppermint Stars
Store these easy egg-free chocolate cookies with or without the chocolate coating. Layer them between sheets of waxed paper to prevent damage.
4. Keto Italian Ricotta Cookies
The baked cookies freeze well and can be stored for several months. I recommend glazing them after thawing so it’s fresh and bright.
5. Keto Danish Butter Cookies
Make these tender butter cookies ahead and freeze in an airtight container. Dip in chocolate while still frozen so that the chocolate sets faster.
6. Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Cookies
Cream cheese makes these classic keto peanut butter cookies extra tender! You can freeze the raw dough or the baked cookies.
7. Keto White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
You can freeze this classic cookie as raw dough. Roll into balls and freeze on a cookie sheet, then store in an airtight container or freezer bag. Thaw completely before baking.
8. Keto Gingerbread Men
Kids love decorating these sweet Keto Gingerbread Cookies! I recommend freezing the plain cookies, so that any decorations don’t get damaged or fall off during the freezing process.
9. Keto Snowballs
To keep them looking their best, freeze before you roll them in powdered sweetener.
10. Keto Peanut Butter Blossoms
You can freeze the completed cookies, or wait to add the chocolate filling until after they thaw.
11. Cranberry Pecan Biscotti
These crisp keto biscotti make a wonderful gift for friends and family. I recommend freezing before you dip or drizzle the chocolate, to keep them looking their best.
12. Keto Macadamia Nut Shortbread
The holidays aren’t complete without some buttery keto shortbread on hand. Freeze these cookies unadorned, then add the chocolate before serving or gifting.
13. Keto Gingerbread Spritz Cookies
These easy cookies can be frozen after baking. Sprinkle with powdered sweetener before serving.
14. Keto Butter Pecan Cookies
These just might be my most popular keto cookies ever! The baked cookies freeze perfectly, but you can also turn them into slice-and-bake cookies. Roll the dough into two logs and wrap tightly in waxed paper. Then slice and bake as many as you need.
15. Keto Pecan Crescents
My dad’s favorite Christmas cookie! We made these every Christmas when I was growing up and my father thought that my keto version was just as good. You can freeze these before or after decorating.
16. Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies
Readers adore these thick and chewy cookies. You can bake them before freezing, or roll the raw dough into balls and freeze.
17. Speculoos (Dutch Spice Cookies)
Store these thin, crispy cookies in an airtight container in the freezer. If they are a little soft after thawing, simply place in a warm oven for 5 to 10 minutes. They will re-crisp as they cool.
18. Keto Snickerdoodles
I recommend freezing them between layers of waxed paper in a covered container. Let come to room temperature before serving.
19. Keto Brownie Brittle
Somewhere between a cookie and a brownie lies this delicious Keto Brownie Bark. They freeze like a dream, too!
20. Peppermint Bark Cookies
Chocolate keto thumbprints with a center of peppermint white chocolate! Let them set completely before freezing so that the white chocolate and sprinkles don’t get smooshed.
Esther A. says
I wish you could include measurements for using coconut flour in recipes that use almond flour. I am allergic to all nuts and am scared to use almond flour. I know that you can’t use the same amount of coconut flour as almond flour recipes. For me to “trial and error” to get the right amounts is not very economical for me.
Carolyn says
I am sorry but that’s simply not possible. For one thing, coconut flour makes TERRIBLE cookies. For another, there is no standard way to replace it for any recipe. It all depends on the texture you are aiming for. I do, however, had a full Nut-Free Section in my Recipe Index.
Ripple Rome says
Please tell me where I can buy this
The Best Keto Holiday Cookie Recipes
Thank you for your time.
Ripple Rome
Carolyn says
The link is right in this post.
Anne says
I was excited to try the royal icing and read the recipe twice but do not see the ingredients or instructions. I had this problem with the broccoli, cheese soup. Great article but no recipe. I would love to make these things if it was possible.
Carolyn says
I’m sorry, I am confused. You came to a round up article on my site which includes a bunch of recipe. THE VERY FIRST is the cut out cookies with the royal icing. Please click on that…
Leslee says
Okay, I know this is an old post but I just had to scroll ALL THE WAY to the bottom to add my comment. You are so awesome! I am definitely a mid-November early baker, love freezing rolled out dough ahead for fresh baked goodies through the season. Never in my wildest dreams did I think there would be low-carb options for this!! YAY!! You have done all the work for us. I am over the moon excited to find this page. I know they will be good because I’m a long-time fan of your recipes!! Thank you, thank you!!
Carolyn says
Yay! I have to update this post with some new ones too, so check back in a few weeks!
Constance says
Wow…. I am so impressed with the quality of your recipes. I would love to get your books but prefer hard copies over e-books. Is there a way I can have them printed at my expense or do you have hard copies available. I am so looking forward to making many, many of your recipes… so glad I found your website. 🙂
Kind Regards…Connie
Carolyn says
Hi Connie, I just send this as a PDF so you can print it yourself. You could also simply purchase one of my traditionally published books like The Everyday Ketogenic Kitchen https://amzn.to/2mDxlmk
Suzanne says
We are planning a little family Cookie and Candy Baking day for the Holidays and have been struggling to find recipes we can adapt to be GF. THANK YOU for this. Although we can’t make them all (though I desperately want to), I will gladly sort through the list and get a few on the agenda. Thanks!