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.
krickt says
I haven’t found a favorite since I went GF/LC. But my mother used to make these oatmeal, vanilla, scotchies that were my favorite cookie ever! She would wrap them in foil, then cut off 6 cookies at a time, (2 for each daughter) any time we wanted a quick sweet fix. Well, I figured out how to cut and modify the back so that she couldn’t tell that the dough was missing. That dough was sooooooo good. Mom never figured out that I was eating over half of the dough before she could cook it. She kept these cookies in the fridge all the time. They were so good. I asked her for the recipe, she said she made it up every time she cooked, and can’t give it to me. Annoying.
k
Carolyn says
Ha, cute story! 🙂
Janille says
I’ve never tried freezing cookies, but I’d love to try these recipes!
Joyce Wedler says
I made the pinwheel cookies last year and they were awesome!! I will have to try one or two of these others this year!
Britt says
I’ve never met a cookie I didn’t like. I’m omexcited to try some of these healthier cookie recipes so that I can enjoy them without the guilt. I have never tried Liky’s chocolate, I hope I win!
Marsha says
I bake mega batches of your cookies and freeze them, usually tripling the recipe. My favourite is the cranberry walnut chocolate chip, hands down! The chocolate hazelnut is really great too, I just have to add cocoa powder to the dough to boost the chocolate.
Holli Braasch says
I’ve never made make-ahead freezer cookies, but I’m excited to try them!
Emily says
Back in the day, it was pre-shaped chocolate chip cookies, or monster cookies. I have’t found a good THM one yet.
Sara Johnson says
Oh wow! These all look delicious! I think my first choice is the Thin Mint Truffles.
Kristy Morrow says
I’ve never frozen cookie dough, but I look forward to trying some of these recipies, and I’d love to win some Lilys chocolate!
Maria | Pink Patisserie says
I’d have to say spritz! I’m new to the low glycemic diet, so I was a little bummed that I would not be able to have my traditional Swedish spritz this year. When I saw your recipe above I may have let out a little whoop! And seriously, I don’t know how I would have made it this far without Lily’s. So, so good!
Laura Sheridan says
My favorite freezable cookies are plain sugar cookies thst my children decorate later!
Jenell says
Good old chocolate chip cookies ?
Cynthia says
I’m pretty new to the low carb world, but I love anything with chocolate in it. I’m planning to try some cookies soon. Love all of your recipes. I also look forward to getting an email stating you have made something new. Thanks for all your hard work!
Maria Dillhunt says
We make the Chocolate Orange Spritz Cookies every year without the orange zest or the optional chocolate dip. lol. We just call them Spritz cookies and they are wonderful! Love that we can bake dozens and dozens and freeze then so they last for a while.
These are the only cookies I have made so far, so I guess they are my favorite.
Spritz Cookies are a holiday tradition at our house so I was thrilled to find a low carb recipe that tastes every bit as good as the ones I used to make.
Maybe this year I’ll decorate them with that chocolate dip.
Carolyn says
Thanks, Maria!
Katie says
How amazing is that. I am such a food addict and always on the search for new and tasty dishes you don’t have to count calories (don’t do that anyway 🙂 I eat what I want and work out twice as hard!! 🙂 ) Thanks for the inspiration xoxo Katie from http://www.whatskatieupto.com
Tammy says
Shortbread cookies are always a holiday favorite!
Terri says
“Legal” dessert. Yum. I’ve made the cinnamon roll biscotti before and they were easy and yummy. I need to try the other biscottis so I can have a sampler plate for everyone.
Dave Anderson says
They stopped carrying Lily’s chocolate bars at my grocery store. I’ve never found the chips at all. But it’s ok those shortbread cookies look yummy. I’ll have to try them for turkey day.
Kathleen says
Thanks for the wonderful List Carolyn! They all look yummy!
My favorite cookie to freeze is the Oatmeal Scotchies. I haven’t had one in the last several years, but used to love to pull one out of the freezer, warm in the microwave and drink with a hot mug of tea! Yum!
Heather says
I love Belgium waffle cookies or gallettes, frozen. They are not low carb, just a cookie that has been in the family for 100’s of years. I am looking forward to making some of these recipes to freeze this year. And lily’s is my fave chocolate ever since beginning trim healthy mama 2 years ago.