Want more sugar free desserts? Try my keto blondies, sugar free condensed milk, and sugar free fudge. Having a father with diabetes means I am regularly making dessert for him without sugar. He has a few favorites up his sleeve, but when he requests a diabetic-friendly cookie, I make him my famous sugar free cookies!
Why I love this recipe
3 Ingredients. No flour and no grains are needed, just pantry staples! Quick and easy. With less than two minutes of prep and ten minutes of cooking time, these could not be any easier. Low in carbs. Not only are these completely sugar-free, but they are also keto-friendly. No bitter aftertaste. Sugar substitutes are known for leaving desserts with a slightly bitter taste but not these ones!
Ingredients needed
Peanut butter or almond butter. Smooth and creamy with no added sugar (just look for one with a touch of salt). Sugar substitute. I like to use allulose, but you can try a brown sugar substitute, or powdered sugar substitute. Egg. Always use room-temperature eggs. It prevents the cookies from crumbling once cooled.
How to make sugar free cookies
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Step 1- Make the dough. Start by creaming together the peanut butter, sugar substitute, and egg until a thick and sticky dough remains. Be sure to mix everything very well, to ensure the peanut butter is completely immersed. Step 2– Shape the cookies. Next, using a cookie scoop, scoop out portions of the dough and place them on a lined baking sheet. Press down on the balls of dough into a thick cookie shape. Step 3- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges just begin to firm up. Step 4- Let them set. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool completely.
Recipe tips and variations
Do not over-bake the cookies as they continue to firm up as they are cooling down. Once they begin to brown around the edges they are ready to be removed from the oven. If you’d prefer thicker cookies, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and refrigerate the dough for 40 minutes. This will also help them from over-spreading. You can make the dough up to 48 hours in advance. When ready to bake the cookies, let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Use a liquid sweetener. Instead of a granulated sugar substitute, use half a cup of sugar free maple syrup. Add chocolate. For sugar free chocolate chip cookies, add 1/2 cup of sugar free chocolate chips to the batter. Make it eggless. Follow a vegan diet or don’t have eggs on hand? Try using an egg substitute.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftovers can keep at room temperature, covered, for up to one week. If you’d like them to keep longer, store them in the refrigerator for up to four weeks. To freeze: Place the cookies in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to six months.
More sugar free cookie recipes
Keto chocolate chip cookies Coconut flour cookies Almond flour cookies Keto shortbread cookies Keto sugar cookies
Originally published November 2018, updated and republished March 2024
