Shop
My
Custom
Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
Get It NowThese Keto Cookies With Cream Cheese Remind Me Of A Bakery Treat
I first tested these keto cookies because a reader asked me if she could add cream cheese to my almond flour shortbread cookies. After a few tweaks, the result turned out even better than I expected. The cream cheese added moisture, structure, and a subtle richness that reminded me of a bakery treat, not just a “keto substitute”. Here’s why you’re going to love these cream cheese cookies:
- Extra buttery and more tender than other keto cookie recipes – Many of you know I have dozens of options in my keto desserts archive, but these particular low carb cookies hit different. The combination of cream cheese and a touch of sour cream made the texture more delicate, buttery, chewy, and almost a little creamy… basically the opposite of dry. Even the next day.
- Versatile shortbread flavor with a hint of tang – These keto cookies taste a lot like vanilla shortbread, just a little more tangy. They’re delicious on their own, or can be a versatile blank canvas for more flavors and add-ins.
- Easy to make – They come together in one bowl, using just 6 simple staples that you probably have if you bake keto treats regularly.
- Very keto friendly – At just 1.7 grams of net carbs and 110 calories a pop, this is the kind of cookie that fits into your macros for a keto diet effortlessly. They’re also gluten-free.
If you’re looking for a simple, versatile keto cookie recipe for everything from holiday meals to cookie swaps to your everyday tea and coffee sidekick, you just found it. Make it with me!
“I make these cookies every week. My husband and I love them because they are just the right amount of sweet… not too much and not too little. These soft cookies do not crumble easily, which I find to be a problem with some low carb recipes. They only take me 30 minutes to make from start to finish (including cleanup). When making the recipe, I bump up the Besti Monk Fruit Allulose blend to 1/2 cup as suggested for a sweet cookie, and also include the optional 1 tablespoon of sour cream. We will usually eat one cookie after supper, which is all that is needed to satisfy your sweet tooth.”
-Stephanie
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my keto cookie recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour – The flour you choose makes a huge difference in the end result. Many brands are very coarse and will leave your cream cheese cookies grainy. This one I use is super fine (the finest I’ve ever tried), which will get you that delicate crumb. Unfortunately I don’t recommend substitutes here — definitely not coconut flour.
- Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – I’ve been baking these keto friendly cookies since 2017, and I’ve tried them with just about every keto sweetener under the sun! Besti (which I started using in 2020) gets me by far the best result, with a chewy, tender texture that doesn’t dry out and no aftertaste whatsoever. Sometimes I add a few tablespoons of Besti Brown to get a brown sugar flavor. Other sweeteners I’ve tried (including erythritol, and other brands of monk fruit and stevia) leave the cookies more dry and can have an aftertaste. (In fact, some older comments complain about dryness, because this recipe used to use erythritol — this issue is fixed if you use Besti!) If you still want to substitute, check my sweeteners conversion calculator for the correct amounts.
- Butter – I use this grass-fed unsalted butter for most of my low carb cookie recipes.
- Cream Cheese – I recommend full-fat for the best flavor, but light cream cheese will work. (P.S. Cream cheese makes lots of great low carb recipes, so grab extra to make my low carb cheesecake and cream cheese pancakes!)
- Sour Cream – I originally started adding this when readers complained that my older erythritol-sweetened version was dry, and it helped, but I love the addition even more now that I use Besti. It’s optional, but makes the texture so much better.
- Egg – For structure. A flax egg or other egg substitute should work if needed.
- Vanilla Extract (for flavor) & Sea Salt (for balance)
How To Make Keto Cookies
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Cream the butter, cream cheese, and Besti. Combine them in a large bowl and use a hand mixer to beat together, until pale yellow and fluffy.
- Add the other wet ingredients. Add the vanilla, salt, egg, and sour cream (if using), adding gradually and beating in between ingredients. The mixture should be a little frothy.
- Add the almond flour. Beat until a soft dough forms. If you want to add any mix-ins, this is the time!
- Scoop. Use a cookie scoop (I use this size) to spoon the cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Flatten each ball with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a jar.
- Bake and cool. The keto cookies are done when they’re golden on the edges. Let them cool completely before enjoying. I like to dust them with powdered Besti using this dusting wand (pictured below).
My Tips For The Best Low Carb Cookies
- Use room temperature ingredients. Softened butter and cream cheese are crucial to cream properly, and you don’t want to shock them with a cold egg later, either.
- How I soften butter and cream cheese fast: Pour boiling water into a stainless steel bowl. While you let it sit for a few minutes to heat up, cut the butter and cream cheese into pieces and arrange on a plate. Empty and dry the metal bowl and place it upside down over the plate. The residual heat will soften the butter and cream cheese in just a couple minutes.
- How to bring eggs to room temp fast: I just place them in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes, until they no longer feel cold.
- This is my favorite hand mixer for all my keto cookie recipes. It’s super powerful and even comes with handy storage. You can use a stand mixer if you have one, though.
- I highly recommend a cookie scoop. This dough is very soft and fairly sticky, so the scoop is super helpful. Besides, it makes all your low carb cookies the same size, so they bake evenly.
- These precut parchment paper sheets are so handy. They fit perfectly with this baking sheet, which I’ve had for years and love. Much easier than wrestling with paper from a roll that won’t stay put!
- Keto cookies don’t flatten or spread the way wheat flour cookies do. So, make sure you flatten them to your desired thickness before baking. I usually do about 3/8 inch thick. Also, since they don’t spread a lot, having the cookies about 1 to 1.5 inches apart is sufficient.
- If the dough is too wet and sticky to flatten easily, chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes. I also find it helps to wet my hands to flatten, so the dough doesn’t stick to them.
- Be careful not to overbake. I look for golden edges, but the center should still be soft when you remove these low carb cookies from the oven.
Keto Cookies (1.7g Net Carbs)
Sweet, buttery keto cookies with just 6 ingredients and 1.7g net carbs! These low carb cream cheese cookies are fast, easy, and satisfying.
Remove Ads
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
-
Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat together the butter, cream cheese, and sweetener, until it's 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 with your palm.
-
Bake the keto cookies 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).
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cookie
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get the best texture in these keto cookies and work with the dough more easily.
- Variations: Don’t miss my recipe variations below to get ideas for mix-ins, flavors, toppings, and even a dairy-free version.
- Storage: Keep the cookies in an airtight container for 4 days at room temperature or a week in the fridge.
- Meal prep: Make the dough ahead to refrigerate or freeze. If frozen, thaw overnight before baking.
- Freeze: These cookies keep well in the freezer for at least 3 months.
- Note on nutrition info: I didn’t include the sour cream since it’s optional, but it doesn’t make a huge difference in the numbers, since it’s a small amount across the entire batch.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Keto Ebook Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
Add Your Notes Your Notes
Try More Of My Recipes
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Cream Cheese Keto Cookies Recipe
Recipe Variations
Like I mentioned above, these keto cookies are so easy to customize! Here are some fun ways to change them up:
- Mix-ins – Toss in sugar-free chocolate chips (this is my favorite brand), chopped nuts, dried cranberries, poppy seeds (amazing with the lemon zest I suggest below), or even fresh blueberries.
- Flavors – I used classic vanilla extract, but you can experiment with almond extract or even more exotic options. A teaspoon or two of lemon or orange zest adds a lovely flavor, as well.
- Toppings – After the low carb cookies cool, slather them with my keto cream cheese frosting, sugar free chocolate frosting, or even a drizzle of sugar-free caramel syrup (which will harden in the fridge). Top with sugar-free sprinkles if you like!
- Dairy free version – It’s not quite the same, but you can use butter flavored coconut oil instead of butter and plant-based cream cheese instead of regular. My go-to replacement for sour cream is coconut cream with a splash of lemon juice and pinch of salt.
More Keto Cookie Recipes
I’ve made so many low carb cookies over the years that it’s hard to narrow down a few favorites, but here are some that I’ve been loving lately:
726 Comments
Lena
0Can I use regular salt? I don’t have erythritol, can I use Truvia?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Lena, Yes to both! You may need a little less sweetener if you use Truvia. Check my conversion chart.
Lena
0Thanks. I made them with truvia it was a bit sweet. Next time less.
What about stevia in the raw baking bag?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Lena, You can adjust the sweetener a bit to make them less sweet. I don’t recommend Stevia in the Raw because it uses dextrose and maltodextrin as fillers – both of these are sugar.
Kim in MN
0I have made these a few times now and they are one of our favorite keto cookies. I used xylitol this time and had great success. I was also chatting while preparing and forgot to pat down the balls of dough prior to baking. I remembered this about 2 minutes before they were done, so I whipped the pan out of the oven and pressed softly with a spatula. They turned out moist and chewy like a macaroon. I keep mine in the freezer so they are always like freshly baked when we enjoy them. Thanks for a great recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Kim! I’m glad you like them!
Kath
0These sound amazing and just what I’m looking for to replace my favourite high-carb cookies. Why use only the egg white though? Is there a reason for that?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Kath! The primary reason to use just the white is that a whole egg is too much egg for the ratio with other ingredients – they turn out more crisp with just the amount of the white. The other, more minor reason is that many people find low carb baked goods egg-y and that comes from the yolk. But, they would probably turn out fine if you use the whole egg.
Nita
0I made these before and I loved them but they made more cookies than I could eat alone. Now, my second time, I halved the recipe and I used half vanilla extract and half lemon extract. I can’t begin to tell you how amazing they taste with the lemon! This is now the perfect lemon cookie. Try it, you won’t be disappointed.
Teddy
0That sounds delicious! Did you add the lemon extract after the addition of almond flour or before?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Nita! The lemon ones sound amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Maryah Knapp
0What would be the conversion to coconut flour?
Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Maryah, unfortunately exchanging almond flour with coconut flour wouldn’t work with my recipe. It’s on my list to make one with coconut flour, though.
Nush
0Hi, can I use stevia instead of erythritol?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0For this recipe the sweetener has a structural purpose so the cookies come out looking like cookies. If you want to use stevia I would recommend using a stevia blend such as Sukrin:1 for the best results. My sweeteners guide has more information and a conversion chart. Hope this helps!
Claire
0Hi,
I added probably a table spoon of each. I didn’t measure, just followed my inspiration. I mixed by hand, so they have swirls of cocoa or cinammon, rather than even distribution. Makes them even prettier, and doesn’t affect the taste.
I also experimented with a salty version, skipping the sweetener and adding a tbsp of oregano and thyme. Rather tasty, but not nearly as good as the sweet version, and a bit too dry. I’ll have to experiment some more with that salty cracker version.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Love the idea of adding chocolate or cinnamon! I’ve never experimented with a savory version of these, let me know how it goes!
Claire
0Hi,
I rarely leave comments on recipes I try, but this one I just had to. I just baked them and tried them, and they are wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, along with all the other (the two dozens or so I’ve tried so far since switching to a low carb diet 4 months ago are wonderful too, by the way).
The only modification I made to this one is that at the end, I divided the batter in 4, and made 6 plain vanilla cookies, 6 cinnamon, 6 coconut and 6 cocoa powder. They are all so yummy! Thanks again Maya!
Jeffrie Kreis
0How did you add the cocoa powder? Do you need to change the measuring of all the ingredients?
Andrea
0How much cinnamon / cocoa did you add?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Claire! All of those variations sound wonderful, now I have to bake some more cookies! 😉
Chris Dabek
0Do you think I’d be able to freeze some of the raw dough?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Chris, I haven’t tried that but I think you can!
Stacy Depue
0Wonderful, my husband is very happy with these cookies.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Stacy!
Sara Beth
0Good morning.
How long will these keep? Trying to plan ahead for baking.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Sara, I’ve kept them on the counter for several days. You can keep them even longer in the fridge, probably a week or more. For long term storage, they freeze well, too!
Oni
0I absolutely LOVED these cookies. Followed the recipe to the T.
I dipped half in sugar free chocolate. They were so soft and delicious. I used the sour cream. Next time I’ll try without to change it up. Thank you for sharing!!