Low-Carb Pecan Shortbread Cookies are made with only 7 ingredients. This no-fuss recipe calls for almond flour, pecans, honey, butter, vanilla, salt, and baking soda. As you can see, these cookies are made with wholesome ingredients. What you don’t yet know is that they taste incredible!
While these are an amazing gluten-free Christmas cookie, we enjoy Pecan Shortbread Cookies all year long. Made with a base of almond flour, these gluten-free cookies are a quick and easy low-carb dessert. They’re fantastic for those on special diets because they are not only gluten-free, when made with honey and butter they are SCD and GAPS compliant.
These cookies are so good fans tell me they’re addictive. Go ahead, bake these buttery treats and see for yourself!
Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 2½ cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
- 5 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
- ½ cup salted butter or palm shortening , melted
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine almond flour, salt, baking soda, and pecans
- In a small bowl, mix honey, butter, and vanilla
- Mix wet ingredients into dry
- Place dough in center of a piece of parchment paper
- Form into a log approximately 2½ -inches in diameter
- Place in freezer for one hour, until firm, unwrap and cut into ⅛-inch thick slices
- Place slices on a parchment paper lined baking sheet
- Bake at 350°F until lightly golden, 7-10 minutes
- Cool for 1 hour
- Serve
Since Pecan Shortbread Cookies do not contain chocolate they are a wonderful cookie for your little ones if you’re trying to keep them off caffeine. My children and their friends love eating this egg-free cookie dough raw whenever I make a batch. Here are more paleo cookie recipes for you.
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives, I first published this recipe in 2007.
Michelle says
I love these pecan shortbread cookies! And I had a hunch these would make great Mexican Wedding Cookies. After some searching on your site, it appears a friend of your’s did just that for the holidays, although you called them nut cookie balls or something like that ;-) Anyway, glad I remembered these – it will keep me from being tempted by the flour versions at Whole Foods. Thanks and happy holiday!
Elana says
Michelle, so glad you love these cookies!
Sandra says
Oh wow!
Now I know why some reviewers mentioned using this recipe for rum balls.
I just mixed up a batch, rolled it into a log and placed it in the freezer to harden. But I left some in the mixing bowl because I wanted to taste the raw cookie dough. OMG too good! I may have to make a batch just so that I can eat it raw.
Adaptations/ substitutions to the recipe:
3 cups of almond flour instead of 2.5
Raw coconut nectar instead of agave
Chocolate chunks and date crumbles instead of pecan pieces.
Can’t wait to bake and try the finished product.
Thank you, Elena!
Sandra says
Oh, and I forgot:
Coconut oil instead of butter
Elana says
You’re welcome Sandra!
Elipants says
These sound really yummy. I was wondering…if you substitute coconut oil for butter in the recipe, should it be 1/2 cup as well? I also would like to use coconut palm sugar since that’s all I have right now and have no time to go food shopping. Any feedback helps. Thanks!
Elana says
Elipants, I haven’t tried that so not sure.
Marie says
Elana, I made these (alongside regular scottish shortbreads) for my sister’s bridal shower. I used Maple Syrup in place of the honey (my husband boils his own, so we have GALLONS). Now, before I went GF, I LOVED shortbreads.
These, hands down, were amazing. They went faster than the regular shortbreads. I can’t get rid of the other shortbreads, but these are long gone. Thank you for an awesome recipe, which will likely become my go-to for many things that I used to use a shortbread crust for.
QueenJellyBean says
Thanks Marie, for mentioning the maple syrup that you used. I am making cookies tonight to send back to Italy to a very foodie Italian friend. This recipe was perfect for my friend as Elana wrote it, but then I wanted to somehow add an ingredient that isn’t common in Italy, more American-continental. I am SO jealous that you have access to gallons of maple sryup, as it is expensive here on the West Coast. Can’s wait to taste these with maply goodness :-]
Shawn says
Hi. I’m looking for a good shortbread recipe for the holidays. Can I omit the pecans and decorate these for Christmas??? I’m famous for my santa shortbread cookies but the recipe I use is very sugary and I’m looking for a healthier option
Marie says
I omitted the pecans, and they came out GREAT. They might be a little fragile for decorating, unless you cut them thicker than I did. They are delicious, and just sweet enough.
Mary Beth Hustoles says
Just made these as my first step into gluten free baking for a spring potluck at my daughter’s. Absolute hit! Made them with honey and butter, and made some lemon curd to serve with in case they were too bland. Needn’t have worried — had multiple compliments, including, “This is the best gluten free cookie I’ve ever had.” Pecans and almond flour made them a little spendy, but it was worth the splurge. Thanks!
Elana says
Mary Beth, thanks for letting us know these were an absolute hit :-)
Chris says
Thank you Elana for making my SCD life easier and creating my new favourite cookie! It was so easy and so delicious!!! Came out perfect (though my oven is a bit hot and realizing that almond flour burns easily, had to turn down the temperature a bit and take it out a wee bit earlier)!
PS: LOVE your website!
C.
Elana says
You’re welcome Chris!
veronika says
I wouldn’t compare these cookies to the shortbread cookies I used to make before going GF except that they are just as absolutely as addicting! I just cannot stop eating them until they are all gone!!!!!!!!!! And like all of Elana’s recipes they require few ingredients and come together very quickly.
Debbie says
I made these using coconut sugar and adding a little maple syrup and maple flavoring. They are baking now and I can’t stop eating the dough. If they taste as good after being baked, the are a winner! I also rolled them into balls and flattened them to make them faster.
Gwen B. says
These are a hit. My husband is an Executive Chef in an upscale boutique hotel and he liked my batch of these so much he asked for more! I plan to dip half in chocolate for Santa on Christmas eve and will make extra dough for the freezer. THANK YOU!