These Scottish Shortbread Cookies are low carb (just 1.5 net carbs) and gluten free. Full of that classic buttery flavor, they’ll go great with an afternoon cup of tea or coffee!
For this recipe you’ll need:almond flour, coconut flour, hemp seed, Swerve or erythritol, and grass-fed salted butter
If you are in a hurry click here to go straight to the recipe.
I was addicted to Lorna Doones when I was a kid. You know, back when I actually had a metabolism? I’d get a box of Lorna Doones, a brick of cream cheese, a knife, and a Dr Pepper and sit on the floor of my room sketching, eating, and listening to Mott the Hoople. Most of you won’t remember them but trust me, it was a great band.
Obviously that’s no longer and option.
A few days ago I asked on my Facebook page what people’s favorite cookie was. Someone said, Scottish Shortbread — and I wish I could find a good low-carb one?and other people agreed. That sounded like a challenge to me. You may not know this but when food bloggers ask you questions on social media it’s to get an idea of how we can improve on what we’re doing. Most of the time we’re posting things hoping that you are as hungry for the recipe as we were. When you answer those questions or comment and ask for a particular recipe you can bet most of us will be trying to get it for you as quickly as possible. Don’t be afraid to message me on Facebook, leave comments, or even emailing me to let me know what you need. You are the reason this blog is here.
Anyway, it can be hard to get textures right when you are adapting to low-carb. That was my big struggle but I think I found the sweet spot of flour mixtures that makes it happen. Be sure to use a good, grass-fed, real (salted) butter because that’s where a chunk of your flavor is going to come from. I use Kerrygold – and they aren’t asking me to say that. I seriously spend the extra on their butter because it has a great, fresh flavor. I get it at Costco which is a little easier on the wallet.
Let The Scottish Shortbread Cookies Cool Completely !!!!
The only other thing that you need to make sure to do for success is to let the Scottish shortbread cookies cool COMPLETELY… and I do mean completely. If you try to remove them from the pan before they’re cool you’ll have a handful of tasty crumbs. You’ve been warned.
Twice.
If you’re going to make these a lot you might as well make them pretty. Using a ceramic shortbread pan presses a thistle design into the shortbread as it bakes. That makes it even BETTER than Lorna Doones! Swerve sweetener is excellent in this recipe. It’s a combination of erythritol and oligosaccharides and measures cup for cup like sugar. Plus it won’t cause your blood sugar levels to be unstable. Finally, you are going to need a food processor to get the best results with this recipe.
Here’s the Scottish Shortbread Cookies recipe. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Table of Contents
Scottish Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup shelled organic hemp seeds
- 1/2 cup Swerve sweetener or other cup for cup sugar free sweetener
- 3/4 cup well chilled salted grass-fed butter, cut in sqares
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Generously butter a 10-inch glass pie pan
- Blend the almond flour, coconut flour, hemp seed, and sweetener in a food processor.
- With the food processor on low drop the squares of chilled butter in slowly, one at a time.
- Pulse until the mixture comes together and looks like a soft cookie dough.
- Press the mixture evenly into the pie pan.
- Score in 8 equal wedges with a knife.
- Prick each wedge with a fork.
- Sprinkle a little more sweetener over the top and press in gently.
- Let stand for 10 minutes. This helps the coconut flour to absorb moisture.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until top is golden brown.
- Remove from oven. LET COOL COMPLETELY or it will fall apart.
- Cut along score lines and enjoy.
I have a nut allergy, and have found that almond flour is often the alternative to regular flour. Any suggestions on what I can use…LOVE shortbread and am hoping to figure out how to make low carb, nut free shortbread…as well as other goodies.
Have you tried hemp seed or ground sunflower seeds?
Do you think flax seed or sunflower seed would work instead of hemp seed.? Thank you!
No because they have different texture. The sunflower seed would be the closest.
I dont have shelled, organic hemp seeds available. Can I just leave them out?
No they are an important part of the texture
Is there a sub for the hemp seed? What job does it do?
There is no substitute. It gives it texture.
I use erythritol as it is the best thing I can get, will that make much difference to the taste? I love the carb laden shop bought Scottish butter shortbread and am glad I have found a low carb recipe to make my own thank you
No it should be fine.