Keto Almond Crescent Cookies – gluten-free with vegan option
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These Gluten-free and Keto Almond Crescent Cookies are a melt-in-your-mouth delicious and a healthier re-creation of the traditional holiday cookie. This “guaranteed to please” recipe is perfect for the Christmas Season, but you’ll love them so much you’ll for sure want need to make them all year round!
I have a thing for baking cookies and Almond Crescent Cookies were always a favorite of mine to make, especially at Christmastime. Today I’m super thrilled to share a healthier remake that I’m sure you will love.
Besides the charming shape, the almond flavor of these gluten-free crescent cookies is complimented perfectly by the light texture and the buttery flavor that makes it all just heavenly.
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How These Keto Crescent Cookies Came to Be
I LOVE cookies, but we’ve moved more and more low carb for many reasons.
I worked on making these Keto Almond Crescents several times, and while it was fun experimenting, it was hard to get them just right.
You can go here to Instagram to see an example of one of my “Low-Carb Almond Crescent Cookies” fails.
I had to go back to the drawing board multiple times until these crescent cookies turned out perfect.
The Origin of Crescent Cookies (aka Moon Cookies or Vanillekipferl)
Almond Crescent Cookies originated as Vanillekipferl (pronounced VAN-el-eu-KIP-fuhl), which means “vanilla crescent” or “vanilla moon.” They originated in Vienna, Austria, where they are still a much-loved, traditional Christmas cookie, however, they are also quite common throughout Europe.
One legend has it that their shape is modeled after the Turkish crescent moon to celebrate one of the victories of the Hungarian army over the Turkish army.
Others that believe that this treat evolved from the Hungarian kifli, a typically-savory, croissant-like pastry that is shaped like a crescent.
Traditionally these cookies are almond based, but hazelnuts and walnuts are often used as well.
Believe me, you’ll have a hard time not eating them all.
These keto almond crescent cookies are perfect for dunking into coffee or Hot Chocolate, this Easiest Coconut Milk or Easiest Almond Milk, or whatever milk you typically use.
Of course you can also simply eat them on their own.
How to Make These Keto Almond Crescents
Preheat oven. Place butter, salt, and sweeteners in a bowl (photo 2).
Beat together until well blended (photo 3). Add the extracts and beat well. Add remaining ingredients and combine well (photo 4).
Form into small logs.
Place sliced almonds into bowl. Roll logs in almonds. (photo 5)
Shape into crescents (photo 6) and place on baking tray.
Bake until lightly browned. Let cool. Sprinkle with powdered sweetener if using (photo 7). Store in airtight container.
Special Diet Substitutions and Notes
- Vegan: Use coconut oil instead of butter for a vegan option.
- Paleo: Use coconut sugar, sucanat, maple syrup or honey for a paleo cookie. See this post on Substituting Sweeteners if you choose to go with a liquid sweetener.
- THM: This recipe is an “S” for those on the Trim Healthy Mama plan.
Recipe Notes
- Topping Options: The cookies were photographed in this post dipped in both almond slices and sprinkled with powdered sweetener, but, you could leave them plain or dip these cookies in melted chocolate or these melted Homemade Chocolate Chips or Homemade White Chocolate Chips (mmm…white chocolate and almonds–yum!) as well for an extra fancy treat.
- Sweetener Options: If you don’t want to eat low-carb, you can substitute sugar or most alternatives. See How to Substitute Sweeteners should you wish to use a liquid sweetener.
- Powdered Sweetener Options: You can use whatever sweetener you like to make your own Low-carb Powdered Sweetener easily.
- Baking Time: IMPORTANT. These cookies will be quite soft when you remove them from the oven, but they will cool to be just the right texture. I know. It’s hard. You want to eat all of the cookies. Now. But trust me–resist the temptation and let them cool.
- Sweetener Amount: A few readers have commented that these cookies are a little too sweet (while other say that they are just right). You can leave off the powdered topping or reduce the sweetener amount. I haven’t tried making these with less sweetener yet, but you can let me know how it goes! Most likely the sweetness is dependent on the type you use.
- Butter Notes: Please make sure to not use butter that is too soft as that might cause the cookies to come out flat.
I’d LOVE to hear what you think about these Almond Crescent Cookies. I mean, you’ve got your potholders and cookie trays ready and waiting already, right?
Oven pre-heated? Go and bake cookies.
More Healthy Cookies
Eggnog Cookies – gluten-free or keto
Pumpkin Pecan Cookies – not keto, but delicious!
Keto Snowball Cookies – amazingly delicious!
Pumpkin Snickerdoodles – vegan with keto option
No Bake Coconut Cookies – so simple!
Keto Almond Crescent Cookies – vegan option
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (softened–or alternative. See Recipe Notes)
- 3 3/4 cups almond flour
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 2 – 2 1/8 cups powdered low-carb sweetener (Or 1-1 1/4 cup granulated. See Recipe Notes.)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
- 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- sliced almonds for coating (approximately 1 cup. This is a generous amount, but will ensure that you have plenty)
- powdered sweetener for coating (optional for topping; my Low-Carb Powdered Sugar Substitute)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place butter, salt, and sweetener in bowl. Beat until well blended.
- Add the extracts and beat well.
- Add remaining ingredients and combine well.
- Form into small logs, about 3 inches long.
- Place the sliced almonds into a bowl.
- Roll the logs in sliced almonds.
- Shape into crescents and place on baking tray.
- Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Let the cookies cool completely.
- Sprinkle with powdered sweetener if using.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Topping Options: The cookies were photographed in this post dipped in both almond slices and sprinkled with powdered sweetener, but, you could leave them plain or dip these cookies in melted chocolate or these melted Homemade Chocolate Chips or Homemade White Chocolate Chips (mmm…white chocolate and almonds–yum!) as well for an extra fancy treat.
- Sweetener: If you don’t want to eat low-carb, you can substitute sugar or most alternatives. See How to Substitute Sweeteners should you wish to use a liquid sweetener.
I originally wrote this recipe using granulated low-carb sweetener, but I edited it to use powdered, which I think give it a better end result. - Powdered Sweetener Options: You can use whatever sweetener you like to make your own Low-carb Powdered Sweetener easily.
- Baking Time: IMPORTANT. These cookies will be quite soft when you remove them from the oven, but they will cool to be just the right texture. I know. It’s hard. You want to eat all of the cookies. Now. But trust me–resist the temptation and let them cool.
- Sweetener Amount: A few readers have commented that these cookies are a little too sweet (while other say that they are just right). You can leave off the powdered topping or reduce the sweetener amount. I haven’t tried making these with less sweetener yet, but you can let me know how it goes! Most likely the sweetness is dependent on the type you use.
- Butter Notes: Please make sure to not use butter that is too soft as that might cause the cookies to come out flat.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
The above nutrition facts are estimates only, based on using almond flour and low carb sweeteners. Please rely on your own calculations and read my Nutrition Disclaimer here.
By the way, this recipe was originally published in February 2017. It has been updated with new text, new special diet information, new instructions, and nutritional information. In addition, new photos have been added including step-by-step photos. For reference, here is one of the photos from the original post:
What is your favorite cookie recipe?
Hello. I want to try this recipe. I have one question. Why coconut flour? That is very hard for me to get. Could I substitute regular flour? If so, in what quantity. Thank you.
Hi there! Sorry for the delay. Typically in grain-free or gluten-free baking, combining different types of flour works best. Would you want to use regular all purpose flour or gluten-free flour?
I made these and they were delicious. I made them a second time but the dough was very crumbly and would not stick together. What did I do wrong? I followed the recipe the exact way I did the first time. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Hi there! Gosh i don’t know what could have been different. I guess I would try one more time and see if you can figure anything out. I’m so glad you like them!