Sugar-Free (or Low-Sugar) Cookies and Brownies
Here are my favorite Sugar-Free (or Low-Sugar) Cookies and Brownies, and most of them are low-carb and gluten-free as well!
PIN the Cookies and Brownies to try some later!
If you’ve followed my blog at all, I’m sure it’s obvious that I’m a creative and passionate cook and not so much of a baker. And for sure I’ve experimented with a lot of cookie recipes through the years that didn’t ever make it on the blog! But these Sugar-Free (or Low-Sugar) Cookies and Brownies are the ones that made the cut, and a few of these are cookies I make over and over and store in the freezer to pull out when I need something sweet.
These are cookie recipes that come from 18 years of blogging, and during that time my eating habits have changed a bit so there are several types of cookie recipes here.
- There are cookies that use almond flour or other ground nuts, so they’re low-carb and gluten-free.
- There are a couple of cookies that use unsweetened coconut so they’re gluten-free but have a bit more carbs.
- And there are a few cookie recipes here from the early days of the blog when I used to bake with white whole wheat flour, so those are not gluten-free.
I divided the cookies into categories to help you find the ones that work for your way of eating. And I hope you find some cookie recipes here that will be a hit at your house.
What Sweetener do I like for Sugar-Free Cookies and Brownies?
For a long time I used Stevia Granulated Sweetener (affiliate link) mixed with a tiny amount of brown sugar to make low-sugar cookies. But now that I’ve discovered Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) and Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) I’d definitely use one of those for my low-sugar baking. And I’m starting to feel that classic Monkfruit Sweetener sometimes mixes in best in cookie recipes that don’t have much liquid.
But please, use granulated Stevia, Monkfruit sweetener, Golden Monkfruit Sweetener, Splenda, or any other sweetener that measures 1:1 with sugar, whichever you prefer. One thing I do know about sweeteners is that different sweeteners don’t taste the same to everyone. You can even make these cookies with sugar if that’s what works for you, and please, no judgements about what sweeteners people choose to use!
Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free Cookies and Brownies with Almond Flour:
If I had to choose a favorite cookie, it might be these Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cookies that are also gluten-free. This recipe recently got reposted in a new-and-improved version that’s amazing.
Flourless Sugar-Free Chocolate Shortbread Cookies are also gluten-free. These cookies use butter and almond meal so they’re definitely calorie-dense, but delicious!
Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies are a popular cookie recipe on the blog, and this was completely a wow for us when we tested the recipe!
We loved these Almond Flour Brownies when we worked on the recipe and they’re Keto, low-carb, and gluten-free!
Almond Flour Flaxseed Cookies are sugar-free and taste a bit like Snickerdoodles, with a flavor that’s slightly more complex. These are also gluten-free.
Flourless Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies are also gluten-free and dairy-free.
Sugar-Free Gluten-Free Almond Cookies have almond butter, almond flour, and chopped almonds in the cookies, and if you really want lots of almond flavor you can use the optional almond extract.
Four-Ingredient Flourless Sugar-Free Pistachio Cookies are a gluten-free cookie made from almond flour and ground pistachios. This is a tiny cookie that’s really fun for Christmas.
Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free Cookies with Coconut or Oatmeal:
These delicious Ranger Cookies got an update so they’re now Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free, and these cookies have pecans, unsweetened coconut, and sugar-free chocolate chips, almond flour, and the tiniest amount of oatmeal!
Sugar-Free Coconut Macaroon Cookies use unsweetened coconut, and even though that has a tiny bit of natural sugar I’m calling them sugar-free because there’s no added sugar and these cookies are gluten-free, very low in carbs, and Phase One for the original South Beach Diet.
We loved these Sugar-Free Chocolate Coconut Drops, and these are gluten-free, although they do have a few carbs from unsweetened coconut.
Sugar-Free Flourless Chocolate Oatmeal Cluster Cookies are a tasty cookie made with oatmeal, and if you make sure the rolled oats are gluten-free this is a gluten-free cookie with 5.6 net carbs per cookie.
Sugar-Free Cookies and Brownies that aren’t Gluten-Free:
Sugar-Free Chocolate Cookies with Pecans are a sugar-free cookie made with whole wheat flour. These are relatively low in net carbs for a cookie made with flour; check it out and see what you think.
These Sugar-Free Whole Wheat Brownies were made in memory of my sister’s mother-in-law who was famous for her brownies.
23 Comments on “Sugar-Free (or Low-Sugar) Cookies and Brownies”
l want no free recipe for my brother damion
Sorry, no idea what you mean by that?
I have to say, these are the best peanut butter cookies I have ever made! I had a few changes by what I have available. I used granulated Swerve instead of Monkfruit and I used a natural peanut butter. After I smashed the balls, I did reshape them. Letting them sit at least 30 minutes was perfect!
So glad you loved the Peanut Butter Cookies! We worked hard on them, and it took a few tries to come up with a recipe we thought was great.
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I made your Low Sugar and Flourless Chocolate Coconut Drops with Almonds. Is it really 3 cups of granulated Stevia? Stevia is considered 10 times sweeter then sugar, so wonder about this quantity. I made them and they really are very sweet – actually far to sweet. Could it be cut back? I have cut back on refined sugar in recipes but do not have a lot of experience with Stevia as I am new at working towards eating far less sugar. Thank you for your recipes I am looking forward to trying several of them.
The granulated Stevia I used (that’s mentioned in the recipe) is supposed to measure 1:1 the same as sugar. You can see that information here. If you used a different brand or used a powdered Stevia that’s not granulated Stevia that could be why it tastes too sweet. I looked up the recipe in my notes and it does say 3 cups granulated Stevia. The granulated sweetener provides a lot of the bulk in that recipe so I’m not sure how it would work to cut it back. Sorry, wish I could help more but I’d start by checking to make sure you used exactly the same Stevia I linked in the post.
By the way Barbara, just clicked through to confirm and the recipe that was adapted from used 3 cups powdered sugar, so I think that’s more indication that the 3 cups granulated Stevia is not wrong.
Excellent, thank for making this list for us, we have a few in the family that have a special diet.
Amy, so glad it's helpful for you!
Scott, I think there are plenty of people who feel just that way!
Low sugar is *so* good…I've spent ages losing my weight I don't want to gain it all again over Christmas if I can help it!
Thanks Donna! I must have a few cookies, don't you think?
Who says you can't have deliciousness without sugar? Not you!
Thanks Dara. And if you have not tried Stevia-in-the-Raw, I bet you would like it!
Wow, look at all of these fantastic ideas! Those chocolate and oatmeal clusters caught my eye.
Thanks Elizabeth!
yum– all of these look great!
Thanks Joanne! And so true.
Lydia, I am hoping it can be helpful to anyone who's in that position.
Cozy in Texas, thanks! Always appreciated. I am going to check out your blog.
Jeanette, so glad it's helpful!
Wow, love all these cookie recipes, especially since I am trying to bake gluten-free cookies this holiday season. Great roundup Kalyn!
Stopped by to let you know how much I've enjoyed your blog posts this year. I have a link to your blog on my sidebar.
Ann
Great selection of cookie possibilities for those of us who must watch our sugar intake, especially during the holidays.
I think these days we all could use at least one low-sugar cookie at the holiday table. These look great!