15 Easy & Delicious Christmas Cookies for People with Diabetes
When the holidays roll around I tend to have two things on my mind: finding the perfect present for everyone on my list and cookies! But what if you have diabetes? Does that mean you can’t enjoy a Christmas cookie? Absolutely not! To prove it, I’ve rounded up 15 of the most delicious dietitian-approved Christmas cookies for people with diabetes.
The good news is you can still enjoy your favorite Christmas cookies, just with a few modifications. These blood-sugar-friendly options replace added sugars with natural sweetness & add a boost of protein, fiber, and good fats, for a delicious treat that will keep your blood sugar in check.
15 Diabetes Friendly Christmas Cookies
Whether you’re looking for a keto sugar cookie, a low-carb chocolate chip cookie or a simple shortbread cookie that won’t spike your blood sugar, these dietitian-approved recipes have you covered.
Every cookie on this list contains less than 15 grams of carbohydrates, has little to no added sugar, and is well balanced with protein, fat, and fiber, so you won’t have to worry about your blood sugar soaring. Here are 15 incredibly delicious dietitian-approved Christmas cookies for people with diabetes.
Keto Sugar Cookie | Erin Palinski-Wade
Since avocado is rich in good fats, it provides a great flavor and texture to keto sugar cookie recipes. Replacing 100% of the butter with avocado not only lowers the saturated fat content, but gives these sugar cookies a festive green tint! Each cookie has 6 grams of carbohydrates, but only 3 grams of net carbs thanks to the fiber-rich avocado.
Calories: 119 Carbs: 6g Protein: 4g Fat: 10g Fiber: 3g
No Sugar Added Peanut Butter Cookies | Erin Palinski-Wade
Craving a soft, delicious cookie, but worried about the added sugar? No problem! These no-flour, no added sugar peanut butter cookies are made with an erythritol based sweetener for the same great flavor, without the blood sugar spike. Using sugar-free chocolate chips, each serving is just 8 grams of carbohydrates as well, making it easy to fit them into a diabetes meal plan.
Calories: 138 Carbs: 8g Protein: 4g Fat: 11g Fiber: 2g
Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies | Haute & Healthy Living
These almond flavored shortbread cookies are a great option if you want a sweet little treat but are trying to stay on top of your wellness goals. You still get the classic buttery shortbread taste, but with 4 grams of carbohydrates per serving! Not to mention a bit of fiber, protein and healthy fats thanks to ingredients like almond flour and coconut oil.
Add high protein toppings like chopped pistachios or Greek yogurt icing for an even more satiating cookie.
Calories: 59 Carbs: 4g Protein: 1g Fat: 5g Fiber: 1g
M&M Christmas Cookies | Milk & Honey Nutrition
These delicious M&M Christmas Cookies are lower in sugar than traditional M&M Christmas cookies, and are made with nutrient dense ingredients like oats and peanut butter, which add blood sugar stabilizing fiber, protein, and fats.
Calories: 158 Carbs: 14g Protein: 5g Fat: 10g Fiber: 2g
Low Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies | Erin Palinski-Wade
Instead of loading up with cups of added sugar, this chocolate chip cookie recipe swaps it for pureed prunes. This dried fruit increases moisture giving you the chewy, soft cookie you crave with less impact on your blood sugar.
Calories: 97 Carbs: 15g Protein: 3g Fat: 3g Fiber: 1g
Healthy Thumbprint Cookies | Laura Yautz, RDN
Thumbprint cookies are traditionally buttery shortbread cookies rolled in sugar and filled with sweet jam. This Healthy Thumbprint Cookie recipe is made with a combination of whole wheat pastry flour and almond flour to keep the cookie moist and light with a boost of protein and fiber. Fill these blood sugar friendly cookies with a sugar free jam or chia seed jam.
Calories: 91 Carbs: 14g Protein: 2g Fat: 3g Fiber: 2g
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies | Erin Palinski-Wade
Bananas add natural sweetness to these chocolate chip cookies as well as an extra nutrition punch. And there’s no need to worry about adding bananas into the recipe if you are managing blood sugar either. While they are a higher carbohydrate fruit, containing 28g of carbs per banana, most of those carbohydrates are actually resistant starch. The resistant starch in bananas is not broken down in the small intestine like other carbs are, which results in a slower rise in blood sugar.
Calories: 69 Carbs: 9g Protein: 3g Fat: 2g Fiber: 1g
Peanut Butter Cookies | Ashley Petrie, RDN, LDN of Everyday Homemade
These peanut butter cookies are made with only two ingredients, peanut butter and maple syrup. They’re high in protein with 5 grams coming from just the peanut butter! With 2 grams of fiber and plenty of healthy fats, these low sugar peanut butter cookies are a perfectly balanced treat for your blood sugars.
You can also use monk fruit sweetener to sweeten each cookie without adding extra carbohydrates instead of maple syrup.
Calories: 144 Carbs: 9g Protein: 5g Fat: 11g Fiber: 2g
Almond Flour Cookies | Haute & Healthy Living
Made with almond flour, honey, water and a pinch of salt, these chewy almond flour cookies come together in a few easy steps. No butter or refined sugar required, making them lower in saturated fat and sugar than your traditional cookies. They’re the perfect healthier, sweet treat to enjoy this holiday season with only 9 grams of carbohydrates.
Calories: 101 Carbs: 9g Protein: 3g Fat: 7g Fiber: 1g
Honey Flax Sweet Potato Cookies | Shaw Simple Swaps
Mashed sweet potato replaces sugar to naturally sweeten these delicious cookies. Thanks to ingredients like whole wheat flour, oats, and flax cereal, each serving has 14 grams of carbohydrates and no added sugar. These are perfect if you love chewy cookies but want the added benefit of lower sugar, added fiber and vitamin A!
Add extra filling mix-ins like chopped nuts or seeds, to boost the protein and fiber for an even more balanced treat.
Calories: 89 Carbs: 14g Protein: 2g Fat: 2g Fiber: 2g
4 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies | Healthyish Appetite
When you use delicious ingredients, it doesn’t take much to make a tasty dessert! These 4 ingredient oatmeal cookies are the best example. Oats and bananas are both carbohydrate foods, but they both are also high in fiber, which helps to slow down how quickly the sugars are broken down for energy. Each cookie has only 8 grams of net carbs and uses peanut butter to satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you full.
Calories: 88 Carbs: 10g Protein: 3g Fat: 5g Fiber: 2g
Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies | Kelsey P. RD
Dense and chewy chocolate hazelnut cookies. You’d expect these to be off-limits for a diabetes-friendly diet, but thanks to the protein, they’re actually a great choice. Each cookie has 9 grams of protein, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and no added sugar. While it works for a diabetes friendly Christmas cookie, it’s also great for snack time since you’ll be full and satisfied.
Calories: 145 Carbs: 3g Protein: 9g Fat: 5g Fiber: 1g
Soft Vegan Lemon Cookies | Haute & Healthy Living
It’s hard to resist a cookie, especially one this zesty, delicious and perfect for blood sugar control! Because they’re made with almond flour, they’re a low carb, naturally gluten-free option packed with healthy fats and fiber that help slow down digestion and the release of sugar into the bloodstream. Each cookie has 7 grams of carbs, but using a sugar-free maple syrup can reduce the carbohydrates even more.
Calories: 123 Carbs: 7g Protein: 3g Fat: 10g Fiber: 2g
Grain Free Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies | Milk & Honey Nutrition
These flourless cookies are melt-in-your-mouth delicious with only 8 grams of carbohydrates per serving! Adding a high fiber, protein-rich nut, like walnuts, makes for a more satisfying and filling low carb cookie.
Calories: 163 Carbs: 8g Protein: 3g Fat: 14g Fiber: 2g
Black Bean Chocolate Peppermint Cookies | Erin Palinski-Wade
The addition of the black beans helps to keep the cookies moist and chewy while reducing the amount of added fat and sugar needed in the recipe. Not only are they full of flavor, but each cookie is well balanced with protein, fat and fiber to keep your blood sugar in check.
Calories: 73 Carbs: 14g Protein: 3g Fat: 2g Fiber: 2g
The Bottom Line:
Even if you have diabetes, there are so many ways to increase the nutrition of cookies so you can enjoy them this holiday season. Whether you’re looking for a no sugar added, low carb cookie, or just want to increase your fiber or protein intake, you’ll find an option on the list above.
More easy recipes you’ll love:
The Best Low Carb Desserts for Thanksgiving
10 Amazing Low Carb Rhubard Recipes You Need to Try