These keto walnut cookies are a super healthy take on the Italian classic Dolci di Noci. They contain only 4 ingredients and are ready in 15 minutes.
I love a fancy cake. But secretly, my favourite keto dessert are cookies. They are so easy and quick to make. Plus, they have a handy in-built portion control.
Even better, you only need a handful of ingredients. I adore these keto almond butter cookies (3 ingredients), my sugar free nutella cookies and sugar free meringues (both 4 ingredients).
I created these low carb walnut cookies after a trip to Italy many years ago, where I was introduced to dolci di noci - the classic Italian walnut cookie.
Since it contains only 4 ingredients, it was very simple to turn the original recipe into a sugar free version!
This is actually one of the first cookie recipes I published on the blog. I have just added step by step images and more tips and tricks to the post (November 2022).
This means I've just had the best day ever. Because I now have a portion of deliciously crunchy, nutty keto walnut cookies sitting right in front of me.
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🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make - only 4 ingredients, no special equipment needed
- Quick - ready in 15 minutes
- Gluten free & dairy free
- Keto friendly - just 0.8g net carbs per cookie
- Great nutty flavor and crunchy texture
Ingredients
- Chopped walnuts - Make sure they are fresh! I pulsed mine in a food processor. You can also chop them finely with a knife. Or, put them in a plastic bag and crush them.
- Egg - Use either 1 medium egg or 1 large egg white. I tried both and preferred the taste with the whole egg. However, both work well.
- Powdered sweetener - Powdered erythritol, any erythritol blend such as Swerve or monk fruit sweetener, Bocha Sweet, allulose or xylitol. Make sure you are using a 1:1 sugar alternative.
- Cinnamon
Instructions
This section contains step-by-step instructions and photos that show how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step 1: Beat the medium egg or large egg white with powdered sweetener and cinnamon.
Step 2: Add the crushed walnuts and stir with a for or a spatula until a cookie dough forms. Taste and adjust sweetness if required.
Step 3: Form balls with your hands or use a cookie scoop. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 4: Bake in the oven until golden.
Top tip
Don't over-process the walnuts! I like to leave some larger chunks. If the walnuts are coarsely ground, the cookies will be crunchier.
However, even if you blend the walnuts to a fine flour accidentally, the recipe will still work. It's quite forgiving.
FAQ
Yes, walnuts are suitable for a keto diet. They are very low in carbohydrates. 1 ounce (30 grams) or 14 halves of walnut contain just 3.9g of carbs.
Yes, if you don't mind a little grittiness. I have made these cookies with Lakanto Gold, which is a granulated brown sugar alternative.
The egg is the binder in this recipe. You could try a mix of nut butter and flaxseed instead. Also, grind the nuts more finely.
Your walnuts are too coarse. Add a little almond flour or a pinch of coconut flour to fix it.
Variations
Here are ideas how you can change up the recipe.
Use different nuts. The recipe works with any nuts, such as almonds, pecans or hazelnuts. You can also use a mixture. Just don't call them keto walnut cookies 😊
Add butter. 1-2 tablespoons of melted butter gives the cookies a rich, buttery flavor.
Chocolate: Throw in some sugar free chocolate chips or coat the cookies in dark chocolate such as Lindt (90% cocoa solids).
Change the spices: Try vanilla extract or a pinch of salt
Storage
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. You can keep them either at room temperature or in the fridge.
All low carb cookies freeze well. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Related recipes
Want more treat ideas? Take a look at my Keto Cookies cookbook.
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Keto Walnut Cookies
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 175 g / a generous 1 Ā½ cups coarsely ground walnuts
- 1 medium egg or 1 large egg white
- 25 g / 2 heaped tablespoons powdered sweetener or more, to taste
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180 Celsius / 350 F electric or 160C / 320F fan.
- Beat the egg with the sweetener and cinnamon until smooth.
- Stir in the ground walnuts. Taste and add more sweetener if preferred.
- Form cookie dough balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
CHRISTINA RAHMING
GOOD AFTERNOON. DO YOU MEASURE THE NUTS BEFORE YOU CHOP THEM OR AFTER?
Katrin NĆ¼rnberger
I measured the nuts in cups after chopping.
sarah R
Can I use walnut flour instead? If so, how much?
Katrin NĆ¼rnberger
I'm sure you can use walnut flour. As it is much finer, I would probably add some butter as well. You would have to see how much you need.
Jillian
Most happily this recipe was in my mailbox today. It looked so simple I decided to make them instead of pinning to make "sometime." I have a recipe my husband loves for a walnut torte , making it several times a year. These taste similar. After cooling, glazed them with choc zero hazelnut spread. They are going fast. I wrote on the recipe to double it next time. Thank you for the recipes. BTW I decided to try Besti sweetener. It is a monk fruit /allulose blend and find it easier than erythritol to digest. It is pricey and avoided it for a long time for that reason. It also has no cooling effect. It is working very well.
Katrin NĆ¼rnberger
Glad you enjoyed the recipe! Allulose is a great option if you don't like the cooling effect of erythritol.
Timothy j Harris
Simple and delish thank for another great recipe
Liz
Soooo Delicious!
I made these cookies for the first time and my goodness, it is hard to leave them alone! I ran out of walnuts so had to use a 1/2 cup of pecans. Then my mixture was too wet, (probably because I grind nuts to a flour because of my diverticulosis) so I added some almond flour to stiffen things up. I added a dark chocolate chip to the tops of each (not sugar free but one chocolate chip comes out to a small of carbs). Anyway, so good for a treat! So good for you as well! My cardio doc told me that walnuts are good for reducing cholesterol, so it's a great excuse to keep these cuties around!
Susan Grace Millett
These were scrumptious and extremely satisfying, as well as LEGAL for a diabetic. YUMMY! I did add one heaping tablespoon of almond flour, simply because I couldn't roll them--too sticky. Excellent, kind of life-saving recipe. I will try the suggested cardamon next time. Thank you!