Christmas at the Peach cabin.
This is my first year participating in Staci Troilo’s cookie exchange. Last year, it looked like fun, and despite being a disaster in the kitchen, I’m joining in. It’s all about the laughter, right?
I used to make elaborate, colorful, and mostly-edible Christmas cookies. That was back in the day when I used wheat and sugar in my recipes. There’s nothing like crafting cookies with wheat – it’s like working with modeling clay.
But those years are long gone. Here’s my recipe for Christmas cookies that won’t send your blood sugar levels through the roof. We did end up eating them all!
Keto Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
3-1/2 cups super fine almond flour (used the blanched flour which is lighter in color)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (this is a natural binder)
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
3/4 cup powdered erythritol sweetener (I use Swerve)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
A variety of food coloring
Instructions
Line cookie sheets with baking paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt.
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese and butter until combined. Beat in the sweetener and vanilla. Then beat in the flour mixture until the dough comes together.
Shape the dough into six or more lumps of varying sizes (each lump will become a different color). Add a bit of food coloring to each lump and knead it in until the color is even. Tip: don’t overdo the food coloring as light colors look better when baked and they make a good background to decorate.
One at a time, roll out each color on a piece of baking paper to about 1/4″ thick. Cut with your Christmas cookie cutters, and carefully move them to your cookie sheets. (Unlike wheat flour, almond flour is soft and tears easily. Just patch them back together.)
Then hand decorate them with all the colors! This takes forever. But kids can help.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and bake for 12-15 minutes until barely browned around the edges. Too long in the oven will ruin your colors.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the cookie sheet so they harden up and don’t fall apart. It’s a good idea to have two sheets so you can rotate.
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These are a million times easier to make with a wheat flour sugar cookie recipe, and you can get very elaborate with the decorations. But these are festive, and they’re splendid dipped in coffee or tea.
Don’t forget to stop by Staci Troilo’s blog for links to all the cookie bakers’ recipe posts. There are some wonderfully delicious-looking cookies.
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This is my last post of the year. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season full of love and gratitude, good food and laughter. See you in the new year! Hugs. ❤
Myths of the Mirror 
I’m late to the party, but that’s a beautiful tree and some pretty amazing looking cookies! I hope your holidays were wonderful.
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Thanks so much, Bridgette. There’s no such thing as late here. Every visit is wonderful and much appreciated. We had a hard year last year, and the holidays marked a transition into a new beginning. I’m hoping for a bright 2023. Wishing you a happy, healthy, and bountiful new year.
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These look fabulous and I bet they would be fun to make with those crazy grandkids of mine! Thanks for sharing the recipe Diana! And that tree at peach cabin. Stunning! I want to walk through the rest of that house! Hugs, C
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Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl. If you don’t have to worry about wheat and sugar, just use a sugar cookie recipe. The dough holds together much better and they’re easier to decorate. The grandies will love making them. And I’m glad you liked the tree. The reflections in the windows make the house look much fancier than it is. But that’s what twinkling Christmas trees do everywhere. Have fun baking with the kiddos.
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I missed Staci’s Christmas cookies this year, Diana! Your cookies are healthy and colorful. I copied the recipe and will make some very soon.
We bought a house in Beaverton. Escrow closes on January 10. Lynton’s niece is getting married in February. We’ll stay in the empty house until then, and go back to California to attend her wedding, then rent a truck to move our things.
Happy New Year to you and your family! ❤
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Greetings, Miriam. Thanks so much for dropping by and for the update. I think you weren’t feeling well the last I heard, and I’m guessing that’s behind you. You’ve been incredibly busy! My daughter lives in Beaverton too. It’s a great town. How fun to have you close by. You’ll be all settled in for spring. Wishing you a successful move and wonderful new year, my friend. Hugs.
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😊Beautiful😍✨✨❤
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Thanks, Mick, for stopping by. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and Happy 2023!
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I’m currently drinking tea and now really want one of those cookies to dip it in! They look so terrific! Well done! Thankfully I gave birth to a daughter who loves to bake, so I get to hang my apron up and relax. 😉 Merry Christmas, Peach! Oh, and I love the wood of your cabin!!
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Happy New Year, Betsy. Sorry I missed your comment (last year). Hehe. I’ve been taking my break seriously but will be back soon. I hope you had a beautiful Christmas and wish you and your family a glorious 2023. ❤
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And to you, Peach! Enjoy your break!
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These look yummy Diana and a healthy version for sure and you can’t tell the difference. I’m always worried about the dye in them? Have a wonderful holiday as well my friend! ❣️
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I usually try to get organic/natural food colorings, Cindy, because I agree with you. These cookies are the only things I make that uses dyes, so I don’t worry too much about it since it’s once every year or two. Thanks for stopping by, And Merry Christmas!
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Wishing you an awesome Holiday Season. My wife and our two Seattle daughters spent yesterday cooking Christmas Cookies. She was still laughing when she got home…..sounds like they had some really good results and some really bad results!!!
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Ha! I’m sure they had to eat the bad results right away to hide the evidence. Thanks for the holiday wishes, Kirt, and I send them right back to you and youre. Merry Christmas, and a wonderful creative 2023 to you all.
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Happy holiday
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Thanks so much for the holiday wish. Sending the same right back at you. Have a lovely new year.
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Thanks
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Happy Holidays, Diana!
I’m like you, so your recipe sounds great.
I’ve made a fab vegan, no sugar, recipe for mincemeat…. you know the suet, sugar, sugar dried fruits pies/tarts.
I do use whole wheat flour in the crust, and it’s not that easy to work with. Apples, dried apricots, orange juice, raisins and lemon zest.
🎄💖🎁
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Oh, that sounds great, my friend. I like fruit much better than processed sugar, and I don’t mind sugar substitutes as long as they aren’t made with chemicals and cause cancer! I wouldn’t mind one of your mincemeat tarts right now for breakfast! 🙂 Happy Holidays to you, my friend, and wishing you a wonderfully creative new year. Hugs.
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@D. Wallace Peach you have awesome style of writing and nice selection of words.
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Thanks so much for the kind comment. Wishing you Happy Holidays and a wonderful 2023. 🙂
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May your holidays be filled with peace and joy! Hope to see you in the New Year, my friend. ❤
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Thanks, Khaya. I’m getting ready to close the computer for the rest of the year and enjoy some quiet time before the festivities. Sending you love and wishes for a beautiful holiday and blessed 2023.
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Thanks so much Diana for sharing this wonderful recipe, my kind of recipe – no wheat. Now, I’ll just have to replace the cheese part with something dairy free. They sound delish. Enjoy your well-deserved holiday break Diana. Wishing you and yours peace, love and only goodness for the season and in the new year and forward. Hugs my friend. ❤ xx
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Sorry about the dairy, Debby. I’ll bet eggs would work if you eat those. Maybe avocados as a substitute? Lol. That’s how I cook. I just try things and see what happens. Sometimes it works, and sometimes, well, not so much. This time I followed the recipe since I had to have something to share. 🙂 Thanks for the holiday wishes, and I send them right back at you. Wishing you a beautiful new year. Hugs.
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Thanks for the lovely wishes Diana. Yes, I do love to experiment too. Most things never come out the same way twice LOL. Merry Christmas! ❤ xx
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Is that your cabin? What an idyllic setting!
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It is, Suzanee. The picture came out nice with the reflection of the tree in the windows (I don’t have 3 trees). Lol. Now all I need is some snow. Thanks for dropping by and Happy Holidays!
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Almond, vanilla, cream cheese … I want one!
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Ha. They’re all gone. So sorry. I think we ate them all that day (a good reason not to fill them with sugar). Thanks for the kind comment. Have a delicious holiday and wonderful new year. ❤
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I don’t remember seeing a photo of your home before, Diana. It’s gorgeous. The cookies sound delicious. Hugs.
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Thanks, Teagan. If you like logs, I got logs. Ha ha. Thanks so much for th lovely comment. I rarely bake but these are fun for Christmas. Huge hugs for the visit, my friend. Happy Holidays. ❤
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Thank you for sharing your holiday adventure and recipe!!.. Hope you have the mostest wonderfulest holiday ever, your path is paved with love and happiness and until we meet again… 🙂
May the love that you give
Always return to you,
That family and friends are many
And always remain true,
May your mind only know peace
No suffering or strife,
May your heart only know love and happiness
On your journey through life.
(Larry “Dutch” Woller)
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Thanks for taking the time to stop by, Larry. Much appreciated. I send back the same wishes for a lovely Christmas and bountiful new year filled with Joy, peace, and good health. Cheers!
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So nice to peek in on you and your holiday fun, Diana (and to, yet again, learn some little tidbits about you). Wishing you long stretches of peace, lots of felt love and much joy in the little things.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Erik. I think of you often and hope you’re doing well this holiday season. A few new tidbits, huh? Lol. Have a merry merry Christmas and a bountiful year full of joy, love, and good health. ❤ ❤
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Hope you have a wonderful holiday!!!
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Thank you, Ann. Wishing you the very same. I hope you’re going to enjoy your grandie and all the childhood magic of Christmas. Hugs.
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Happy Holidays, Diana! I love your Peach cabin tree. Thank you for sharing the recipe. Big holiday hugs.
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Big holiday hugs back at you, Mary. I hope your Christmas is warm and wonderful, and wish you a fabulous new year. ❤ ❤
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Happy Holidays, Diana!
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Thanks, Mark. Same to you and wishing you and yours a wonderful new year.
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The cookies look great, Diana, and your tree is gorgeous! I make traditional roll-out sugar cookies each year with all the sinful ingredients. But only once a year, and nowadays, we’re eating less of all that good stuff. But they do make good gifts. 🙂
Enjoy and have a wonderful holiday! ❤️🎄
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We save our sugary indulgences for dinners out when we MUST have dessert. Ha ha. But at home, I’m good, especially since the two of us will eat all two dozen cookies in one day! Yeesh. Thanks for the wonderful comment, my friend. Happy Holidays ❤
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I don’t bake as often as I used to when the kids were young and living with us. It’s a once in a blue moon treat at a time where I give most away. 🙂 I have a lot of baking to do this weekend, but most is leaving the house. 🥰
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Enjoy it, Lauren. Get into the zen of the moment and take it all in. ❤
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I also wish you very happy holidays season
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Thank you, Pratik. That’s kind of you. Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year to you too! 😀
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Happy cookies, Diana. They look so beautiful and lovely. Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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Same to you, Kamal. Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy the holidays and wishing you a beautiful new year. ❤
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Always welcome Diana. Happy holidays and to a wonderful New Year ❤️❤️❤️
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I love that you made keto cookies, Diana! And they look adorable. I really intended to participate in the event this year and the time just got away from me. Maybe next year.
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It was fun, Jan, and I needed a final post before signing off. This was a perfect fit. 🙂 But I totally get how time can run away from us, especially when family needs us. I hope your daughter is doing well and that you’re taking good care of yourself. Hugs, and Happy Holidays.
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Have a wonderful Holiday season, your mountains must be lovely this time of year 🎄🌲💕
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We are wet, Solitaire. Hopefully a little dusting of snow for Christmas, and then it will rain and rain until May (or June). But that’s okay; it’s warm inside. Thanks so much for visiting and I wish you a glorious new year. Hugs.
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Likewise 🪷🎉
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Wow! Those are pretty! 🙂
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Awww. Thanks, Sue. It’s my go-to recipe if kids are coming over for Christmas. They love them and don’t bounce off the ceiling on a sugar high. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by and I wish you a fabulous holiday and happy new year. 🙂
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Same to you! Have the grooviest holidays and New Year!
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Many thanks for sharing the cookie recipe, Diana, and best wishes to you and yours for the holidays and the new year!
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You’re welcome, Audrey. I stuggled a little with these, but they did come out colorful! And we ate them all in a day’s time. 🙂 Happy Holidays, my friend, and wishing you a wonderful new year.
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Wow, such colorful cookies! Although I don’t eat Keto, avoiding sugar as much as possible is always a good idea.
Have a warm and wonderful holiday, Diana! I look forward to reconnecting in 2023!
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Thanks for stopping by, Janis. My husband has to avoid sugar, so I do lots of sugarless baking. The substitute I use is all natural and is a 1:1 replacement. It’s worth a try if you’re inclined. Wishing you a lovely holiday too, and a beautiful new year. Hugs ❤
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