Holiday Spiced Almond Shortbread Cookies
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These almond shortbread cookies are buttery, soft, and naturally gluten-free. They're made with almond flour and real butter and topped with a festive holiday spice mix. It's a quick and easy recipe that's perfect for the holiday baking season!
If you're a big fan of shortbread cookies (like we are), also try our melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies, our Scottish shortbread cookies, and our gluten-free shortbread cookies!
These almond flour shortbread cookies are a healthier twist on a Christmas classic. They've got that familiar buttery shortbread flavor that just melts in your mouth, but they're made with less sugar and they're naturally gluten-free.
It's a really simple recipe you'll find yourself making again and again. All you have to do is stir all the ingredients together in a bowl, scoop them into even-sized balls, roll them in powdered sugar, and pop 'em in the oven.
Wrap them up in a cookie tin or box with some ribbon, and spread the love this holiday season. These almond shortbread cookies are perfect for cookie exchanges because they're gluten-free and easy to make vegan. We always double or triple the batch to have some on hand throughout the holidays. They taste especially delicious dipped in hot chocolate or alongside a warm cup of tea, and kids will love them, too!
With only a short list of ingredients, you may not even need to go to the store to make these holiday shortbread cookies. Here's everything you need:
- Almond flour ā make sure to use almond flour, not almond meal, which can be more coarse and not ideal for baking. Unlike all-purpose flour, almond flour contains (healthy) fat resulting in cookies that are moist with great texture.
- Powdered sugar ā powdered sugar gives that delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cookie texture we're after. Plus, we use a little for rolling the cookies in to make them look like snowballs.
- Butter ā unsalted butter is ideal because it allows you to control how much salt you add. If using salted butter, omit it from the holiday spice mix. You can easily make these cookies vegan by using a vegan butter alternative.
- Vanilla extract ā for a subtle vanilla flavor.
- Holiday spice mix ā for a little added festivity.
Here are the holiday spice mix ingredients:
- Granulated sugar ā for a little added sweetness.
- Pumpkin pie spice ā we use our easy homemade pumpkin pie spice but feel free to use a mix of warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves. Or use a store-bought pumpkin pie spice blend.
- Sea salt ā to enhance all the other flavors (omit if using salted butter).
These almond shortbread cookies are the perfect holiday cookies, and they're easy to make. Here's how we make them in a few simple steps:
- While your oven preheats, get your baking sheet ready with parchment paper and mix the holiday spice mix ingredients in a small bowl.
- Add all the cookie ingredients to a large bowl and mix them together. So easy!
- Divide the dough into 12 equal balls (we like to use a cookie scoop or tablespoon). Dip each ball in some powdered sugar to coat.
- Place them on your prepared baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes. Allow them to cool then top them with a bit of the holiday spice mix.
These almond flour shortbread cookies are perfect as-is, but you can easily add different flavors to mix it up. Here are a few of our favorite swaps or add-ins:
- Grate in some fresh orange or lemon zest.
- Swap the vanilla extract for almond extract for a more nutty flavor.
- Gently press a whole almond into the top for a decorative crunch!
- Toss in a handful of chopped dried cranberries.
- Add some fresh finely minced herbs like rosemary or thyme.
Recipe FAQs
How long do almond shortbread cookies keep on the counter?
These cookies will keep their taste and texture for 3 days. Just be sure to store them in an airtight container.
Should I store these cookies in the fridge?
We don't recommend storing them in the fridge because they may become soggy.
Can I freeze them?
Definitely! Store them in a sealed container or reusable silicone bag in your freezer for up to a month. That said, wait to roll them in powdered sugar until just before serving them. Thaw them at room temperature.
Are these shortbread cookies healthy?
This shortbread cookie recipe contains butter and sugar, so we can't exactly call them healthy. We use almond flour, which is a great source of protein. And we use a reduced amount of powdered sugar and they're naturally gluten-free so we classify them in the āhealthy-ish' cookie category.
Can I make them without an electric mixer?
You can absolutely make this cookie dough with a fork or the back of a wooden spoon. It will just require a bit more elbow grease and take longer than an electric alternative.
Almond Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Holiday Spice Mix
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or ground cinnamon)
- Ā½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make the Holiday Spice Mix by mixing the ingredients together in a small bowl.1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, Ā½ teaspoon sea salt
- Add all the cookie ingredients to a large mixing bowl. (See notes.) Using electric beaters, mix until the dough sticks together. This will take about 6-7 minutes and will look dry and crumbly until the last second when it finally comes together.1 Ā¼ cups almond flour, Ā¼ cup powdered sugar, Ā¼ cup butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, Ā½ teaspoon Holiday Spice Mix (recipe below)
- Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop the dough into 12 portions. Roll into balls then dip each ball in powdered sugar.2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Place the cookies onto the baking sheet. They don't spread so you can place them quite close together. Bake for 10 minutes, until they have puffed up slightly. Let them cool completely then top them with a little extra holiday spice mix.
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more holiday baking inspiration, make sure to check out all of our cookie recipes!
These look absolutely amazing! Going to have to give them a try. Thanks!
Thank you! They really are delicious. š
I’ve got to say that my favorite holiday treat is a family tradition – we call them paintbrush cookies! We make a sugar cookie dough from an old, beat-up edition of “Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book” and then paint them with a colored egg yolk “paint” (which bakes up a bit puffy and 100% tasteless). They are so beautiful and actually really delicious!
I’ve never heard of painting with colored egg yolks before. I’m definitely trying that!!
I made these last night, thought I would bring them to work, but finished them all!
Hahaha I love it! Best compliment ever!
I love shortbread cookies. So buttery and the texture is so nice.
Can’t beat shortbread!
Myfavorite holiday dessert is nanaimo bars and I see some amazing photos of some so I’ll have to check out the recipe!
These cookies are special, Kristen, and I’d love to make some for the holidays. I think I need to win a Vitamix! Best machines on the planet š
Shared all over. Love this!
Nanaimo bars are my #1 too! I shared my mom’s recipe a few days ago. They’re my fav!!
cranberry chocolate chip cookies are my favourite
Those sounds really good!
My favorite holiday treat is very thinly sliced date nit roll slices, with lots of freshly shelled pecans.
That’s such a great idea! I’m trying that for sure!
My favourite is spiced nuts.
Mmmm savory is always so good!
These look amazing! I love shortbread but don’t eat it enough! My favourite holiday treat has to be crinkle cookies!
Crinkle cookies are so good!!
My favourite Christmas Treat would be anything with marzipan on it! When I was a kid, pre food processors, my grandmother taught us to make marzipan and I’ve been hooked ever since!
I’ve never made marzipan and can’t even imagine making without modern technology. It must be so much work! I bet it’s better than anything a food processor could make, though. š
I absolutely adore whipped shortbread!!
Me too! This is my mom’s whipped shortbread recipe, if you’re interested. They literally melt in your mouth. š
I love ginger snap cookies
They’re so good!
My favorite holiday treat is fudge
I love fudge, too!
My family has been making cookies very similar to these for generations! We call them snowballs (because they’re rolled in icing sugar) and we put red and green maraschino cherries in the center of each of them. They’re a Christmas staple in our family!
I love the name … and the green and red Christmas touch! My mom does the same with her shortbread cookies and they always feel so festive. š
I’m pregnant. My favourite holiday treat is anything that someone else makes for me that includes chocolate but excludes things like cranberries and raisins. lol
Congratulations! I was pregnant over Christmas two years ago. All I wanted to do is eat fistfuls of mandarin oranges. Cravings are so funny, aren’t they? And treats are always the best when someone else makes them!
I love shortbread and fudge if I had to narrow it down, but so many yummy things to pick from this time of year.
Fudge is so good! Now you’ve got me craving some!