3-ingredient paleo shortbread is quick and easy to make, and can be made ahead of time and frozen. This healthy holiday cookie recipe is grain-free, vegan, and absolutely delicious!
This post is sponsored by FoodSaver.
It’s holiday baking season!
Do you already have your cookie recipes lined out? As simple as it sounds, one of my all-time favorite Christmas cookies is shortbread. Simple. Buttery. Sweet, but not too sweet.
Crispy. Melt-in-your-mouth DELICIOUS!
We’re no stranger to shortbread on this site.
I’ve made Roasted Walnut Shortbread Cookies, Maple Pecan Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies, Chocolate-Dipped Cardamom Orange Paleo Shortbread Cookies, Paleo Chocolate Shortbread Cookies, and Cranberry Pistachio Vegan Shortbread Cookies.
Suffice it to say, girl loves her shortbread.
This year, I’m keeping my shortbread game super simple…like, crazy easy.
This paleo shortbread recipe requires just three basic ingredients: almond flour, coconut oil, and pure maple syrup. Four if you count sea salt.
The best part about this recipe, aside from the fact that it’s super basic, is it can be made ahead of time.
When preparing shortbread cookie dough, you must chill the dough in either the refrigerator or freezer prior to baking it. With a little forethought, you can make the dough ahead of time and simply bake it when you’re ready!
To make sure the dough stays fresh and results in the best mouth-watering cookies, I use my FoodSaver® FM2000 to vacuum seal the dough. This way, I can freeze the dough for weeks or even months ahead of time and then bake the cookies when the time comes.
Holiday season is busy and overwhelming, so anything that can be done ahead of time is very attractive to me. You can whip up all sorts of holiday side dishes, desserts, rolls, etc. in advance and refrigerate or freeze them until you’re ready to heat and serve.
I’m a huge proponent of eliminating food waste as much as possible, so I find my FoodSaver to be an excellent tool in ensuring my leftovers stay fresh. You can simply vacuum seal them and store them in the refrigerator or freezer, depending on how quickly you think you will get to them.
Let’s make up some cookie dough, shall we??
How to Make 3-Ingredient Paleo Shortbread:
Add the ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir well until a thick, sticky dough has formed. Form the dough into a log (you can go with a cylinder or rectangle shape. I do both, but for the photographs, I made a rectangular log).
Wrap the log of cookie dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 30 minutes.
If you’re making the dough ahead of time and you have a FoodSaver, vacuum seal the dough and freeze or refrigerate (Note: you can keep the dough frozen for weeks or months and bake it when you’re ready).
When you’re ready to bake, thaw the dough, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into individual shortbread cookies.
Poke each piece of shortbread using a fork. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 12 to 18 minutes (depending on desired level of crisp. I go for 15 minutes).
Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet before touching them.
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3-Ingredient Paleo Shortbread
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups superfine almond flour
- 1/3 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 pinch sea salt
Optional Add-Ins:
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp lemon zest or orange zest
Instructions
- Add all ingredients for the shortbread cookies to a mixing bowl and stir well until a thick, sticky dough forms.
- Form the dough into a log shape and vacuum seal or wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours, or freeze at least 15 minutes.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unwrap the dough and place on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut slices of dough.
- Place dough slices on the parchment-lined baking sheet and bake 12 to 18 minutes, until cookies are slightly golden on the outside.
- Remove cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet completely before serving.
Nutrition
Delicious!! How would you store these once baked?
Hi Marcia! I store them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days, then move them to the refrigerator for another 4-5 days. I also freeze them in a large zip lock bag for up to 3 months. Enjoy! xo
Could I roll these out and use cookie cutters with them?
Hi Katie! I’ve found grain-free recipes like this to be a challenge to roll, so I don’t think it would be very easy to do so with this recipe. You could definitely try it, but it may be a little difficult to get the raw cookies to stay together.
I just made these for a friend who has a bus-load of sensitivities. I think I would reduce the syrup next time, but they were so easy! And she said she hasn’t had anything like shortbread for years, so she was very excited.
I’m so thrilled to hear it! Thank you for letting me know! xoxox
This looks fantastic! Can I use oat flour?
Hi Debbie! Yes! I made this version using oat flour and it has been a pretty popular recipe! : https://www.theroastedroot.net/maple-pecan-oat-flour-shortbread-cookies/
These were easy and very good, nice healthy treat for the sweet tooth in the family !!
Yaaay thrilled your family likes them!
I meant to ask if liquid stevia can be used in place of syrup?
Hi Nic,
Absolutely! The loss of liquid will just need to be offset with more oil. Hope you enjoy! xo
Thank you for the recipe! Can honey or molasses be used in place of syrup?
Can I use ghee instead of coconut oil?
Hi Marie!
Absolutely! Ghee would make the shortbread taste sooo nice and buttery! xo
Given the density of coconut flour, I wonder how it would work rather than almond flour for those with but allergies. Would you suggest adding some liquid?
Hi Terri!
I would suggest following this recipe for coconut flour shortbread: https://www.theconsciousplantkitchen.com/coconut-flour-shortbread-cookies/ 😀 Hope you enjoy! xo
a great holiday cookie to palo-ize, I’d given up shortbread fora long time given the tradtional ingredients, much appreciated!
My pleasure, Sabrina! xo