These classic Christmas snowball cookies got a little update! We turned the classic snowball cookies into a nut free chocolate snowball keto cookie! Whether you're on a keto diet or low carb diet these are Just 1 g net carbs per cookie!
Chocolate Snowball Cookies
If you've ever had a pecan snowball cookie made with crushed pecans, butter and powdered sweetener then you know how delicious they and easy they are to make.
They are also known as Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes, but whatever you call them, they are easy to make and delicious for Christmas cookie platters this time of the year!
My own keto pecan snowball cookies receives much traffic as the Christmas Holiday season approaches because they taste so much like the traditional snowball cookie recipe made with flour and sugar.
Since my own son has tree nut and peanut allergies, he's never been able to try these keto cookies made with almond flour. I got working on a nut free keto snowballs recipe using sunflower seed flour, just for him.
The first attempt had a very strong sunflower flavor so I knew I needed to somehow mask that just a little bit and that is how this chocolate snowball cookie was created.
My new chocolate version combines cocoa powder and chocolate chips which are the perfect addition to balance and outshine the sunflower taste. Even if you're not a fan of sunflower seeds, you will barely notice that flavor in these tender, keto chocolate snowball little cookies.
Low Carb Cookies with Sunflower Seed Flour
Sunflower seed flour is exactly what you are thinking. Raw, unsalted, hulled sunflower seeds are ground finely to create a flour.
You could try and grind sunflower seeds yourself for this recipe, just be sure to not over grind in your food processor or you will end up with sunflower butter.
It's much finer and easier if you purchase it online as I have not found it available in my local markets. Here is the sunflower seed flour I purchased for this recipe.
How to Prevent Flat Snowball Cookies
Isn't just awful when you follow a recipe exactly and your snowball classic cookie ends up completely flat? Yes, I know, I've been there and it's sad and depressing.
This will occur due to the softened butter you need to use in order to incorporate the ingredients well. Depending on how soft your butter is, can be the factor.
The best thing you can do to avoid this happening is to prepare these keto Christmas cookies the day before you want them.
Follow the recipe exactly, place the balls on a parchment lined cookie sheet and place the pan in the freezer overnight.
Freezing overnight is the key to keeping these chocolate snowball cookies in the shape of a snowball!
How to Make the Best Keto Snowball Cookies
To view exact measurements, print recipe and see nutritional data, scroll to the bottom of this post to view the recipe card.
Ingredients
sunflower seed flour or raw, unsalted sunflower seeds ground or if no nut allergies use almond meal or almond flour.
Better than Sugar Confectioners or Allulose
unsalted butter, room temperature or use coconut oil
Lily's Sugar Free Chocolate Chips
Directions
Place all ingredients into a food processor or mixing bowl, except the chocolate chips. Process or stir until combined. Taste batter and adjust sweetness if needed.
Stir in the chocolate chips. Line a large cookie sheet pan with parchment paper.
Using a tablespoon of dough or cookie scoop, scoop out cookie dough batter onto baking sheet pan. Once you've made 24, roll each mound into a ball.
Place this prepared cookie sheet pan into the freezer for 1 hour, preferably overnight to avoid flattening when baked.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove from freezer and bake cookies for 15 minutes.
Allow to cool and roll in sugar free confectioner sweetener.
How to Store Low-Carb Snowball Cookies
Once baked and cooled completely, place the snowball cookies in an airtight container.
If you need to make another layer, place a sheet of parchment between layers. Cover tightly and place in the fridge for up to a week or place in the freezer for up to a month.
More Christmas Keto Cookie Recipes
- Chocolate Almond Biscotti
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Cranberry Pistachio Cookies
- Gingerbread cookies
- Sugar Free Sugar Cookies
FAQs
Can I swap the powdered sugar substitute?
Yes if you don't have or can't find the low carb confectioner sweetener I used, you can change it with any sugar substitutes you like. Here's my Guide & Conversion chart.
Can I make these dairy free?
Yes use coconut oil instead of butter in the same amount.
Can I leave out the coconut flour?
I would not recommend leaving out the coconut flour. If you can't have it, swap it with sesame flour.
Chocolate Sugar-Free Snowballs Cookies (Nut Free, Gluten Free)
Sugar Free Keto Chocolate Snowballs
Ingredients
- 1.25 cup sunflower seed flour or raw, unsalted sunflower seeds ground
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup Better than Sugar Confectioners or Allulose
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup Lily's Sugar Free Chocolate Chips
Outer Coating
- ½ cup Sugar Free Confectioners optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a food processor, except the chocolate chips. Process until combined. Taste batter and adjust sweetness if needed.
- Stir in the chocolate chips. Line a large cookie sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, scoop out batter onto sheet pan. Once you've made 24, roll each mound into a ball.
- Place this sheet pan into the freezer for 1 hour, preferably overnight to avoid flattening when baked.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove from freezer and bake 15 minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly and roll in sugar free confectioners.
- Storage: Place in an air tight container in the fridge for up to a week or place in the freezer for up to a month.
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Carolyn
What can I use instead of xanthan I’m allergic to it
Amanda Jancar
Have been making these for years.. can’t wait to try the keto version this year!!
Penny Frick
Can you replace the sunflower seed flour with almond flour?
Darlene
Thank you for using sunflower seed flour. I can’t use almond flour and it has been very hard to find any decent recipes using sunflower flour.