10 Healthy but Delicious Diabetes-Friendly Cookie Recipes

This recipe from Wholesome Yum swaps refined flour for lower-carb almond flour and replaces added sugar with the sugar alcohol erythritol. One word of warning: Palinski-Wade says that “erythritol may give you a tummy ache if you eat too much, so stick with just one cookie!”

In all, these cookies have only 3 g of net carbs per serving. (To find net carbs, take the total carbohydrates and simply subtract fiber and sugar alcohols, neither of which fully digested by the body.)

Get the recipe at Wholesome Yum.

Nutrition per serving (1 cookie; serves 20): 148 calories, 13.9g total fat, 4.2g protein, 5.1g carbohydrates, 2.3g fiber, 0.6g sugar

Almond flour has a nice, nutty flavor that works perfectly with holiday cookies, and it’s healthy, too: “Using almond flour instead of refined flour reduces the overall carbohydrate content of the recipe while boosting protein and fiber,” says Palinski-Wade.

Get the recipe at Wholesome Yum.

Nutrition per serving (1 cookie; serves 18): 124 calories, 12g total fat, 3g protein, 3.3g carbohydrates, 1.6g fiber, 1g sugar

This flourless peanut butter cookie is packed with wholesome ingredients such as peanut butter, cocoa powder, and raisins. With no added sugar, it provides a sweet treat lower in carbs than traditional chocolatey cookies. And because it’s a no-bake recipe, you can make it and enjoy it in just minutes.

“Consider opting for an all-natural peanut butter that does not contain any added sugar,” says Palinski-Wade. “Peanut butter with added sugar doesn’t need to be off-limits, but it does add to the carb total.”

Get the recipe at Chocolate Covered Katie.

Nutrition per serving (1 cookie; serves 12): 62 calories, 4g total fat, 0.7g saturated fat, 2g protein, 7g carbohydrates, 0.9g fiber, 4.2g sugar (0.3g added sugar), 46mg sodium

If you want to move in a more savory direction, try these diabetes-friendly biscuits. Made with almond flour and a touch of sour cream, these biscuits are tender and fluffy, and with only 3 g net carbs per biscuit, they even work for a ketogenic (keto) diet.

Get the recipe at Healthy Recipes.

Nutrition per serving (2 biscuits; serves 3): 277 calories, 23g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 10g protein, 10g carbohydrates, 5g fiber, 2g sugar, 551mg sodium

This cookie is almost like a granola bar, and it whips up in record speed, with just five minutes in the microwave. Palinski-Wade loves how it’s packed with healthful raw ingredients: “The balance of oats, nuts, and dried fruit provide a mix of fiber, protein, and healthy fats to keep you feeling full without jolting your blood sugar.”

Get the recipe at Nutrition Twins.

Nutrition per serving (1 cookie): 82 calories, 3g total fat, 2g protein, 12g carbohydrates, 2g fiber

A little bite of diabetes-friendly luxury. These chocolate truffles get all of their natural sweetness from Medjool dates and cacao powder, making for a delicious dessert with no added sugar.

“The almonds add a source of protein and healthy fat, helping you stay full and preventing overeating. As a bonus, the cacao provides a rich source of antioxidants, so you can get your chocolate fix while helping fight inflammation at the same time,” says Palinski-Wade.

Medjool dates are not low in carbohydrates, so these truffles have a higher net carb total than other recipes on our list. Each truffle has about 12 g of net carbs.

Get the recipe at MarisaMoore.com.

Nutrition per serving (2 truffles; serves 8): 193 calories, 9g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 5g protein, 28g carbohydrates, 5g fiber, 21g sugar, 1mg sodium

These snickerdoodles combine pumpkin puree with your choice of alternative flour. People with diabetes may want to opt for almond flour, which results in both a nice nutty flavor and a low net carbohydrate count. Just watch out for the fat content: The half cup of coconut oil may be too much if you've been told to watch your saturated fat intake. Consider replacing some or all of the coconut oil with a healthier fat.

Get both versions of the recipe at Whole New Mom.

Nutrition per serving (1 cookie; serves 12): 116 calories, 6g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 1g protein, 15g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 6g sugar, 105mg sodium

With only 3 g of net carbs per serving, these festive holiday cookies will have a minimal impact on your blood sugar levels — if you eat them in moderation. The low-carb cream cheese frosting provides an indulgent topping that you may have felt you needed to avoid in the past.

“The combination of ricotta, almond flour, and egg provides a delicious texture while boosting the protein content and minimizing carbs,” says Palinski-Wade.

Get the recipe at Step Away From the Carbs.

Nutrition per serving (1 cookie; serves 12): 135 calories, 11g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 5g protein, 4g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 100mg sodium

It doesn’t get much easier than a three-ingredient cookie, but what makes this delicious treat even better is that it contains less than 1 g of net carbs per cookie. How do they do it? This recipe has no flour at all!

“Made up of mostly pecans and egg, each cookie provides a source of quality protein and fat, helping you feel full as you satisfy your sweet cravings,” says Palinski-Wade.

Get the recipe at Step Away From the Carbs.

Nutrition per serving (2 cookies; serves 6): 136 calories, 13g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 2.5g protein, 3g carbohydrates, 1.7g fiber, 0.75g sugar, 10mg sodium

How fun are these crescent-shaped cookies? This recipe takes an old Viennese classic and updates it with a mix of powdered low-carb sweetener and almond and coconut flours.

The swaps result in a cookie with just 5 g total carbs, including 3 g of fiber. These cookies are made with plenty of butter, so if you’re watching your saturated fat intake, you may want to look elsewhere for a bingeworthy treat.

Get the recipe at Whole New Mom.

Nutrition per serving (serves 24; 1 cookie per serving): 178 calories, 17g total fat, 6g saturated fat, 4g protein, 5g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 1g sugar, 97mg sodium

The Takeaway

• Most sweet treats are poor choices for people with diabetes, due mostly to the high amounts of refined starch and sugar.
• Homemade diabetes-friendly cookie and biscuit recipes are a terrific option, because they let you control exactly what goes into your body.
• Swapping all-purpose flour for alternatives with more protein and fiber, like almond flour, can let you enjoy baked goods without worrying so much about your blood sugar.