keto Biscochitos

Keto Biscochitos

keto Biscochitos
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Keto Biscochitos are a delicious take on the traditional New Mexican Christmas Cookies that my Grandmother somehow managed to make every year in mass quantities.

My cousins and siblings would feast on tamales and biscochitos every year at my Grandmas tiny house in Chico California.

Hopefully you too will love these Keto Biscochicos with your family and friends this Christmas. 

keto Biscochitos

My mother’s side of the family is from Chama New Mexico and this is where my Grandmother learned how to make these delicious savory and sweet cookies.

I now live in North Dakota and I am pleased to be carrying on the Biscochito tradition in the same way by teaching my daughter how to make these cookies, but healthier.

keto Biscochitos

The key to a good Keto Biscochitos mix

Lard, anise, orange and whiskey are what makes Keto Biscochitos taste like Biscochitos.

You just can’t leave these basic flavor notes out and call it a Biscochito.

My Grandmother used sugar, normal flour donald duck brand frozen orange juice concentrate and Jack Daniels Whiskey in her Biscochitos.

These ingredients are absolutely not low carb (except for the jack) however they are delicious.

In order to keep these keto Biscochitos low carb I have subbed out the sugar with erythritol and stevia.

keto Biscochitos

Everyone’s Grandma or Aubuela made these cookies differently and accordingly people seem to like the version that they grew up eating best.

It is for this reason why I hesitate to share ethnic recipes on my blog.

Certainly you can adjust the basic flavorings to make these Biscochitos your own.

keto Biscochitos

Flavor Profile

Keto Biscochitos are a thick biscut like cookie. The texture of these keto cookies are very similar to shortbread cookie.

Biscochitos are sweet and yet not overly sweet. On the other hand these keto cookies are savory with a hint of delicious anise alongside whiskey and orange.

More Keto Cookies

For more delicious low carb keto Christmas Cookies check out my collection of keto Christmas Cookies here

Keto Christmas Cookies

Keto Biscochitos

Traditional New Mexican Cookies with a keto twist. These keto Biscochitos are sugar free and full of healthy fats. Your gonna love them!

Course desert
Cuisine American
Keyword anise, Biscochitos, christmas, keto, keto biscochitos, Keto Cookies, lard, new mexican, new mexico, whiskey
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
cool 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 14 servings of FOUR cookies
Calories 192 kcal
Author Becky Craigo

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups Almond Flour (200 g)
  • 1/2 cup Coconut Flour (50 g)
  • 1/2 cup Erythritol Or other zero carb dry sweetener
  • 2 TBS Anise seeds
  • 1 TBS Unflavored Gelatin

Wet Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup Lard (or Coconut Oil or Butter)
  • 60 drops Orange flavored liquid Stevia
  • 2 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 3 TBS Whiskey (My Grandma used Jack Daniels)

Topping

  • 1 Tsp Cinnamon (Topping)

Special Equipment

  • Parchment paper
  • Cooling rack
  • Cookie Sheet
  • Food Processor
  • Cookie Cutters
  • rolling pin
  • Cute apron

Instructions

  1. Pre Heat the oven to 350 and prepare your cookie sheet using either a silpat or parchment paper. 

  2. Measure and place the lard, and sweetener inside the food processor. Pulse the food processor until combined fully. 

  3. Add the Stevia, salt, whiskey, anise and vanilla extract to the food processor and pulse until combined. You can substitute unflavored stevia and some orange extract if desired. Add more or less of said ingredients to taste. Everyone’s Aubuela made these different and here is the place where you can get creative and add or subtract for flavor and really make it your own. 

  4. Add the rest of the dry ingredients (Coconut Flour, Almond Flour and Gelatin) and combine in the food processor. Use the lower speed at first and then a higher setting as the dough forms. Stop and scrape the sides then pulse the dough a few more times until it forms a nice dough. Add a pinch of Coconut flour if the dough is too moist. 

  5. Place a piece of parchment paper on the counter and then scoop about a third of the cookie dough on to the paper. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dough. 

  6. Using a rolling pin gently roll the dough out into a circle. Roll the dough until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out your keto Biscochitos. Place the cookies on the cookie sheet. These cookies do not spread out so you can place them pretty close together.  Repeat this step until the cookies are all cut out. If your dough is not holding its shape like you want it to place the dough in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes to firm it up and try again. 

  7. Bake the keto Biscochitos in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 350 or until the cookies have browned just slightly around the edges.

  8. Using a spatula, gently place the keto biscochicos on to a cookie cooling rack. Sprinkle Cinnamon on top of the cookies while they are still warm. You can add a teaspoon of sweetener to the cinnamon and shake that on as a topping to make the cookies just a bit sweeter if desired. 

    keto Biscochitos
  9. LET THE COOKIES COOL before you try them. They will get better as they cool. They are best the day after you make them and let the flavors meld together. Store in a dry air tight container – Happy Holidays!!

    keto Biscochitos

19 Comments

  1. Can I use anise flavoring if I dont have the seeds? Thanks!!!

    1. Author

      I have anise extract in my cupboard and I’ve used it in a lunch for traditional Biscochitos so I don’t see why not? I would start easy with it though – maybe about 1/2 teaspoon and then add more to taste. Let me know how they turn out 🙂

  2. Hi Becky, how much salt does the recipe call for? I don’t see it listed.

  3. What can I replace the orange flavored stevia ..I don’t like stevia and don’t use it,thanks

    1. Author

      Try just orange extract and some monk fruit drops or a few tbs of orange juice concentrate – if you use the concentrate you will need to recalculate the nutrition.

      1. Any suggestion as to amount of orange extract and monkfruit drops?

        1. Author

          I have never baked with monk fruit before but in my coffee I’ve found that it is sweeter than stevia, so I do not know how much to add here. I would start with half a teaspoon of orange extract and add more if you like it.

  4. Could you make these without the whiskey?

    1. Author

      Absolutely, however they will not taste just like a Biscochito. I would sub the liquid with water to keep the consistency the same.

      1. You can use Brandy Extract to got that traditional taste.

  5. Would I be able to replace orange stevia with essential orange oil?

    1. Author

      I have not tried this however I bet it would work out just fine and perhaps even better – the cookies might not be as sweet but I think I will try with the oil next time.

    2. Pam..I was curious about doing this as well. If you ended up using essential oil can you please let me know how it turned out and how much you used?! Thanks 😊

  6. Hi there! You weren’t kidding when you said everyone’s Abuelita made them differently. My mom didn’t use orange juice and she used brandy instead of whisky. And, of course, they certainly were not low carb. Does the gelatin act as a binding agent? My daughter makes my mom’s recipe (actually handed down for many generations) every Christmas—usually about 20-30 dozen—distributes them among the family here and also send some as far away as Alaska to her younger sister. It can be very expensive, but we savor them all. We’re excited to try this recipe and see if we add it to our family traditions. Thank you!

    1. Author

      Wow! Thank you for sharing your family’s story with me! I hope my recipe holds a tint torch to your Aubelitas recipe. (minus the orange and subbed out the whiskey for brandy that is) The gelatin does work as a binding agent and helps them to not be as crumbly.

  7. I don’t have a small food processor. Can I use my stand mixer?

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