Keto Tahini Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Coconut

Keto tahini cookies are a nutty, elevated spin on a classic chocolate chip cookie. The creamy tahini, toasted coconut and chocolate chunks are a delightful trio of flavors - sweet and rich and nutty- and create a cookie with a soft and chewy texture. 

Tahini is obviously a main player in this recipe!

Made from ground sesame seeds, it has a delicious nutty flavor that's a lot more mild than other nut/seed butters and with an ever-so-slightly bitter, earthy taste. And it pairs so well with rich chocolate and the bits of toasted coconut. 

is tahini low carb?

High in fat, low in carbs, and extra low in sugar, it's a great low-carb and keto diet friendly food. (You can read more in my post Is Tahini Keto-Friendly?)

If you don't have it, you could probably substitute a different type of nut butter (like almond butter) and consistency-wise, they'd turn out fine. 

But the flavor of tahini, along with the chocolate and coconut, are really what makes these cookies so good. 

Check out this article from The Kitchn, which calls it "Sesame's Secret Weapon." Agreed!

why this recipe works

This low-carb cookie recipe is not only keto-friendly, naturally gluten free and dairy optional, but it's so easy, too!

All you need is a few minutes of prep time and a short list of cookie ingredients to whip up a batch of healthy treats that don't taste like a compromise!

Made with wholesome ingredients, sweetened with a low-carb monk fruit sweetener and studded with toasted coconut and sugar-free chocolate chips, this easy cookie recipe is packed with healthy fats and is blood sugar friendly. 

Here's why you'll love it:

• Easy and elevated. Nutty tahini adds a delicious flavor profile that complements the rich, dark chocolate and the coconut. It's a treat the whole family can enjoy.
• Healthy and made with simple ingredients. This recipe doesn't require a whole lot. You'll need a few basic low-carb baking staples that you probably already have on hand. Together, they create tasty, healthy treats with only 4g net carbs each! 
• Simple to modify. Not a fan of coconut? Add in chopped pecans or walnuts or extra chocolate. Need these to be dairy free? You can easily swap in coconut oil instead of butter! This recipe is simple to adapt and I'm including a few ideas in the recipe notes. 

ingredients for almond flour tahini cookies

Here's a look at what you will need:

• Butter. A little bit of butter helps with the flavor and texture. Use room temperature butter. Feel free to sub in melted coconut oil if you prefer. 
• Tahini. Just like other nut and seed butters, tahini tends to clump and separate from the oil. Make sure it's well-stirred.
• Granulated sweetener. I love Lakanto's Golden Monkfruit with Allulose blend because it doesn't have the cooling aftertaste that an erythritol sweetener has. My second choice would be a Brown or Golden granulated monk fruit sweetener. 
• Egg. ​This helps bind everything together! Make sure it's at room temperature, especially if you are using melted coconut oil instead of butter. 
• Vanilla extract. ​A must in almost any cookie recipe and this one is no different. 
• Blanched almond flour. It's sort of like the all-purpose flour of low-carb baking! Be sure you're using blanched almond flour and not almond meal. 
• Shredded coconut. ​For bits of crunchy texture and a light coconut flavor.
• Coconut flour. I find that just a few tablespoons of coconut flour helps create an even better cookie texture. 
• Low-carb chocolate chips. Choose your favorite sugar-free or low-carb chocolate! 
• Salt. Every good cookie needs it and this recipe not only calls for a bit of salt in the cookie dough, but also some flakey sea salt sprinkled on top. 

how to make them

These come together so easily and quick, too! You just need a stand mixer or one bowl with an electric mixer. 

Here's a look at the steps required but make sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to view the printable recipe card. 

Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. They will appear a tad underdone immediately out of the oven but will set more as they cool. 

tips for the best results

• You don't have to toast the coconut, but if you'd like to, it gives the coconut a nuttier flavor. Simply spread it on your baking sheet and place it in the oven as it is preheating for about 1-2 minutes. Remove and let cool while you prepare the cookie dough.
• Make sure to slightly flatten each dough ball before placing it on the baking sheet. They do not spread when baking, so if you skip this step, the tops will brown a lot more. Flattening them a little will give you a nicer cookie shape.  
• For a super soft, chewy cookie, bake about 8 minutes. They will appear underdone but will continue baking a bit on the cookie sheet and will set more as they cool on the wire rack. (Bonus tip: they're perfect after cooling for about 30 minutes).
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. 
• If you're a sea salt and chocolate kind of person, sprinkle a bit of sea salt on each cookie immediately after they come out of the oven.
• These are easy to make with a whisk and bowl, but for an extra smooth cookie dough, I recommend using a mixer.
• One batch makes about 18 medium cookies. If you make these extra large, allow for a little bit longer bake time (and cool time).
• Make sure to find a brand of tahini you really love! I like the generic Sprout's brand and Soom Foods.

ingredient substitutions

• Egg: ​You can substitute a flax egg and still get great results!
• Monk fruit sweetener: ​Use your favorite sweetener for these. Swerve, erythritol, or my preferred granulated allulose monkfruit sweetener- will all work well. You can even swap in coconut sugar if you don't mind the extra carbs/sugars. 
• Butter: For a dairy-free cookie, use melted coconut oil instead of butter. Also choose a dairy-free chocolate.

you might also love

• These keto peanut butter and jelly cookies that are sugar-free, low-carb and really, really, REALLY delicious.
• This easy keto brownies recipe for when you need a true chocolate fix.
• Filipino chicken adobo and garlic green beans for an easy, low-carb dinner!
• Almond flour peanut butter cookies if you're looking for another healthy cookie recipe with incredible flavor!