Sugar-Free Lemon Shortbread Cookies

These sugar-free lemon shortbread cookies are buttery, rich, and surprisingly light. A simple addition of fresh lemon zest transforms classic shortbread into something bright and special, without adding extra sugar. Each cookie is tender, lightly crisp around the edges, and perfect when you’re craving something sweet but not heavy.

I love how elegant these cookies feel for such a simple recipe. They’re easy enough for everyday baking, yet special enough for a cookie platter, gift box, or afternoon tea. And because they’re made sugar-free, each cookie comes in under 100 calories.

Why I Love these Cookies

• It tastes rich and buttery without added sugar. These cookies have that classic shortbread melt-in-your-mouth texture I love, and the lemon zest adds brightness without needing extra sweetness.
• The ingredient list is simple and familiar. I don’t need anything fancy or hard to find. Most of the time, I already have everything on hand, which makes this an easy recipe to come back to.
• The dough is make-ahead friendly. I love that I can roll the dough into logs and keep it in the refrigerator until I’m ready to bake. It’s perfect for planning ahead during busy weeks or the holidays.
• They feel special but not fussy. These cookies are elegant enough for a cookie platter or gift box, yet simple enough to enjoy with afternoon tea or coffee.
• Portion-controlled and WW friendly. Each cookie is small, satisfying, and under 100 calories, which makes it easy to enjoy one or two without overthinking it.
• They freeze beautifully. I often keep a batch tucked away in the freezer so I can bake a few whenever the craving hits.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• All-purpose flour – Forms the base of the cookies and gives them structure.
• Finely ground almond flour – Adds tenderness and a subtle richness. Almond meal works best when finely ground.
• Baking powder – Just a small amount helps keep the cookies light.
• Butter – Provides classic shortbread flavor and texture. I recommend real butter here.
• Granulated no-calorie sweetener – Choose one that measures 1:1 with sugar for best results. Sweetener Tip: If using a sweetener that is more concentrated than sugar, adjust the amount accordingly.
• Lemon zest – Fresh lemon zest adds bright citrus flavor without extra liquid.
• Egg yolk – Adds richness and helps bind the dough.

How Many Calories and WW Points in Sugar-Free Lemon Shortbread Cookies?

According to my calculations, each cookie has just 93 calories.

To see the WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)

How to Make Sugar-Free Lemon Shortbread Cookies, Step-by-Step

Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients.

Step 2: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour and baking powder.

Step 3: In a separate bowl, beat the butter, sweetener and lemon zest with an electric mixer (affiliate link) on medium until creamy, about 2 – 3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolk until combined.

Step 4: Gradually beat the dry flour mixture into the butter mixture on low, just until combined.

Step 5: Divide the dough in half and roll into two logs about 10 – 12-inches long. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 – 2 hours.

Step 6: When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat oven to 350F degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper or use silicone liners. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, unwrap and cut into 1/2-inch slices and place on prepared cookie sheets. (You should have 30 cookies.)

Step 7: Bake for about 15 minutes, or until cookies turn golden around the edges.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for a couple of minutes before moving cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 8: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

• Chilling the dough is key for clean slices and classic shortbread texture.
• If the dough cracks slightly while slicing, gently press it back together.
• These cookies freeze beautifully, baked or unbaked.
• For extra lemon flavor, you can add a tiny pinch of lemon extract.

If you like these simple Lemon Shortbread Cookies, check out my other WW friendly cookies, including: Spicy Ginger Cookies, Christmas Crackle Spice Cookies, Low-Fat Giant Spice Cake Mix Cookies and Brown Sugar Drop Cookies.

If you’ve made these Sugar-Free Lemon Shortbread Cookies, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Recipe adapted from Eat More of What You Love (affiliate link) by Marlene Koch

More WW-Friendly Cookie Recipes

If You Like these Sugar-Free Lemon Shortbread Cookies, you may also like:

• Soft, cozy snickerdoodles with a hint of eggnog flavor and warm spices, Eggnog Snickerdoodles are a festive holiday cookie that feels indulgent while still being WW friendly.
• Old-fashioned and warmly spiced, these Sliced Italian Molasses Cookies are a longtime personal favorite perfect for planning ahead.
• A nostalgic cookie made with Wheaties cereal and sweet cherry centers, these Wheaties Cherry Blinks are always a hit on cookie trays.
• Light, tender cookies coated in sesame seeds for a subtle nutty crunch. Italian Sesame Cookies are simple, elegant, and perfect with coffee or tea.