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Keto Neapolitan Cookies

Annie Lampella, Pharm.D. Recipe developer and pharmacist

Published Updated

22 ratings

One dough, three flavors: keto Neapolitan cookies in strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate, soft and buttery at just 2.1g net carbs. I split one sugar-free batch and press them together so they look (and taste) like low carb Neapolitan ice cream.
  • 2.1gnet carbs
  • 3.5gprotein
  • 28minutes
  • 24servings
overhead shot of a bunch of neapolitan cookies cooling on a wire rack
a stack of keto cookies with chocolate chips and strawberries near
close up of a keto neapolitan cookie on a wire rack with more cookies next to it
neapolitan cookie half dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt
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Every time I pull these out of the oven, someone says the same thing: "They look like Neapolitan ice cream." That's the whole point. Strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate pressed together in one soft, buttery cookie, all from a single batch of dough. I've been making these for years and the method hasn't changed because it just works.

The base is my standard almond flour cookie dough: almond flour, coconut flour, butter, and monk fruit sweetener. Once it comes together, I divide it into three bowls and flavor each one. Vanilla gets extract. Strawberry gets strawberry extract and a couple drops of pink food coloring. Chocolate gets melted sugar-free dark chocolate chips (not cocoa powder, which dries out the dough and gives you a flat brown instead of that rich, deep color).

Here's what makes these keto neapolitan cookies different from versions you'll find elsewhere: I weigh 15 grams of each flavor per cookie. That sounds fussy, but it takes about two extra minutes and it's the reason every cookie comes out with clean, distinct tri-color stripes. Most recipes say "equal parts" and leave you guessing. A kitchen scale removes the guesswork entirely.

The 30-minute chill before baking isn't optional. This dough is butter-heavy, and if you skip the fridge, the cookies spread into flat puddles and the colors bleed together. I learned that the hard way on my first batch. Cold dough holds its shape at 350 degrees and keeps each color lane crisp. If you've made my chewy chocolate chip cookies, you know I'm particular about chilling, and this recipe is where it matters most.

These are low carb cookies that don't taste like they're missing anything. The almond and coconut flour combo gives you a tender, slightly crumbly bite, and the butter carries all three flavors beautifully. I've served them at birthday parties, packed them in lunches, and brought them to a neighborhood cookout where nobody knew they were keto until I told them. If you want cookie variety, try them alongside my thin mint cookies or small batch sugar cookies for a full spread.

One reader, Samantha, told me her 12-year-old son kept going back for the strawberry sections and actually read the ingredient label afterward to figure out what the flavor was. He never does that. That's the kind of feedback that tells me strawberry extract (not syrup, not flavoring) is doing its job.

If you want to make these ahead, the dough freezes well. Flash-freeze assembled (unbaked) cookie balls on a sheet pan, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes. I do this before holidays so I can pull out exactly how many I need. They also pair perfectly with my ice cream sandwiches if you want to lean into the Neapolitan theme.

a bunch of neapolitan cookies on a brown paper with strawberries and chocolate chips nearby

Pink is strawberry, white is vanilla and brown is chocolate, so every bite tastes like the ice cream.

three keto cookie dough flavors of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate pressed together to form a cookie on a baking tray

The vanilla dough needs no coloring since the plain dough is already white.

neapolitan cookies half dipped in dark chocolate

For an optional variation, dip the cookies in melted dark chocolate and add a sprinkle of sea salt.

How to Make Neapolitan Cookies with Three Clean Color Layers

The trick to these cookies is keeping each flavor layer distinct. I pinch off 15 grams of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate dough (a kitchen scale makes this fast), press them together side by side, then use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to shape them into a ball. Press the ball flat with the back of a spoon and you'll see the three stripes right away.

Don't overwork the dough when you're pressing the sections together. If you knead or roll them too much, the colors swirl into each other and you lose that clean stripe. I press just firmly enough that the sections stick, then stop. I use this same precision approach for my Christmas tree cookies when the visual matters.

The 30-minute chill before baking is what locks everything in. Cold butter-heavy dough holds its shape in the oven instead of spreading and blurring the color lines. I've tried 15 minutes and it's not enough. If you're short on time, 20 minutes in the freezer works, but the full 30 in the fridge gives me the best results every time.

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The recipe

Keto Neapolitan Cookies

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Prep 20 min Cook 8 min Total 28 min Serves 24

Ingredients

Servings 24

Keto Neapolitan Cookies Ingredients

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Sift dry ingredients

    Sift together almond flour, coconut flour, and salt. Set aside. I recommend sifting ingredients as it creates a fine, delicate cookie texture.

    sifting the dry ingredients with a sifter

  2. Cream butter and sweetener

    In a medium bowl, cream together butter and monkfruit using an electric mixer.

    beating the butter and monkfruit together with an electric mixter

  3. Add the dry ingredients

    Slowly stir in dry ingredients. Mix until combined.

    mixing the cookie dough with an electric mixer.

  4. Divide and flavor the dough

    Separate dough evenly into three bowls. To the first bowl, mix in vanilla extract. In the second bowl, mix in strawberry extract and 2 drops of pink food coloring. In the third bowl, mix in the melted sugar-free dark chocolate.

    three bowls with vanilla

  5. Prepare the dough

    To form the cookies, pinch off equal parts of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate dough (about 15 grams each) and press them together so that they stick together but keep their individual colors. Press the cookie dough into a cookie scoop, tablespoon or roll it into a ball. Place cookie dough ball on a parchment lined baking tray then press down the cookie with the back of a spoon to flatten. Repeat with remaining dough and space cookies about 1 inch apart.

    pink and chocolate cookie dough in them

  6. Refrigerate then bake

    Move the tray to the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes before baking at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

    three layers of neapolitan cookie dough in a cookie scoop

  7. Let cool

    Once done baking, remove from the oven and let cookies completely cool on the baking tray before transferring to a wire rack. Don’t attempt to pick up the cookies before they have finished cooling or else the cookies may break and crumble.

    keto neapolitan cookie dough on a baking tray

Nutrition

Per serving: 1 cookie

Calories
199
Fat
19.5g
Protein
3.5g
Total carbs
5.3g
Net carbs
2.1g

Nutrition is an estimate calculated from the ingredients listed. Brands vary, so check labels if you track closely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze the cookie dough before baking?

I freeze these all the time before holidays. Assemble the tri-color cookie balls, flash-freeze them on a sheet pan for about an hour, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you're ready to bake, put them straight on the tray from frozen and add 1-2 extra minutes to the bake time. I've kept them frozen for up to two months with no texture issues. I also freeze my no bake cookies the same way and they hold up just as well.

Why do these cookies need to chill before baking?

I learned this one the hard way. My first batch went straight into the oven and the cookies spread flat, with all three colors bleeding into a muddy mess. The 30-minute refrigeration firms up the butter so the dough holds its shape at 350 degrees. I've tried skipping this step three separate times hoping it would be fine. It never is. If you're in a rush, 20 minutes in the freezer works, but I prefer the full 30 in the fridge.

Can I use natural food coloring instead of artificial drops?

I've used beet powder for the pink layer and it works. Start with about half a teaspoon and adjust from there. The color is more of a muted rose than a bright pink, which I actually prefer. Just know that beet powder adds a tiny bit of earthiness to the dough, so I bump the strawberry extract up slightly to compensate.

Can I substitute almond flour for a nut-free version?

I've tested sunflower seed flour as a 1:1 swap and it holds up well here because the coconut flour does most of the structural work. The texture comes out slightly denser, but nothing dramatic. My reader Matt made these with that exact swap for Valentine's Day and they turned out fine. If you go this route, just know sunflower seed flour can sometimes react with baking soda and turn green, but these cookies don't have leavening so that shouldn't be an issue.

What can I use instead of monk fruit sweetener?

I've made these with erythritol and with an allulose blend. Erythritol gives you a slightly cooler mouthfeel (that minty-cold sensation some people notice), which is more obvious in a delicate cookie like this. Allulose is my second choice after monk fruit because it browns nicely and keeps the cookies soft. Check the conversion ratio on whatever brand you use since sweetness levels vary.

How should I store these cookies?

I keep mine in an airtight container at room temperature and they stay soft for about a week. After that the edges start drying out. For longer storage, I layer them with parchment paper in a freezer-safe container and they freeze well for up to three months. I pull them out about 10-15 minutes before serving and they taste fresh.

Can I use cocoa powder instead of melted chocolate chips?

I've tried both, and melted chocolate chips are worth the extra step. Cocoa powder alone dries out the chocolate layer and gives you a flat brown color instead of that rich, dark chocolate look. When I use melted sugar-free dark chocolate, the dough stays moist and the color contrast between the three layers is much sharper. If cocoa powder is all you have, use about 2 tablespoons and add an extra tablespoon of softened butter to compensate for the dryness.

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Reviews

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4.7 from 22 ratings, 14 written

Made this recipe?

Replying to Tamika

Your rating

Jessica

Mine smelled like plain shortbread coming out of the oven and that’s when I stopped worrying. A whole cup of monk fruit had me nervous, I was sure I’d get that cooling aftertaste I’ve had from other cookies. Nope. They just taste buttery and stay soft. I’m making another batch this weekend. Thank you.

Reply

Tamika

I split the dough three ways and the vanilla layer stayed soft even after the chocolate set. Thanks for laying out the pressing order, you’re right, that’s the part I would have gotten wrong.

Reply

Elaine

Making these for a birthday party Saturday, can I bake Thursday and refrigerate, or will the strawberry layer get weird?

Reply

Annie Lampella

Thursday is fine, but I’d keep them at room temp in an airtight container instead of the fridge. Cold pulls moisture out of the edges and the pink layer goes a little dull. Mine stay soft for about a week that way, so Saturday is no problem.

Reply

Dani

Good flavor, took some patience to assemble. Worth it.

Reply

Annie Lampella

The press-and-shape is where all the time goes. I keep the dough cold between rounds, otherwise the layers start bleeding into each other.

Reply

Dani

Didn’t even think to refrigerate between rounds. Trying that next batch.

Reply

Jasmine

Only salted butter on hand, do I just cut the salt?

Reply

Annie Lampella

I’d skip it entirely. With 1.5 cups of salted butter in the dough, there’s already plenty built in.

Reply

Paige

I’ve been doing the cold-log method for a few batches now and it’s changed how cleanly these come together. Press the three layers, wrap and freeze about 45 minutes, slice. The stripe holds completely, even when the kitchen’s warm and the almond dough starts going soft. I slice the full log at once, lay the rounds on the pan, bake the whole batch. Any log I’m not baking goes back in the freezer, pull rounds throughout the week to bake fresh. Coconut flour gives them enough structure to get through the freeze-thaw without crumbling. Almond-only doesn’t do that. Didn’t expect the flour combo to matter that much for storage, but here we are.

Reply

Annie Lampella

I’ve tried almond-only and it just crumbles out of the freeze. Coconut flour is what makes that structure hold.

Reply

Yuki

Strawberry extract surprised me, sweet and almost floral right out of the bowl. Three-color dough pressed together on the first try and the layers held. Four stars until I crack why the strawberry fades after cooling. Do these freeze well?

Reply

Annie Lampella

Strawberry extract fades in heat. Bump it to a teaspoon and a half and that extra push survives the oven. I freeze these stacked with parchment and pull them at room temp for 20 minutes before eating.

Reply

Rhonda

2.1 carbs. Never thought I’d find the stripes again.

Reply

Annie Lampella

Those stripes were non-negotiable for me. I kept testing until all three layers held their shape and the count came in at 2.1. Glad you found them, Rhonda.

Reply

Gina

Neapolitan ice cream was one of those quiet casualties when I went keto, not dramatic, just written off as gone. These brought it back. The strawberry layer actually tastes like strawberry, not candy-pink, and watching those three doughs press together into a clean stripe is genuinely satisfying. Two batches in and I’m already calculating when I can justify a third.

Reply

Annie Lampella

Gina, ‘quiet casualty’ is exactly it. I keep a frozen stash on hand so it always tips the same way.

Reply

Casey

My sister-in-law is dairy-free and I refuse to not make these for her, so I need this swap to work. I’ve used vegan butter in keto cookies before and the spread/grease issue is real, I’m worried that with three separate doughs getting pressed together the whole thing just falls apart. Is it even worth trying or am I going to end up with a greasy, layerless mess?

Reply

Annie Lampella

Worth it. Vegan butter’s softer so I’d lean on the chill time more than usual. Press the three layers together and keep it cold for 45 minutes instead of 30 before it goes in, that’s what holds everything and stops the grease.

Reply

Elizabeth J.

Sift both flours. Unsifted leaves lumps that show most in the strawberry layer, and the dough won’t bind as evenly. That lighter pink layer is the most unforgiving. Any texture variation shows.

Reply

Annie Lampella

The chocolate layer hides everything. That pink one doesn’t. I sift all three now because of the strawberry layer.

Reply

Lindsey

I was so nervous splitting the dough into thirds and pressing them together, but first try! They look exactly like the pictures and I genuinely can’t believe I made something that pretty.

Reply

Annie Lampella

The assembly stress is real. Mine bleed if the dough warms up even a little during pressing. Sounds like you kept it cold.

Reply

Natalie

Seven batches in and I bumped the strawberry extract to 1.5 teaspoons because the flavor kept getting swallowed by the chocolate layer, and now all three actually come through.

Reply

Annie Lampella

Yeah the chocolate totally masks the strawberry at 1 teaspoon. I’ve gone up to 1.25 but chickened out before trying 1.5. Good to know all three actually come through.

Reply

Sarah

My daughter peeled the chocolate layer off every cookie and ate it separately. The look on her face when she hit the pink layer was worth making three separate doughs.

Reply

Annie Lampella

Ha, the chocolate layer doesn’t last in my house either. That pink strawberry surprise is why I still bother with the three separate doughs.

Reply

Katie

Swapped the strawberry extract for freeze-dried strawberry powder and skipped the food coloring. Pink comes out on its own. Tastes more like actual strawberry too. Also, chill the log 20 minutes before slicing or the layers smear into each other.

Reply

Annie Lampella

Beet powder for pink works but you get zero strawberry flavor out of it. Freeze-dried is the fix. And yes on the 20-minute chill before slicing (I usually say 30 but 20 gets you there).

Reply

Christine

Batch six and I finally cracked the layering. Refrigerate each dough portion for 15 minutes before pressing them together; they hold clean lines instead of bleeding. The chocolate layer was always my least favorite until I started using Lily’s dark chips plus a teaspoon of espresso powder, and now it’s the one people reach for first. Four stars. The first two batches are just figuring out portions, but after that it clicks.

Reply

Annie Lampella

The espresso powder trick is going in my notes. I’ve used Lily’s dark chips forever and never thought to add it to the chocolate layer.

Reply

Ryan

My daughter spotted the pink one and grabbed it before I could even plate them properly. She’s nine and already asking if we can make these for her birthday in June instead of a real cake, which I’m genuinely considering.

Reply

Annie Lampella

Nine and already running the birthday menu. Cookie board instead of cake is a solid call. Make a double batch the day before, they stay soft, and just do extra pink ones.

Reply

Samantha

My son (12) kept going back to the strawberry ones, which is a win since he’s usually the cookie critic in our house. He actually read the ingredients label afterward just to figure out what the strawberry flavor was. He never does that. Four stars from someone who doesn’t hand those out easily.

Reply

Annie Lampella

Ha. A 12-year-old reading ingredient labels unprompted is the best review. The strawberry is just extract, which is why it tastes like actual fruit, not candy.

Reply

Matt

Making these for Valentine’s Day but my husband has a nut allergy so almond flour is out. I’ve used sunflower seed flour in keto baking before with mixed results and think it would hold up here since there’s already coconut flour in the dough, but I’m not sure if the texture would fall apart. Has anyone tried this swap with these cookies?

Reply

Annie Lampella

Yep, 1:1 swap works fine! The coconut flour does most of the structural work here, so sunflower seed flour holds up well. Texture will be slightly denser but that’s it. Enjoy making them for Valentine’s Day!

Reply

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