For many people, biscuits and cookies are one of the biggest go-to indulgences no matter the season. However, for diabetics, this sweet indulgence as snacks can present health challenges as it risks spiking their blood sugar.
Thankfully, you can still enjoy biscuits even if you’re living with diabetes, and enjoy your favorite treats.
The only caveat here is that you need a little creativity if you’re baking them yourself at home, or some nutritional information to look for when picking the biscuits from your local store.
Most biscuits are made with ingredients that are off-limits for diabetics such as white (refined) flour and extra sugar.
The good news is that there are higher-fiber, lower-carb alternatives that won’t compromise on taste.
If you’re ready to enjoy your favorite treat, here are the 10 best biscuits for diabetics that are perfect for tea, snacking, or any time of day as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
10 Best Diabetic Biscuits For Your Snack Collection
There are plenty of diabetes-friendly biscuits that will satisfy your sweet tooth even though they’re not too sweet, and that will energize you.
Here are the 10 best biscuits for diabetics that you can add to your snacks collection.
1. Cranberry and almond biscotti
Biscotti are Italian biscuits that are baked through a technique that ensures they get their characteristically hard texture.
Traditionally, biscotti are served with a dipping sauce after dinner but you can also take them with a cup of tea or coffee, or some delicious fruit salad.
The almonds in these biscuits offer a rich protein source as well as vitamins and minerals including B-group vitamins, vitamin E, zinc, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron.
Plus, they’re rich in calcium, which is good if you’re on a dairy-free diet, and the cranberries are rich in vitamin C.
The high level of PACS (proanthocyanidins) in cranberries helps keep glucose levels balanced, especially in type-2 diabetics, so they can manage their blood sugar levels.
2. Gluten-free almond biscuits
If you love a hot cuppa, these gluten-free almond biscuits are the perfect sweet accompaniment. The biscuits use natural coconut palm sugar and aren’t packed with calories.
Plus they’re dairy-free.
The biscuits are made from almond flour, which is a low glycemic index (GI) food, compared to using wheat flour, and it contains fewer carbs and sugars.
Diabetics can manage their blood sugar levels more effectively by switching to almond flour.
Plus, the flour is easy to make at home or buy from health food stores and supermarkets.
It contains minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that offer several health benefits including breaking down cholesterol and carbs.
3. Oatcakes
Oatcakes are cakes made with oatmeal and are easy to make and enjoy with vegetable or meat dishes or as a snack.
You can also take your oatcakes with a drizzle of honey for breakfast.
The medium oatmeal used in making oatcakes ranges from a very fine grade of oats to a rougher, coarser variety.
Some oatcakes like the traditional Scottish type are made with drippings or lard for extra flavor.
Oatcakes are also a good alternative to rice and a superb choice for blood sugar control.
You can also eat them with boiled or scrambled eggs as a snack during the day with hummus as a protein spread.
If you’re buying oatcakes from your local store, check that the box reads low-GI (glycemic index) meaning it won’t raise your glucose levels quickly, or GL (glycemic load), which shows the number of carbs per serving.
4. Gluten Free Tahini Biscuits
Tahini is a butter made from ground sesame seeds that produces a nutty yet light flavor.
The ingredient is found in hummus and used widely around the world in Asian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Besides its culinary uses, people living with diabetes can enjoy several health benefits from taking tahini-based biscuits.
Besides being highly nutritious and rich in vitamins, healthy fats, minerals, and other nutrients like manganese and phosphorus, Tahini is also rich in antioxidants.
Plus, Tahini is easy to add to your diet as a diabetic as you can buy it from most grocery or online stores.
It also makes an excellent spread or dip for bread, vegetables, meat, and other baked goods.
You can also add it to your salad dressings or add dried cranberries, chopped apples, or dates if baking the biscuits at home.
5. Sugar-free Chocolate Chip Biscuits
Sometimes chocolate is irresistible, even for a non-diabetic.
However, one large chocolate chip cookie or biscuit can affect your blood sugar levels, which is why you need to choose sugar-free chocolate chip biscuits and enjoy them without negative side effects.
Instead of using refined flour, these sugar-free chocolate chip biscuits use lower-carb almond flour and sugar alcohol erythritol instead of the usual free sugar in many biscuits.
6. Low-carb Pecan Biscuits
Pecans are a good source of protein, fiber, healthy fats, magnesium, calcium, and potassium.
Plus, they contain monounsaturated fat, which is healthy for consumption.
For diabetics, eating pecans is a good substitute for sugary snacks, which can spike their blood sugar levels, but it’s advisable not to eat the salted pecan variety because their sodium concentration can spike blood sugar levels.
Nuts also help keep blood sugar controlled, and since pecans are low on the glycemic index, are sugar-free, and low in carbs, eating pecan biscuits is good for diabetics.
These biscuits are mostly made up of eggs, pecans, and plant-based protein and fat so you can feel full as you enjoy your sweet treats.
The slice-and-bake biscuits can be prepared early enough and kept refrigerated so that you make them whenever you want.
7. Low-carb Coconut Macaroons
Macaroons may look sweet for diabetics, but you’ll be happy to know that there are two types of sugar in these treats.
Each sugar has a different effect on the macaroons.
For most macarons, the ratio of egg whites to sugar is 1:2.5 or 1:2 or thereabouts, while the granulated to powdered sugar ratio varies.
These biscuits also use coconut flour and have shredded coconut, which means you get a source of plant-based fat.
The flour is rich in dietary fiber and helps reduce cholesterol levels and the development of heart disease.
The biscuits are low in carbs compared to using corn or wheat flour, and for diabetics, this has a mild impact on the levels of blood glucose.
8. Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles are crisp or soft biscuits that are puffy or flat depending on the amount of flour used.
The biscuits are characterized by a cracked surface and are often referred to as sugar cookies.
Most people prefer eating these sweet treats during the holidays or fall seasons and are a fun version of the regular cookie with extra texture and flavor.
Snickerdoodles are fluffier because of the cream of tartar used as a leavening agent during the preparation of the dough.
Whether you’re dairy- or gluten-free, vegan, or just need a healthy dessert or biscuit as a snack, you can choose snickerdoodles, but make sure they’re low-GI or GL.
You can also make your own with pumpkin and almond flour.
9. Sugar-free Shortbread Biscuits
Shortbread is a biscuit of Scottish origin that’s made from wheat flour, white sugar, and butter.
Unlike other baked goods and biscuits, shortbread doesn’t contain baking soda, baking powder, or another form of leavening.
Tasty shortbread biscuits made with a sugar substitute and reduced-calorie margarine are great for diabetics.
You can also use butter flavoring to replace actual butter, which gives the shortbread biscuits the wonderful buttery taste they’re known for, and the crisper, crunchier, and firmer texture.
For diabetics, you can also use rosemary and almond flour to bake the shortbread biscuits and they’ll be the perfect low-carb, keto dessert to satisfy your sweet cravings.
10. Fig Rolls
Fig rolls are basically made in the form of a crisp shortbread pastry that’s wrapped around a fig filling.
The fig rolls are made from dried figs that offer natural sweetness and lemon juice for a tang.
Dried fruits are rich in iron, which you need for your diabetic diet, especially if you eat little or no red meat. Plus, dried figs are also rich in calcium, providing about 20 percent of the reference daily calcium intake and iron (17 percent) for women between the ages of 19 and 50.
Fig rolls are not just tasty and chewy, but you also get fiber and carbs that digest quickly, which makes them a great on the go snack.
Diabetics also benefit from the proper insulin function that figs offer through their fiber and vitamin C.
Wrapping Up
Biscuits are a favorite treat for many people, but for diabetics, a lot of self-control and moderation is required to ensure the blood sugar levels don’t get out of control.
Swapping regular sugar for the erythritol sugar alcohol is a better alternative for diabetes-friendly biscuits, plus diabetes-friendly flour like almond flour, which ensures you’ll have some biscuits to enjoy with your cup of tea or coffee.
Any of these 10 best biscuits for diabetics are a great addition to your snack collection.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.