Keto-Friendly Desserts: Sweet Treats Without The Guilt

The ketogenic diet is notoriously restrictive, with 80 to 90 percent of calories coming from fat, 5 to 15 percent from protein, and just 5 to 10 percent from carbohydrates. This means that desserts are usually off the menu. However, with a few simple ingredient swaps, it is possible to make keto-friendly desserts that are just as delicious as their traditional counterparts. For example, almond flour or coconut flour can be used instead of white flour, and sweeteners such as monk fruit extract, stevia, or erythritol can be used in place of white sugar. There are also plenty of keto-friendly desserts that can be bought at the store, including chocolate bars, cookies, and ice cream.

Keto chocolate desserts

Chocolate is a go-to ingredient for many desserts, and the good news is that you can still enjoy chocolate treats on a keto diet. Here are some indulgent keto-friendly chocolate dessert ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth:

Keto Chocolate Mousse

This light and airy dessert is a quick and easy option for when your chocolate craving hits. It's made with just six ingredients: cream cheese, heavy cream, vanilla extract, powdered sweetener, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt. You can adjust the amounts of cocoa powder and sweetener to suit your taste. This mousse is quite rich, so a little goes a long way!

Keto Chocolate Cake

A chocolate cake that's keto-friendly? Yes, it's possible! This cake is moist, rich, and has a deep chocolate flavor. The secret is in using alternative ingredients like almond or coconut flour instead of wheat flour, and sweeteners like erythritol, stevia, or monk fruit instead of sugar. The result is a decadent cake that's low in carbs but high in flavor.

Keto Chocolate Brownies

Brownies are a classic dessert, and you can easily make them keto-friendly. Simply swap out the traditional flour with almond or coconut flour, and use a sugar substitute. The result is a fudgy, chocolaty treat that's hard to resist.

Keto Chocolate Pudding

Creamy and smooth, this keto chocolate pudding is dairy and sugar-free. It's made with alternative ingredients like cocoa powder, a sugar substitute, and thickened with xanthan gum. The result is a rich and indulgent pudding that will satisfy any chocolate lover's craving.

Keto Chocolate Donuts

Don't think you can have donuts on a keto diet? Think again! These light and fluffy donuts are made with almond flour and glazed with sugar-free chocolate. They're the perfect treat for when you're craving something sweet and chocolatey.

Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

A classic combination, chocolate and peanut butter cups can be made keto-friendly. Use sugar-free chocolate and peanut butter, and you've got yourself a delicious treat. You can also add coconut flour to thicken the peanut butter filling so they're extra rich and indulgent.

Keto Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Avocado and chocolate might seem like an unusual combination, but the avocado provides a creamy texture and masks the mild flavor of the cocoa powder. It's an easy, vegan and dairy-free dessert that can be whipped up in just 5 minutes.

Keto Chocolate Truffles

These sugar-free truffles are rich and indulgent, and you'd never guess they're low-carb. They're the perfect treat to satisfy your chocolate craving, and they also make a great gift for any occasion.

Keto Chocolate Mug Cake

When a chocolate craving hits, this mug cake is the perfect solution. It's a single-serve, double chocolate treat that's quick and easy to make. No sharing required!

Keto Chocolate Banana Brownies

These brownies have a moist and fudgy texture, and the addition of banana provides a subtle sweetness. They're a delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth while sticking to your keto diet.

Keto Chocolate Ice Cream

This keto-friendly ice cream is creamy, rich, and just barely sweet. It's made with coconut milk and a sugar substitute, and you can add in mix-ins like cookie dough keto fat bombs for an extra treat. It's the perfect dessert to cool you down on a hot day.

There you have it! A list of indulgent keto chocolate dessert ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth. Enjoy these treats in moderation, and remember to factor in the net carbs provided by each recipe to stay on track with your keto diet. Happy indulging!

Keto ice cream

Overview

Ingredients

The ingredients for keto ice cream can be easily purchased at most grocery stores. Here are the basic ingredients:

• Heavy cream: Use full-fat heavy cream, also known as double or thickened cream. Do not use reduced-fat or light versions as it will affect the final texture of the ice cream.
• Sweetener: Powdered allulose is a popular choice as it does not crystallize like other sweeteners such as erythritol or monk fruit sweetener. You can also use a blend of allulose and erythritol to balance each other's shortcomings.
• Xanthan gum: This ingredient acts as a stabilizer and thickener, preventing the ice cream from becoming icy or crystallizing. It is often found in commercial ice creams and is crucial to achieving the perfect texture.
• Vodka: While optional, adding a small amount of vodka can help reduce iciness and improve the scoopability of the ice cream.

Recipe

• Combine the ingredients: In a deep jar, add the heavy cream, sweetener, xanthan gum, and optional vodka. You can also add vanilla extract for a classic vanilla flavor or experiment with other flavor extracts.
• Mix the ingredients: Using an immersion or stick mixer, blend the mixture until it has thickened and soft peaks form.
• Freeze: Cover the jar and place it in the freezer. For best results, stir the mixture every 30-40 minutes during the first couple of hours to prevent iciness. Freeze for at least 4 hours.
• Serve: Remove the ice cream from the freezer and let it sit for about 15 minutes before serving. This will ensure a smoother, easier-to-scoop texture.

Variations and Tips

• Chocolate: Add unsweetened cocoa powder to the mixture for a chocolatey treat.
• Cookies and cream: Replace vanilla extract with almond extract and add crushed keto-friendly cookies.
• Cookie dough: Fold in crumbled keto cookie dough for a delicious twist.
• Strawberry: Add sliced strawberries and strawberry extract for a fruity flavor.
• Mint chocolate chip: Use peppermint extract and fold in sugar-free chocolate chips.
• Butter pecan: Add butter extract and chopped pecans for a nutty flavor.
• Salted caramel: Fold in sugar-free caramel syrup for a sweet and salty treat.
• Peanut butter cup: Drizzle in peanut butter and add chopped keto peanut butter cups.

You can also make dairy-free keto ice cream by substituting full-fat coconut cream for heavy cream. Additionally, using an ice cream maker will improve the texture, but it is not necessary, as the recipe can be easily made without one.

Keto cookies

Ingredients

When making keto cookies, it's important to use low-carb and sugar-free alternatives to traditional cookie ingredients. Here are some suggestions:

• Flour: Instead of white flour, use low-carb almond meal or coconut flour. Almond flour is a popular choice for keto cookies as it creates a soft and tender texture. However, coconut flour can also be used, but it tends to soak up more liquid, so you may need to adjust the amount used.
• Sweetener: Replace white sugar with sugar substitutes such as monk fruit extract, stevia, erythritol, or Swerve. These alternatives provide sweetness without the carbs.
• Chocolate Chips: Look for sugar-free or low-carb chocolate chips. Brands like ChocZero and Lily's offer dark chocolate chips that are keto-friendly.

Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups almond flour (200g)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup melted and cooled butter
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup sugar-free chocolate chips, divided
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 325°F (162°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener of choice (such as erythritol or Swerve), baking soda, and a pinch of salt.
• Stir in one egg, butter, and vanilla extract until the dough comes together.
• Mix in half of the chocolate chips and the walnuts (if using).
• Roll the dough into balls, about 1 ½ inches in diameter.
• Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and flatten them slightly with your palm to about ¾ inch thick.
• Press the remaining chocolate chips into the tops of the cookies.
• Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the edges are puffed and golden brown. The cookies will still be soft, but they will firm up as they cool.
• Let the cookies cool completely before handling. Enjoy!

Storage

Store your keto cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the fridge for up to 10 days. You can also freeze them for up to 2 months, either before or after baking. Make sure they are tightly wrapped to avoid freezer burn.

Variations

• Nut-Free: If you have a nut allergy, you can try using sunflower seed flour instead of almond flour. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to offset any green discoloration.
• Different Sweeteners: You can experiment with different keto-friendly sweeteners. Just keep in mind that using a different sweetener may affect the texture and taste of the cookies.
• Add-Ins: Feel free to get creative with mix-ins! Try adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans, or even sugar-free peanut butter chips for a different flavor profile.
• Size: You can make smaller or larger cookies, but keep in mind that the baking time may vary. Smaller cookies may bake more quickly, so keep an eye on them.

Keto cakes

The ketogenic diet is a very restrictive diet, with 80 to 90 percent of your calories coming from fat, 5 to 15 percent from protein, and 5 to 10 percent from carbohydrates. This means that desserts are usually off the menu. However, with a few simple ingredient swaps, it is possible to satisfy your sweet tooth while remaining in ketosis. For example, you can replace white flour with low-carb almond meal or coconut flour, and white sugar with sweeteners such as monk fruit extract, stevia, or erythritol.

Keto Chocolate Cake

This rich and decadent chocolate keto cake is a popular choice, even for those who are not on a low-carb diet. The recipe is simple, with only a few basic ingredients, and the cake can be made vegan by substituting a flax egg for the chicken eggs. The cake is naturally gluten-free and can also be made dairy-free and oil-free. Some people find that the cake is a bit dry, so adding a little extra liquid, such as oil or sour cream, can help to improve the texture.

Keto Red Velvet Cake

This cake is a festive and impressive choice for a birthday or holiday party. With a few simple swaps, you can make a keto-friendly version that is just as delicious as the traditional recipe.

Keto Peanut Butter Sheet Cake

This cake is a tasty option for peanut butter lovers. It is made with a combination of almond and coconut flours and is topped with a creamy peanut butter frosting.

Keto Angel Food Cake

This light and airy cake is a perfect dessert for a warm summer day. It pairs well with whipped cream and berries.

Keto Texas Sheet Cake

This delicious keto chocolate cake stays true to the original recipe, with a boiled cocoa frosting. You won’t believe it’s sugar-free!

Keto Cheesecake

A classic New York-style cheesecake is a rich and creamy dessert that can be made keto-friendly by using a low-carb crust and sweetener.

Keto cheesecakes

Cheesecakes are one of the easiest desserts to make keto-friendly. A classic cheesecake uses many keto-friendly ingredients, like eggs, cream cheese, and/or heavy cream. With just a few minor tweaks, you can make a delicious keto cheesecake.

Ingredients

• Cream cheese – Use plain, full-fat cream cheese for the best flavour, texture, and keto macros. Low-fat or neufchatel cream cheese would work, but full-fat is best. It is also very important that you use softened cream cheese (at room temperature), otherwise your filling will have little chunks of cream cheese instead of a smooth batter.
• Sweetener – Powdered sweetener is a must; don’t use granulated, liquid, or super-concentrated versions. Monk fruit sweetener and allulose are fantastic keto sweeteners that can replace sugar in cheesecakes. Erythritol is another popular option, but it can make the cheesecake dry and crumbly.
• Eggs – These help the filling set and also give it a creamy texture. There is no substitution for them.
• Lemon juice – This helps bring out the sweetness and flavour. It won’t be enough to make the cheesecake taste lemony, so don’t worry about adding it if you’re not a fan of lemon.
• Vanilla extract – A classic vanilla cheesecake should always have a hint of vanilla.
• Butter – Helps the crust stay together and imparts a buttery flavour. Unsalted is best, but you can add a pinch of salt to the crust if you want.
• Almond flour – This is used for the crust. It is not a 1:1 replacement for regular flour, so you may need more of it.
• Sour cream – Like the cream cheese, your sour cream should be at room temperature. This is an optional ingredient, but it will make your cheesecake richer and creamier.

Method

• Get everything ready. Preheat the oven to 325–350°F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• Make the crust. In a medium to large bowl, stir the almond flour, melted butter, sweetener, and vanilla extract until well combined. The dough will be slightly crumbly. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for about 10 minutes, until barely golden. Set the crust aside to cool for at least 10 minutes.
• Make the filling. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer at medium speed, beat the cream cheese and powdered sweetener until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then add the lemon juice and vanilla extract.
• Add the filling to the crust. Pour the filling mixture into the pan over the crust. Smooth the top with a spatula. Tap the pan on the counter to remove air bubbles.
• Bake. Place the keto cheesecake in the oven and bake for 40–55 minutes, until the centre is almost set but still jiggly. It will set more as it cools on the counter and then in the fridge overnight.
• Cool. Remove the cake from the oven. If the edges are stuck to the pan, run a knife all the way around. Let it cool in the pan on the counter, then chill in the fridge for at least four hours, until completely set.

Tips

• Avoid overbaking the cheesecake, as it continues to cook as it cools. Once it is mostly set in the middle, you can be confident it will be fully cooked once it has cooled.
• Cooling your cheesecake in the still-warm oven helps it firm up, but be sure to keep the oven door slightly ajar. Otherwise, you will be left with a dense dessert.
• Don’t refrigerate the cheesecake until it has cooled completely, to avoid any potential cracks on the top.
• This dessert should always be stored in the refrigerator, covered. It will keep well for at least one week.
• Place leftover slices of the cheesecake in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to six months. Be sure to thaw it completely before enjoying it.

Frequently asked questions