Keto-Friendly Desserts: Sweet Treats Without The Guilt

If you're on a keto diet, you might think that you have to give up desserts, but that's not the case! There are plenty of keto-friendly sweet treats that you can indulge in without compromising your health goals. From cakes to brownies, cookies, and pies, there's a keto dessert for every taste. These desserts use low-carb, sugar-free, and gluten-free ingredients to create delicious treats that won't throw your diet off track. So, get your mixing bowls and preheat your ovens because we're about to explore some of the best keto-approved desserts that will satisfy your sugar cravings.

Keto-friendly ice cream

Ice cream is usually full of carbs, but there are some keto-friendly options. These include store-bought options from brands like Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel, as well as homemade recipes.

Store-Bought Keto Ice Cream

There are several brands of ice cream that are marketed as keto-friendly. Here are some options:

• Halo Top's Keto Series: This brand offers a range of flavours with only 5-10g net carbs per pint. Their ice cream is also a good source of protein.
• Edy's Slow Churned No Sugar Added: Edy's has replaced sugar in some of their fan-favourite flavours, including Fudge Tracks and Vanilla Bean, with sugar substitutes. A two-thirds-cup serving of Vanilla Bean contains 130 calories and 14g of net carbs.
• Enlightened Keto: Enlightened offers a keto variety pack with eight pints of ice cream in different flavours. Their ice cream contains 2-3g net carbs for most flavours.
• So Delicious No Sugar Added (Dairy-Free): So Delicious makes dairy-free ice cream from full-fat coconut milk. Their ice cream has negligible amounts of sugar and is sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit extract. A two-thirds-cup serving has 130-160 calories, 9-10g of net carbs, and 2g of protein.
• Rebel: Rebel is an ice cream brand specifically designed for people on the keto diet. Their ice cream is made with cream and other high-fat ingredients, and has negligible amounts of sugar. A two-thirds-cup serving has less than 3g of net carbs.

Homemade Keto Ice Cream

You can also make keto-friendly ice cream at home using a combination of fat and sugar substitutes. Here are some recipes:

• Vanilla Keto Ice Cream: Whisk together 2 cups of canned full-fat coconut milk, 1/4 cup of erythritol, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze for a few hours. Then, blend the frozen cubes until creamy and smooth.
• Strawberry Keto Ice Cream: Blend 2 cups of heavy cream, 1/4 cup of sour cream, 1/2 cup of fresh strawberries, and 1/3 cup of erythritol or Swerve (a low-carb sweetener). Transfer the mixture to a loaf pan and freeze for 3-5 hours.

Cookies

Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are soft, easy to make, and sugar-free. The recipe calls for almond flour, which is a popular choice for keto baking. You can also use coconut flour if you prefer. Other ingredients include sugar-free chocolate chips, powdered sweetener (erythritol, Swerve, or stevia), vanilla extract, and milk of your choice. Simply mix the dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients to form a dough, shape into cookies, and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Keto Peanut Butter Cookies

A simple and delicious cookie recipe with only four ingredients: peanut butter, a low-calorie sweetener (such as Swerve), sugar-free vanilla extract, and an egg. Mix the ingredients to form a dough, shape into balls, press down with a fork, and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Keto No-Bake Coconut Cookies

If you're short on time or don't want to turn on the oven, these no-bake cookies are a perfect choice. They're made with natural chunky peanut butter, unsweetened shredded coconut, and vanilla stevia. Simply mix the ingredients, scoop onto a parchment-lined sheet, and freeze for about 15 minutes.

Keto Snickerdoodles

For a chewy and tender cookie with a slight crunch, try these keto snickerdoodles. The key ingredients include almond flour, butter, a brown sugar substitute (such as Swerve Brown), and baking soda. Mix the dry ingredients, add melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract, and roll into balls. Bake for 15-18 minutes until puffed and golden.

Keto Chocolate Cookies

These cookies are packed with dark chocolate chips and pecans, with only about one net carb per cookie. The base is made with almond flour, butter, a brown sugar substitute (such as golden monk fruit sweetener), an egg, and baking soda. Simply mix the ingredients, chill the dough, shape into cookies, and bake for 7-9 minutes.

Chocolate cake

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups fine almond flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tbsp Dutch cocoa or additional regular cocoa powder
• 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup water or milk of choice
• 3 eggs (including a vegan option)
• 1/3 cup granulated erythritol or regular sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8-inch pan and line it with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and whisk them together. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, butter, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy.

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix until you have a smooth batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting.

For a double-layer cake, simply double the recipe and bake in two 8-inch pans. You can also experiment with different frosting options, such as cream cheese frosting, peanut butter frosting, or a simple dusting of powdered sugar.

This keto chocolate cake is rich, fudgy, and incredibly delicious. It's perfect for special occasions or whenever you're craving something sweet and indulgent. Enjoy!

Brownies

Keto Brownies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter
• 4 oz of unsweetened baking chocolate
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract (optional)
• 3/4 cup of blanched almond flour
• 2/3 cup of powdered monk fruit allulose blend
• 2 tbsp of Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp of sea salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 recipe of sugar-free chocolate frosting (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
• In a double boiler or microwave, melt the butter and chocolate together until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, powdered sweetener, cocoa powder, and sea salt.
• Add the eggs to the dry ingredients and mix well.
• Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Bake for 13-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with just a little batter on it.
• Allow the brownies to cool completely before slicing or frosting.

Tips:

• Use high-quality chocolate and butter for the best results.
• Do not overmix the batter, as it can introduce too much air and affect the texture.
• Avoid overbaking. The brownies are done when a toothpick inserted comes out almost clean but with a little batter on it.
• Let the brownies cool completely before cutting or removing from the pan to prevent them from falling apart.
• For a crackly top, add a sugar-free chocolate frosting.
• For extra texture and flavour, add chopped keto-friendly nuts like walnuts or pecans.

Cheesecake

Keto Cheesecake

Ingredients

For the crust, you will need:

• Cookies (crushed peanut butter or almond butter cookies)
• Butter (unsalted, measured in its melted state)

For the cheesecake filling, you will need:

• Cream cheese (softened and at room temperature)
• Sour cream (at room temperature)
• Superfine sugar substitute (also known as caster sugar)
• Eggs (room temperature)
• Vanilla extract

You can also add lemon juice to enhance the flavour and a pinch of salt to the crust if desired.

Method

• Make the crust: Add your cookies to a food processor and blend until a fine consistency remains. Place the crushed cookies into a bowl and mix with the melted butter. Transfer the mixture to a 9-inch springform cake pan and refrigerate.
• Make the cheesecake filling: In a high-speed blender, add the cream cheese, sour cream, and sugar substitute and blend until smooth. Then, add the eggs and vanilla and blend until combined.
• Bake: Pour the cheesecake filling into the prepared crust and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the cheesecake has set in the middle.
• Cool and refrigerate: Allow the cheesecake to cool completely before refrigerating for at least four hours to firm up.

Tips

• Avoid overbaking the cheesecake, as it will continue to cook as it cools. Remove it from the oven when it is mostly set in the middle.
• Cooling the cheesecake in the still-warm oven helps it firm up. Be sure to keep the oven door slightly ajar to prevent a dense dessert.
• Do not refrigerate the cheesecake until it has cooled completely to avoid any potential cracks on the top.

Storage

• To store: Keep the keto cheesecake in the refrigerator, covered, for up to one week.
• To freeze: Place leftover slices in a shallow container and store in the freezer for up to six months. Thaw completely before enjoying.

Enjoy your delicious and creamy keto cheesecake!

Frequently asked questions