Keto Icing: Best Sweeteners And Recipes To Try

There are a variety of keto-friendly icing options to satisfy your sweet tooth. A popular choice is keto cream cheese frosting, which can be used as a topping for cupcakes, cookies, and other low-carb treats. It's made with softened cream cheese, butter, a powdered sweetener like erythritol, and vanilla extract. This frosting is versatile and can be customised with additions like cocoa powder, mashed strawberries, or lemon zest.

If you're a chocolate lover, there's also a keto-friendly chocolate frosting. This recipe includes unsweetened chocolate, softened butter, cream cheese, powdered sweetener, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and heavy cream. The cream cheese gives the frosting a smooth consistency without needing excessive amounts of sweetener.

For a classic, there's always vanilla keto buttercream frosting. This recipe uses softened butter, powdered sweetener, heavy cream, and vanilla extract.

These keto icing options provide the perfect finishing touch to your low-carb cakes, muffins, and brownies!

Keto cream cheese frosting

Ingredients

You will need:

• 8 oz of full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 4 oz of unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 - 1 cup of powdered sweetener (such as erythritol or stevia)
• 1-2 tsp of vanilla extract
• Optional: Heavy cream, milk, or coconut/almond milk to thin out the frosting

Method:

• In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or electric whisk to cream the butter and cream cheese together until fully combined and fluffy.
• Add the sweetener and vanilla extract. If using a granulated sweetener, powder it first in a food processor or coffee grinder to ensure a smooth frosting.
• Beat slowly until the sweetener is incorporated, then increase to high speed for 2 minutes or until fluffy.
• If desired, add a small amount of heavy cream, milk, or nut milk to thin out the frosting to your preferred consistency.
• Your keto cream cheese frosting is now ready to use! It can be spread or piped onto cakes, cupcakes, cookies, or any other low-carb baked goods.

Storage:

This keto frosting can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If frozen, it will last for up to 3 months. Before using, bring the frosting to room temperature and mix well.

Keto chocolate frosting

Ingredients

Most keto chocolate frosting recipes call for the following ingredients:

• Butter (softened)
• Cocoa powder
• Powdered sweetener (e.g. erythritol, Swerve, or monk fruit)
• Milk (almond, coconut, or heavy cream)
• Vanilla extract

Some recipes also include:

• Cream cheese
• Stevia
• Espresso powder

Method:

The method for making keto chocolate frosting is generally as follows:

• Beat the butter until it is soft and fluffy.
• Add in the cocoa powder, sweetener, and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined.
• Slowly add the milk until the desired consistency is reached.
• Beat in the cream.
• Adjust the flavour and consistency by adding more cocoa powder or cream if needed.

Tips:

• Use an electric mixer to speed up the process and ensure a fluffy texture.
• When adding milk, do so slowly and beat until it is fully incorporated into the frosting.
• Store the frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• To freeze the frosting, place it in a plastic bag and lay it flat on a baking sheet. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• To use frozen frosting, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bring it to room temperature and stir before using.

Keto vanilla buttercream frosting

Ingredients

To make keto vanilla buttercream frosting, you will need the following ingredients:

• Butter (salted or unsalted)
• Powdered sweetener (such as allulose, erythritol, or monk fruit)
• Heavy cream or milk (optional)
• Vanilla extract
• Salt (optional)

Method

• Start with room temperature butter. If your butter is too cold, your frosting will be lumpy.
• Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter until creamy.
• Add the powdered sweetener, vanilla extract, and heavy cream (if using) to the bowl.
• Beat the mixture on medium or high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until it reaches the desired consistency.
• For a chocolate version, mix in cocoa powder to taste.
• If the frosting is too thick, add more cream or milk, a teaspoon at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency.
• Taste and adjust sweetness or flavouring as needed.
• Use the frosting to pipe or spread onto cakes, cupcakes, or other desserts.

Tips and Variations

• Use high-quality ingredients, such as grass-fed butter and organic cream cheese, for a richer flavour and better nutritional profile.
• If you prefer a less sweet frosting, reduce the amount of sweetener or add a pinch of salt to balance the flavours.
• For a dairy-free option, replace the butter with sustainably sourced palm shortening or a coconut oil/palm shortening blend.
• Experiment with different extracts and add-ins, such as peanut butter or espresso powder, to create unique flavours.
• If you want to colour your frosting, use gel food colouring or natural ingredients such as freeze-dried strawberries.

Storage

This keto vanilla buttercream frosting can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 3 months. Bring it to room temperature before using.

Vegan keto frosting

Ingredients

• 2 cups powdered monk fruit sweetener
• 1/4 cup coconut oil or vegan butter, softened
• 6 tablespoons coconut milk or coconut cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ounces cacao paste or cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut milk

Optional Ingredients

• Heavy cream or coconut cream
• Cacao paste
• Ripe berries
• Lemon juice
• Lemon zest
• Ground cinnamon
• Golden Lakanto
• Chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds

Method

• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and blend until smooth with an electric mixer on medium speed.
• Use the back of a spoon to break apart any lumps of sweetener.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months in the freezer.
• For a thinner, spreadable icing, dilute the mix with 2-4 tablespoons of coconut milk.
• Add 1 teaspoon of coconut milk at a time until you get the consistency you want.
• The ideal texture for a dairy-free keto glaze is like that of honey, where it drizzles but doesn't run.

Flavoured keto frosting

Ingredients

The main ingredients for keto frosting are:

• Powdered sugar
• Butter
• Vanilla extract

For the powdered sugar, you can make your own keto powdered sugar at home, or use a brand like Swerve. For the butter, make sure it's softened, but not melted. You can also use dairy-free butter for a vegan option.

Flavours

Once you've made the base frosting, you can add extra ingredients to make different flavours. Here are some ideas:

• Chocolate Buttercream Frosting: Add cocoa powder.
• Vanilla Buttercream Frosting: This is the base recipe with no extra ingredients needed.
• Cream Cheese Frosting: Add cream cheese (full-fat or dairy-free).
• Vanilla Bean Frosting: Add the seeds of a vanilla bean pod.
• Strawberry Frosting: Add strawberry extract.
• Lemon Frosting: Add lemon extract.
• Coffee Frosting: Add coffee extract.

Tips

For a thicker frosting, don't add any extra milk or water. If it's not thick enough, add more sugar-free confectioners’ sugar. For a thinner frosting, add more milk or water.

Storage

Store your frosting in the refrigerator in a sealable container for up to a week. To freeze, store it in a shallow container and use within 2 months.

Frequently asked questions