Dig into this sugar-free berry crumble pot!
Beauty & the Foodie/ Pinterest
One of the perks of the trendy low carb, high-fat keto diet is that dieters are encouraged to eat plenty of what are traditionally thought of as "fattening foods" — from butter and cream, to cheese and healthy oils. But a major downside to this popular weight-loss regimen is that for the most part, sweets are to be avoided. Â Added sugars and excess carbs are big no-nos when trying to achieve ketosis. This includes most commercially made ice cream, candy, cookies, doughnuts, and cakes. Even fruit and fruit juices — with their high (albeit natural) sugar content — are not allowed for keto-followers.
But donât despair: just because it seems like keto dieters will never be able to eat dessert again, thatâs not necessarily true, especially if you avoid store- or bakery-bought desserts.Â
There are plenty of ways to make high-fat, low-carb/low-sugar sweets from scratch that will fit within the keto diet restrictions. From making cakes creamier with cream cheese or avocado, to finding the best keto-friendly sweeteners like stevia and erythritol to replace fructose and glucose-heavy sweeteners, there are dozens of tricks and tips for curbing the sweet cravings that can affect anyone, even the most staunch keto enthusiast.
From chocolate ice cream and Girl Scouts Thin Mint copycat recipes, to creme brĂ»lĂ©e and keto doughnuts, weâve rounded up 40 of the tastiest low-sugar, low-carb, keto-friendly dessert recipes from around Pinterest that will make the transition from a regular diet to a low-sugar/low-carb lifestyle a lot easier. We bet that even family and friends who donât follow the keto diet will enjoy these desserts.
The best part about making keto desserts is that theyâre usually easy to put together. Because regular flour is on the ânoâ list, many of the desserts weâve listed are no-bake recipes: Helping to curb your sweets cravings, no oven needed!
Chocolate & Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
These no-bake chocolate and peanut butter cookies only have five ingredients (and no sugar or carbs in sight!) Just blend the ingredients, spoon them into a cookie shape and stick them in the freezer.
Chocolate Mug Cake
Ooey gooey mug cakes are not only simple to make, but they can be keto-friendly too. This version uses coconut and almond flour and unsweetened cocoa to create a rich chocolate cake taste.
Mini Cinnamon Roll Cheesecakes
Cheesecake is one of the most common keto desserts. It's high in fat, low-carb, and this one resembles a cinnamon roll.
Chocolate Chip Blondie Bars
Brown butter and tahini make these dense blondie bars an indulgent treat. Thankfully, you won't have to sacrifice taste for a specialty diet.
Creme Brûlée
This keto version of creme brûlée may use heavy cream but it leaves out the caramelized sugar. It's the perfect substitute for the real thing.
Chocolate Ice Cream
The secret to making carb- and sugar-free ice cream with the same consistency as the original stuff? Use gelatin and MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) oil to thicken it up without making the ice cream too hard.
Chocolate Mousse Tart
This no-bake chocolate mousse uses almond flour and Swerve sweetener to make the ultimate chocolate indulgence. And yes, whipped cream is keto-friendly!
Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies
Chocolate and peanut butter are just better together. Make this creamy dream even more keto-approved with whey protein powder.
Thin Mint Cookies
Unhappy that Girl Scout cookies are off-limits? Not when we have this imitation recipe that calls for almond flour and coconut oil.
Snickerdoodles
This classic cinnamon and sugar cookie can be made low-carb. Plus, a batch will be ready to eat in under 20 minutes.
Peanut Butter Lava Cake
Unofficially known as the Reese's cake, this recipe is a melty delight. It will be sure to satisfy the sweet tooth of any peanut butter fan.
Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
Get around the issue of creating a gluten-free pie crust with a pecan-based cheesecake crust. Combined with the easy-to-make blueberry topping, this keto treat is sure to be a hit.
Lemon Protein Cupcakes
This is another recipe that combines high-protein nutrients with a sweet treat. The secret to this ultra-moist cake is to use Greek yogurt in the mixture.
Banana Cream Pie Bars
Who doesn't love banana cream pie? This version implements a pecan crust and sugar-free vanilla pudding topped with bananas.
Carrot Cake
Carrots are already pretty healthy, but this cake is sugar-free, grain-free and completely sweetener-free. The frosting is made from coconut, butter, and lemon juice so it's easy to indulge in cake without going overboard.
Lemon Coconut Pound Cake
Sometimes all we need to curb those sweet cravings is a simple pound cake. Sour cream and heavy whipping cream turn this gluten-free cake into a moist treat.
Berry Crumble Pots
The individual portion sizes of these berry pots make portion control a breeze. Using only mixed berries, unsweetened whipped cream, almond flour, coconut, and butter, this recipe is a simple delight.
Almond Joy Cookies
It's hard to believe this gluten-free, sugar-free recipe has only four ingredients. The secret? The "dough" is made from a bag of low-sodium almonds!
Strawberry Pie
Berries are lower-carb than other fruits so it's not as much of a keto no-no as we might think. This strawberry pie uses fresh berries, sugar-free Jell-O mix, along with almond flour and coconut flour for the crust.
Pumpkin Cake
It's that time of year when everything is starting to be pumpkin-flavored, so why not try a keto cake that capitalizes on that trend? Sugar-free cream cheese frosting tops this dense pumpkin-spiced dessert.Â
Apple Crisp
This gluten-free apple crisp recipe uses zero sweeteners (even keto-approved ones!) but it's still a fall dessert that will delight even the strongest sweet tooth.
Chocolate Silk Pie
Nothing says indulgent like chocolate silk. But with an almond flour crust and Stevia-sweetened filling, this one won't be a diet-buster.
Chocolate Mousse Pops
Recreate a childhood favorite: the Fudgesicle! It's easy to whip up this keto-approved snack and serve refrigerated or frozen for a warm weather treat.
Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Don't let a keto diet get in the way of enjoying fudge brownies. This recipe's secret ingredient? Chia seeds to improve the texture.
Mini Pecan Pies
Another perfect portion control dessert, this chocolate pecan pie is easy to make. Instead of using any sweeteners, these pecan pies call for zucchini to hold the ingredients together.
Faux Wendy's Chocolate Frosty
Just because we've gone keto, does not mean we have to say goodbye to our favorite commercially produced treats. This recipe perfectly imitates the Wendy's Frosty (with zero added sugar, of course).
Dulce de Leche
How does one make a dulce de leche without using the traditional caramel-y sauce? This recipe calls for molasses, heavy cream, and Swerve sweetener instead.
German Chocolate Cupcakes
Cocoa powder, coconut, and keto-approved sweetener are the major ingredients in this German chocolate cupcake recipe. The recipe creator does not promise it tastes like the real thing, but it comes pretty close.
Churro Doughnuts
Churros made in the shape of doughnuts makes dipping (into sugar-free chocolate sauce) even more tempting. The secret to keeping these round churros from going crumbly and dry is psyllium husk powder, a plant-based fiber.
Cake Batter Cookies
There's nothing more fun than colorful Funfetti cookies. These sugar-free sugar cookies (yes, that is possible) are a colorful addition to the keto dessert repertoire.
Coconut Cream Pie
An almond pastry crust filled with coconut whipped cream is the best gluten-free compromise for creamy dessert fans. The secret to getting the consistency right with this pie is xantham gum.
Cookie Dough Ice Cream Sandwiches
Combining two desserts in one, these cookie dough sandwiches are keto versions of the iconic Nestle Toll House Cookie Sandwiches. The "cookie dough" is actually made with cashew butter. Ditch the honey for a more truly authentic keto recipe.
Cheese Danish
These cheese danishes can be made with or without fruit jam (depending on how strictly you're following the keto diet). A cream cheese filling again saves the day by transforming a "regular" recipe into a low-carb fat bomb.
Low-Carb Mock Snickers Bar
Chocolate, peanuts, and caramel are a classic combination. But making a carb- and sugar-free mock Snickers bar from scratch is a bit challenging. This recipe gets the job done with an almond flour crust and Stevia-sweetened caramel center.
Strawberry Shortcake
One of the simpler recipes on this list combines Stevia-sweetened strawberries and sugar-free whipped cream with gluten-free shortbread. The secret is monk fruit sweetener in the shortbread.
Cannoli Bites
Cannoli tastes delicious in all shapes and sizes. With these ricotta-filled pastry shells, we don't even need sweetener to enjoy this bite-sized dessert.
Samoa Doughnuts
Another classic Girl Scout cookie is the Samoa. This low-carb version combines two desserts: coconut caramel cookies and doughnuts.
Chocolate Fudge
Chocolate fudge without the indulgence! This recipe is more paleo-friendly than keto-approved, so be sure to swap out the maple syrup for your favorite keto sweetener.
Keto Imitation Oreos
No need to sacrifice an Oreo addiction for adherence to a diet! These keto Oreo imitations use coconut and hazelnut flour for the cookies and cream cheese and butter for the filling.
Red Velvet Cake
This sugar and carb-free cake is perfect for beginner bakers. The cake's signature red color comes from a few drops of food dye.
