35 Keto-Friendly Dessert Recipes Because Life Sucks Without Sweets
It is I, your keto dessert fairy godmother.
The keto diet focuses on limiting your carb intake, and that includes how much sugar you eat. So, cakes, cookies, donuts, ice cream, and pastries are all off-limits. You can still enjoy them without giving up on your weight loss efforts, though, by swapping carb-heavy ingredients or cutting down on serving size of your go-to sweets. Enter: keto dessert recipes.
Needless to say, you'll want to choose desserts that are lower in carbs and sugar and higher in fat if you want to stick to your keto lifestyle. "Sometimes, it comes down to moderating the portion size and eating a smaller portion that fits into the diet guidelines,” says Amy Gorin, RDN, an inclusive plant-based dietitian and the owner of Master the Media in Stamford, Connecticut.
You'll also want to pick sweeteners that can work for the keto diet, such as allulose, erythritol, monk fruit, and stevia, and trade grain flours for nut flours like hazelnut, almond, and coconut. One tip: Using cinnamon and raw cacao powder can trick your brain into thinking something is sweeter than it really is, says Robin Foroutan, RDN, a New York City-based nutritionist.
Knowing what desserts and sweeteners are keto-friendly can come in handy even if you are not big on sugar normally. That's because sometimes a meat-heavy, salty flavored diet can actually make you want to eat sweets, says Foroutan. But after following keto for a while, you may find yourself not wanting dessert. Your taste buds can change on keto, and sweets may taste extremely sweet, explains Jadin. However, if you cannot fathom a day or night without a sweet treat, keto-friendly desserts are here to help.
These 35 keto desserts are so delicious and easy, even your non-keto-abiding friends will be asking for the recipes.
Keto Brownies
Calling all chocolate fiends: This keto brownie recipe will do just the trick to satisfy your craving.
Per serving: 116 calories, 3 g carbohydrates, 2 g protein, 11 g fat, 1 g fiber
Keto Dalgona Coffee
Join in on the whipped coffee craze (it totally tastes like dessert!) while still sticking to your diet.
Per serving: 9 calories, 2 g carbohydrates, 1 g protein, 1 g fat
Keto Carrot Cake
What would dessert time be without a staple carrot cake, amirite?
Per serving: 359 calories, 34 g fat, 7.5 g protein, 8.5 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 2 g sugar
Keto Lemon Bars
Enjoy the low-carb combo of sweet and tangy in these easy bake keto lemon bars.
Per serving: 272 calories, 26 g fat, 8 g protein, 4 g carbohydrates
Keto Peanut Butter Mousse
Five minutes and five ingredients are all it takes to make this light and tasty dessert.
Per serving: 301 calories, 26.5 g fat, 5.6 g carbohydrates, 5.9 g protein
Keto Magic Bars
These low-carb bars will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth. The secret? Homemade caramel sauce.
Per serving: 257 calories, 23 g fat, 12.7 carbohydrates, 7.7g fiber, 4.7 g sugar
No-Bake Keto Cheesecake
Don't worry about being tempted by leftovers. This no-bake keto cheesecake is a single serving made just for you.
Per serving: 305 calories, 31 g fat, 3 g protein, 2 g sugar, 3 g carbohydrates
Avocado Brownies
Add a little superfood to your dessert with this tasty avocado brownie from My PCOS Kitchen.
Per serving: 155 calories, 14 g fat, 9.7 g carbs, 4 g protein
No-Bake Coconut Crack Bars
These no-bake coconut bars check almost every diet's box. They're keto, paleo, vegan, and sugar-free.
Per serving: 108 calories, 11 g fat, 2 g protein, 2 g fiber, 2 g carbohydrates
Keto Cheesecake
This recipe's a bit on the decadent side, but nothing tastes better than a slice of classic cheesecake. Just watch your portions!
Per serving: 600 calories, 7 g carbohydrates, 14 g fat, 54 g fat, 2 g fiber
Gluten-Free Low-Carb Spiced Keto Cookies
These babies are perfect for tea time (or anytime, TBH).
Per serving: 122 calories, 10 g fat (2 g saturated), 5 g carbs, 2 g sugar, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.
Keto Coconut Lime Bars
I'll be so disappointed if you don't bring these to a summer cookout.
Per serving: 192 calories, 19 g fat, 4 g carbs, 2 g sugar, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein
Keto Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble
Sry, mom; your strawberry rhubarb pie has been replaced.
Per serving: 230 calories, 20.6 g fat, 8.7 g carbs, 5.2 g fiber, 4.2 g protein.
Keto Chocolate Pots de Créme
These are so dreamy and creamy.
Per serving: 309 calories, 29 g fat (14 g saturated), 13 g carbs, 27 mg sodium, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bites
Chocolate? Peanut butter?? Cheesecake??? Sold!
Per serving: 233 calories, 22 g fat, 4 g carbs (net), 3 g sugar, 4 g protein.
Low-Carb Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fat Bombs
Do you like raw cookie dough…or do you love it?
Per serving: 112 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated), 2 g carbs, 153 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 2 g protein.
Low-Carb White Chocolate Butter Pecan Candies
Unwrap these melt-in-your-mouth candies.
Per serving: 125 calories, 18 g fat (9 g saturated), 1 g carbs, 19 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 1 g protein.
Low-Carb Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake
Let’s be honest: You’re digging into this for breakfast.
Per serving: 222 calories, 19.3 g fat, 5.4 g carbs, 2.2 g fiber, 7.2 g protein.
Low-Carb Italian Cream Cake
This pairs perfectly with a mid-afternoon espresso.
Per serving: 335 calories, 30.1 g fat, 5.7 g carbs, 2.4 g fiber, 5.8 g protein.
Keto Lemon Bars
Bright and lemon-y and seriously wow.
Per serving: 272 calories, 26 g fat, 4 g carbs (net), 8 g protein.
Jessica Migala is a health writer specializing in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare, with work published in Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, and more. She is based in the Chicago suburbs and is a mom to two little boys and rambunctious rescue pup.
Ashley Martens is a Wellness Writer based in Chicago, Illinois. With a digital marketing background and her knowledge of general nutrition and a lifelong passion for all things health and wellness, Ashley covers topics that can help people live happier and healthier lives.
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