9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (2024)

Table of Contents
When it comes to baking, cutting out carbs is hard. How do you omit the flour without changing the recipe? And how can you make a low-carb cake actually taste good without using sugar? It all comes down to technique. TIP #1: Almond flour is your friend, but it's not the same as almond meal... Put the tip to use: Italian Cream Cake TIP #2: Coconut flour is also a popular substitute — but neither almond nor coconut flour is interchangeable with regular all-purpose flour. Put the tip to use: Coconut Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies TIP #3: If your recipe calls for flax meal, stick to golden flax meal instead of standard flax meal. The texture is a tad less gummy. Put the tip to use: Flax Meal Bread TIP #4: Allow your ingredients to come to room temperature so they easily blend together — especially butter and cream cheese. Put the tip to use: Cream Cheese Cookies TIP #5: If your recipe calls for regular dairy milk, replace it with heavy cream, unsweetened coconut milk, or unsweetened almond milk. Put the tip to use: Keto Ice Cream TIP #6: Don't be nervous if your recipe calls for what seems like a lot of baking powder or soda. Gluten-free baked goods need a bit more leavener to keep them light. Put the tip to use: Cream Cheese Pound Cake TIP #7: Gluten-free and keto-friendly batters are more prone to sticking, so make sure to properly prep your pans. Put the tip to use: Keto Brownies TIP #8: If you're new to low-carb baking, stick to preexisting recipes that have been specifically developed to be low-carb... Put the tip to use: Keto Everything Bagels TIP #9: Once you get comfortable with low-carb baking, branch out and try tweaking some of your favorite recipes to make them lower in carbs. Put the tip to use: Almond Flour Pancakes Looking for more low-carb recipes? Check out these posts: Trending Recipes Trending Recipes More Tasty Guides FAQs References

Tips, tricks, and actual recipes for making low-carb (and keto-friendly) baked goods at home.

Jesse SzewczykPublished on April 13, 2019

When it comes to baking, cutting out carbs is hard. How do you omit the flour without changing the recipe? And how can you make a low-carb cake actually taste good without using sugar? It all comes down to technique.

Low-carb, keto, and gluten-free desserts all go hand-in-hand (they're all mostly sugarless and void of flour), so we rounded up nine practical tips and recipes that'll help you make delicious baked goods without the flour, sugar, and excess carbs.

TIP #1: Almond flour is your friend, but it's not the same as almond meal...

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (2)

Getty Images

When it comes to low-carb baking, wheat flour is usually swapped out for something like almond flour — but you should know that almond flour is not the same as almond meal. Almond flour is blanched almonds without their skins that have been finely ground. Almond meal has a coarser texture and is darker in color because it's made with almonds that still have their skin. While they are fairly similar, the fineness of almond flour makes it act like wheat flour and is not interchangeable for meal.

Learn more about the difference between almond meal and almond flour.

Put the tip to use: Italian Cream Cake

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (3)

alldayidreamaboutfood.com

Almond flour takes the place of wheat flour in this low-carb recipe and gives the cake structure. Get the recipe.

TIP #2: Coconut flour is also a popular substitute — but neither almond nor coconut flour is interchangeable with regular all-purpose flour.

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (4)

Bhofack2 / Getty Images

Coconut flour is made from coconut meat that has been dried and ground into a fine powder. Similar to almond flour, it's commonly used in many low-carb recipes — however, coconut flour is highly absorbent and can be difficult to work with.

With both almond flour and coconut flour, it's important that you stick to recipes that are developed specifically for them. You shouldn't swap either flour in place of all-purpose wheat flour. It acts entirely different and is not a seamless swap.

Learn more about baking with coconut flour.

TIP #3: If your recipe calls for flax meal, stick to golden flax meal instead of standard flax meal. The texture is a tad less gummy.

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (6)

Getty Images

Another popular low-carb flour substitute is flax meal — which is also commonly used as an egg replacer in baked goods. Experienced bakers recommend sticking to golden flax meal as it has a slightly less gummy texture compared to regular flax meal. Again, with any gluten-free flour substitute, stick to recipes that are specifically designed to be made with it and don't swap it into recipes that call for wheat flour.

Learn more about baking with flax meal.

Put the tip to use: Flax Meal Bread

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (7)

sugarfreemom.com

The perfect low-carb bread that you can make sandwiches, toasts, or even French toast with. Get the recipe.

TIP #4: Allow your ingredients to come to room temperature so they easily blend together — especially butter and cream cheese.

Bigacis / Getty Images, Rimglow / Getty Images

Many keto recipes contain high amounts of fat, so it's important that you allow your ingredients to come to room temperature so they blend together properly. Make sure to take out your cream cheese, butter, eggs, and other refrigerated ingredients 30 minutes before baking to help warm them up a bit.

Learn more about the importance of bringing your ingredients to room temperature.

Put the tip to use: Cream Cheese Cookies

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (8)

wholesomeyum.com

These sugar cookies are made with a combination of cream cheese and butter to give them a subtle tart flavor and soft texture. Get the recipe.

TIP #5: If your recipe calls for regular dairy milk, replace it with heavy cream, unsweetened coconut milk, or unsweetened almond milk.

Geo-grafika / Getty Images, Hellanny / Getty Images

When it comes to dairy, heavy cream actually has fewer carbs compared to milk. One way to swap it into recipes that call for milk is to dilute it with water so it has a similar consistency. Another option is to replace milk with unsweetened coconut milk or almond milk. Both of these are lower in carbs and good options for keto-friendly baking.

Learn about three other keto-friendly milk substitutes.

Put the tip to use: Keto Ice Cream

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (9)

wholesomeyum.com

OK, so maybe this isn't technically considered baking, but this low-carb ice cream is the perfect thing to pair with your baked goods. Get the recipe.

TIP #6: Don't be nervous if your recipe calls for what seems like a lot of baking powder or soda. Gluten-free baked goods need a bit more leavener to keep them light.

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (10)

Boogich / Getty Images

Low-carb baked goods rely on flour alternatives to give them structure, so they're usually a bit denser compared to standard baked goods. Because of this, many low-carb baked goods are made with a bit more leavening agent compared to other recipes. If your recipe calls for a lot of baking soda or powder, don't fret — they need it.

Learn more about the role of leaveners in baking.

Put the tip to use: Cream Cheese Pound Cake

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (11)

fittoservegroup.com

This pound cake is the perfect thing to serve with fresh berries or whipped cream, and it relies on baking powder to keep it nice and light. Get the recipe.

TIP #7: Gluten-free and keto-friendly batters are more prone to sticking, so make sure to properly prep your pans.

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (12)

Ffolas / Getty Images

Low-carb batters tend to be a bit stickier compared to traditional recipes, so it's important that you take the time to properly prep your pans to prevent them from sticking. For most recipes, coating the pans with butter will suffice — but especially sticky batters (such as low-carb brownie batter) may benefit from both buttering and lining with parchment paper.

Learn how to properly prep your pans for baking.

Put the tip to use: Keto Brownies

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (13)

fittoservegroup.com

Make sure you generously grease your pan to prevent these brownies from sticking. Get the recipe.

TIP #8: If you're new to low-carb baking, stick to preexisting recipes that have been specifically developed to be low-carb...

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (14)

Getty Images

Low-carb baking is tricky, so when you're first starting out it's best to stick to preexisting recipes specifically developed to be lower in carbs. This is just added insurance that your ingredients and time won't go to waste.

Put the tip to use: Keto Everything Bagels

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (15)

peaceloveandlowcarb.com

The perfect hearty breakfast for people avoiding excess carbs. Get the recipe.

TIP #9: Once you get comfortable with low-carb baking, branch out and try tweaking some of your favorite recipes to make them lower in carbs.

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (16)

Dean Mitchell / Getty Images

When converting standard recipes to low-carb versions, there are a few rules you should keep in mind. For starters, understand that all sugar substitutes have varying levels of sweetness. Some are super sweet (such as stevia), while others are more mild. Additionally, all flour substitutes act differently, so it's important to be familiar with what you're working with. At the end of the day just experiment and don't be afraid to mess up a few times before perfecting your recipes.

Put the tip to use: Almond Flour Pancakes

9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (17)

wholesomeyum.com

This recipe is the perfect example of making a small tweak (in this case using almond flour) to make a preexisting recipe lower in carbs. It's like baking, only for breakfast... right? Get the recipe.

Looking for more low-carb recipes? Check out these posts:

50 Tasty-Looking Recipes That'll Make You Want To Try A Keto Diet ASAP

22 Time-Saving Keto Hacks For Busy People

23 Super Satisfying Low-Carb Dinners

Trending Recipes

Trending Recipes

More Tasty Guides

More Tasty Guides

    See all
    9 Low-Carb Baking Tips (And Recipes) For People Following A Keto Diet (2024)

    FAQs

    What foods can you eat unlimited amounts of on keto? ›

    Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

    What is the most filling food on keto? ›

    13 of the best keto foods that keep you full
    • Mushrooms are a very filling vegetable. ...
    • Sauerkraut is rich in filling fiber. ...
    • Coconut yogurt can promote satiation. ...
    • Green pesto has an amazing fiber content. ...
    • Sardines are incredibly healthy. ...
    • Add eggs to your diet . ...
    • Make sure you are consuming full-fat dairy.
    Oct 9, 2018

    What is the trick to keto diet? ›

    Strategies for encouraging the body to enter ketosis include:
    1. Significantly reducing the carbohydrate intake. ...
    2. Increasing physical activity. ...
    3. Fasting for short periods. ...
    4. Increasing healthful fat intake. ...
    5. Testing ketone levels. ...
    6. Checking protein intake. ...
    7. Consuming more MCT oil.

    Is peanut butter keto-friendly? ›

    Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

    What foods are 100% carb free? ›

    Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea.

    What are the top 5 keto foods? ›

    These are the top 10 keto foods you should include if you're on...
    • The top 10 keto foods you should eat regularly if you're on the keto diet. ...
    • Salmon. ...
    • Eggs. ...
    • Cauliflower. ...
    • Greens. ...
    • Avocado. ...
    • Nuts. ...
    • Olive oil.

    What snack food has no carbs? ›

    Incorporate zero-carb snacks like cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and pork rinds for satisfying crunch and flavor. Nuts, in moderation, can be part of your zero-carb snack repertoire.

    Can I eat popcorn on keto? ›

    Net carbs are calculated by taking the total grams of carbohydrate in a food and subtracting the amount of fiber. In this case, popcorn contains 6 grams of carbs per 1 cup serving and 1.2 grams of fiber, bringing the net carbs per serving to 4.8 grams. Yes friends, popcorn is indeed a keto food.

    What are big mistakes on keto? ›

    Eating too much protein and not enough fats

    Proteins as well can cause insulin spikes when over-consumed. The only macronutrient that doesn't spike insulin is pure fat. For this reason, you need to be adhering to very specific fat/carb/protein ratios when following a Keto Diet.

    What are the golden rules of keto? ›

    The basic rules of keto are eating few carbohydrates and emphasizing fat with a moderate intake of protein. In order to be in a state of ketosis, you will likely have to track the amount of carbohydrates you eat by weighing out your food.

    How to speed up weight loss in ketosis? ›

    To maximize weight loss on a ketogenic diet, get adequate sleep, reduce stress, be more active and consume whole, nutritious, low-carb foods whenever possible.

    What cancels out carbs in keto? ›

    On the ketogenic diet, the "net carb" is the amount of carbs in a food minus the fiber and sugar alcohol. Fiber and sugar alcohol are subtracted because the body does not fully absorb them. The keto net carb diet limits daily carbohydrate consumption to 20-50 grams to induce ketosis.

    What food is not allowed in keto? ›

    10 Foods You Can't Eat on the Keto Diet & Their Substitutes
    • Grains and Starches. ...
    • Sugary Foods and Sweets. ...
    • High-Carb Fruits. ...
    • Starchy Vegetables. ...
    • Legumes and Beans. ...
    • Processed Foods with Hidden Carbs. ...
    • Alcohol and co*cktails. ...
    • High-Carb Sauces and Condiments.

    What fruit can I eat on keto? ›

    Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

    What is the maximum keto diet? ›

    Following the keto diet requires limiting carb intake to up to 50 g a day. A person generally replaces high carb foods with fatty foods, such as eggs, dairy products, and fresh meat and fish. Wheat products and some fruits, vegetables, beans, and legumes can be high in carbs, so checking food labels is key.

    What vegetables are unlimited on keto diet? ›

    You do not have to limit vegetables if you are on the keto diet or are considering it. Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.

    Can you eat unlimited protein on keto? ›

    Eating too much protein on Keto is largely a myth - gluconeogenesis leads to a small increase in glucose production, but we need that to survive. If you are generally active and not in a calorie deficit, you may want to shoot for 1.6 g/kg body weight per day, and prioritize protein on Keto with healthy sources.

    Can I eat 800 calories a day on keto? ›

    A very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is characterized by low daily caloric intake (less than 800 kcal/day), low carbohydrate intake (<50 g/day) and normoproteic (1–1.5 g of protein/kg of ideal body weight) contents.

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Greg Kuvalis

    Last Updated:

    Views: 5866

    Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

    Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Greg Kuvalis

    Birthday: 1996-12-20

    Address: 53157 Trantow Inlet, Townemouth, FL 92564-0267

    Phone: +68218650356656

    Job: IT Representative

    Hobby: Knitting, Amateur radio, Skiing, Running, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Electronics

    Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.