Cheesecakes, cookies, and chocolate, oh my!
Feel like you've been wandering around in a deep, dark, sugar-free forest since you've started the keto diet? Starting to think there's no place like home? A home where carbs don't matter, sweet treats are aplenty, and being kicked out of ketosis isn't a concern?
Well, hold on Dorothy.
Since sugar is a carb, being on a low-carb diet such as keto may seem like sweet snacks should be exiled from your pantry like magic's been banished from the Emerald City. But let's not be rash here.
Low-carb snacks are a thing, and even better, they can be sweet too. We're not only here to help you find some courage, our friend, we're here to help you satisfy your sweet tooth with keto sweet snacks that won’t force you to abandon your weight loss goals.
10 Low-Carb Keto Sweet Snacks
The key to enjoying guilt-free desserts when you're on the keto diet lies in the macros: How many carbs you consume, and how they are balanced by the fat and protein you're eating.
Calculating your macros can be a little tricky as there isn't only one way to do keto. But on a standard keto diet, you're aiming for 10% carbs, 20% protein, and 70% fat.
If you're consuming 1,600 calories a day to lose weight, you should be aiming for about 40 grams of carbs, 80 grams of protein, and 125 grams of fat per day.
Yes, we said 40 grams of carbs. Per day.
That pretty much rules out regular cheesecake, which serves up approximately 20 grams of carbs, 4 measly grams of protein, and 18 grams of fat per slice.
So what keto-friendly options do you have? Well, you have more than you might realize, starting with this list of 10 delicious (and easy) recipes for keto sweet snacks.
1. Chocolate Peanut Butter Fat Bombs
Image: Divas Can Cook
Far from greasy artery cloggers, keto fat bombs are made with healthy fats such as coconut oil or avocado oil with a carb-protein-fat ratio that fits nicely within a keto diet plan.
These peanut butter fat bombs are great for holding you over between meals, and you really only need one or two to satisfy that sweet craving. Just be sure to keep them in the fridge as they melt easily in room temperature.
2. Keto Dark Chocolate
Image: Fat For Weight Loss
So we're still talking about chocolate because ... chocolate. You could buy a store-bought dark chocolate bar (as long as it’s 70% cocoa solids, low in sugar, and high in fiber). But even better, you could be making this keto chocolate in your kitchen in just 20 minutes, and you'll know exactly what's gone into making it.
3. Low-Carb Keto Dessert Bark
Image: Forkly
You'll love looking at this keto sweet snack about as much as you'll enjoy eating it. This eye-catching candy bark recipe contains powerhouse ingredients such as coconut oil, natural peanut butter, pecans, and dark chocolate.
Simply melt, mix, and swirl to create a gorgeous break-apart bark that you can store in the fridge to enjoy for weeks.
4. The Cereal School
Don't worry, not all sweet keto snacks need to involve chocolate — we just happen to really, really like them. But to be honest, we probably like cereal even more. The comfort food of our childhood isn't just a breakfast staple. All that crispy, sweet goodness is perfect as a snack food as well.
Because we didn't want to give up our favorite food, we came up with our very own keto-friendly cereal that's filled with all the sweetness everyone loves but with none of the carbs. (The secret lies in monk fruit, a no-glycemic natural sweetener).
Not only that, our cereal's gluten-free and grain-free, made from non-GMO all-natural ingredients, and contains no artificial sweeteners or colors. And with just one little gram of carbs, 16 grams of protein, and 100 calories per serving, it's no wonder it's ideal when you’re on the ketogenic diet, are diabetic, or on the Weight Watchers program.
Eat it in a bowl soaked in almond milk or consume it straight from the pack. You’ll love it either way.
5. No-Bake Raspberry Cheesecake With Lemon
Image: My PCOS Kitchen
Remember how we said cheesecakes were a no-no on the keto diet? Well, this low-carb, no-bake cheesecake is the keto recipe for you. With just over 5 grams of net carbs per slice, you can definitely enjoy this as a snack or dessert.
The raspberries mixed in the cream cheese give it a lovely pink shade, while the lemon gives it just that bit of tanginess. The almond flour used to make the crust helps to keep the carb count low, and it’s nice and crunchy thanks to pistachios and walnuts.
You could also pour the mixture into cupcake molds — they'll look just as pretty and taste just as sweet.
6. Keto Ice Cream
Image: Delish
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, and this is definitely a keto dessert recipe worth screaming about. It's creamy and rich, and everything you've missed from everyone’s favorite frozen treat. Even better — you don't need an ice cream maker to create this cool keto sweet snack.
7. Keto Cookie Dough
Image: My Keto Kitchen
Your options here are simple: turn on the oven and pop in the cookie dough to make some delicious chocolate chip cookies. Or, don't bother baking at all and eat them straight from the bowl. Either way, this cookie dough recipe is sure to please your taste buds without spiking your blood sugar levels.
8. Pumpkin Brownies
Image: Gnom-Gnom
Is it fudge or is it a brownie? We're not really sure, except to say that this fudgy pumpkin dessert has all the makings of a keto sweet snack you'll love. You can use either cacao or cocoa powder for this recipe, and there are also paleo and gluten-free variations.
The secret to ultra fudgy brownies? Undercook them and use room temperature eggs. Cut them into bars and you'll have a bunch of delicious snacks ready to go.
9. Keto Macadamia Nut Blueberry Muffins
Image: Glut 1 Ataxia
What's a list of keto sweet snacks without the quintessential muffin? While your typical deli version may be full of carbs and sugar, these little handheld muffins — made from ground macadamia nuts and sweetened with blueberries — are a perfect low-carb alternative.
With a total time of 30 minute to prep and cook, they're easy to make and even easier to eat. Best of all, they can also be frozen for up to three months.
10. 4-Ingredient Vegan Keto Chocolate Mousse
Image: Julie's Lifestyle
If you're dairy-free as well as keto, this vegan chocolate mousse is one of the best keto sweet snacks around. (FYI, you'll love it just as much even if you're not vegan.) Using just four ingredients, it's ready in five minutes, so it'll quell your cravings in no time. Although, if you're able to spare some time, pop it in the fridge before serving — it tastes even better chilled.
Sweet Tooth? We've Got You Covered
Just because you've given up carbs doesn't mean you need to toss all of your sweet thoughts out the window. Whether they're baked, frozen, or in a conveniently handy snack bag, there are plenty of sweet keto options around.
If you've ever felt like you've been caught up in a tornado of dessert-less options, it's time to click your heels together three times, take a look at these recipes, and realize there’s no place like home for delicious keto sweet snacks.
