Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (2024)

Sugar is often associated with carbs, but that doesn’t mean all desserts must be loaded with carbs. Plenty of dessert recipes are keto-friendly, use natural sugar substitutes, or are otherwise low in carbs, whether they include chocolate, fruit, or any other sources of sweetness. Satisfy your sweet tooth while sticking to your diet with these 22 low-carb dessert recipes.

1 of 22

Almond butter cookies

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (1)

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If you’re a fan of classic peanut butter cookies, try these almond butter cookies from Sugar Free Londoner. Each large cookie contains only five carbs, and you only need three ingredients: almond butter, half a cup of sweetener (like Stevia or Swerve), and an egg.

2 of 22

“Apple” pie

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (2)

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We know: seeing apple pie on this list is a bit of a surprise. One apple has about 25 carbs, but this “apple” pie from Keto Focus features just 10 carbs per serving — and only five net carbs. The catch? It’s actually made with zucchini (or chayote) and apple flavoring. If this sounds too good to be true, don’t take our word for it: check out the reviews!

3 of 22

Blondies

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (3)

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These blondies from I Breathe I’m Hungryare chewy, buttery, and just a bit sweet — and we haven’t even mentioned the best parts yet. Not only do these blondies also contain a bit of rum extract, but they only add up to 6 carbs per serving.

4 of 22

Cheesecake

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (4)

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Sugar-free with only six carbs per serving, this cheesecake is also a cinch to make. And if you run into any problems — like surface cracking or a gritty, runny, or dry filling — Wholesome Yum can help you troubleshoot the issues.

5 of 22

Chocolate cake

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (5)

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One layer, one bowl, and only five carbs…could this chocolate cake from Healthy Recipes Blog be any easier? Okay, you’ll still need to amass all the ingredients and spend 15 minutes putting it all together, but this moist and fluffy cake topped with drool-worthy chocolate frosting will make you forget all about that small bit of effort.

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (6)

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If your friends or family lead low-carb lifestyles, serve them these chocolate chip cookies from All Day I Dream About Food. They’ll never believe these thick, chewy treats are sans sugar, and they’ll be delighted to find out they only contain five carbs per cookie!

7 of 22

Chocolate mousse

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (7)

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Low-carb chocolate mousse that only requires three ingredients? It sounds too good to be true, but this simple dessert from Chocolate Covered Katie is naturally low-carb…and it can be made in less than 10 minutes!

8 of 22

Glazed donuts

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (8)

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A trip to the donut shop is a good way to burn through your allotted carbs, so make them at home instead. While a glazed donut from Dunkin boasts 31 carbs, these iced babies from Momma Fit Lyndsey have only five carbs and are made with ingredients you probably already have on hand. Enjoy them for dessert, for breakfast, or anytime in between!

9 of 22

Ice cream

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (9)

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This low-carb ice cream recipe from Joy Filled Eatsis so simple that it’s both faster and easier than driving to the grocery store or your local ice cream shop…and you don’t even need an ice cream maker! (Really!) Just throw some frozen fruit in your food processor, add some heavy cream and stevia, process until creamy, and enjoy!

10 of 22

Ice cream bars

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (10)

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If you think our ice cream recipe has too much fruit and not enough chocolate, you’ll love this ice cream bar recipe from Wholesome Yum — and you’ll love the fact that each bar only contains 2.5 net carbs! Just whisk together almond milk, heavy cream, sweetener, and vanilla extract, freeze it in a silicone mold with a popsicle stick, and dip each one in melted chocolate. You can even add your favorite toppings!

11 of 22

Lemon pound cake

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (11)

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Light in texture and light on carbs, this lemon pound cake from Sweet as Honey is also a light lift in the kitchen that requires just seven ingredients for the cake, plus a simple two-ingredient frosting. And at just five carbs per serving, you can even think about a second slice.

12 of 22

Oatmeal raisin cookies

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (12)

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No sugar? No problem when it comes to these “oatmeal” raisin cookies from The Big Man’s World that only contain nine carbs per cookie. The trick? Although the recipe includes real raisins, it calls for ground chia seeds, ground flaxseed, and shredded unsweetened coconut flakes instead of oats.

13 of 22

Peanut butter cups

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (13)

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If your weakness is a sweet & salty peanut butter cup, find strength in the fact that this recipe from Creations By Kara is sugar-free and contains just 11 carbs per cup — and only two net carbs! They’re also fun to make and can be frozen for up to 2 months.

14 of 22

Pecan chocolate fudge

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Six ingredients are all you need for this homemade fudge from Hey Keto Mama, which requires no oven time — just 15 minutes on the stove. The hardest part of this fudge, which clocks in at three carbs per serving, is waiting an hour for it to cool in the fridge.

15 of 22

Pecan pie

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (15)

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We eat dessert every single night…but sometimes we have exhausted our leftovers and don’t have time to prep and bake a whole dessert. This single-serving pecan pie from The Diet Chefs can be made in a shockingly short five minutes, so it’s an anytime option as long as you have butter, sweeteners (both brown & granulated), almond flour, cinnamon, and pecans on hand. If you eat the whole thing, it’s still only seven carbs.

16 of 22

Pumpkin pie

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (16)

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Don’t lower your low-carb expectations just because it’s the holiday season. This pumpkin pie from Two Sleevers takes the traditional dessert — which clocks in at an average of 45 carbs per slice — and cuts it all the way down to just nine carbs without sacrificing any flavor.

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Red velvet cake

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (17)

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The cream cheese frosting might be the best part of red velvet cake, and this recipe from Low Carb Spark has a fantastic four-ingredient one. Just as fantastic is the fact that this cake only has six carbs per slice.

18 of 22

Rice Krispie treats

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Have unexpected guests who are expecting dessert? You need just four ingredients for these Rice Krispie treats from ChocZero, which only require about five minutes of prep time. In fact, you must move quite quickly when making them, so the melted marshmallows don’t harden before you get them into the pan! Each square has 18 carbs but only three net carbs.

19 of 22

Strawberry crumb bars

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If you’re a sucker for strawberries, you’ll certainly want to try these keto crumb bars from The Roasted Root. They’re egg-free and dairy-free, calling for just strawberries, a sugar substitute, tapioca flour, almond flour, butter, and a pinch of salt.

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Sugar cookies

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (20)

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Usually, you wouldn’t associate the words “sugar” and “low-carb” with each other, but this cookie recipe from The Big Man’s World uses sugar-free powdered sugar and another sweetener of your choice to make these simple yet irresistible desserts. Aside from that, you only need butter, cream cheese, almond flour, coconut flour, and vanilla extract — all of which adds up to only three carbs per cookie.

21 of 22

Tres leches cake

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As the Spanish name suggests, tres leches cake includes three different kinds of milk, but instead of whole, condensed, and evaporated, this one from Wholesome Yum enlists the help of sugar-free sweetened condensed milk, unsweetened almond milk, and — surprise! — heavy cream. Despite the substitutions, this rich, moist (and healthier!) version might be the best sponge cake you’ll ever have, and it only contains six carbs per slice.

22 of 22

Vanilla, chocolate, or PB mug cakes

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If you liked the 5-minute pecan pie, you’ll love this trio of mug cake recipes from Low Carb with Jennifer. Each one is a single-serve dessert that only takes 5 minutes (including both prep + cook time) and contains 5-8 carbs (depending on the flavor).

Sugar, you're going down: 22 low-carb dessert recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the sugar limit on a low carb diet? ›

One of the main principles of the keto diet is to limit carbohydrate intake, which includes sugar. However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how much sugar you can have on keto. Limiting your sugar intake to 20 to 30 grams daily or less is recommended to stay in ketosis.

What is sweet and has no carbs? ›

Erythritol: Erythritol is made from fermented corn or cornstarch, and it's also a good way to get some sweetness without any calories or carbs.

What can I eat for dessert instead of sugar? ›

10 Healthy Alternatives To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
  • Fruit. Fruit is nature's candy, after all! ...
  • Greek Yogurt. Start with plain yogurt (no added flavors or sugars) and then build up from there. ...
  • Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream. ...
  • Chia Pudding. ...
  • Low-sugar Popsicles. ...
  • Nut Butter. ...
  • Baked Pears or Apples. ...
  • Chocolate Dipped Banana Bites.
Jan 9, 2023

Is there anything sweet I can eat on keto? ›

Make a batch of keto chocolate chip cookies, keto red velvet cake, and keto brownies to get your fix. We've even re-created our favorite candies and snack aisle faves, like keto Oreos, keto peanut butter cup fat bombs, and keto copycat snickers. And if you're a Frosty fan, you'll have to try our keto Frosty!

Should I eat more carbs if my blood sugar is low? ›

If your blood sugar is less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl): Eat 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrate (sample foods listed below)

How many carbs should I eat a day to keep my blood sugar down? ›

People with diabetes can also benefit from diets that allow up to 26% of their daily calories to come from carbs. For people who eat 2,000–2,200 calories a day, this is equivalent to 130–143 grams of carbs ( 12 ). Since carbs raise blood sugar, reducing them to any extent can help you manage your blood sugar levels.

What tastes sweet but has no sugar? ›

When sugar cravings strike and you really want something sweet, experts agree fruit is your best option. Try dates, raisins, figs, berries, pears, and really any other delicious fruit. Fruit-based purees and jams and sauces, such as applesauce, with no added sugars can also bring a big sweet reward to your treats.

What can I eat that is sweet but low in sugar? ›

Healthiest Sweet Snacks
  • Fresh Fruit. 1/14. It's packed with vitamins and minerals that help your body function. ...
  • Dark Chocolate. 2/14. A half-ounce square of 86% dark chocolate contains only two grams of sugar. ...
  • Apple Chips. 3/14. ...
  • Apple and Nut Butter. 4/14. ...
  • Cereal. 5/14. ...
  • Greek Yogurt. 6/14. ...
  • DIY Smoothie. 7/14. ...
  • Dates. 8/14.

What can I eat that has no carbs or sugar? ›

Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea. If you're less stringent, you can also eat nuts, seeds, non-starchy vegetables, and high fat fruits like avocado and coconut since these foods are low in net carbs.

What is a good sugar substitute for desserts? ›

How to Replace Sugar in Recipes
Sugar1 Tsp1 cup
Maple syrup1/4 Tsp3/4 cup
Stevia1/4 Tsp1 Tsp
Agave nectar1/4 Tsp3/4 cup
Pumpkin puree1 Tbsp2 cups
5 more rows
Sep 11, 2023

How to satisfy a sweet tooth on keto? ›

The Best Keto Dessert Recipes
  1. Keto Chocolate Avocado Mousse. Creamy and rich, this mousse uses avocados for texture and unsweetened cocoa for that deep chocolate flavor.
  2. Berry Cheesecake Fat Bombs. ...
  3. Lemon Coconut Balls. ...
  4. Almond Butter Keto Cups. ...
  5. Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding. ...
  6. Keto-Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Nov 6, 2023

What candy is low in carbs? ›

Comparison
PriceNet carbs
Dr. John's Healthy Sweets Peppermint Hard Candy$2 grams per 4 pieces (18 grams)
BHU Keto Truffle Fat Bombs$$$1 gram per piece (peanut butter flavor)
Sweetwell Keto Chocolate Bites$$1 gram per 29-gram serving
Bulletproof Original Milk Style Chocolate Bar$2 grams per 30-gram serving
6 more rows
Sep 18, 2020

What to eat when you crave sugar on keto? ›

Satisfy your sweet tooth with keto-friendly sweet snacks like a small piece of dark chocolate or berries with cream. Look for a snack with some protein, if possible, and some fat. Even though you might be craving sugar, grabbing some keto-friendly berries might not be the best choice right before a workout.

How many grams of sugar is considered low sugar per serving? ›

Products are considered to either be high or low in sugar if they fall above or below the following thresholds: high: more than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g. low: 5g or less of total sugars per 100g.

What is considered low-carb low sugar? ›

A typical low carb diet usually contains less than 26% of total daily calories from carbs. For those following a 2000-calorie diet, this equals fewer than 130 grams (g) of carbs per day. Generally, low carb diets limit foods high in carbs or added sugar, including sweets, starches, and refined grains.

How much sugar per day to lose weight? ›

When it comes to losing weight, calorie intake is more important to calculate than sugar intake. However, it is best to adhere to guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA), which recommends having 25 grams or less of added sugar a day.

What sugar is good for low-carb diet? ›

Sweeteners like stevia, sucralose, erythritol, xylitol, monk fruit, and yacon syrup can easily fit into a low carb or ketogenic diet. However, you may need to limit your intake of other sweeteners high in carbs or sugar on a low carb diet.

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