A good weight-loss programme can’t always be about pedaling the gas. As good as ‘healthy’ keto foods may be, there’s certainly some good reasons to include a cheat-day every now and then.
By calling it a cheat day, I don’t mean getting obsessed with it to the point where you set the alarm to midnight so you can make the most of the 24 hours of freedom. It’s simply a chance to lighten up, try a few non-diet foods, and reward yourself for all those sweat-drenched sessions you’ve put in over the past week.
It can be a little trickier on a ketogenic, low carb diet. Have too much cheat food and you’ll get snapped out of ketosis and spend the next few days dealing with discomfort and low energy. What’s worse, you’ll probably end up dealing with the carb cravings all over again, and there’ll be a nagging temptation to sack the diet and enjoy life instead.
But there’s a middle ground. Choosing low carb, high fat, high protein meals will allow you to stay on track while still indulging yourself. Even for those of you not on a low-carb diet, or a diet for that matter, there’s a lot to like about keto desserts. Without all the added sugar, there’s no post-meal energy crash, and they’re bound to be a lot more filling. The only question is whether they’re going to compare to the real thing. And I can stake my credibility on the fact that they will.
The Benefits Of Low-Carb Desserts
- No Post-Meal Energy Crash
- No Spike In Cravings
- No Insulin Surge
- Ketosis Stays
- Extremely Filling
- Equally Delicious. Possibly More If You’re Not Used To Fats
Here are my favourite recipes for low-carb desserts. Get your stevia and start cooking!
Chocolate-Chip Cookies
Recipes like these are ideal for dealing with carb cravings, because they don’t take long to make. Easier to justify skipping on a run to the biscuit aisle when you can make them at home. Cookies are deliciously simple, just as long as you can resist the urge to eat the dough. Wait an extra ten or so minutes, and you’ll have the perfect crumbly texture to go with the strong taste of dark chocolate chips.
Chocolate Chip Low-Carb Cookies
Equipment
- Baking Tray
Ingredients
- 125 g Almond Flour
- 150 g Coconut Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 large Egg
- 55 g Butter
- 80 g Truvia
- 60 g Sugar Free Chocolate Chips Alternatively you can pick high cacao dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl, minus the sweetener and chocolate chips. Stir the wet ingredients in a separate bowl, adding in the sweetener.
- Add the flour mixture to the other bowl, folding in the chocolate chips. Drop 1-2 tbsp size molds onto a lined cookie sheet. Flatten them with a spoon.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the outsides start to golden. Transfer to a rack and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes. Serve.
Notes
Protein Cheesecake
This one might take a little bit more patience, but I can promise you it’ll be worth the wait. Stacked with good protein, and makes up 10 servings. But it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you wolf it down over a couple of sittings.
Keto Brownie Cheesecake
Equipment
- Springform Pan
Ingredients
Brownie Base
- 110 g Butter
- 60 g Unsweetened Chocolate
- 50 g Almond Flour
- 25 g Cocoa Powder
- 2 large Eggs
- 100 g Truvia
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 30 g Walnuts
- 1 pinch Salt
Cheesecake Filling
- 450 g Cream Cheese
- 2 large Eggs
- 60 g Truvia
- 60 g Vanilla Protein Powder
- 60 g Whipped Cream
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Chocolate Topping
- 60 g Whipped Cream
- 25 g Truvia
- 25 g Unsweetened Chocolate
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
Instructions
Brownie Base
- Preheat the oven to 160c and butter a 23cm springfrom pan, Melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave. In the meantime, whisk the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a bowl.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs, sweetener, and vanilla until smooth. Beat in almond flour mixture, then butter/chocolate mixture until smooth. Stir in nuts.
- Spread evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake 12 to 18 minutes until set around the edges but still soft in the center. Let cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
Cheesecake Filling
- Reduce the oven temperature to 150c. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in eggs, sweetener, protein powder, cream and vanilla until well combined.
- Pour filling over the crust and place cheesecake on a large cookie sheet. Bake until edges are set and center just barely jiggles. 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool. Run a knife around the edges to loosen.
Chocolate Topping
- Put a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together whipping cream and sweetener until combined. Bring to a simmer and remove from heat.
- Add chopped chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes, until chocolate is completely melted. Add vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. Slather over the cheesecake. Let it cool on the side for an hour.
Set
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Freeze if you can’t wait. Hope that didn’t take too long. But it’s all yours to demolish now. And here’s a pro tip, stick with a desert spoon. Make the pleasure last.
Notes
Avocado Ice-Cream
No ice-cream maker needed, just get some ice and put it to the blender. A great recipe to cool you down after a workout.
Keto Avocado Walnut Ice Cream
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 30 grams Vanilla Protein Powder Any protein powder type
- 100 grams Greek Style Yogurt
- 10 grams Dark Chocolate Chips
- 20 grams Chopped Walnuts
- 15 grams Erythritol Alternatively use Stevia drops
- 1 tray Ice Cubes
- 100 grams Frozen Avocado
- 1/2 tsp Xantham Gum
Instructions
- Blend or use an ice cream maker until you have a smooth consistency. Add a few drops of almond milk if things aren’t moving, but do this at your peril. It’s a fine line between ice cream and slush!
- Feel free to store it in the freezer to firm it up a bit.
Notes
Protein Fudge
A variation of the cookie recipe that doesn’t involve baking. You can easily make a delicious batch of snacks to last you through the whole week.
Easy Keto Chocolate Chip Fudge Bars
Equipment
- Baking Tray
Ingredients
- 15 g Coconut Oil
- 60 g Smooth Peanut Butter
- 60 g PB2 Peanut Flour is essentially the same thing.
- 15 g Cream Cheese
- 50 g Truvia Any zero calories sweetener can be subbed in here.
- 90 g Vanilla Protein Powder
- 30 g Dark Chocolate Chips
- 90 g Coconut Flour
- 150 g Coconut Milk
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the coconut flour, protein powder, PB2, and sweetener. Then add the peanut butter, coconut oil, xantham gum, chocolate chips and cream cheese.
- Add in milk little by little until you get a thick dough. Then transfer to the tray.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour, then cut into pieces.
Notes
Brownies
A quick high-protein treat that goes brilliantly with greek yogurt. Full-fat, obviously. There’s no real need to hold back as long as the recipe stays low carb.
Keto Protein Brownies
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
- 80 g Butter
- 50 g Truvia
- 40 g Cocoa Powder
- 1 large Egg
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla
- 1 tsp Salt
- 60 g Chocolate Protein Powder
- 25 g Almond Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 30 g Walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175c, and melt the butter in a pan. Dissolve the sugar in the butter.
- Pour the mixture into a large bowl and add the other ingredients one by one, mixing each time.
- Set the batter in a 6 inch skillet, and bake for 30 minutes. The top should be set, but slightly jiggly. It will cook further as it cools.
- You can score your tastebuds some extra points by topping the brownies with greek yogurt. Yum!
Notes
Cream Cheese Pancakes
No dessert highlight reel could be complete without a batch of pancakes, and here’s the ideal breakfast recipe to kickstart the weekend.
Cream Cheese Pancakes
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 56 g Cream Cheese
- 2 large Eggs
- 14 g Coconut Flour
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tbsp Truvia
- 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients together, then let the bubbles settle.
- Pour 1/4 of the batter on a hot pan greased with light spray. Cook for 2 minutes until golden, then flip and cook for another minute. Repeat with the rest of the pancake mixture.
- Optionally serve with walden farms syrup (sugar free) and berries (low sugar).
Notes
Want More Keto And Carnivore Recipes?
The Protein Keto Cookbook is a collection of 73 delicious recipes that can be easily slotted into your meal plan. Desserts, snacks, main courses, and the best bit? Each recipe has been carefully created to provide maximal energy and satiety, making them essentials for a diet that needs to last!
And check out the last highlight bundle of recipes, this time strictly within the carnivore spectrum!
