For those embracing a ketogenic lifestyle, the desire for a sweet treat doesn't have to be a forbidden indulgence. Keto Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting emerges as a delightful solution, offering a sugar-free alternative that doesn't compromise on flavor or texture. This article delves into the art of crafting the perfect keto-friendly chocolate frosting, exploring its versatility, ingredients, and techniques for achieving optimal results.
Introduction
This recipe achieves the most dreamy and silky low-carb chocolate frosting perfect for any cake, cupcake, or baked good. This frosting is so luscious and fluffy that it’s hard to believe that it’s low carb and keto-friendly. This recipe makes enough frosting for a two layer cake or 24 cupcakes. If you only have a single layer cake, or 12 cupcakes, you will want to cut the recipe in half.
Why Keto Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting?
This sugar-free, keto cream cheese chocolate frosting is amazingly good and tastes just like the real thing. A rich, creamy frosting totally transforms a cake into something so decadent and delightful. This keto cream cheese chocolate frosting goes perfectly well with my keto chocolate cake recipe. It is so good; you won't be able to stop scooping it into your mouth before you get to frosting the cake.
The Allure of Keto Frosting
One of the most appealing aspects of the keto diet is that it permits the consumption of foods previously considered "off-limits," such as frosting. This recipe caters to those chocolate cravings while adhering to a low-carbohydrate lifestyle.
Key Ingredients for Keto Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Just four convenient ingredients go into Keto Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting:
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- Powdered Sweetener: The cornerstone of any keto frosting, powdered sweeteners like Swerve Confectioners, powdered erythritol, or powdered coconut sugar (for a Paleo option) provide the necessary sweetness without spiking blood sugar levels. Swerve Confectioners, in particular, is a popular choice due to its zero net carb count and sugar-like measurement.
- Cream Cheese: This is the secret ingredient! It gives keto chocolate frosting structure without having to add copious amounts of expensive sweetener. Cream cheese forms the base of the frosting, offering a tangy flavor and a smooth consistency. Using cream cheese is an ideal choice for those following a Keto diet because it is low in carbs and high in fat.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter and make sure it’s properly softened. Butter contributes to the frosting's richness and creamy texture.
- Cocoa Powder: Regular unsweetened cocoa powder infuses the frosting with its characteristic chocolate flavor.
Optional additions
- Vanilla extract: Adding vanilla enhances the chocolate flavor. You can also add a bit of espresso powder, which enhances chocolate flavors as well.
- Milk of choice: If too thick, very slowly add more milk of choice.
- Capella Buttercream Flavor Drops: These flavor drops are a key component of my standard cream cheese frosting.
- Heavy cream: Use this to thin out the frosting to a nice spreadable and pipe-able consistency.
Crafting the Perfect Keto Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
I really like the method for making this frosting. It’s the easiest frosting recipe I make!
There are only two steps:
You put room temperature cream cheese in a bowl and beat it briefly, for about 1 minute.
Next, you melt a small amount of butter, and add cocoa powder to it. Stir. The almost cool chocolate gets beaten into the cream cheese with some powdered sweetener.
That’s it!
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Step-by-step guide
- Soften the Cream Cheese and Butter: Ensure both the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature for at least an hour before starting. This allows them to blend smoothly, preventing a lumpy frosting.
- Melt the Chocolate (Optional): For a deeper chocolate flavor, melt unsweetened chocolate with a tablespoon of butter in 30-second increments in the microwave or over a double boiler.
- Cream the Butter and Cream Cheese: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. An electric mixer is recommended for this step.
- Incorporate the Sweetener and Cocoa Powder: Gradually add the powdered sweetener and cocoa powder to the creamed mixture, beating until well combined.
- Adjust the Consistency: Add heavy cream or almond milk, a tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in vanilla extract or other flavorings to enhance the taste.
Detailed Instructions
- Melt the chocolate: Combine the chopped chocolate and one tablespoon of the butter. Melt in 30 second increments, stirring in between until smooth. You can also do this in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water.
- Cream the butter and cream cheese: Beat the butter and cream cheese together until very smooth.
- Beat in the melted chocolate: Add the chocolate and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
- Thin it out: Add the cream a few tablespoons at a time until the frosting is a spreadable consistency. How much cream varies depending on the cocoa powder and other ingredients you used.
Useful Tips
- Stir cocoa powder into hot butter. (Make sure no drops of water or wet mixing tools are used.)
- Using electric beaters, beat cream cheese for 1 minute, until lighter in texture.
- Add sweetener and cocoa-butter mixture. Beat 1 minute until fluffy.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Frosting Too Thick: Gradually add more heavy cream or almond milk until the desired consistency is reached.
- Frosting Too Thin: Add more powdered sweetener, a tablespoon at a time, until the frosting thickens.
- Frosting Grainy: Ensure the powdered sweetener is finely ground and dissolve completely.
- Frosting Split: Gently warm a few ounces of cream cheese and beat until smooth. Add the split frosting in small dollops, beating in gently, until you have a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Versatile Applications for Keto Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
As mentioned, this frosting goes beautifully with yellow or chocolate cakes. It’s tangy from the cream cheese, milk-chocolatey and super versatile.
This frosting can enhance many keto desserts when you add it to our keto muffin in a mug (instead of the lemon poppy frosting), keto chocolate chip mug cake, and our keto chocolate cookies.
Ideas for use
- Keto Yellow Cake
- Orange Creamsicle Cake (if you like orange and chocolate together, yum)
- Chocolate Mint Cupcakes (or leave the peppermint out for a plain, great, moist Chocolate Cupcake)
- Keto Chocolate Cake Recipe
- Keto peanut butter brownies from Noshin and Num Num’s
- Keto Chocolate Mug Cake from Dr. Davinah’s Eats
- Keto Frosting Shots!
Storing and Using Leftover Frosting
Frosting keeps really well.
You can refrigerate for 1 week, well sealed. To use, bring to room temperature. Beat briefly.
Freeze for up to 3 months, well sealed. Defrost overnight on the counter, and bring to room temperature. Beat briefly.
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Due to the perishable ingredients, I recommend covering leftover frosting and storing leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Instructions
Use now to frost your cake! Or refrigerate until ready to use; then bring to room temperature. Once your cake is frosted, you can serve it room temperature, but I like it best refrigerated for 1 to 3 hours, or overnight.
A Brief History of Cream Cheese Frosting
Turns out, cheesecakes date WAY back to Ancient Grecian times, about 700 B.C. - possibly food for the first Olympians.
Cream cheese itself was invented in America by adding more fat to a European staple, in about 1870. It was marketed to Jewish immigrants in the 20s to eat with their blintzes - and by 1940, bagels and cream cheese was an iconic food trend.
So when did cream cheese become a frosting? Oddly enough (here’s the funny part) - in 1933, The American Home magazine printed a recipe for Tomato Soup Cake (!!) with Cream Cheese Frosting. This cake was popular throughout the 30s, but now remains simply a canned-soup curiosity recipe for some. It was the Cream Cheese Frosting that really caught on, as we all know. In the 1960s, Cream Cheese Frosting finally got paired up with Carrot Cake.
Nutritional Information
This recipe for keto chocolate frosting has 2.5g of carbohydrate and 1.1g of dietary fiber. Thus is has 1.4g net carbs per serving.