For those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet, finding satisfying desserts can be a challenge. However, this Keto Cloud Cake recipe offers a delightful solution. This light and fluffy treat, similar to angel food cake, is primarily made from eggs and cheese, making it a perfect guilt-free indulgence. This article will guide you through creating this delectable dessert, exploring variations, and answering frequently asked questions.
What is Keto Cloud Cake?
Keto Cloud Cake is a low-carb dessert based on the popular cloud bread recipe. Unlike traditional cakes that rely on flour, cloud cake utilizes egg whites and cream cheese (or mascarpone) to achieve its airy texture. This makes it an excellent option for individuals seeking gluten-free or low-carb alternatives. The cake is traditionally made with egg whites similar to a meringue. But this keto version is based off a cloud bread recipe.
Ingredients
The primary ingredients for Keto Cloud Cake are simple and readily available:
- Eggs: The whites are whipped separately to create a fluffy texture. You'll need to separate the eggs, ensuring no yolk gets into the whites. Using eggs at room temperature is recommended.
- Mascarpone or Cream Cheese: Soft cheese turns the egg batter into a cake batter. Both mascarpone and cream cheese work well, adding richness and moisture. Use more cream cheese or mascarpone for the filling if it suits you.
- Sweetener: Liquid stevia or monk fruit is preferred to keep the cake low-carb. Granulated stevia/erythritol mix can also be used.
- Salt: Just a pinch enhances the flavor.
- Cream of Tartar: This helps stabilize the beaten egg whites, allowing them to hold more air. Sprinkle cream of tartar on the egg whites if desired.
Optional ingredients for variations and frosting:
- Butter: The buttery flavor of buttercream should come from real butter!
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a classic vanilla flavor.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: For a chocolate version of the cake. To make a chocolate cake, just mix in some unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Coffee Powder: For coffee-flavored frosting. For different frosting flavors, replace the coffee powder with cocoa powder for chocolate or an extract.
- Fruit Sauce: A great alternative to frosting is fruit sauce like blueberry syrup or strawberry sauce.
- Matcha Powder: For a matcha-flavored cake or filling. Skip the matcha powder if desired, and mix in vanilla seeds.
Basic Recipe
Here's a step-by-step guide to making Keto Cloud Cake:
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Cake
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone liner, or use a greased muffin top pan. You can also lightly spray with nonstick spray. Use a small round molds. For perfectly round cakes, a muffin top pan is the perfect size.
- Separate Eggs: Separate the eggs into separate bowls, making sure no yolk gets into the whites.
- Mix Yolks: Add the mascarpone cheese, stevia (or other sweetener), vanilla extract, and salt to the yolks. Blend well with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Whip Egg Whites: Sprinkle cream of tartar on the egg whites if desired. Whip with a clean electric mixer until very stiff peaks form. This will give your cake that lovely airy texture!
- Fold Gently: Using a spatula, gradually and carefully fold the egg yolk mixture into the white mixture. Try not to break down the egg white; you want it to stay fluffy. Care must be taken not to flatten the egg whites when folding in the yolk batter. Otherwise, the cakes will not turn out light and fluffy.
- Shape and Bake: Spoon 4 large mounds of the mixture onto the prepared baking pan or molds. Gently press with a spatula on the top of each mound to flatten just slightly. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the top turns a beautiful light golden color. Do not over bake. The cakes can become crumbly if cooked too long. So be sure to check while baking and take them out of the oven once then are golden brown.
- Cool: Take the cakes out of the oven and let them cool. For best results, leave them out for a day before assembling the cake. All to cool 3 to 5 minutes on the pan.
Frosting (Optional)
Buttercream frosting is a popular choice for cloud cake.
- Whip Ingredients: Whip softened butter, cream cheese, sweetener, and any desired flavorings (such as coffee powder or vanilla extract) together until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble: Add a thin layer of frosting to the top of each cloud cake. Using a spoon or a spatula, place ¼ of the filling on top of each cake layer, and stack them on top of each other. Let it sit in the fridge for a few minutes.
Variations
- Chocolate Cloud Cake: Mix unsweetened cocoa powder into the yolk mixture before folding in the egg whites.
- Matcha Cloud Cake: Add matcha powder to the filling.
- Flavored Frosting: Experiment with different extracts like almond, lemon, or peppermint in the frosting. For different frosting flavors, replace the coffee powder with cocoa powder for chocolate or an extract.
- Fruit Topping: Top with fresh berries or a low-carb fruit sauce. A great alternative to frosting is fruit sauce like blueberry syrup or strawberry sauce.
- Egg Fast Friendly: This recipe is suitable for an egg fast.
Tips for Success
- Stiff Peaks: Ensure the egg whites are whipped to stiff peaks for the best texture.
- Gentle Folding: Fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture gently to maintain airiness. Fold gently. Care must be taken not to flatten the egg whites when folding in the yolk batter.
- Don't Overbake: Overbaking can result in a crumbly cake. Do not over bake. The cakes can become crumbly if cooked too long.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Use eggs and butter at room temperature for optimal results. Use eggs and butter at room temperature.
- Use a Muffin Top Pan: Use a small round molds. For perfectly round cakes, a muffin top baking pan is the perfect size. Or, you can use four 3-inch cake pans.
Serving and Storage
The cake is great served for breakfast, snack, or dessert. Because these cloud cakes are so low in carbs, they are perfect for an egg fast dessert.
- Storage: The cake lasts for 3-4 days in the fridge and 2-3 months in the freezer.
- Serving: Serve the cake chilled or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is cloud cake made of? The cake is traditionally made with egg whites similar to a meringue. But this keto version is based off a cloud bread recipe.
- What does the cake taste like? Cloud cake is similar to a light and fluffy cake like angel food cake.
- How long will the cake keep? The cake lasts for 3-4 days in the fridge and 2-3 months in the freezer.
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