Easter is a time for family, traditions, and of course, delicious food. But for those following a ketogenic diet, navigating the holiday's sugary temptations can be challenging. Fear not! You can enjoy the festivities without compromising your health goals with a plethora of keto-friendly Easter desserts that are both delicious and easy to make.
Embracing Keto on Easter: A Mindset
It's important to remember that one indulgence won't derail your progress. Don't beat yourself up for enjoying family food traditions this Easter. If you choose to indulge, simply get back on track the following day. You can find countless keto recipes online that are free and taste like the “real” thing. Almond flour and Stevia can go a long way in replacing refined flours and white sugars. One cheat meal or cheat Cadbury Cream Egg isn’t going to erase the weeks of healthy keto dieting you’ve already accomplished. Enjoy your treat if you want to and get back on track the next day. Check out The Curve for a full course on how to plan for cheat meals and “Danger Zones” when following a keto diet. There are some great keto options for Easter treats at your local grocery store and online. What did we miss? Let us know of your family’s foodie traditions and maybe we can have a keto recipe ready for next Easter! What will you be serving? Stay safe and happy Easter.
Key Ingredients for Keto Easter Treats
Creating delectable keto desserts relies on a few essential ingredients that replace traditional high-carb components:
- Sweeteners: Natural sugar substitutes like erythritol, stevia, monk fruit sweetener, and allulose provide sweetness without the carbs. Be careful when baking keto desserts for people who aren’t used to eating sugar alcohols. Erythritol in high amounts can be hard to digest, especially for people who don’t usually eat it. Look for recipes that use a combination of Stevia & erythritol to minimize the effects.
- Flours: Almonds, pecans, walnuts, and seeds like chia or flax are often used for texture and as flour substitutes in keto desserts. Almond flour and coconut flour are staples in keto baking.
- Eggs: Eggs are a key ingredient for structure and binding in keto desserts.
- Chocolate: Look for high-cacao content chocolate (usually 70% or higher) or sugar-free chocolate for baking and decorations.
- Nuts and Seeds: These add texture, healthy fats, and flavor.
Featured Keto Easter Dessert Recipes
Here's a curated selection of keto Easter dessert recipes to inspire your holiday baking:
Keto Easter Egg Cake
This keto Easter Egg Cake is the ultimate low carb dessert for spring. Tender layers of sugar free cake with a creamy robin's egg blue frosting.This cake ain’t just another pretty face, either - it’s also absolutely delicious. A perfect low carb cake for Easter and spring celebrations. Mini eggs add a festive touch to a pretty blue Easter cake - but they aren’t exactly keto friendly. I mulled that one over for a bit. And then I remembered that I still had some keto marzipan in my freezer from Christmas, so I molded a few pieces into small egg shapes. I then melted some ChocZero white chocolate chips, mixed in some natural food coloring, and dipped the eggs. They turned out really well, albeit slightly more green than I was intending. Always melt keto white chocolate in a double boiler to avoid overheating, as it can seize easily. A little cocoa butter or coconut oil can help the white chocolate melt more smoothly. I did about 2 ounces white chocolate and 1/4 ounce cocoa butter. It was enough to cover 9 marzipan eggs that were each about 1 inch in diameter. A little food color goes a long way here! Add just a touch at a time, stirring as you go.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Here's how to make this festive cake:
Cake Ingredients
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Whey protein
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Butter
- Sweetener
- Egg whites
- Almond extract
- Vanilla extract
- Water
Frosting Ingredients
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Powdered sweetener
- Almond extract
- Vanilla extract
- Heavy whipping cream
- Blue food coloring
- Cocoa powder
- Water
- Toasted shredded coconut
- Marzipan eggs
Instructions
- Cake: Preheat the oven to 350F and grease 2 8-inch round baking pans. Line the bottoms with parchment and grease the parchment.In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut flour, whey protein, baking powder, and salt.In a large bowl, beat the butter with the sweetener until lighter and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in the egg whites, almond extract, and vanilla extract until well combined.Add the almond flour mixture in two additions, alternating with the water. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters as needed.Divide the batter between the two prepared pans and spread evenly to the edges. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until golden on the edges and the top is firm to the touch. Remove and let cool in the pans.Run a sharp knife around the inside of the pans to loosen cake layers. Flip out onto a cooling rack and remove the parchment.
- Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Beat in 3/4 cup of the powdered sweetener, the almond extract, and the vanilla extract until well combined. Beat in 2 tablespoons of the heavy whipping cream to lighten the mixture, then beat in blue food colouring until a robin's egg blue is acheived. In another bowl, beat the remaining 3/4 cup cream with the remaining 1/4 cup powdered sweetener until it holds stiff peaks. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until well combined.
- Assembly: Place one cake layer on a cake plate and spread the top with about 1/3 of the frosting, spreading all the way to the edges. Top with another cake layer and spread the top and sides with most of the remaining frosting, reserving 2 tablespoons for the "nest" on the top. In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and water until smooth and liquid. Dip a small clean paint brush into the mixture and flick it lightly over the sides and top of the cake to create brown speckles (TIP: lay down some plastic or tea towels around the cake stand so you don't get brown specks all over your kitchen!). Use the remaining 2 tablespoons of frosting to create a small "nest" in the center of the top of the cake, with raised sides. Cover the nest with the toasted coconut. Place marzipan eggs in the nest.
Keto Hot Cross Buns
These Keto Hot Cross Buns are super fluffy, easy to make, and loaded with delicious spices and flavor. Each grain-free sweet bun is marked with a traditional sugar-free cross. Made with almond flour and coconut flour, they are the perfect paleo yeast rolls to enjoy for breakfast or as an afternoon treat.
Keto Carrot Cake
Enjoy that classic spiced carrot cake flavor in the shape of a cookie or a Keto Coffee Cake. This is truly the best low carb keto carrot cake recipe. It’s super easy to make a sugar-free carrot cake that’s moist, delicious and topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting. Absolutely delicious, easy to make, moist, and quick to whip up!
Keto Carrot Cake Fat Bombs
Super delicious, easy & quick to make keto carrot cake fat bombs!
Making the Keto Carrot Cake Layers
Make the keto carrot cake layers by baking the batter until done. Allow the layers to cool before frosting.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Cream Cheese Frosting
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting. Make the Keto Cream Cheese FrostingAssemble the keto Easter dessert. Refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.
Keto Chocolate Treats
An Easter without chocolate just doesn’t seem right, which is why you need to make these Easy Chocolate Truffles or a homemade Keto Chocolate Bar. You’re going to need to get your hands on some cacao butter, but it’s totally worth it. These delicious chocolate cheesecake fat bombs are quick and easy to make. One thing you can always trust to satisfy your sweet tooth whenever it strikes is some good old peanut butter and chocolate.
Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters
These Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters are the perfect snack when craving a sugar-free treat. Easy, delicious and full of flavour, these Easter eggs are definitely one to try.
Almond Joy Bars
Candy bars are the farthest thing from keto-friendly, but we’ve managed to come up with a few low-carb versions of our favorites, like Almond Joy! These Almond Joy Bars are just as delicious the original candy bars. Imagine sweet coconut bars topped with a crispy almond and submerged in a dark chocolate coating. This fat bomb recipe has everything you want in an Almond Joy without all the carbs. Make EASY Almond Joy or any flavor you like in this revolutionary ice cube tray chocolate method!
Keto Easter Nests
You must be asking yourself what Easter nests are actually, right? It’s a chocolatey combination of different nuts and seeds in a little muffin cup and they look like nests, at least in my opinion. Traditional chocolate nests are made with crispy chow mein noodles or pretzel sticks mixed with melted chocolate and topped with mini chocolate eggs which are chocolate covered almonds . This recipe is completely versatile and the simple ingredients used can easily be adapted to your personal choice. Don’t like almonds or macadamia nuts? Switch them out for your favorite nuts of choice. Swap them for more nuts or try hemp seeds and chia seeds. Our keto version of these Easter treats have 5 grams of carbs and 3 grams net carbs per egg nest.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
Ingredients:
- Almonds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Coconut
- Macadamia nuts
- Salt
- Lily’s brand sugar free chocolate chips or chocolate bars
- Butter
- Vanilla
Instructions:
- Add the almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut, macadamia nuts and salt into a bowl. Mix to combine.
- Break the chocolate into chunks. Add to a glass bowl along with the butter. Place over a pan filled with a cup of hot water, simmer on a medium heat until the chocolate melts. Stir regularly.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Allow to cool slightly for a few minutes but not so it sets. Stir the melted chocolate through the nut mix.
- Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Split the mix evenly between 12 cupcakes and allow to cool for 2 hours until fully set. Alternatively, place in the fridge for 30 minutes for speedier cooling.
Other Keto Easter Dessert Ideas
- Keto Lemon Poppyseed Muffins: Brighten up your festivities with some Keto Lemon Poppyseed Muffins.
- Keto Sheet Pan Pancakes: If brunch is an Easter tradition at your house, then you’re going to want to make Keto Sheet Pan Pancakes. Save time in the kitchen so you can get to the Easter egg hunt and egg decorating.
- Dessert Pizza: Get the kids’ creative juices flowing with a Dessert Pizza. Let them create their masterpiece using nuts, berries, icing, seeds - whatever!
- Bunny Cheesecake Bites: A fun keto Easter dessert you can make this holiday are these bunny cheesecake bites. Balls of low carb cheesecake are coated in sugar-free white chocolate and sprinkled with shredded coconut.
- Sugar Free Jello Mousse: This Sugar Free Jello Mousse is one of my favorite jello dessert recipes, made with just a handful of ingredients.
- Keto Strawberry Mousse: This keto strawberry mousse is fluffy, creamy, and sugar-free.
- Low-Carb Strawberry Pretzel Salad: This no-bake low-carb strawberry pretzel salad tastes just like the classic old-fashioned recipe.
- Keto Strawberry Shortcake: This keto strawberry shortcake allows you to enjoy a classic dessert without the high carbs.
- Keto Orange Cake: This keto orange cake is moist, rich, decadent, and easy to make. It's easy to bake low carb chocolate cake layers and fill with a luscious chocolate orange frosting.
- Keto Cheesecake Bars: These extra creamy keto cheesecake bars melt in your mouth and are super easy to make. Enjoy a homemade luscious low carb cheesecake square with a crispy almond flour crust and a delicious sugar-free blueberry sauce.
- Keto French Silk Pie: This keto french silk pie is extremely rich, creamy, and chocolatey. The crispy oreo-style crust is filled with a scrumptious velvety mousse-like chocolate cream. This is a fun way to get the kids involved in the baking process too.
- Keto Lemon Bundt Cake: This keto lemon bundt cake is a stunner of a cake.
- Keto Lemon Pound Cake: This keto lemon pound cake is incredibly moist and fluffy! It tastes zingy, fresh and fragrant.
- Mini Cheesecake Bites: This mini cheesecake bites recipe is perfectly rich and super creamy with a crispy crust that melts in your mouth.
Tips for Staying Keto-Friendly During Easter
- Start Your Day with a High-Protein Breakfast: Kick off your Easter celebrations with a breakfast rich in protein.
- Hydrate: Keeping well-hydrated is key, especially during festivities. Aim to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Incorporate Protein in Every Meal: Ensure each meal includes a good protein source.
- Bring Your Own Keto Dessert: Easter is notorious for its abundance of sugary treats. Prepare by bringing your own keto-friendly dessert.
- Stay Active: Incorporate some physical activity into your Easter.
- Politely Decline Non-Keto Offers: If offered non-keto foods, politely decline with a simple “No, thank you.” You don’t need to explain your dietary choices unless you wish to.
- Focus on Non-Food Traditions: Easter has plenty of non-food traditions to enjoy. Engage in activities like egg decorating, Easter egg hunts, or crafting.