For those embracing a ketogenic lifestyle, the craving for a sweet, comforting dessert can be a challenge. However, with a few clever ingredient swaps, it's entirely possible to enjoy classic treats without derailing your diet. Enter the Keto Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake, a delightful twist on the traditional St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake, infused with the warm flavors of fall. This recipe captures the essence of the original while keeping carb counts low, making it a perfect guilt-free indulgence.
What is Keto Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake?
Inspired by Paula Deen's popular Ooey Gooey Butter Cake and originating in St. Louis, this keto-friendly version delivers the same decadent experience with a fraction of the carbs. The classic Gooey Butter Cake, a beloved dessert, consists of a flat, dense cake base topped with a rich, buttery, and sweet cream cheese filling. Traditional recipes often rely on boxed cake mixes and copious amounts of powdered sugar, making them unsuitable for a ketogenic diet. This keto makeover replaces those high-carb ingredients with low-carb alternatives, resulting in a dessert that's both satisfying and diet-conscious.
Ingredients and Their Keto-Friendly Substitutions
The key to a successful keto pumpkin gooey butter cake lies in the careful selection of ingredients. Here's a breakdown of the essential components and their low-carb counterparts:
- Cake Base: Instead of traditional cake mix, the base can be made from scratch using almond flour, or a keto-friendly cake mix.
- Almond Flour: A low-carb, gluten-free flour that provides a tender crumb.
- Keto Vanilla Cake Mix: For a convenient option, consider using Swerve Vanilla Cake Mix, King Arthur Keto Cake Mix, or Good Dee’s Snack Cake.
- Sweetener: Replace refined sugar with keto-friendly sweeteners.
- Granular Sweetener: Used in the cake portion, options include Swerve.
- Powdered Sweetener: Essential for the creamy filling, Swerve is a suitable choice.
- Fat sources: Butter and cream cheese are essential for the buttery flavour and smooth texture.
- Butter: Use salted butter, softened but not melted, for both the cake and filling.
- Cream Cheese: Full-fat cream cheese contributes to the richness and gooeyness of the filling.
- Pumpkin Puree: The star of the show, adding flavor and moisture.
- Pumpkin Puree: Ensure it's 100% pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which contains added sugars.
- Spices: A blend of warm spices enhances the pumpkin flavor.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: A mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Eggs: Act as a binder and add richness.
- Eggs: Use large eggs for both the cake and filling.
Two Approaches: From Scratch or with Keto Cake Mix
This recipe offers flexibility with two versions: one using a homemade almond flour cake base and another using a keto-friendly cake mix. Both options deliver delicious results, allowing you to choose based on your preference and available ingredients.
Version 1: Almond Flour Cake Base
This version provides a from-scratch experience, allowing for greater control over ingredients and flavor.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Ingredients for Almond Flour Cake Base:
- 1 ½ cups almond flour
- ⅓ cup granular sweetener (such as Swerve)
- 2 tablespoons protein powder (whey, egg white, or plant-based)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions for Almond Flour Cake Base:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, combine almond flour, sweetener, protein powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Add melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined.
- Press the mixture into the bottom and partway up the sides of the prepared baking pan.
Version 2: Keto Cake Mix Base
For a quicker and more convenient option, a keto-friendly cake mix can be used as the base.
Ingredients for Keto Cake Mix Base:
- 1 box keto vanilla cake mix (such as Swerve or Good Dee’s)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup melted butter
Instructions for Keto Cake Mix Base:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- In a bowl, mix the keto cake mix with the egg and melted butter until well combined.
- Press the mixture into the bottom and partway up the sides of the prepared baking pan.
Pumpkin Gooey Butter Filling (for both versions)
This luscious filling is what makes this cake truly special.
Ingredients for Pumpkin Gooey Butter Filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sweetener (such as Swerve)
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions for Pumpkin Gooey Butter Filling:
- In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Beat in the powdered sweetener until well combined.
- Beat in the pumpkin puree, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the filling over the prepared cake base.
Baking Instructions
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-32 minutes. The cake is ready when the sides are set, but the center is still slightly jiggly. Be careful not to overbake, as this will result in a less gooey texture.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely before cutting into squares. This is crucial for the cake to set properly.
Tips for the Perfect Keto Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake
- Don't Overbake: The key to a gooey butter cake is to underbake it slightly. The center should still be jiggly when you remove it from the oven. It will continue to set as it cools.
- Use Softened Ingredients: Ensure the cream cheese and butter are properly softened for a smooth and creamy filling.
- Cool Completely: Patience is key! Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting to prevent a mushy texture.
- Sweetener Adjustments: The type of sweetener used can affect the final result. Erythritol may result in a firmer filling, while allulose may create a softer, gooier texture.
- Spice It Up: Feel free to adjust the amount of pumpkin pie spice to your liking. You can also add a pinch of cinnamon for extra warmth.
- Salted Butter: The use of salted butter can balance the sweetness.
- Reheating: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
- Freezing: Wrap the cake tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
This Keto Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake is delicious on its own, but it can also be enhanced with various toppings and accompaniments.
- Whipped Cream: A dollop of sugar-free whipped cream adds a light and airy contrast to the rich cake.
- Nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts provide a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
- Cinnamon Ice Cream: A scoop of cinnamon ice cream complements the pumpkin spice flavors beautifully.
- Berries: Fresh berries, such as raspberries or blueberries, add a touch of freshness and tartness.
- Cream cheese frosting: A homemade cream cheese frosting would taste really, really good as well.
Storage Instructions
- Room Temperature: Store at room temperature for 1-2 days in an airtight container.
- Refrigerator: Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutritional Information
A conventional recipe for Gooey Butter Cake has about 35g per serving. This recipe for Keto Gooey Butter Cake has only 4.2g of carbs and 1.6g of fiber per square.
Please note that nutritional information is an estimate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients used.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Variations
- Lemon Gooey Butter Cake: Add the zest of one lemon and a teaspoon of lemon extract to the filling for a citrusy twist.
- Banana Gooey Butter Cake: Prepare cream cheese filling as directed, beating in 2 ripe bananas instead of pumpkin.
- Peanut Butter Gooey Butter Cake: Use a chocolate cake mis for the crust. Add 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter to the cream cheese filling instead of pumpkin.
Is Pumpkin Keto-Friendly?
Whether or not pumpkin is suitable for a keto diet is a topic of debate. While pumpkin does contain carbohydrates, it also offers nutritional benefits. Ultimately, the decision to include pumpkin in a keto diet depends on individual carb goals and preferences.
One cup of mashed pumpkin contains approximately 7.8 grams of carbohydrates.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto