Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Why You Need My Keto Cake Recipe
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Keto Cake
  • My Recipe Tips
  • Keto Cake (Very Moist, Easy Recipe) Recipe card
  • More Keto Cake Recipes
  • Recipe Reviews

Ever wished for a keto cake that tastes as fabulous as it looks, without all the carbs? With my vanilla low carb cake recipe, you absolutely can! It’s got three moist layers, that classic yellow cake flavor, and creamy cream cheese frosting . Plus, I love that I can make the batter all in one bowl. I think this is the perfect keto birthday cake. Make it with me for your next special occasion!

Why You Need My Keto Cake Recipe

Maya in the kitchen. - 1
  • Moist, fluffy, and sweet – To me, the best keto cake is about the texture, as well as sweetness without any weird aftertaste. So many of them are dry! This one is extremely moist and fluffy, with a light, tender crumb, and a sweet vanilla flavor. What you won’t taste is any bitterness or cooling effect — I can’t stand those!
  • Keto friendly and gluten-free, but also family friendly – With only 2 grams of net carbs per slice, this cake fits perfectly into your keto lifestyle without feeling like you’re missing out. But with a large cake like this, I think it’s just as important that you won’t be the only one wanting to eat it. My family and friends happily do!
  • Great for any occasion – I first made this recipe as a keto birthday cake, but have since served it for other holidays as well. It’s a great keto dessert for any celebration you have coming up.
Maya's signature. - 2 A tall keto birthday cake slice with candle on it. - 3

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my low carb birthday cake recipe recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Keto Cake:

  • Low Carb Flours – I use both my Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour and Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour for this recipe, because the texture turns out so much better than using one of them alone. The almond flour is particularly important because many brands are too coarse and will leave your cake grainy, and in fact this is why I created the Wholesome Yum version. YMMV with other brands! Steer clear of almond meal as well, which is the worst for texture. If you want a cake that uses just one of these flours, browse my other almond flour recipes or coconut flour recipes for other options.
  • Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – My go-to sweetener for every low carb cake I make, and there’s a reason. Not only does it taste and bake like sugar, it keeps your cake super moist . I’ve tried so many other sugar substitutes , and the result is much more dry (sometimes even gritty) with most brands. If you still want to use something else, check my sweetener conversion chart to get the right amount.
  • Unsalted Butter & Salt – I add salt separately to control the flavor, but feel free to just use salted butter. If you’re dairy-free, coconut oil is a decent stand-in, but keep in mind, it’ll change the flavor and texture a bit. Oh, and you’ll need to find a dairy-free option for the frosting, too!
  • Eggs – You need a lot because of the coconut flour. I have a list of egg substitutes here , but with the number of eggs in this keto cake recipe, I don’t think they would would work here.
  • Almond Milk – You can use store bought or my homemade almond milk , just make sure it’s unsweetened. You can also swap in other keto-friendly milks , like coconut milk beverage (the liquid kind from a carton, not the thick kind from a can) or watered down heavy cream.
  • Vanilla Extract & Baking Powder – I like this brand of vanilla and this non-GMO baking powder .

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Cream Cheese – Go for the full-fat stuff if you can; it’s richer and just works better with the keto cake.
  • Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Unlike other powdered sugar alternatives, this one dissolves completely (read: no gritty texture!) and is truly as fine as powdered sugar. Others can crystallize, too, so I highly recommend using this one.
  • Butter & Vanilla Extract
Labeled recipe ingredients: Almond flour, coconut flour, Besti sweeteners, cream cheese, eggs, butter, almond milk, vanilla, and baking powder. - 4 Frosting Variations: - 5

Frosting Variations:

Not a fan of cream cheese frosting? You can make my keto buttercream frosting for something more classic, or keto chocolate frosting if you want a contrast to the vanilla. Throw on some sugar free sprinkles for a little extra fun!

How To Make Keto Cake

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

  1. Cream the butter and Besti. Use a hand mixer to beat them in a large mixing bowl, until fluffy.
  2. Add the wet ingredients. Beat in the eggs, almond milk, and vanilla extract.
Creamed butter and Besti in a bowl. - 6 Wet ingredients mixed into the bowl. - 7
  1. Add the dry ingredients. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, and baking powder. The batter will be pretty thick — this is normal!
  2. Bake until golden. Divide the batter among 3 lined cake pans (I prefer springform pans for easy release). You won’t be able to pour it, so just spoon it in and smooth the top. After baking, let your cake layers cool completely.
Thick low carb cake batter with almond flour, coconut flour, and baking powder added. - 8 Baked keto cake in a springform pan. - 9
  1. Make the frosting. While you wait for the cakes to cool, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract in a large bowl, until smooth.
Sugar-free cream cheese frosting in a bowl. - 10
  1. Layer, layer, layer. Place one layer on a cake stand or platter and spread frosting on top. Repeat with the other two layers. Finally, frost the top and sides of your keto cake.
  2. Top with chopped pecans. My cake looked prettier with the nuts on top, and I didn’t have to obsess about making the frosting perfectly smooth. But, if your frosting skills are better than mine, feel free to skip the nuts and decorate the top however you like!
Showing the steps for frosting the keto cake and topping with nuts. - 11

This low carb cake is tall, very rich, and filling, so I usually slice it into very thin slices for serving, but did slightly larger ones for these pictures. Here you can see the texture once you slice into it:

Serving a slice of the beautiful vanilla low carb cake from a serving stand. - 12 My Recipe Tips - 13

My Recipe Tips

  • Use room temperature ingredients. Especially the butter, eggs, and almond milk. Your butter won’t cream properly if it’s cold. And if your eggs or milk are cold, they’ll solidify the butter as soon as you add them.
  • Be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of light and fluffy, which is definitely not what we’re going for.
  • Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl. I always recommend this, but especially here since we’re making this batter all in one bowl. If you don’t mind extra dishes, you could mix the dry ingredients separately first to reduce the amount of scraping you have to do.
  • This keto cake is fragile, so I recommend springform pans . They make getting the layers out so much easier! You can use regular cake pans if that’s what you’ve got, though.
  • Don’t have 3 pans? You can definitely make this keto cake recipe in 2 pans instead, or even a larger 9×13 pan for a sheet cake, like a reader asked me recently. (The baking time will vary, so you’ll need to check on it.) I don’t recommend waiting for layers to bake one at a time, though. I used to do this, but the baking powder isn’t effective in the batter sitting that long, so no longer do it.
  • Rotate and swap the positions of the pans halfway through baking. Since you’ll have 3 pans in the oven at once, they’ll bake more evenly if you do this. Be quick, so you don’t let too much heat out!
A slice of keto cake on a plate with a piece on a fork. - 14

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

Keto Cake:

  • 1 cup Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend ▢
  • 3/4 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
  • 8 large Eggs (at room temperature) ▢
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened almond milk (at room temperature) ▢
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla extract ▢
  • 3 cup Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour ▢
  • 1/2 cup Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour ▢
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Baking powder ▢
  • 1/4 tsp Sea salt ▢

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 32 oz Cream cheese (softened) ▢
  • 1/3 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
  • 2/3 cup Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend (adjust to taste; regular granulated not recommended) ▢
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line the bottoms of 3 9-inch (23-cm) round springform pans with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the butter and Besti, until fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the almond milk and vanilla extract.
  4. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Divide the batter among the 3 prepared pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 18-22 minutes , until the top is lightly golden and springs back.
  6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract, until smooth.
  7. Let the keto cake layers cool separately to room temperature before stacking. Frost between the layers, and all over the top and sides at the end. Top with chopped pecans (optional) if you like.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 slice, or 1/24 of entire recipe

  • Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid dense cake, keep your batter smooth, and options for different types of pans.
  • Store or make ahead: You can make the whole keto cake birthday cake in advance and refrigerate until the day-of, or just store any leftovers. Either way, your cake will last up to 3 days in the fridge.
  • Freeze: You can freeze this cake for up to 3 months. Place freeze it uncovered on a sheet pan first, uncovered to protect the frosting. Once solid, wrap in several layers of plastic wrap and foil to freeze long-term. Before serving, unwrap the layers and thaw in the fridge overnight.
  • Note on nutrition info: The optional pecans are not included in the numbers below.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Keto Cake

More Keto Cake Recipes

Keto birthday cake recipe pin - 15

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • The Basic Keto Meal Formula
  • Understanding Macros
  • Keto Food Swaps
  • Keto Food List
  • Electrolyte Basics
  • Keto Diet Types
  • Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
  • Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 16

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A ProteinPick A VeggieAdd Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder VenisonCauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama CeleryButter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…Eat This
PancakesAlmond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
OatmealKeto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rollsFathead cinnamon rolls
CerealKeto nut granola
MuffinsAlmond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
DonutsAlmond flour donuts
SconesAlmond flour scones
High-sugar smoothiesSmoothie with berries or avocado
Hash brownsCauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casseroleBreakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whitesWhole eggs
Turkey baconBacon
WafflesChaffles
Keto food swaps - breakfast - 17

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…Eat This
BagelsFathead bagels
English muffinAlmond flour English muffin
White breadKeto white bread
Multigrain breadCoconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wrapsCoconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shellsCheddar cheese taco shells
Burger bunsOopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
BreadsticksCauliflower breadsticks
BiscuitsAlmond flour biscuits
CornbreadAlmond flour cornbread
CroutonsParmesan crisps
RiceCauliflower rice , konjac rice
Keto food swaps - bread and grains - 18

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…Eat This
Breaded wingsCrispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultryHigh-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoesMashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoesRoasted or fried radishes
TacosTaco salad
PizzaFathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
LasagnaEggplant lasagna
Potato saladCauliflower “potato” salad
French friesJicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater totsCauliflower tots
WrapsLettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
SushiNaruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fishBreaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
SpaghettiZoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles
Keto food swaps - meals and sides - 19

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…Eat This
NachosCheese crisps
High-sugar fruitBerries & other keto fruits
CrackersAlmond flour crackers
HummusCauliflower hummus
Soft pretzelsFathead pretzels
PopcornPuffed cheese
Granola barsGrain-free granola bars
JamSugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurtFull-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressingRanch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
KetchupMustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauceSugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butterNatural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayoAvocado oil mayo
Maple syrupSugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chipsZucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds
Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 20

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…Eat This
SugarMonk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugarPowdered monk fruit or allulose
White flourAlmond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewyXanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
BreadcrumbsPork rinds or almond flour
MargarineButter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oilOlive or avocado oil
BananasBanana extract
Chocolate chipsSugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour rouxXanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrupDissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat
Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 21

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…Eat This
LemonadeWater with lemon
SodaFlavored sparkling water
MilkAlmond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
LatteButter coffee
Coffee creamerHeavy cream
Sweet wineDry wine
BeerUltra light beer
Mixed drinksHard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto food swaps - drinks - 22

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 23

Foods To Eat On Keto

  • Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
  • Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
  • Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
  • Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
  • Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
  • Avocados
  • Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
  • Almond flour and coconut flour
  • Eggs
  • Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

  • White flour & sugar
  • Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
  • Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
  • Cereal
  • Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
  • Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
  • Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
  • Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
  • Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
  • Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 24

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

SodiumMagnesiumPotassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts PicklesSeaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greensPotassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

  • Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
  • Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
  • Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
  • Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

  1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
  2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
  3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
  4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
  5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
  6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
  7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
  8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
  9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.
Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 25

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Keto Cake (Very Moist, Easy Recipe)

Keto cake on a plate with strawberries. - 26

This easy keto cake recipe is so rich, sweet and moist, that no one will guess it’s low carb (2g net carbs per slice). Perfect for birthdays!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/gluten-free-birthday-cake-low-carb-keto/

Keto Cake - 27 Keto Cake - 28 Keto Cake - 29 Keto Cake - 30

Ingredients

Keto Cake:

  • 1 cup Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend
  • 3/4 cup Unsalted butter (softened)
  • 8 large Eggs (at room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened almond milk (at room temperature)
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla extract
  • 3 cup Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour
  • 1/2 cup Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp Sea salt

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 32 oz Cream cheese (softened)
  • 1/3 cup Unsalted butter (softened)
  • 2/3 cup Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend (adjust to taste; regular granulated not recommended)
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line the bottoms of 3 9-inch (23-cm) round springform pans with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the butter and Besti, until fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the almond milk and vanilla extract.
  4. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Divide the batter among the 3 prepared pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 18-22 minutes , until the top is lightly golden and springs back.
  6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract, until smooth.
  7. Let the keto cake layers cool separately to room temperature before stacking. Frost between the layers, and all over the top and sides at the end. Top with chopped pecans (optional) if you like.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 slice, or 1/24 of entire recipe

  • Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid dense cake, keep your batter smooth, and options for different types of pans.
  • Store or make ahead: You can make the whole keto cake birthday cake in advance and refrigerate until the day-of, or just store any leftovers. Either way, your cake will last up to 3 days in the fridge.
  • Freeze: You can freeze this cake for up to 3 months. Place freeze it uncovered on a sheet pan first, uncovered to protect the frosting. Once solid, wrap in several layers of plastic wrap and foil to freeze long-term. Before serving, unwrap the layers and thaw in the fridge overnight.
  • Note on nutrition info: The optional pecans are not included in the numbers below.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Why You Need My Keto Cake Recipe
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Keto Cake
  • My Recipe Tips
  • Keto Cake (Very Moist, Easy Recipe) Recipe card
  • More Keto Cake Recipes
  • Recipe Reviews

Ever wished for a keto cake that tastes as fabulous as it looks, without all the carbs? With my vanilla low carb cake recipe, you absolutely can! It’s got three moist layers, that classic yellow cake flavor, and creamy cream cheese frosting . Plus, I love that I can make the batter all in one bowl. I think this is the perfect keto birthday cake. Make it with me for your next special occasion!

Why You Need My Keto Cake Recipe

Maya in the kitchen. - 31
  • Moist, fluffy, and sweet – To me, the best keto cake is about the texture, as well as sweetness without any weird aftertaste. So many of them are dry! This one is extremely moist and fluffy, with a light, tender crumb, and a sweet vanilla flavor. What you won’t taste is any bitterness or cooling effect — I can’t stand those!
  • Keto friendly and gluten-free, but also family friendly – With only 2 grams of net carbs per slice, this cake fits perfectly into your keto lifestyle without feeling like you’re missing out. But with a large cake like this, I think it’s just as important that you won’t be the only one wanting to eat it. My family and friends happily do!
  • Great for any occasion – I first made this recipe as a keto birthday cake, but have since served it for other holidays as well. It’s a great keto dessert for any celebration you have coming up.
Maya's signature. - 32 A tall keto birthday cake slice with candle on it. - 33

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my low carb birthday cake recipe recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Keto Cake:

  • Low Carb Flours – I use both my Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour and Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour for this recipe, because the texture turns out so much better than using one of them alone. The almond flour is particularly important because many brands are too coarse and will leave your cake grainy, and in fact this is why I created the Wholesome Yum version. YMMV with other brands! Steer clear of almond meal as well, which is the worst for texture. If you want a cake that uses just one of these flours, browse my other almond flour recipes or coconut flour recipes for other options.
  • Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – My go-to sweetener for every low carb cake I make, and there’s a reason. Not only does it taste and bake like sugar, it keeps your cake super moist . I’ve tried so many other sugar substitutes , and the result is much more dry (sometimes even gritty) with most brands. If you still want to use something else, check my sweetener conversion chart to get the right amount.
  • Unsalted Butter & Salt – I add salt separately to control the flavor, but feel free to just use salted butter. If you’re dairy-free, coconut oil is a decent stand-in, but keep in mind, it’ll change the flavor and texture a bit. Oh, and you’ll need to find a dairy-free option for the frosting, too!
  • Eggs – You need a lot because of the coconut flour. I have a list of egg substitutes here , but with the number of eggs in this keto cake recipe, I don’t think they would would work here.
  • Almond Milk – You can use store bought or my homemade almond milk , just make sure it’s unsweetened. You can also swap in other keto-friendly milks , like coconut milk beverage (the liquid kind from a carton, not the thick kind from a can) or watered down heavy cream.
  • Vanilla Extract & Baking Powder – I like this brand of vanilla and this non-GMO baking powder .

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Cream Cheese – Go for the full-fat stuff if you can; it’s richer and just works better with the keto cake.
  • Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Unlike other powdered sugar alternatives, this one dissolves completely (read: no gritty texture!) and is truly as fine as powdered sugar. Others can crystallize, too, so I highly recommend using this one.
  • Butter & Vanilla Extract
Labeled recipe ingredients: Almond flour, coconut flour, Besti sweeteners, cream cheese, eggs, butter, almond milk, vanilla, and baking powder. - 34 Frosting Variations: - 35

Frosting Variations:

Not a fan of cream cheese frosting? You can make my keto buttercream frosting for something more classic, or keto chocolate frosting if you want a contrast to the vanilla. Throw on some sugar free sprinkles for a little extra fun!

How To Make Keto Cake

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

  1. Cream the butter and Besti. Use a hand mixer to beat them in a large mixing bowl, until fluffy.
  2. Add the wet ingredients. Beat in the eggs, almond milk, and vanilla extract.
Creamed butter and Besti in a bowl. - 36 Wet ingredients mixed into the bowl. - 37
  1. Add the dry ingredients. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, and baking powder. The batter will be pretty thick — this is normal!
  2. Bake until golden. Divide the batter among 3 lined cake pans (I prefer springform pans for easy release). You won’t be able to pour it, so just spoon it in and smooth the top. After baking, let your cake layers cool completely.
Thick low carb cake batter with almond flour, coconut flour, and baking powder added. - 38 Baked keto cake in a springform pan. - 39
  1. Make the frosting. While you wait for the cakes to cool, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract in a large bowl, until smooth.
Sugar-free cream cheese frosting in a bowl. - 40
  1. Layer, layer, layer. Place one layer on a cake stand or platter and spread frosting on top. Repeat with the other two layers. Finally, frost the top and sides of your keto cake.
  2. Top with chopped pecans. My cake looked prettier with the nuts on top, and I didn’t have to obsess about making the frosting perfectly smooth. But, if your frosting skills are better than mine, feel free to skip the nuts and decorate the top however you like!
Showing the steps for frosting the keto cake and topping with nuts. - 41

This low carb cake is tall, very rich, and filling, so I usually slice it into very thin slices for serving, but did slightly larger ones for these pictures. Here you can see the texture once you slice into it:

Serving a slice of the beautiful vanilla low carb cake from a serving stand. - 42 My Recipe Tips - 43

My Recipe Tips

  • Use room temperature ingredients. Especially the butter, eggs, and almond milk. Your butter won’t cream properly if it’s cold. And if your eggs or milk are cold, they’ll solidify the butter as soon as you add them.
  • Be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of light and fluffy, which is definitely not what we’re going for.
  • Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl. I always recommend this, but especially here since we’re making this batter all in one bowl. If you don’t mind extra dishes, you could mix the dry ingredients separately first to reduce the amount of scraping you have to do.
  • This keto cake is fragile, so I recommend springform pans . They make getting the layers out so much easier! You can use regular cake pans if that’s what you’ve got, though.
  • Don’t have 3 pans? You can definitely make this keto cake recipe in 2 pans instead, or even a larger 9×13 pan for a sheet cake, like a reader asked me recently. (The baking time will vary, so you’ll need to check on it.) I don’t recommend waiting for layers to bake one at a time, though. I used to do this, but the baking powder isn’t effective in the batter sitting that long, so no longer do it.
  • Rotate and swap the positions of the pans halfway through baking. Since you’ll have 3 pans in the oven at once, they’ll bake more evenly if you do this. Be quick, so you don’t let too much heat out!
A slice of keto cake on a plate with a piece on a fork. - 44

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

Keto Cake:

  • 1 cup Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend ▢
  • 3/4 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
  • 8 large Eggs (at room temperature) ▢
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened almond milk (at room temperature) ▢
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla extract ▢
  • 3 cup Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour ▢
  • 1/2 cup Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour ▢
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Baking powder ▢
  • 1/4 tsp Sea salt ▢

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 32 oz Cream cheese (softened) ▢
  • 1/3 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
  • 2/3 cup Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend (adjust to taste; regular granulated not recommended) ▢
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line the bottoms of 3 9-inch (23-cm) round springform pans with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the butter and Besti, until fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the almond milk and vanilla extract.
  4. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Divide the batter among the 3 prepared pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 18-22 minutes , until the top is lightly golden and springs back.
  6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract, until smooth.
  7. Let the keto cake layers cool separately to room temperature before stacking. Frost between the layers, and all over the top and sides at the end. Top with chopped pecans (optional) if you like.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 slice, or 1/24 of entire recipe

  • Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid dense cake, keep your batter smooth, and options for different types of pans.
  • Store or make ahead: You can make the whole keto cake birthday cake in advance and refrigerate until the day-of, or just store any leftovers. Either way, your cake will last up to 3 days in the fridge.
  • Freeze: You can freeze this cake for up to 3 months. Place freeze it uncovered on a sheet pan first, uncovered to protect the frosting. Once solid, wrap in several layers of plastic wrap and foil to freeze long-term. Before serving, unwrap the layers and thaw in the fridge overnight.
  • Note on nutrition info: The optional pecans are not included in the numbers below.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Keto Cake

More Keto Cake Recipes

Keto birthday cake recipe pin - 45

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Why You Need My Keto Cake Recipe
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Keto Cake
  • My Recipe Tips
  • Keto Cake (Very Moist, Easy Recipe) Recipe card
  • More Keto Cake Recipes
  • Recipe Reviews

Ever wished for a keto cake that tastes as fabulous as it looks, without all the carbs? With my vanilla low carb cake recipe, you absolutely can! It’s got three moist layers, that classic yellow cake flavor, and creamy cream cheese frosting . Plus, I love that I can make the batter all in one bowl. I think this is the perfect keto birthday cake. Make it with me for your next special occasion!

Why You Need My Keto Cake Recipe

Maya in the kitchen. - 46
  • Moist, fluffy, and sweet – To me, the best keto cake is about the texture, as well as sweetness without any weird aftertaste. So many of them are dry! This one is extremely moist and fluffy, with a light, tender crumb, and a sweet vanilla flavor. What you won’t taste is any bitterness or cooling effect — I can’t stand those!
  • Keto friendly and gluten-free, but also family friendly – With only 2 grams of net carbs per slice, this cake fits perfectly into your keto lifestyle without feeling like you’re missing out. But with a large cake like this, I think it’s just as important that you won’t be the only one wanting to eat it. My family and friends happily do!
  • Great for any occasion – I first made this recipe as a keto birthday cake, but have since served it for other holidays as well. It’s a great keto dessert for any celebration you have coming up.
Maya's signature. - 47 A tall keto birthday cake slice with candle on it. - 48

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my low carb birthday cake recipe recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Keto Cake:

  • Low Carb Flours – I use both my Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour and Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour for this recipe, because the texture turns out so much better than using one of them alone. The almond flour is particularly important because many brands are too coarse and will leave your cake grainy, and in fact this is why I created the Wholesome Yum version. YMMV with other brands! Steer clear of almond meal as well, which is the worst for texture. If you want a cake that uses just one of these flours, browse my other almond flour recipes or coconut flour recipes for other options.
  • Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – My go-to sweetener for every low carb cake I make, and there’s a reason. Not only does it taste and bake like sugar, it keeps your cake super moist . I’ve tried so many other sugar substitutes , and the result is much more dry (sometimes even gritty) with most brands. If you still want to use something else, check my sweetener conversion chart to get the right amount.
  • Unsalted Butter & Salt – I add salt separately to control the flavor, but feel free to just use salted butter. If you’re dairy-free, coconut oil is a decent stand-in, but keep in mind, it’ll change the flavor and texture a bit. Oh, and you’ll need to find a dairy-free option for the frosting, too!
  • Eggs – You need a lot because of the coconut flour. I have a list of egg substitutes here , but with the number of eggs in this keto cake recipe, I don’t think they would would work here.
  • Almond Milk – You can use store bought or my homemade almond milk , just make sure it’s unsweetened. You can also swap in other keto-friendly milks , like coconut milk beverage (the liquid kind from a carton, not the thick kind from a can) or watered down heavy cream.
  • Vanilla Extract & Baking Powder – I like this brand of vanilla and this non-GMO baking powder .

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Cream Cheese – Go for the full-fat stuff if you can; it’s richer and just works better with the keto cake.
  • Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Unlike other powdered sugar alternatives, this one dissolves completely (read: no gritty texture!) and is truly as fine as powdered sugar. Others can crystallize, too, so I highly recommend using this one.
  • Butter & Vanilla Extract
Labeled recipe ingredients: Almond flour, coconut flour, Besti sweeteners, cream cheese, eggs, butter, almond milk, vanilla, and baking powder. - 49 Frosting Variations: - 50

Frosting Variations:

Not a fan of cream cheese frosting? You can make my keto buttercream frosting for something more classic, or keto chocolate frosting if you want a contrast to the vanilla. Throw on some sugar free sprinkles for a little extra fun!

How To Make Keto Cake

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

  1. Cream the butter and Besti. Use a hand mixer to beat them in a large mixing bowl, until fluffy.
  2. Add the wet ingredients. Beat in the eggs, almond milk, and vanilla extract.
Creamed butter and Besti in a bowl. - 51 Wet ingredients mixed into the bowl. - 52
  1. Add the dry ingredients. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, and baking powder. The batter will be pretty thick — this is normal!
  2. Bake until golden. Divide the batter among 3 lined cake pans (I prefer springform pans for easy release). You won’t be able to pour it, so just spoon it in and smooth the top. After baking, let your cake layers cool completely.
Thick low carb cake batter with almond flour, coconut flour, and baking powder added. - 53 Baked keto cake in a springform pan. - 54
  1. Make the frosting. While you wait for the cakes to cool, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract in a large bowl, until smooth.
Sugar-free cream cheese frosting in a bowl. - 55
  1. Layer, layer, layer. Place one layer on a cake stand or platter and spread frosting on top. Repeat with the other two layers. Finally, frost the top and sides of your keto cake.
  2. Top with chopped pecans. My cake looked prettier with the nuts on top, and I didn’t have to obsess about making the frosting perfectly smooth. But, if your frosting skills are better than mine, feel free to skip the nuts and decorate the top however you like!
Showing the steps for frosting the keto cake and topping with nuts. - 56

This low carb cake is tall, very rich, and filling, so I usually slice it into very thin slices for serving, but did slightly larger ones for these pictures. Here you can see the texture once you slice into it:

Serving a slice of the beautiful vanilla low carb cake from a serving stand. - 57 My Recipe Tips - 58

My Recipe Tips

  • Use room temperature ingredients. Especially the butter, eggs, and almond milk. Your butter won’t cream properly if it’s cold. And if your eggs or milk are cold, they’ll solidify the butter as soon as you add them.
  • Be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of light and fluffy, which is definitely not what we’re going for.
  • Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl. I always recommend this, but especially here since we’re making this batter all in one bowl. If you don’t mind extra dishes, you could mix the dry ingredients separately first to reduce the amount of scraping you have to do.
  • This keto cake is fragile, so I recommend springform pans . They make getting the layers out so much easier! You can use regular cake pans if that’s what you’ve got, though.
  • Don’t have 3 pans? You can definitely make this keto cake recipe in 2 pans instead, or even a larger 9×13 pan for a sheet cake, like a reader asked me recently. (The baking time will vary, so you’ll need to check on it.) I don’t recommend waiting for layers to bake one at a time, though. I used to do this, but the baking powder isn’t effective in the batter sitting that long, so no longer do it.
  • Rotate and swap the positions of the pans halfway through baking. Since you’ll have 3 pans in the oven at once, they’ll bake more evenly if you do this. Be quick, so you don’t let too much heat out!
A slice of keto cake on a plate with a piece on a fork. - 59

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

Keto Cake:

  • 1 cup Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend ▢
  • 3/4 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
  • 8 large Eggs (at room temperature) ▢
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened almond milk (at room temperature) ▢
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla extract ▢
  • 3 cup Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour ▢
  • 1/2 cup Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour ▢
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Baking powder ▢
  • 1/4 tsp Sea salt ▢

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 32 oz Cream cheese (softened) ▢
  • 1/3 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
  • 2/3 cup Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend (adjust to taste; regular granulated not recommended) ▢
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line the bottoms of 3 9-inch (23-cm) round springform pans with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the butter and Besti, until fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the almond milk and vanilla extract.
  4. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Divide the batter among the 3 prepared pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 18-22 minutes , until the top is lightly golden and springs back.
  6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract, until smooth.
  7. Let the keto cake layers cool separately to room temperature before stacking. Frost between the layers, and all over the top and sides at the end. Top with chopped pecans (optional) if you like.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 slice, or 1/24 of entire recipe

  • Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid dense cake, keep your batter smooth, and options for different types of pans.
  • Store or make ahead: You can make the whole keto cake birthday cake in advance and refrigerate until the day-of, or just store any leftovers. Either way, your cake will last up to 3 days in the fridge.
  • Freeze: You can freeze this cake for up to 3 months. Place freeze it uncovered on a sheet pan first, uncovered to protect the frosting. Once solid, wrap in several layers of plastic wrap and foil to freeze long-term. Before serving, unwrap the layers and thaw in the fridge overnight.
  • Note on nutrition info: The optional pecans are not included in the numbers below.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Keto Cake

More Keto Cake Recipes

Keto birthday cake recipe pin - 60

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

  • Why You Need My Keto Cake Recipe
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Keto Cake
  • My Recipe Tips
  • Keto Cake (Very Moist, Easy Recipe) Recipe card
  • More Keto Cake Recipes
  • Recipe Reviews

Ever wished for a keto cake that tastes as fabulous as it looks, without all the carbs? With my vanilla low carb cake recipe, you absolutely can! It’s got three moist layers, that classic yellow cake flavor, and creamy cream cheese frosting . Plus, I love that I can make the batter all in one bowl. I think this is the perfect keto birthday cake. Make it with me for your next special occasion!

Why You Need My Keto Cake Recipe

Maya in the kitchen. - 61
  • Moist, fluffy, and sweet – To me, the best keto cake is about the texture, as well as sweetness without any weird aftertaste. So many of them are dry! This one is extremely moist and fluffy, with a light, tender crumb, and a sweet vanilla flavor. What you won’t taste is any bitterness or cooling effect — I can’t stand those!
  • Keto friendly and gluten-free, but also family friendly – With only 2 grams of net carbs per slice, this cake fits perfectly into your keto lifestyle without feeling like you’re missing out. But with a large cake like this, I think it’s just as important that you won’t be the only one wanting to eat it. My family and friends happily do!
  • Great for any occasion – I first made this recipe as a keto birthday cake, but have since served it for other holidays as well. It’s a great keto dessert for any celebration you have coming up.
Maya's signature. - 62 A tall keto birthday cake slice with candle on it. - 63

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my low carb birthday cake recipe recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Keto Cake:

  • Low Carb Flours – I use both my Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour and Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour for this recipe, because the texture turns out so much better than using one of them alone. The almond flour is particularly important because many brands are too coarse and will leave your cake grainy, and in fact this is why I created the Wholesome Yum version. YMMV with other brands! Steer clear of almond meal as well, which is the worst for texture. If you want a cake that uses just one of these flours, browse my other almond flour recipes or coconut flour recipes for other options.
  • Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – My go-to sweetener for every low carb cake I make, and there’s a reason. Not only does it taste and bake like sugar, it keeps your cake super moist . I’ve tried so many other sugar substitutes , and the result is much more dry (sometimes even gritty) with most brands. If you still want to use something else, check my sweetener conversion chart to get the right amount.
  • Unsalted Butter & Salt – I add salt separately to control the flavor, but feel free to just use salted butter. If you’re dairy-free, coconut oil is a decent stand-in, but keep in mind, it’ll change the flavor and texture a bit. Oh, and you’ll need to find a dairy-free option for the frosting, too!
  • Eggs – You need a lot because of the coconut flour. I have a list of egg substitutes here , but with the number of eggs in this keto cake recipe, I don’t think they would would work here.
  • Almond Milk – You can use store bought or my homemade almond milk , just make sure it’s unsweetened. You can also swap in other keto-friendly milks , like coconut milk beverage (the liquid kind from a carton, not the thick kind from a can) or watered down heavy cream.
  • Vanilla Extract & Baking Powder – I like this brand of vanilla and this non-GMO baking powder .

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • Cream Cheese – Go for the full-fat stuff if you can; it’s richer and just works better with the keto cake.
  • Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Unlike other powdered sugar alternatives, this one dissolves completely (read: no gritty texture!) and is truly as fine as powdered sugar. Others can crystallize, too, so I highly recommend using this one.
  • Butter & Vanilla Extract
Labeled recipe ingredients: Almond flour, coconut flour, Besti sweeteners, cream cheese, eggs, butter, almond milk, vanilla, and baking powder. - 64 Frosting Variations: - 65

Frosting Variations:

Not a fan of cream cheese frosting? You can make my keto buttercream frosting for something more classic, or keto chocolate frosting if you want a contrast to the vanilla. Throw on some sugar free sprinkles for a little extra fun!

How To Make Keto Cake

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

  1. Cream the butter and Besti. Use a hand mixer to beat them in a large mixing bowl, until fluffy.
  2. Add the wet ingredients. Beat in the eggs, almond milk, and vanilla extract.
Creamed butter and Besti in a bowl. - 66 Wet ingredients mixed into the bowl. - 67
  1. Add the dry ingredients. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, and baking powder. The batter will be pretty thick — this is normal!
  2. Bake until golden. Divide the batter among 3 lined cake pans (I prefer springform pans for easy release). You won’t be able to pour it, so just spoon it in and smooth the top. After baking, let your cake layers cool completely.
Thick low carb cake batter with almond flour, coconut flour, and baking powder added. - 68 Baked keto cake in a springform pan. - 69
  1. Make the frosting. While you wait for the cakes to cool, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract in a large bowl, until smooth.
Sugar-free cream cheese frosting in a bowl. - 70
  1. Layer, layer, layer. Place one layer on a cake stand or platter and spread frosting on top. Repeat with the other two layers. Finally, frost the top and sides of your keto cake.
  2. Top with chopped pecans. My cake looked prettier with the nuts on top, and I didn’t have to obsess about making the frosting perfectly smooth. But, if your frosting skills are better than mine, feel free to skip the nuts and decorate the top however you like!
Showing the steps for frosting the keto cake and topping with nuts. - 71

This low carb cake is tall, very rich, and filling, so I usually slice it into very thin slices for serving, but did slightly larger ones for these pictures. Here you can see the texture once you slice into it:

Serving a slice of the beautiful vanilla low carb cake from a serving stand. - 72 My Recipe Tips - 73

My Recipe Tips

  • Use room temperature ingredients. Especially the butter, eggs, and almond milk. Your butter won’t cream properly if it’s cold. And if your eggs or milk are cold, they’ll solidify the butter as soon as you add them.
  • Be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake dense instead of light and fluffy, which is definitely not what we’re going for.
  • Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl. I always recommend this, but especially here since we’re making this batter all in one bowl. If you don’t mind extra dishes, you could mix the dry ingredients separately first to reduce the amount of scraping you have to do.
  • This keto cake is fragile, so I recommend springform pans . They make getting the layers out so much easier! You can use regular cake pans if that’s what you’ve got, though.
  • Don’t have 3 pans? You can definitely make this keto cake recipe in 2 pans instead, or even a larger 9×13 pan for a sheet cake, like a reader asked me recently. (The baking time will vary, so you’ll need to check on it.) I don’t recommend waiting for layers to bake one at a time, though. I used to do this, but the baking powder isn’t effective in the batter sitting that long, so no longer do it.
  • Rotate and swap the positions of the pans halfway through baking. Since you’ll have 3 pans in the oven at once, they’ll bake more evenly if you do this. Be quick, so you don’t let too much heat out!
A slice of keto cake on a plate with a piece on a fork. - 74

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

Keto Cake:

  • 1 cup Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend ▢
  • 3/4 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
  • 8 large Eggs (at room temperature) ▢
  • 1/2 cup Unsweetened almond milk (at room temperature) ▢
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla extract ▢
  • 3 cup Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour ▢
  • 1/2 cup Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour ▢
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Baking powder ▢
  • 1/4 tsp Sea salt ▢

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 32 oz Cream cheese (softened) ▢
  • 1/3 cup Unsalted butter (softened) ▢
  • 2/3 cup Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend (adjust to taste; regular granulated not recommended) ▢
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line the bottoms of 3 9-inch (23-cm) round springform pans with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the butter and Besti, until fluffy.
  3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the almond milk and vanilla extract.
  4. Beat in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Divide the batter among the 3 prepared pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake for 18-22 minutes , until the top is lightly golden and springs back.
  6. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered Besti, and vanilla extract, until smooth.
  7. Let the keto cake layers cool separately to room temperature before stacking. Frost between the layers, and all over the top and sides at the end. Top with chopped pecans (optional) if you like.

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Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 slice, or 1/24 of entire recipe

  • Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid dense cake, keep your batter smooth, and options for different types of pans.
  • Store or make ahead: You can make the whole keto cake birthday cake in advance and refrigerate until the day-of, or just store any leftovers. Either way, your cake will last up to 3 days in the fridge.
  • Freeze: You can freeze this cake for up to 3 months. Place freeze it uncovered on a sheet pan first, uncovered to protect the frosting. Once solid, wrap in several layers of plastic wrap and foil to freeze long-term. Before serving, unwrap the layers and thaw in the fridge overnight.
  • Note on nutrition info: The optional pecans are not included in the numbers below.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

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