Keto Lemon Cake with Lemon Frosting

By Suzanne Anderson April 5, 2023 40 mins read 141 Views

Whether you’re hosting a shower, celebrating Easter, or simply want a slice of cake with afternoon coffee, this Keto Lemon Cake is just the ticket. Gluten-free and low-carb, this pound cake is light, bright, and cheerful as its fresh lemons shine!

This keto lemon cake was inspired by the lemon loaf at Starbucks. While I do not frequent Starbucks anymore, in my younger days I loved their lemon loaf! It was the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. This lemon cake is a cleaner version of the one you’ll find behind their counter. It’s low in carbs and gluten-free but tastes just as good.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

It will satisfy your sweet tooth without loading so many carbs to your waistline.
With so many people adopting specialized diets, you can never have too may gluten-free options at your disposal for when you entertain guests.
You no longer have to pay for Starbucks’ lemon loaf. Not only does their version take its toll on your weight, it also takes a toll on your wallet!
Perfect for special occasions (or just because). It’s fancy enough for any occasion but not SO fancy it would look out of place at a pot luck.
Kid-approved. No shocker here as I don’t recall turning my nose up at any cakes when I was a child.

What Does This Keto Lemon Cake Taste Like?

This keto lemon cake is a light, sweet, and refreshing cake. Similar to my keto pound cake, the crumb on this lemon cake is very light and soft. Topped in a bright lemon frosting, this keto lemon pound cake is as cheerful as it is delicious.

Are Lemons Keto Friendly?

Citrus fruits are typically avoided on low-carb diets because of their naturally high glucose. However, when cooking or baking, citrus (lemons, grapefruit, oranges) can be incorporated quite easily, especially when spread out over multiple servings. Per the USDA Food Data Central, 1 juiced lemon yields roughly 6 carbs and only 1 gram of sugar. Therefore, yes, lemons are acceptable for keto recipes, cooking, and drinks.

Ingredients

The cake:

2 medium-sized lemons
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
3 tbsp butter, room temperature
1.5 cups sweetener
3 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2.5 cups almond flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

The frosting:

1/2 lemon, juiced
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sweetener
2-3 tbsp half-and-half

Instructions

Watch the video to see just how easy is to make this keto lemon cake with lemon frosting! A stand mixer is best for this recipe but you may also use a large mixing bowl and hand mixer. Whisking by hand is not advised because the ingredients will not get as thoroughly mixed.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a Bundt pan well and set aside.
Zest both lemons with a microplane. Juice one lemon and strain the seeds and pulp.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy with the paddle attachment, about 1 minute.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.
Add the vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest and mix to combine.
With the mixer on LOW, add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.
Transfer batter to the prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 55 minutes. The top should be set and golden brown. A toothpick check should come out mostly clean. Do not overbake or it will be overdone after cooling.
Let the cake cool to the touch in the Bundt pan before trying to flip out onto a plate.
To prepare the frosting, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese and butter in a medium-sized bowl. Add the lemon juice and powdered sweetener and beat until mixed well. Slowly add the half n half and mix until a thick but smooth consistency is reached.
Use a plastic bag or piping bag to add the frosting to the cake. Garnish with lemon zest, if desired.

Did you know? Gluten-free cakes tend to sink in the middle when they are over-beaten. Just barely incorporate your dry mix into your wet mix to minimize the chance of this happening.

FAQs

Why is cream cheese used instead of butter?

Replacing butter with cream cheese helps keep this cake light and soft, as opposed to dense and buttery. Cream cheese is the perfect pairing for fresh lemon so that the lemon shines and isn’t overcome with a buttery taste. For a more buttery cake recipe, try my best yellow cake recipe!

Can this cake be made into lemon loaf?

Yes, this pound cake may be made into a loaf cake, if preferred. A standard 8.5″ loaf pan should suffice. If using 1 loaf pan, it will take about 10 to 15 minutes longer to prepare. You will need to watch it carefully to prevent burning. Alternatively, you may split the batter between two loaf pans to shorten the bake time. You may also use a 9×13, 8″ or 9″ round, or 8×8 square and adjust the baking times as necessary. My favorite cake pans are linked in the recipe card below.

What kind of frosting is on this cake?

This keto lemon cake is iced with a lemon cream-cheese frosting. The frosting is light, lemony, and clean. Garnished with a bit of fresh lemon zest for color and je ne sais quoi! However, if frosting is not your favorite, you may omit it altogether.

How To Store Lemon Cake With Lemon Frosting

Let the cake cool completely. If you have a cake container with a lid, you can keep the cake inside. Just be sure to securely seal it. You can also wrap it delicately (so as not to mess the icing) in plastic. As the frosting contains butter and cream cheese, it’s best to store this in the fridge. It should last refrigerated for up to a week. You can also freeze this cake to serve at a later time. You may either freeze the entire cake or individual slices. It may also be frozen with the frosting. It should keep for up to 3 months. When it comes time to eat, let the cake thaw in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.

Keto Lemon Cake with Lemon Frosting

Whether you're hosting a shower, celebrating Easter, or simply want a slice of cake with afternoon coffee, this Keto Lemon Cake is just the ticket. Gluten-free and low-carb, this pound cake is light, bright, and cheerful as its fresh lemons shine!

Course Cakes

Keyword gluten free lemon cake, gluten free lemon pound cake, keto cake recipe, keto cakes, keto lemon cake, keto lemon loaf, keto lemon pound cake

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 379kcal

Author Anna Hunley | Keto In Pearls

Ingredients

The Cake:

2 medium sized lemons
8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
3 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
1.5 cups sweetener my favorite is linked below
3 large eggs room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2.5 cups almond flour
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

The Frosting:

1/2 lemon juiced (use one leftover from the cake)
4 ounces cream cheese softened
2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup powdered sweetener my favorite is linked below
2 to 3 tablespoons half-and-half

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a Bundt pan well and set aside.
Zest both lemons with a microplane. Juice one lemon and strain the seeds and pulp.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy with the paddle attachment, about 1 minute.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.
Add the vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest and mix to combine.
With the mixer on LOW, add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.
Transfer batter to the prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 55 minutes. The top should be set and golden brown. A toothpick check should come out mostly clean. Do not overbake or it will be overdone after cooling.
Let the cake cool to the touch in the Bundt pan before trying to flip out onto a plate.
To prepare the frosting, use a hand mixer to beat the cream cheese and butter in a medium-sized bowl. Add the lemon juice and powdered sweetener and beat until mixed well. Slowly add the half n half and mix until a thick but smooth consistency is reached.
Use a plastic bag or piping bag to add the frosting to the cake. Garnish with lemon zest, if desired.

The post Keto Lemon Cake with Lemon Frosting appeared first on Keto In Pearls.

By: KetoInPearls
Title: Keto Lemon Cake with Lemon Frosting
Sourced From: ketoinpearls.com/keto-lemon-cake-with-lemon-frosting/
Published Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:41:02 +0000

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat a vegetarian keto diet?

Understanding the basics of vegetarian ketosis is crucial to determine whether you are allowed to eat it. It's not as complicated as it seems; a vegetarian keto diet involves cutting out all animal products from your diet and finding plant-based foods with low carbohydrates but high fats.

Watching your macronutrients is the most important part of a vegan diet. This includes balancing carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and carbohydrate intake. Protein should be reduced, while fat should be increased. The goal is to minimize the number of carbohydrates consumed to shift your body into an optimal metabolic state known as nutritional ketosis. This will result in your body burning fat for energy instead of glucose.

Apart from monitoring carbohydrate intake and calculating macros, you will also need to pay attention to whole foods rich in nutrients like avocados, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, olive oil, and healthy unsaturated oil like coconut oil. Vitamin B12 is another important component of any vegan ketogenic lifestyle. Many people lack this essential vitamin due to poor diets.

By learning about plant-based options (like tempeh or tofu) that are naturally low in carbs but packed with protein and heart-healthy fats, then adding some strategic supplementation sprinkled with macro counting, you can easily hit your nutrient ratios for success on a vegetarian keto diet!

What is an example of a ketogenic meal?

A ketogenic diet is a great way to eat. You can think of it as healthy eating but with a special twist. The twist is to ditch processed carbs and replace them with high-quality fats and proteins.

As a result, you'll benefit from this diet's countless health benefits, such as increased energy levels, improved cognitive performance, better sleep, and improved digestion. It's all possible while enjoying delicious, great-tasting meals.

So what does an example of a tasty ketogenic meal look like? It could look like grilled salmon over fresh kale, sprinkled with parmesan and paired in olive oil with roasted vegetables. Perhaps it's an overflowing omelet with bacon bits and flavorful bell peppers. All cooked up in your favourite buttery sauce.

No matter what route you decide to take when it comes time to craft your next keto meal, remember that quality ingredients are key to making any dish a real winner! Get in the kitchen to discover new flavors and savour healthy recipes that will change your life!

What happens the first week of keto?

It is essential to research your options before starting a ketogenic eating plan. Understanding what foods to avoid and how many carbs are allowed daily is essential. It is important to understand which foods contribute to the proper balance of macronutrients.

Now it is time to build meals that fit your new lifestyle. Consuming whole, unprocessed foods will speed up your body's adaptation to this new way of living. A few easy tweaks such as including more healthy fats or proteins in every meal can dramatically improve energy levels, focus, and help with cravings.

The next step in the keto diet is to learn proper portion control. This can be done by tracking macros or consulting with a nutritionist who may offer one-on-one advice.

The first week of the keto diet transition is a time when everyone needs to be patient. It is crucial to take enough rest and stay hydrated when embarking on this journey. Allow yourself three days to assess whether this is working for your body. Each person responds differently to different things so you can give it some time.

Can you eat oatmeal on keto?

It can be difficult to find answers for unanswered questions. Many are still confused and lost when it is time to find the right food options for the keto lifestyle. Oatmeal, for example, is full of carbohydrates.

It is possible to successfully incorporate oatmeal into a Keto lifestyle, despite what the popular opinion may say. It all depends on what type you buy and how much you consume.

The first step in finding a "keto-approved" form of oatmeal is to study the ingredients. Pure oats have a high content of fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. This makes them very suitable for keto.

When adding oats into your daily diet, you'll need to be careful about how much you eat. Don't try to run a marathon. Or eat too many of those overnight bowls. Use self-control. You can control your portions and still maximize flavour potentials with innovative ingredients such as coconut cream, chia seeds, or cinnamon powder.

If you follow the correct steps, oatmeal can serve as an alternative breakfast option to Keto. Do not let anyone tell you to sacrifice taste for your principles. Proper preparation can lead to serious results.

Statistics

It typically contains 70% fat, 20% protein, and only 10% carbs (9Trusted (healthline.com)
One older study found that the ketogenic diet improved insulin sensitivity by a whopping 75% (25Trusted Source (healthline.com)
Around 35% of total calorie intake is probably the upper limit. (healthline.com)
Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of energy, but on a strict ketogenic diet, less than 5% of energy intake is from carbohydrates (learn more in our beginner's guide for the ketogenic diet). (eatingwell.com)
Recommended Keto diet includes: Keto sushi bites, olives, one or two hard-boiled or deviled eggs, keto-friendly snack bars, 90% dark chocolate, full-fat Greek yogurt mixed with nut butter and cocoa powder, bell peppers, and guacamole (healthline.com)

External Links

How To

Common Mistakes to Avoid on a Ketogenic Diet

The key to success is following a ketogenic diet. There are still many mistakes people make when starting their ketogenic journey. They can have a devastating impact on their progress.

It is important to pay attention to what you eat and how much. You can lose weight by eating too many fats and making poor carb choices. It's important to remember to monitor your intake of carbohydrates, fat, and protein levels for each meal.

Accidentally eating hidden carbs could really hamper your efforts. Processed meats, parmesan cheese, and other seemingly innocent foods can all contain hidden carbs, so it's important to read labels carefully. Restaurant meals may have higher carbohydrate levels than the recommended limit.

A keto-friendly diet can be difficult if you don't drink enough water. During ketosis the body needs lots of fluids, especially during the induction phase. It also has to adjust to fasting. Forgetting this simple rule could lead to negative side effects, including headaches, fatigue, and muscle cramps - easily avoided by simply staying hydrated!

Don't expect miracles to happen overnight. It takes time before the body can burn fats instead of glucose. You should be patient with yourself, as you join this "keto community." To stay motivated, keep track and appreciate the fact that it may take some time.