Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (2024)

Learn how to make three keto frosting recipes to frost your cakes, muffins, brownies, and more! Vanilla frosting, chocolate frosting, and a simple cream cheese frosting. Low carb, sugar free and quick and easy!

Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (1)

See, I’ve got plenty of keto desserts that can ALL be taken up a notch by adding a thick layer of frosting, or a thinner icing.

After making a chocolate mug cake, I thought adding a chocolate icing would make it even better. I wanted one that could be as thick or thin as needed and as such, I HAD to create a sugar free frosting.

Is frosting keto?

Traditional frosting or icing recipes are not suitable for a keto diet. The main ingredient for any frosting recipe is powdered sugar, which is definitely not keto or low carb. However, by using keto powdered sugar, you can replicate all your favorite frosting flavors, that taste just like the real deal!

This sugar free frosting is so quick and easy to make, you will never leave a dessert unfrosted again!

It’s sweet, creamy, and can be made thick, like a buttercream, or thinned out, like a glaze or icing.

As much as I love a good chocolate frosting, I am also a fan of the classic vanilla and cream cheese frostings. With just ONE recipe base, you can easily create at least three frosting flavors, that are perfect for various kinds of desserts.

Here are the frosting flavors-

  • Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
  • Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (2)

How do you make keto frosting

There are three main ingredients that go into all three frosting flavors. After you’ve selected which flavor you want, all you need to do then is just add the extra 1 or 2 ingredients and you will be done!

The Ingredients

  • Powdered sugar– The key to any good frosting recipe. I used homemade keto powdered sugar, which is ridiculously quick and easy to make at home.
  • Butter– Use room temperature butter, but not melted. Also, avoid using salted butter, unless you want your frosting to have a slightly salty tinge.
  • Vanilla extract– A must for any dessert recipe.

The Instructions

Start by beating together your powdered sugar and butter on low, until combined. Add in your vanilla extract, followed by the additional ingredients (based on which flavor you are going for). Continue to beat until thick and creamy. If you’d like a thick frosting (than can easily be piped),

Flavor Variations

For all three frosting options, make the base frosting first, then add the extra ingredients as listed.

Chocolate Frosting

  • Basic frosting
  • Cocoa powder
  • Milk of choice
Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (3)

Vanilla Frosting

  • Basic frosting
  • Milk of choice
  • Vanilla bean pod (optional)
Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (4)

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Basic frosting
  • Cream Cheese (full fat or dairy free)
Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (5)

Can I make vegan frostings?

All the frostings can easily be made dairy free, especially if you want a vegan frosting. To make them vegan, make these substitutions-

  • Butter– Use dairy free butter for all flavors
  • Milk of choice– Use a plant based milk, like almond milk or soy milk
  • Cream cheese– Use a dairy free cream cheese, preferably from a block (not a spread).

Tips for the best keto frosting

  • For a thicker frosting, do not add any extra milk or water. If it isn’t thick enough to your liking, add more sugar free confectioners’ sugar.
  • If you’d prefer a thin frosting, or want to a more ‘icing’ like texture, add more milk or water.
  • Add some flavor extracts to change the flavors further- Lemon extract, strawberry extract, and coffee extract can all be added to the vanilla base.
  • If you don’t have a stand mixer or hand mixer, you can mix by hand. However, make sure your butter is room temperature and that your sugar has been sifted.

How do you store frosting?

  • To store: Regardless of which flavor you make, you must store them all in the refrigerator, in a sealable container. They will all keep well for up to 1 week. Be sure to let your frosting sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes, before using.
  • To freeze: If you’d like to freeze leftover frosting, store it in a shallow container and use it within 2 months of freezing. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, and let it sit at room temperature before frosting a cake or other dessert.
Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (6)

Ways to use frosting

  • Cakes– Any of the frostings would be great with some keto birthday cake, chocolate cake, or a flourless chocolate cake.
  • Brownies– Use the cream cheese frosting in cheesecake brownies, the chocolate frosting in flourless brownies, and the vanilla frosting in the cookie dough brownies.
  • Muffins– Add some on the tops of breakfast muffins or fudgy chocolate muffins.
  • Cupcakes– I used the cream cheese and vanilla frostings on keto cupcakes and the chocolate frosting on the vegan cupcakes.

Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (7)

Keto Frosting {3 Flavors}

5 from 532 votes

Learn how to make keto frosting using 3 ingredients and with 3 flavor options- Chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting, and cream cheese frosting! These sugar free frosting recipes are made with low carb ingredients!

Servings: 12 servings

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 10 minutes mins

Rate This Recipe

Print

Ingredients

For the frosting base

Chocolate Frosting

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1-2 tablespoon milk of choice * see notes

Vanilla Frosting

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat your powdered sugar and butter until combined, and smooth. Add in your vanilla extract.

  • Add your flavor ingredients and continue beating until the desired texture is received. For a thinner texture, add more milk.

Notes

1 serving is 1/2 cup.

For vegan frostings, replace the butter with dairy free butter and dairy free cream cheese.

* Start with 1 tablespoon and add more, as needed.

TO STORE: Regardless of which flavor you make, you must store them all in the refrigerator, in a sealable container. They will all keep well for up to 1 week. Be sure to let your frosting sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes, before using.

TO FREEZE: If you’d like to freeze leftover frosting, store it in a shallow container and use it within 2 months of freezing. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, and let it sit at room temperature before frosting a cake or other dessert.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 11gSodium: 100mgPotassium: 61mgFiber: 1gVitamin A: 368IUCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 1g

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsem*nt, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.

Keto Frosting Recipes {3 Flavors} (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient that will improve your frosting? ›

But, there are ways to make it more interesting; one such way is to hit it with a shot of vinegar. Don't worry, the icing won't taste sour or like vinegar at all, but the acid will help balance out the sweetness, making it taste more pleasant. Even better, it will make the icing stronger and more durable.

How do you thicken keto frosting? ›

You can thicken buttercream without sugar by using coconut flour or almond flour! Add a little until it looks to be the consistency you desire. Most bakers typically use flour, which works as well, but coconut flour or almond flour keep your icing lower in carbs.

Are you supposed to whip canned frosting? ›

Always begin by scraping the frosting into a mixing bowl and stirring vigorously or mixing with a mixer until smooth and creamy. This simple step of incorporating air into a can of dense store-bought frosting will make it fluffy and enhance the flavor. It may be all you need to do.

How to make can frosting taste homemade? ›

Whip the frosting with half a block of cream cheese and an extra cup of powdered sugar and a few drops of the appropriate flavoring extract. If you're using chocolate, add cocoa powder. If you want a richer buttery flavor add a few tablespoons of butter as well.

What is the most important ingredient in frosting? ›

Sugar is the most important ingredient in all types of frostings, providing sweetness, flavor, bulk and structure.

What is the hardest frosting to make? ›

Italian Meringue Buttercream

This is considered one of the very difficult methods for making buttercream because the sugar syrup must be cooked to a specific temperature and then, while piping hot, poured into the whipped egg whites.

Is cornstarch good for keto? ›

If you love cooking, you're probably used to recipes that call for cornstarch as a thickening agent. But cornstarch is typically forbidden on Keto, with a whopping 116g of net carbs per cup. That's enough to knock you and your 5 best friends out of ketosis.

How do you make frosting stiff without powdered sugar? ›

If you are trying to avoid any sweetness to your frosting you could try some cream of tartar or some cornstarch mixed with a little milk. You can also whip heavy cream to stiff peaks and fold into the softened cream cheese. People use gelatin to thicken and set whipped cream frostings.

How can I thicken my keto without flour? ›

Top 5 keto thickener substitutes
  1. Xanthan gum. Used for baking or thickening soups or sauces, xanthan gum has zero net carbs. ...
  2. Guar gum. A plant fiber from the seed of the guar plant, guar gum has zero net carbs. ...
  3. Glucomannan (konjac): ...
  4. Agar agar. ...
  5. Gelatin.

How do you make canned frosting taste like bakery? ›

Raid your pantry for flavor boosters.

Other smooth ingredients that you can add to amp up a canned frosting are peanut butter (or any nut butter of your choosing), fruit preserves or jam, nutella, marshmallow creme, cookie butter, or a citrus curd.

What makes canned frosting taste better? ›

Elevate the flavor of canned frosting by adding a personal touch. Incorporate a splash of vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, or a dollop of creamy peanut butter to enhance the taste and give it a homemade, gourmet twist.

How do you flavor canned frosting? ›

Creamy ingredients like Nutella, cream cheese, marshmallow creme, peanut butter or another nut butter will give the store-bought frosting tons of flavor with some additional smoothness. Mix in 1 cup of cream cheese or 1/2 cup of marshmallow creme or nut butter per can of frosting for a creamy delight.

Why does my homemade frosting taste weird? ›

The starch added to most powdered sugar can make frosting taste slightly metallic. Here's how to fix that: Melt the butter and mix it with the powdered sugar, salt, and milk in a stainless steel bowl. Set the bowl in a wide skillet of barely simmering water for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time.

Can you mix Cool Whip and frosting together? ›

Yes! You can use Cool Whip to lighten up canned frosting.

How do you make frosting better? ›

Whether you buy vanilla, chocolate, or another flavor, softened cream cheese or mascarpone are great ways to adjust the texture of the frosting. The fat from the dairy helps smooth out the frosting so that it's perfectly spreadable.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 6623

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.