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Wednesday, July 20, 2022

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix

One of the hardest things about sticking to a keto diet or low carb lifestyle is finding good, grain-free alternatives to conventional wheat bread, rolls, buns, etc. The same is true for people with food allergies or other medical conditions that require following a dairy-free, sugar-free, grain-free (or wheat-free) or gluten-free diet.

While a burger wrapped in lettuce or sandwiched between pieces of low carb, keto-friendly bread (or whatever wrapper meets your dietary restrictions) is fine, sometimes you just want to eat a burger inside a real hamburger bun. The challenge is finding one with a good enough taste and texture that also fits within your preferred (or medically necessary) healthy eating lifestyle.

Today, I'll share my product review of KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix, the best low carb keto sandwich and burger buns mix I have found since 2019, when I started my keto weight loss diet that helped me lose nearly 60 pounds and then continued to follow a healthy low carb lifestyle.

UPDATE: July, 2023 KetoBakes has announced that it is going out of business. I will try to find a good replacement for their wonderful keto sandwich and burger buns mix.

Main Image - KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Mix

Low Carb, Keto Friendly Burger Buns With a Great Taste and Texture

I have tried quite a few commercial low carb burger buns that claimed to be keto friendly. My favorite from a taste and texture perspective are the Sola Golden Wheat Hamburger Buns, which have a taste and texture that resemble their high-carb counterparts more than most. They're soft, sturdy enough to hold up well as a "hamburger holder" or sandwich bun, and both the taste and texture are improved after a minute or two in a toaster oven. They are baked fresh weekly, are shipped frozen and defrost in transit, and the company recommends freezing them upon receipt and thawing them as needed.

They contain 14g of protein, which is great, and 11g of dietary fiber. They also contain 19g total carbs and 6g net carbs after you subtract the 11g of fiber and 2g of sugar alcohol (erythritol), which can be a bit high for someone who is trying to lose weight on a ketogenic diet and has a low daily net carb limit.

Even though they are marketed as "keto-friendly," they contain ingredients such as wheat that are fine for people who are doing so-called "dirty keto" or "lazy keto" but don't fit the requirements for a "clean keto" or strict keto diet. They also contain some ingredients that are food allergens and, therefore, make them off-limits to my friends and family members who need to eat gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, grain-free or even just wheat-free. So, while I really like the Sola Golden Wheat Hamburger Buns, I also wanted to find some low carb burger buns that had not only a satisfying taste and texture but also fewer net carbs and only "clean keto" ingredients.

I have tried a couple of very good low carb recipes for keto burger buns for when I have the time, energy and inclination to bake from scratch, but since we eat burgers twice a week, I wanted low carb burger buns that were either ready-to-use or quick and easy to prepare, especially during the hot summer months. Ideally, they would also be wheat-free, grain-free, sugar-free, soy-free and gluten-free, so all my friends and family members could enjoy them, and a less expensive option than the Sola burger buns would be a bonus.

I tried several keto baking mixes for burger and sandwich buns. Unfortunately, most were disappointing in their taste, texture, or both. Recently, however, I tried a mix from a company I had not heard of before but that had great product reviews: KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix. My expectations weren't very high, based on my experiences with other keto sandwich bun mixes. Frankly, as someone with a professional background in product marketing, I also was skeptical of a product name that made such a bold marketing claim.

To my surprise (and delight), the KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix really does live up to its name, based on my experience so far with burger bun mixes from competing keto baking mix brands. (I'm always trying new products that fit my low carb lifestyle, so if another challenger de-thrones the KetoBakes low carb sandwich buns mix, I'll update this product review.)

Why KetoBakes Sandwich Buns Baking Mix Really Is the "Best EVER" Keto Burger Buns Mix

Why do I think KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix lives up to its name?

Sliced open burger bun made from KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix

This bun made with KetoBakesBest EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix is large (and tall) enough for a burger. You can see how nicely the tops brown and the airy texture that keeps these low carb buns from being dense or heavy, like so many keto baked goods.

Superior Taste and Texture

This mix produces low carb sandwich buns that aren't overly dense, bland, tough or spongy, unlike many other keto-friendly buns. The dough contains yeast, so the buns are light and full of tiny air pockets, while being sturdy enough for a burger or sandwich that you can pick up and eat with your hands without worrying about it crumbling, tearing or sagging.

I find them similar in texture to sandwich buns from a good artisan bakery!

High Protein, Moderate Fat, High Fiber, 0g Net Carbs

Dividing the prepared dough into 8 portions makes buns that are a good size for a burger or sandwich.

Nutrition Facts

8 servings per container
Serving size: 1/8 (31g)

	Per 1/8 dry mix	Per baked bun (1/8 prepared dough)
Calories	130	140
Total Fat	10g	10g
Sat. Fat	1g	1g
Trans Fat	0g	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	0mg
Sodium	360mg	410mg
Total Carbohydrate	9g	9g
Dietary Fiber	8g	8g
Total Sugars	<1g	1g
Added Sugars	0g	0g
Sugar Alcohol (Erythritol)	1g	1g
Protein	5g	8g
Net Carbs 9g total carbs-8g dietary fiber-1g sugar alcohols = 0 net carbs	0g net carbs	0g net carbs

Non-GMO, Wholesome, Clean Keto Ingredients

KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix contains the same wholesome, "clean" ingredients I use when I bake low carb, grain-free sandwich buns from scratch:

Non-GMO blanched almond flour
Organic psyllium husk
Certified gluten-free oat fiber
Non-GMO erythritol
Himalayan pink salt
Baking yeast
Aluminum-free baking powder
Xanthan gum
Pure stevia extract powder

There's nothing that I can't pronounce or am not familiar with from baking keto recipes and no chemical preservatives.

Quick and Easy to Prepare

Just mix 1 cup of egg whites, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water in a mixing bowl, add in the mix and stir by hand or with an electric mixer for 1 minute (batter will be thick and have a "porridge-like" consistency). Let it rest for 5 minutes to thicken further, then portion the dough with a measuring scoop into 8 portions, either on a parchment-lined baking sheet or a mesh silicone hamburger bun mold. (Note: If baking the buns in this type of mold, increase the egg whites to 1.5 cups.)

Bake in a preheated 350 ℉ oven for approximately 55 minutes (covering with foil after 35–40 minutes if the tops are browning too quickly). Allow the baked buns to cool for 10 minutes before slicing or freezing.

I love that, even though this baking mix contains yeast, you don't have to wait for the prepared dough to rise!

Plate with BBQ pork tenderloin sandwich on a bun made from KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix

Gluten-Free, Wheat-Free, Grain-Free, Soy-Free, Dairy-Free

The mix is manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free facility, and both the mix and the prepared buns can accommodate a wide range of dietary preferences and food allergy restrictions.

The Baked Buns Freeze Beautifully and Thaw Quickly

Since the mix contains no chemical preservatives, KetoBakes says the baked buns will keep at room temperature for one day, in the refrigerator for one week, or in zippered food storage bags in the freezer for up to four weeks. However, I have stored them successfully in the freezer for significantly longer inside my favorite Stasher Stand-Up Mega Sized Silicone Reusable Storage Bag, which has an innovative air-tight, PINCH-LOC seal that's a cinch to zip and unzip (unlike most zippered food storage bags).

The frozen buns thaw quickly and taste even better lightly toasted!

Less Expensive Than My Favorite Ready-to-Eat Low Carb Sandwich and Burger Buns

High quality keto and low carb baked goods and baking mixes are, of necessity more expensive to produce than their conventional, big brand name counterparts, thanks to the higher cost of cleaner, more nutritious ingredients (e.g., almond flour and natural sweeteners vs. wheat flour and cane sugar). The best quality mixes made with wholesome, less processed, healthier ingredients are also often made by smaller companies. Both these factors contribute to the higher retail price of good quality of high quality, healthy, low carb, keto-friendly baked goods and baking mixes.

The Sola Golden Wheat Hamburger Buns are already baked and ready to eat. Naturally, that convenience costs more. I always order six packages of four, since the price per bun for a single package of four is cost-prohibitive. As of this post's publication date, a two-pack of 4 Sola hamburger buns (8 buns) costs $13.99, or $3.50 per bun(!), whereas a six-pack (24 buns) costs $32.10, or $1.33 per bun.

A single bag of KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix makes 8 large buns and sells on Amazon for $9.99 as of this writing, or $1.25 per bun plus the cost of the added egg whites and apple cider vinegar. The price for a 3-pack of the mix (24 buns) is $29.99, which comes out to the same price per bun as the single bag of mix. You can also buy a 6-pack of the mix (48 buns) for $55.23, bringing down the cost to $1.15 per bun (plus the cost of the egg whites and vinegar).

Versatile Keto-Friendly Baking Mix for Sandwich Buns, Burger Buns, Dinner Rolls or Baguettes

In addition to making delicious sandwich buns, the prepared KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix dough can be portioned out with a 1/3-cup scoop to make 10–11 dinner rolls or shaped into baguettes no wider than 3" in diameter. The package directions provide the adjusted baking times for these variations.

Family-Owned Small Business

I love to find great products from small, family-owned businesses, especially when the quality is superior to what is available from the big-name brands and huge, multinational corporations that dominate the food industry and sacrifice quality for profits.

Note from KetoBakes small business owners on back of sandwich buns baking mix package

I also trust small, family-owned companies like KetoJoy and its KetoBakes brand low carb baking mixes, whose owners put their faces, names, personal stories and passion for their mission on their products and marketing.

If you've been looking for great-tasting, healthy, low carb, keto-friendly sandwich and burger buns with wholesome, non-GMO, clean ingredients, I'm confident that you'll love KetoBakes Best EVER Sandwich Buns Keto Bake Mix as much as I do!

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix by Margaret Schindel

Posts About My Keto Diet Journey

My First Year on The Keto Diet

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part One

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part Two

Low Carb Muffins & Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet

Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe

Good Dee’s Keto Cookie Low Carb Baking Mix Review

Hamama Microgreens Growing Kit Review & Success Tips

My Favorite Hamama Microgreens Seed Quilt Accessories

Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits With Chives Recipe

The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide

The Best Low Carb Keto Cinnamon Muffins

Wholesome Yum Keto Bread Mix and Yeast Bread Recipe

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review

The Best Advice to Maintain Your Keto Diet Weight Loss

My New Irresistibly Delicious Keto Cheese Crackers Recipe

Luscious Low Carb Keto Triple Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Quick & Easy Livlo Blueberry Scones Keto Baking Mix Review

Snack Better With The Best Healthy Keto Cookie Dough Bites

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix

Blueberry Biscuit Scones — New, Easy, Low Carb Keto Recipe

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs

An Unusual, Delicious Strawberry Chocolate Tea With 0 Calories

Delicious Sugar-Free Keto Cookies That OREO Fans Will Love

Healthy Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cereal Treats Recipe

Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones

How to Make Refreshing Vanilla Italian Soda (With or Without Cream)

Reviews of the Keto Diet by Barbara C. (aka Brite-Ideas)

My Personal Keto Testimonial

How I Stayed Committed to the Ketogenic Way of Eating

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

The Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads With No Added Sugars

The original Nutella is a luscious, thick, milk chocolate hazelnut spread manufactured by Ferrero. It has been beloved by chocolate and hazelnut lovers worldwide since it was introduced in 1964. Unfortunately, it's also packed with refined cane sugar and carbohydrates! That means it's unsuitable for anyone who is trying to avoid added sugars, following a keto diet or embracing a healthy, low carb lifestyle.

After trying many different keto-friendly chocolate hazelnut spreads over the past three years, I can highly recommend my three favorites as excellent Nutella alternatives for chocolate lovers who are watching their carbs, trying to cut back on sugar or just trying to eat healthier without feeling deprived.

Today, I'll be comparing and reviewing these top three product picks, which also fit a variety of other dietary restrictions and special diets, such as gluten-free and soy-free:

Low Carb Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads No Added Sugar

These luscious keto-friendly chocolate hazelnut spreads are so good, you'll never miss the sugar!

Before I embarked on a keto diet in 2019 and decided to make the switch to a low carb lifestyle long term, I was a huge fan of the original Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread from Ferrero for many years. Unfortunately, Nutella has 22g of carbohydrates and 21g of net carbs, of which 19g are added sugars (cane sugar), according to the Nutella nutrition information on the manufacturer's website.

My favorite low carb Nutella alternatives with no added sugars are Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (2g net carbs), ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread (1g net carbs) and ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread (1g net carbs). All three of these spreads are delicious, high-quality products. Which one(s) you choose will come down to personal preferences, price and dietary requirements.

For example, Livlō Zellō has the most pronounced hazelnut flavor and a somewhat sweeter taste than the ChocZero spreads. It has a thinner consistency and can be refrigerated to firm it up, if desired. It's also more expensive per ounce. Another difference is that you can purchase Livlō Zellō in a choice of jars or a 10-pack of convenient, portable, single-serving packets that you can pop in your purse, backpack, bag or lunch box to take on the go.

The ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Spreads (both regular and dark cocoa) have a more chocolate/cocoa-forward flavor and are a bit less sweet than the Livlō Zellō, especially the dark cocoa hazelnut spread. Both these ChocZero spreads have a thicker consistency that's more similar to Nutella, and refrigeration is not recommended. They are also significantly less expensive per ounce.

Although all three spreads contain no added sugars, the Livlō Zellō contains 1g of sugar, so it isn't considered "sugar-free" based on USDA nutrition information product labeling requirements. The ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread and the Livlō Zellō are both vegan and dairy free, whereas the regular ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread contains milk.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Livlō Zellō and ChocZero Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads With No Added Sugars

Flavor, Size and Price

	Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread	ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread	ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread
Flavor, Sweetness & Consistency	Milk chocolate hazelnut flavor, hazelnut flavor is stronger than in the two ChocZero spreads, the sweetest of the three, thinner consistency (can refrigerate to thicken, if desired)	Milk chocolate hazelnut, nice balance of cocoa and hazelnut, medium sweetness, medium-thick consistency	Dark chocolate hazelnut, leans more toward cocoa than hazelnut, a bit deeper and less sweet than the other two spreads, thickest consistency
Size	10-ounce jar OR 10 single-serving packets	12-ounce jar	12-ounce jar
Amazon price (at publication date)	$12.55 OR $15.90	$8.49	$8.49
Amazon price per ounce (at publication date)	$1.26 OR $1.41	$0.71	$0.71
Free Amazon Prime delivery	Yes	Yes	Yes

Nutrition Facts

	Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread	ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread	ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread
Serving size	2 Tbsp	2 Tbsp	2 Tbsp
Calories	170	160	190
Total Fat	16g	10g	16g
Sat. Fat	2g	4g	6g
Trans Fat	0g	0g	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	<5mg	0mg
Sodium	70mg	35mg	0mg
Total Carbohydrate	8g	17g	17g
Dietary Fiber	3g	16g	16g
Total Sugars	1g	1g	0g
Added Sugars	0g	0g	0g
Sugar Alcohol (Erythritol)	3g	N/A	N/A
Protein	4g	2g	1g
Net Carbs (Total carbs-dietary fiber-sugar alcohols=net carbs)	2g net carbs	1g net carbs	1g net carbs

Ingredients

Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread	ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread	ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread
Hazelnuts, Almonds, Erythritol, Cocoa Powder (processed with alkali), Dark Chocolate Chips (unsweetened chocolate, erythritol, cocoa butter, stevia extract, sunflower lecithin), Sunflower Oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Monk Fruit Extract	Fiber Mix (non-GMO resistant dextrin, allulose, fructooligosaccharide), Vegetable Oils and Fats (sustainable palm fruit oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter), Roasted Hazelnuts, Skim Milk Powder, Cocoa Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Monk Fruit Extract, Natural Vanilla Flavor	Fiber Mix (non-GMO resistant dextrin, fructooligosaccharide), Vegetable Oils and Fats (sustainable palm fruit oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter), Roasted Hazelnut, Cocoa Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Monk Fruit Extract, Natural Vanilla Flavor

Dietary Restrictions / Special Diets

One of the great things about these three chocolate hazelnut spreads with no added sugars is that they can accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions for people on special diets.

	Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread	ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread	ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread
Keto-Friendly	✔	✔	✔
Low Carb	✔	✔	✔
Gluten-Free	✔	✔	✔
Sugar-Free	𝗫	✔	✔
No Added Sugars	✔	✔	✔
No Sugar Alcohols	Contains erythritol	✔	✔
Uses Only Plant-Based Sweeteners	Erythritol, stevia extract and monk fruit extract	Monk fruit extract, prebiotic fiber and allulose * **	Monk fruit extract and prebiotic fiber *
Soy-Free	✔	✔	✔
Dairy-Free	✔	𝗫	✔
Vegan	✔	𝗫	✔
Food Allergy Awareness Info	Contains hazelnuts, almonds May contain a trace amount of peanuts and other tree nuts because of processing on shared equipment.	Contains coconut, hazelnut, milk. Produced in a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts.	Contains coconut, hazelnut. Produced in a facility that processes milk and peanuts.
* Check out ChocZero’s answer to the FAQ, "Is ChocZero keto friendly?" to learn why monk fruit extract and prebiotic fiber can be considered healthy, keto-friendly sweeteners.
** Read the Healthline article “Is Allulose Keto-Friendly?” to understand why allulose can be an excellent sweetener for someone following a low carb or ketogenic diet when used in moderation.

Jars of Livlo Zello and ChocZero regular and dark cacao chocolate hazelnut spreads with swooshes of each

The ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread (left) is the thickest; the original ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread (right) is slightly thinner; the Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (middle) is more fluid and spreads out more (unless you refrigerate it after stirring well).

Additional Considerations

Here are a few other considerations to help inform your product choices.

	Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread	ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread	ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread
Non-GMO	✔	✔	✔
Also Available in Single-Serving Packets	✔	𝗫	𝗫
Small business brand	✔	✔	✔
Recommended Storage	Can be stored at room temperature, May be refrigerated (after stirring well) for a firmer texture, if desired.	Store in a cool, dry place, preferably at 63-68 °F (17-20 °C). For best results, do not refrigerate or microwave.	Store in a cool, dry place, preferably at 63-68 °F (17-20 °C). For best results, do not refrigerate or microwave.

Note: In my experience, refrigerating the original or dark cocoa ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread makes it quite stiff and hard to mix or spread. However, during the cold winter months, I often scoop out a tablespoon or two into a custard cup and microwave it for a few seconds to gently warm it slightly and thin it out, and then drizzle it over keto-friendly berries, ice cream or other low carb desserts.

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars by Margaret Schindel

Posts About My Keto Diet Journey

My First Year on The Keto Diet

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part One

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part Two

Low Carb Muffins & Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet

Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe

Good Dee’s Keto Cookie Low Carb Baking Mix Review

Hamama Microgreens Growing Kit Review & Success Tips

My Favorite Hamama Microgreens Seed Quilt Accessories

Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits With Chives Recipe

The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide

The Best Low Carb Keto Cinnamon Muffins

Wholesome Yum Keto Bread Mix and Yeast Bread Recipe

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review

The Best Advice to Maintain Your Keto Diet Weight Loss

My New Irresistibly Delicious Keto Cheese Crackers Recipe

Luscious Low Carb Keto Triple Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Quick & Easy Livlo Blueberry Scones Keto Baking Mix Review

Snack Better With The Best Healthy Keto Cookie Dough Bites

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix

Blueberry Biscuit Scones — New, Easy, Low Carb Keto Recipe

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs

An Unusual, Delicious Strawberry Chocolate Tea With 0 Calories

Delicious Sugar-Free Keto Cookies That OREO Fans Will Love

Healthy Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cereal Treats Recipe

Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones

How to Make Refreshing Vanilla Italian Soda (With or Without Cream)

Reviews of the Keto Diet by Barbara C. (aka Brite-Ideas)

My Personal Keto Testimonial

How I Stayed Committed to the Ketogenic Way of Eating

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

In the heat of summer, most of us enjoy eating lighter desserts featuring sweet, fresh summer fruit and would rather spend as little time as possible cooking or baking in a hot kitchen. Some of us also may be trying to get or stay slim to look our best in lightweight, more revealing summer clothing.

In this review, I'm sharing my yummy, quick & easy low carb keto shortcake cupcakes recipe, which can be whipped up fast thanks to a keto baking mix, is bursting with sweet, ripe berries and topped with a luscious sugar-free buttercream frosting.

Quick & Easy Low Carb Mixed-Berry Shortcake Cupcakes - Keto-Friendly, Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free

A Fun Cupcake Twist on Traditional Biscuit-Based Berry Shortcake

I have made delicious keto-friendly strawberry shortcake with biscuits from a low carb baking mix topped with fresh whipped cream and berries. However, since there are only two of us in our household, that means whipping just a few tablespoons of heavy cream and assembling two shortcakes after dinner every time I want to serve them.

Recently, I got the idea to try making shortcake cupcakes, substituting cupcakes for the biscuits and low carb buttercream frosting for the whipped cream, which would let me assemble and refrigerate them in advance. While I'm making dinner, I can just take out two of the refrigerated shortcake cupcakes and set them on the counter so they will be at room temperature when we are ready for dessert.

A Delicious, Quick & Easy, Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free* Summer Dessert

The cake portion of these cupcakes is made with Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix. This healthy, sugar-free, gluten-free and nut-free boxed keto cupcake mix is a real time-saver that minimizes time in a hot kitchen during the summer months.

The baked cupcakes are paired with juicy, fresh berries, keto berry jam and a super simple sugar-free buttercream that takes just a few minutes.

Scotty's Keto Cupcake Mix + Low Carb Buttercream Frosting + Sugar-Free Berry Jam + Fresh Berries = The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes

*Important food allergy note: Although Scotty's Everyday baking mixes are made with no nut flours, their website does not state that their mixes are made in a nut-free processing facility. It is important to contact the company to find out that information if you are thinking about serving these treats to anyone who has a severe nut allergy.

low carb keto shortcake cupcakes batter in silicone muffin pan liners

Just add melted butter, eggs, water and vanilla extract to Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix for the base of these quick & easy low carb shortcake cupcakes, then split, fill, frost and decorate them with sugar-free jam, keto buttercream frosting and fresh berries.

Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix Makes an Ideal Biscuit Alternative for This Low Carb Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

I have used several keto baking mixes from Scotty's Everyday and like them a lot. Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix is sweetened very lightly, and the baked cupcakes taste a bit like the drop biscuits I sometimes make for shortcake. They are also less crumbly than traditional cupcakes using sugar and wheat flour, which makes them perfect for this recipe.

In addition to the biscuit-like flavor and sturdy structure, each cupcake prepared according to the directions on the Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix package have several other benefits:

0 net carbs (22g total carbs - 14g dietary fiber - 8g erythritol = 0 net carbs)
No added sugars
Sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit extract
14g dietary fiber
90 calories

This sugar-free, gluten-free, nut-free, low carb keto baking mix is also a cinch to prepare. Just add melted butter, eggs, water and vanilla extract. My product review rating for Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix is 5 stars!

My Favorite Keto Buttercream Frosting Recipes

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe needs a fast, simple frosting to live up to its name. I recommend the Keto Buttercream Frosting Recipe from Wholesome Yum, which has 205 calories, 16.4g of fat and 0g net carbs per serving (3 tablespoons).

If you want to significantly cut the calories and fat and are willing to spend a bit more time and effort, I highly recommend the luscious Sugar-Free Swiss Meringue Buttercream Frosting recipe from All Day I Dream About Food, which lends itself beautifully to piping and tastes out of this world. A 1/4-cup serving (4 tablespoons) has only 109 calories, 10.7g of fat and and almost zero (0.1g) net carbs.

Use Your Favorite Keto Friendly Berries

Berries are the only fruits low enough in carbohydrates to fit a ketogenic diet. The berries with the fewest net carbs are raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. Blueberries have more than twice the net carbs and half the dietary fiber of raspberries or blackberries, but are still low enough in carbs for you to enjoy a few on one of these keto shortcake cupcakes.

For the keto shortcake cupcakes I photographed for this post, I used fresh raspberries and blueberries. I also added a taste of strawberries by pairing my favorite sugar-free strawberry jam with the buttercream frosting for the filling.

cupcakes being split, filled, frosted and decorated

ChocZero Keto Strawberry Jam is delicious, spreads easily and, like the buttercream frosting, helps hold the fresh rasbperries and blueberries in place while reassembling the filled shortcake cupcakes.

The Best Low Carb Keto Strawberry Jam

I have tried several brands and flavors of sugar-free jams. Most were fairly disappointing. Some were sweetened with artificial sweeteners, which I try to avoid for health reasons. Some were too thin and loose or had big chunks of berries that made them hard to spread in a thin layer.

ChocZero is one of my favorite brands of low carb and keto-friendly products. Recently, they launched a keto strawberry jam, which I ordered immediately. Based on my experience with other sugar-free jam products, I was only cautiously optimistic. (I didn't want to get my hopes up only to be disappointed again.)

I was pleasantly surprised by the new ChocZero Keto Strawberry Jam. It has a thick, "jammy" consistency, spreads easily in as thick or thin a layer as you wish, is sweetened with monk fruit, has no added sugars, and has a delicious flavor from real strawberries. Each serving (1 tablespoon) provides a whopping 10g of dietary fiber and has just 15 calories and 1 net carb.

Unlike the other low carb, sugar-free jams and preserves I have tried, ChocZero Keto Strawberry Jam is also sticky enough to help keep the raspberries, blackberries, strawberries or blueberries in place when sandwiching them between the halves of the split shortcake cupcakes.

Five filled, frosted and decorated low carb keto shortcake cupcakes

Don't these keto-friendly shortcake cupcakes filled with jam, frosting and fresh berries look yummy, despite my messy piping of my melting buttercream? They're one of the best keto desserts to make for summer holiday gatherings including the 4th of July (especially if you use red and blue berries!).

How to Make the Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes

Recommended Kitchen Tools and Supplies for This Recipe

Silicone Muffin or Cupcake Liners
The Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix package instructions say to "Line one 12-cup standard muffin tin" without specifying the type of cupcake liners to use, I highly recommend Pantry Elements Silicone Baking Muffin Cups. They are made from BPA-, PVC- and phthalate-free, food grade platinum silicone and sturdy enough to use on their own on top of a flat baking sheet, if desired, or you can use them as liners for cupcake or muffin tins. They also come in a clear, reusable screw-top container for storage, which keeps them clean and dust-free and lets you enjoy the rainbow of bright, happy colors even when these nonstick silicone baking cups are not in use. I have used mine frequently for several years for both muffins and cupcakes and can attest to their high quality and durability.

Stainless Steel Scoop With Trigger or Spring Action Handle
I have a large assortment of these stainless steel scoops in different sizes and found that my Norpro 50mm stainless steel scoop (3 Tablespoons) was a bit too small and my Norpro 56mm stainless steel scoop (4 Tablespoons) was a bit too large. You can use a rounded 3 Tablespoon scoop of cupcake batter or, if you make a lot of cupcakes or muffins, you might want to get the Solula 18/8 Stainless Steel Ice Cream Cupcake Muffin Scoop (3.4 Tablespoons), which is just the right size and capacity to portion out nicely rounded scoops of batter into standard size muffin or cupcake pans.

Cake Decorating Set or Piping Bags With Decorating Tips
These low carb keto shortcake cupcakes will be just as delicious if you use a small offset spatula to spread the frosting on the tops, but piping the buttercream into decorative swirls makes for a more festive presentation. As you can see in the photos, I had a hard time piping the frosting onto my cupcakes, partly because I'm decades out of practice and partly because my kitchen was so hot that the buttercream quickly softened too much. Even so, I like the look of the buttercream swirls, messy though they turned out! If you are new to cake decorating and would like to give it a try, I recommend starting with a small, inexpensive, basic set, such as the Wilton Beginning Buttercream 20-Piece Cake Decorating Kit to see whether you enjoy using a piping bag and decorative tips.

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

1 package Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix
1 Tablespoon melted butter or ghee (clarified butter)
3 large eggs
1/3 cup water
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Optional but recommended: Avocado oil, clarified butter or coconut oil for greasing the cupcake liners

For the Keto Buttercream Frosting (Wholesome Yum recipe):

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature (Wholesome Yum's recipe recommends Danish Creamery European Style Unsalted Butter, which isn't available where I live; I use Kerrygold Unsalted Butter, a high-quality Irish butter made from the milk of grass-fed cows that are free of growth hormones)
1 cup Wholesome Yum Besti Keto Monk Fruit Sweetener With Allulose 1:1 Natural Powdered Sugar Replacement
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 tsp fine sea salt
1 Tablespoon heavy cream (approximately)

For the Filling:

ChocZero Keto Strawberry Jam
Fresh raspberries, strawberries, blackberries or blueberries, preferably organic

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 ℉ / 180 ℃. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper, foil or silicone cupcake liners or place 12 sturdy silicone baking cups on a baking sheet. Although not specified on the cupcake mix package directions, I recommend greasing the liners lightly with a thin film of avocado oil, clarified butter or coconut oil.
Prepare the Scotty's Everyday Keto Cupcake & Cake Mix batter according to the package directions. Use a trigger or spring action scoop to portion the batter evenly among the 12 lined muffin tin wells or silicone baking cups, using approximately 3.5 tablespoons of batter for each cupcake.
Bake for 20–22 minutes, just until they test done according to the standard "toothpick test" (i.e., insert a clean, dry toothpick into to center of one of the cupcakes and pull it back out; if it remains clean and dry, the baked goods are done). Do not overbake! Cool them on a baking rack for 20 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the muffin pan or silicone baking cups.
While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the buttercream according to the Keto Buttercream Frosting Recipe on the Wholesome Yum website.
Rinse the berries and lay them on two thicknesses of paper towel to dry. Set aside the best looking ones to decorate the tops of the cakes.
Slice the cooled keto shorctcake cupcakes in half horizontally and turn the halves cut side up. Spread a layer of ChocZero Keto Strawberry Jam on one half and a thin layer of the prepared buttercream frosting on the other half. Arrange the berries on the bottom half of the cupcake and cover them with the top half.
Frost the tops of the cupcakes with the remaining buttercream frosting. You can either spread it on with an offset spatula or put it into a piping bag fitted with a star tip (or your favorite cake decorating tip) and piping it on in swirls or rosettes. Top each frosted shortcake cupcake with one of the reserved fresh berries.
Serve on dessert plates with knives and forks, like traditional berry shortcakes. (These towering, berry-filled cupcakes are too tall to bite into directly!)

A Perfect 4th of July Dessert

Make these shortcakes with fresh raspberries (or sliced or diced strawberries) and blueberries for a festive red, white and blue 4th of July dessert that everyone at your holiday gathering can enjoy, even if they are on a gluten-free, sugar-free, nut-free, low carb or ketogenic diet.