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!
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
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
Vanilla Frosting
- Basic frosting
- Milk of choice
- Vanilla bean pod (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Basic frosting
- Cream Cheese (full fat or dairy free)
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.
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 {3 Flavors}
Ingredients
For the frosting base
- 3 cups sugar free powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Frosting
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1-2 tablespoon milk of choice * see notes
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1-2 tablespoon milk of choice * see notes
Vanilla Frosting
- 1-2 tablespoon milk of choice * see notes
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
Nutrition
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Everything looks great !!!! I got to go shopping, and then it’s time to bake.
Frosted 5 cakes with these 🙂
Arman,
Is there an option to modify the vanilla recipe to make it peanut butter flavor?
I made cakes for my friend’s wedding. She wanted a Keto/gluten free version as well. One of the layers and the bride’s choice was a lavender earl grey. So I made your birthday cake recipe and added hand ground earl grey tea leaves and lavender buds to the batter. I then made your cream cheese icing above and added hand ground earl grey tea leaves and small amount of ground lavender buds (food grade) to the icing.
It was a huge hit! The guests raved that it was just like a full carb version and so moist and perfect texture! The icing was perfect too!
Thank you for these recipes!
PS I find allulose is the best sweetener it is a rare sugar that doesn’t metabolise so no carbs and dissolves just like regular sugar. It’s a 1/3 less sweet so you will need to adjust the recipe accordingly.
Absolutely delicious!!
Fantastic cream cheese frosting! I just wanted to add that I only had about 8 ounces of Swerve left, so I used that instead of 3 cups for the base; and it was still bomb. Everyone loved it. Saving this recipe for future use!