It's easy to feel like you have to ditch dessert completely when you're following a low-carb diet, especially if it's a stricter plan like keto, which encourages dieters to avoid sugar. But there are tons of recipes that swap in low-carb, Paleo, or keto-friendly ingredients to serve up the same delicious flavors as other cookies, cakes, and candies, without derailing your weight-loss goals.
Whether you're craving chocolate, fruit, or spice, there's a low-carb dessert in this list that's right for you. And even better, these healthier alternatives don't require more work than traditional recipes. Read on for our delicious picks!
If you love pumpkin pie but don't love the carbs, these grain-free cookies are the perfect choice. Even better? They're totally vegan.
Get the recipe: gluten-free pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
Fat bombs are a popular snack for people on the keto diet, since they're pretty much carb-free. This recipe uses real berries for a creamy treat!
Get the recipe: cheesecake fat bombs
It doesn't get much easier than this delicious chocolaty dessert: just mix all the ingredients together in a big mug, then microwave.
Get the recipe: keto mug cake
These cookies are made with three different kinds of flour and flax meal, then sweetened with dates, honey, and a hint of vanilla. So, while they taste like dessert, they're healthy enough to eat any time of day.
Get the recipe: almond flour cookies
This recipe puts your Instant Pot to delicious use, making a creamy, dense New York-style cheesecake. Even the crust is low-carb and gluten-free, thanks to almond flour.
Get the recipe: low-carb Instant Pot cheesecake
Satisfy those candy cravings with truffles made from only four ingredients: peanut butter, sweetener, coconut oil, and cacao.
Get the recipe: peanut butter truffles
With rum, coconut cream, and pineapple, this trifle tastes like summer in a glass. And thanks to ingredients like coconut flour and monkfruit sweetener, it's lighter than traditional cakes and puddings.
Get the recipe: rum pineapple cake trifle
These soft chocolate chip cookies are just as flavorful as their carb-packed counterparts. Swap out butter for coconut oil to make them Paleo.
Get the recipe: keto chocolate chip cookies
The pairing of cookie dough and ice cream is heaven — which makes this version, made with almond butter ice cream and egg-free dough, eligible for sainthood.
Get the recipe: keto cookie dough blizzard
This tasty pumpkin cheesecake is never out of season. Not only is it completely yummy, but it's free of gluten, grains, and sugar.
Get the recipe: low-carb keto pumpkin cheesecake
A dense, dark chocolate cake with decadent ganache on top — it sounds like everything someone who's dieting should avoid. But this recipe delivers rich, intense flavor, without any sugar to sabotage your goals.
Get the recipe: keto chocolate cake
These caramel pecan cookies taste just like pecan pie — and with ingredients like almond flour and xantham gum, they're far more virtuous.
Get the recipe: keto caramel pecan cookies
Baking a cake can feel like a lot of work (and temptation) if you're on your own, and this personalized shortcake is just the answer. It layers a light, low-carb cake with fresh strawberries and a healthy scoop of yogurt.
Get the recipe: strawberry shortcake for one
Fudge feels like one of those foods that just can't possibly be healthy. Never say never, though: this recipe contains just 0.5 grams of carbs per serving.
Get the recipe: keto fudge
Lemon bars are a staple, but the creamy fillings and shortbread-like crusts aren't exactly low-carb. With just five ingredients, you can make a delicious treat that you'd never guess has substitutions!
Get the recipe: sugar-free keto low-carb lemon bars
This recipe transforms everyone's favorite candy into a relatively healthy snack, using coconut butter, dark chocolate, and matcha.
Get the recipe: dark chocolate matcha coconut butter keto cups
Panna cotta sounds pretty fancy, but it's easier than you think. In this dairy-free, low-carb, and Paleo recipe, a moist carrot cake sits on top of a creamy, spiced panna cotta base made with coconut milk and honey.
Get the recipe: grain-free carrot cake coconut panna cotta
Only six ingredients are needed for these pecan shortbread cookies, and they're gluten-free and keto-friendly! You'll mix extra pieces of pecan into the dough for a crunch in every bite.
Get the recipe: pecan sandies
For a refreshing, citrusy treat, try these creamy lemon fat bombs. Just mix five ingredients and freeze, and they're ready to eat!
Get the recipe: lemon cheesecake fat bombs
When you're short on time, a no-bake treat is probably your go-to. Add these easy coconut macaroons to your rotation: they're made with coconut butter and maple syrup and filled with healthy fats and natural sugars.
Get the recipe: Paleo coconut macaroons