Keto Fruit Cake - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

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Last updated: · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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An easy recipe for a keto fruit cake that tastes wonderfully nutty and rich without being cloyingly sweet.

With a prep time of just 15 minutes, it's also very easy to make, and the leftovers are really good!

Keto Fruit Cake - Healthy Recipes Blog (1)

I'm not sure why fruitcakes are so controversial. Admittedly some of them are quite bad! Dense, heavy, and filled with fake red-and-green-hued dried fruit. But when made right, I think they are absolutely delightful.

In fact, I like this cake so much, that I don't reserve it for the holidays. I make it year-round. Much like this keto gingerbread, I think it makes the perfect low-carb breakfast!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Expert tip
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Variations
  • Serving suggestions
  • Storing leftovers
  • Related recipes
  • Foodie Newsletter
  • Recipe Card
  • Let's Connect

Ingredients

I try to keep all my recipes to ten ingredients or less. To make this cake, you will need the following ingredients (the exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below):

Eggs: I use large eggs in most of my recipes, this one included.

Unsalted butter: I love using creamy European butter, but any butter will work.

Vanilla extract: Try to use the real thing - pure vanilla extract - and not the artificially flavored stuff.

Sweetener: I use stevia glycerite. You can use a granulated sweetener instead.

Orange zest: Adds great flavor, so please don't skip it.

Kosher salt: If using fine salt, use just ¼ teaspoon.

Almond flour: I use blanched finely ground almond flour in this recipe. I don't recommend using a coarse almond meal in this recipe.

Baking soda: Helps the cake rise and ensures it's nice and fluffy.

Dried cranberries: Just ½ cup, to make sure the carb count stays relatively low.

Chopped walnuts: They add wonderful flavor and a lovely crunch.

Instructions

It's easy to make this keto fruit cake! The recipe card below contains the full details. Here are the basic steps:

You start by whisking together the eggs, butter, vanilla, stevia, orange zest, and kosher salt.

Next, add the almond flour and baking soda.

Fold in the cranberries and walnuts.

Pour the mixture into a loaf pan. Bake the cake for about 30 minutes in a 350°F oven.

Keto Fruit Cake - Healthy Recipes Blog (2)

Expert tip

This is a very rich cake, so you should cut it into thin slices - thinner than you normally would. I cut mine into 14 slices.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a good fruit cake?

A good cake should not be dense, heavy, or overly sweet. It should definitely not be filled with fake-dyed "fruit."

It should be moist, yet light and fluffy. It should be gently flavored with vanilla and orange. And it should be dotted (but not overwhelmed by) real, non-dyed dried fruit and toasted nuts.

How do you keep this cake low-carb?

My version is moist-yet-fluffy and very flavorful. The nuts get toasted as the cake bakes, and the dried cranberries melt into the sweet (but not overly so) batter.

I use dried fruit sparingly, to keep this cake as low-carb as possible. And I prefer to use solely cranberries, because they are so pretty, and because I like to keep my recipes simple.

But obviously, you can replace the ½ cup of cranberries with any dried fruit you like.

How do you flavor this cake?

I use vanilla and orange zest. My cake does not contain cinnamon, because I don't want it to overwhelm and mask the other flavors.

And it does not contain alcohol, simply as a personal preference. But you can use brandy instead of vanilla extract if you wish.

Variations

I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you'd like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:

  • Add a pinch of ground cinnamon and/or nutmeg.
  • Use brandy instead of vanilla extract.
  • Replace half the dried cranberries with raisins or any other dried fruit, diced.
  • Pecans make a good substitute for walnuts in this recipe.

Serving suggestions

This cake is perfect as a breakfast, snack, or dessert. It's great all by itself. If you're serving it for dessert, you can top it with a dollop of keto whipped cream if you wish.

Storing leftovers

Once completely cool, wrap the cake in cling wrap, and then in a layer of foil. Wrapped this way, it keeps in the fridge for 4-5 days. I cut a slice and warm it slightly in the microwave before enjoying it, for just a few seconds.

You can also freeze the whole wrapped cake or freeze individual slices in a freezer bag, separated with wax paper squares.

Keto Fruit Cake - Healthy Recipes Blog (3)
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  • Keto Brownies
  • Keto Gingerbread
  • Keto Coconut Macaroons

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Recipe Card

Keto Fruit Cake - Healthy Recipes Blog (8)

4.93 from 105 votes

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Keto Fruit Cake

An easy recipe for a keto fruit cake that tastes wonderfully nutty and rich without being cloyingly sweet.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Rest time30 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: 14 slices

Calories: 195kcal

Author: Vered DeLeeuw

Ingredients

  • Avocado oil spray for pan
  • 4 large eggs
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ teaspoons stevia glycerite (equals ½ cup sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
  • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon fine salt
  • cups blanched finely ground almond flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda*
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a small loaf pan (8 X 4 inches) with two overlapping strips of parchment paper, allowing the strips to overhang on each end, creating handles (as shown in the video). Spray the parchment paper with oil.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, butter, vanilla, stevia, orange zest, and kosher salt.

  • Add the almond flour, whisking it in until very smooth. Whisk in the baking soda.

  • Add the cranberries and walnuts, folding them in with a rubber spatula.

  • Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top with a spatula.

  • Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. The cake won't get very dark.

  • Cool the cake in the pan on a cooling rack for 20 minutes, then use the parchment “handles” to lift the cake out of the pan. Place the cake on the cooling rack, allow it to cool for 10 more minutes, then slice it into 14 thin slices and serve.

Video

Notes

*Occasionally, baking soda can cause a reaction in baked goods that results in an unpleasant ammonia smell. If you're concerned about it happening, you could use ½ tablespoon of gluten-free baking powder instead of baking soda. Make sure the baking powder is fresh and not expired.

Once completely cool, wrap the cake in cling wrap, and then in a layer of foil. Wrapped this way, it keeps in the fridge for 4-5 days. I cut a slice and warm it slightly in the microwave before enjoying it, just a few seconds.

You can also freeze the whole wrapped cake or freeze individual slices in a freezer bag, separate with wax paper squares.

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Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 106mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g

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Disclaimers

Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.

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More Low-Carb Desserts

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About the Author

Keto Fruit Cake - Healthy Recipes Blog (19) Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Helliem

    Keto Fruit Cake - Healthy Recipes Blog (20)
    It's in the oven. Can't wait to try it. Looks lovely. Thank you for a lovely recipe! I'm sure I will make many more of your recipes. Joined the group and there is a lot of inspiration on there.

    Reply

    • Vered DeLeeuw

      You're very welcome! I hope it turned out well.

      Reply

    • Helliem

      Came out lovely and very yummy. Had to cook it quite a bit longer. Froze most of it. Thank you!

      Reply

      • Vered DeLeeuw

        I'm so glad you like this cake!

Keto Fruit Cake - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

Is fruitcake healthy for weight loss? ›

Fruitcake tends to have high butter, sugar and syrup content, making it high in both fat and calorie content.

Is cantaloupe good for keto? ›

With 11.2 grams of net carbs in each cup (156 grams), cantaloupe can be incorporated into a well-planned ketogenic diet. Cantaloupe also contains folate, potassium, vitamin K, and beta carotene.

What are the best keto fruits? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

How to make Mary Berry's fruit cake? ›

Put the flour, grated nutmeg, mixed spice, butter, sugar, eggs, chopped almonds, black treacle and the citrus zest into a large bowl and beat well to mix thoroughly. Fold in the soaked fruits. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and spread out evenly with the back of a spoon.

Does fruit cake raise blood sugar? ›

Traditional fruit cakes are high in maida (refined flour), trans-fats and refined sugar, which are not advisable for weight-watchers and diabetics as they increase the glycaemic index.

Can I eat fruit on keto and still lose weight? ›

People on low-carb or ketogenic diets may want to avoid most fruit, as it can prevent ketosis. A few low-carb exceptions include avocados, tomatoes and some berries. For those not following a low-carb diet, fruits are healthy foods that can definitely be part of a healthy, real-food based diet.

What is the lowest carb fruit for keto? ›

The best low-carb fruits to eat are the fruits that have the least carbs, including:
  • Watermelon.
  • Cantaloupe.
  • Strawberries.
  • Plums.
  • Kiwi.
  • Peaches.
  • Starfruit.
  • Honeydew.

Is watermelon OK on keto? ›

Can you eat watermelon on the keto diet? The short answer: watermelon can be keto-friendly. “Watermelon is relatively low in carbs compared to other fruits,” says Yawitz, explaining that you can't stay in ketosis if you eat large amounts of it, or if you're getting too many carbs from other foods.

What fruits are off limits on keto? ›

Low-carb options like berries, avocado, tomatoes, olives, and coconut offer the nutritional benefits of fruits without impacting ketosis. Conversely, high-sugar fruits like bananas, grapes, pineapple, mango, and apples should be avoided as they can impede progress on a keto diet.

Is popcorn okay for keto? ›

Net carbs are calculated by taking the total grams of carbohydrate in a food and subtracting the amount of fiber. In this case, popcorn contains 6 grams of carbs per 1 cup serving and 1.2 grams of fiber, bringing the net carbs per serving to 4.8 grams. Yes friends, popcorn is indeed a keto food.

What kind of milk is good on keto? ›

Unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, macadamia nut milk, flax milk, soy milk, cashew milk, and pea milk along with half-and-half and heavy cream are all keto-friendly milk options.

Why is my homemade fruit cake dry? ›

Now my cake is too dry

Maybe you've over baked it, or didn't use enough liquid/ not enough eggs, if the recipe says use large eggs and you haven't got large, use an extra egg, size matters! Using too much raising agents will also make for a dry cake.

Why is my fruit cake hard? ›

The primary reasons fruitcakes tend to be hard are the use of dried fruits, which can contribute to a dense texture, and the extended baking time, which helps to develop the flavors.

Why do fruit cakes crack when baking? ›

In an oven that's too hot, the outside of the cake cooks at a much faster rate than the inside. A crust forms early on, but as the inside of the cake continues to cook and rise, this crack crusts.

Does fruitcake have a lot of calories? ›

Fruit cake contains 160 calories per 44 g serving. This serving contains 4 g of fat, 2 g of protein and 31 g of carbohydrate.

Which bakery food is good for weight loss? ›

Here are some weight-loss baked goods to get you started:
  • Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies. Chocolate chip cookies are classic baked products. ...
  • Overnight Oats Chocolate Cups. Overnight oats are popular weight loss foods because they're convenient to make and eat. ...
  • Apple Cinnamon Cheesecake. ...
  • Sweet Potato Brownies.

Can fruit cake upset your stomach? ›

Fruitcake. It can be made weeks in advance, but the classic Christmas fruitcake is also a recipe for bloating. That's because it contains a large amount of dried fruits, which have a large amount of fructose and sorbitol.

Can I eat a piece of cake during weight loss? ›

If you like cake, eat a small slice once in a while but only as part of a well-balanced diet. “Deprivation never works. It's better to have a spoon or two of your favorite dessert rather than feel deprived all day because that's the number one trigger for evening bingeing,” says Setalvad.

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