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)
  • Keto Pound Cake
  • 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

Made this Recipe?

If you made this recipe, please leave a comment sharing your experience with others. Thank you so much!

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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? ›

We might like to pretend, based on its name, that fruitcake is a reasonably healthy sweet option, however this is not the case. Fruitcake tends to have high butter, sugar and syrup content, making it high in both fat and calorie content. The same goes for Panettone- the Italian bread that has become a holiday favorite.

Is keto cake healthier? ›

Avoids Blood Sugar Spikes: Keto desserts have a lower glycemic index, which means they won't cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, helping to maintain your energy levels. 4. Supports Ketosis: These desserts are designed to keep you in a state of ketosis, where your body burns fat for fuel, helping you shed pounds.

How to make a healthy Christmas cake? ›

Ingredients Method
  1. 600g mixed dried fruit or a mix of the following (raisins, apricot, sultanas)
  2. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  3. 1 teaspoon vanilla bean extract or paste.
  4. ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.
  5. zest and juice from 1 orange.
  6. 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
  7. 3 organic eggs.
  8. 200g (2 cups) ground almonds.

Can you freeze light fruit cake? ›

Can you advise please if it is possible to freeze a light fruit cake. Hello Amy, Yes, you can freeze this cake. Either whole or portioned, wrapped well, for up to 4 months.

What is the healthiest cake? ›

Angel Food Cake

Angel food cake is healthy because It does not contain egg yolk and butter. Without egg yolk and butter these cakes are low on calories and fats. A single slice of Angel Food Cake contains just almost around 70 calories.

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.

What is the downside of keto? ›

Calorie Depletion and Nutrient Deficiency

“Because the keto diet is so restricted, you're not receiving the nutrients — vitamins, minerals, fibers — that you get from fresh fruits, legumes, vegetables and whole grains,” says Dr. Ring. Due to these deficiencies, people also report feeling foggy and tired.

Is there a healthier version of keto? ›

There are no formal published keto 2.0 guidelines. Still, some nutritionists have understood keto 2.0 to have the following macronutrient limits: 50% fat, 30% protein, and 20% carbohydrate. This ratio is lower in fat and higher in carbohydrates compared to that of a traditional keto diet.

Can diabetes eat keto cake? ›

What's A Keto Vanilla Cake? This keto sponge cake is a simple but super tasty sugar-free vanilla cake that is also gluten-free and diabetes-friendly. Because it is made with low-carb flour and no all-purpose flour, it comes with very few carbs: only 3 grams of net carbs per slice!

Can diabetics eat Christmas cake? ›

Healthy eating for people with diabetes is the same as for everyone else. All of the traditional Christmas foods such as mince pies, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake can still be enjoyed but just don't eat too many or too much in one go.

Is it necessary to soak fruit for Christmas cake? ›

Christmas Cake is a traditional fruit cake with a rich, velvety texture that's so full flavoured and moist it can be eaten plain. But no one turns away a slosh of custard! Usually Christmas Cakes need to be started the day before, with overnight soaking of dried fruit.

Why does fruitcake last so long? ›

What typically makes fruitcake last so long is its super dense texture. This texture prevents, let's say, less than appetizing things from setting up camp in the cake's crevices. Additionally, a lot of the ingredients in our fruitcakes are dried or glaceéd, so they don't contain much moisture.

Should fruitcake be refrigerated? ›

For best quality, a fruit cake that is tightly wrapped with aluminum foil or saran warp can be stored for up to 1 month in a cool, dark pantry, 6 months in the refrigerator, and 12 months in a freezer. Check often for signs of spoilage, and if mold or off-odors develop, discard the cake.

How long should fruitcake be aged? ›

Fruitcake aficionados will tell you that the best fruit cakes are matured – or “seasoned” in fruitcake lingo – for at least three months before they are cut. Seasoning not only improves the flavor of the fruitcake, but it makes it easier to slice.

Is fruit cake full of sugar? ›

Fruit cake contains a little more sugar than carrot cake but a good proportion of this comes from the natural sugars in the dried fruit.

Is fruit pie healthier than cake? ›

You weigh the pros and cons: the pie is made with fruits, so it contains more vitamins, brings you more nutriments and is less fat.

Why was fruitcake outlawed? ›

Fruitcakes were so rich, they were considered sinful and were outlawed in Europe in the early 18th century. Restrictions eased later in the century.

Why do people eat fruitcake on Christmas? ›

Its origins go as far back as the Middle Ages, when dried fruits became more widely available. The cost of ingredients was so high that in the 17th and 18th-century fruitcakes were only made for special occasions, such as weddings and holidays, particularly in Victorian England.

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