This keto lemon pound cake is rich, buttery, and totally refreshing! Plus, it's topped with an incredibly delicious sweet sugar free lemon glaze. And with just over 3 NET CARBS per slice, this keto lemon pound cake will let you have your cake and eat it too.
The Best Keto Lemon Pound Cake
There aren't many desserts better than cake - especially keto cake!
And this keto pound cake recipe is not only fun to make, it's a dream to eat. It's smooth, refreshing, and just so satisfyingly tasty.
In fact, it's so good it's hard to eat just one piece. But, that's totally ok since it's so low in carbs, you can indulge in multiple pieces guilt-free.
Now, having said all of that, even though the cakey part of this recipe is just to die for, my favorite part has to be the lemon glaze that coats the top of the cake. It just melts in your mouth with each bite and takes the base of this keto lemon cake to a whole new level.
Plus, there are only a few simple ingredients used to make this delicious low carb pound cake recipe too. And that's always a plus in my book.
By the way, if you want another cakey keto dessert, you have to try these keto vanilla cupcakes. The keto cream cheese frosting on top is just too good to put into words.
Ingredients for Keto Lemon Pound Cake
Ok, so every one of the ingredients for this keto lemon pound cake is a common keto friendly ingredient that you probably have in your pantry/fridge already!
But, if not, make sure to pick them up because I use almost all of the same ingredients in the keto cupcakes I mentioned above.
Anyway, here are the ingredients you'll need for the cake:
- 4 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 stick of butter, softened
- ¾ cup cream cheese
- ¾ cup Granular Swerve
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ½ tablespoon lemon zest
And for the frosting:
- 1 cup Confectioners Swerve
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or more as needed
As I said, some pretty standard keto ingredients! Let me tell you though, they make one flavorful keto lemon cake.
Keto Friendly Flours to Use and Avoid
So, we're using two different kinds of keto-friendly flours for this recipe, and typically, one or the other is used. But in this case, we are combining almond flour and coconut flour to give this cake its moist and dense consistency.
Now, keep in mind that coconut flour is very absorbent and is not a substitute for almond flour. If you only use coconut flour for this keto cake, it will turn out a dry and crumbly mess, and we definitely don't want that.
So if you're running short on almond flour, have a dietary restriction, or just don't want to use almond flour, you can substitute it with either sunflower or walnut flour. Both can be used interchangeably with almond flour since they have similar properties.
KETO FRIENDLY SWEETENERS TO USE
Now let's talk about how we will be giving this cake a wonderfully sweet flavor without adding any sugar.
For this recipe, I used Granular Swerve for the cake and Confectioners Swerve for the glaze.
And if you've made one of my keto recipes before, you know that Swerve is my favorite keto friendly sweetener - it has 0 net carbs and has the same amount of sweetness as regular sugar.
So if you are ever replacing sugar in a recipe to make it keto, Swerve can be substituted for the same sugar measurement, just like in this recipe.
Another keto friendly sweetener that I suggest is Lakanto's Monkfruit Sweetener. You can use granulated for the cake and powdered for the glaze. This is also a 0 net carb sweetener that measures and has the same sweetness as sugar.
With that said, a sweetener that I DO NOT suggest using is Stevia and Stevia based products.
You need to be careful with Stevia on keto because it commonly contains maltodextrin, dextrose, and maltodextrose. These are all essentially other words for sugar, and they can kick you out of ketosis.
Not to mention, pure Stevia can be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar, making this keto lemon pound cake way too sweet to enjoy.
How to Make Keto Lemon Pound Cake
Ok, now that we have our keto friendly ingredients for today covered, let's get down to the good stuff!
Before we begin, make sure you have a 9x5-inch loaf pan ready to go! Also, you'll want to gather your ingredients so they'll be easy to grab and use.
Now, let's get baking!
Step 1: Making the Cake Batter
First, start by preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177°C) and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
Next, in a large bowl, combine the almond and coconut flour with the baking powder. Mix them until well combined and set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, and Granular Swerve with a hand mixer. Then one at a time, add your eggs - beating until everything is combined.
Lastly, add the lemon juice, flour mixture, and lemon zest and mix on the lowest setting to combine.
Step 2: Baking THE CAKE
At this time, your oven should be at 350°F (177°C) and ready to go.
Now pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. The batter will be very thick, so take your time pouring it and use a rubber spatula to help if needed.
Bake the cake for 45-60 minutes or until the center is firm and the edges are golden brown.
That said, I recommend checking the cake at the 45-minute mark - insert a toothpick in the center and if it comes out clean, your cake is done!
Also, you'll want to check the cake at about the 30-minute mark, and then again at the 40-minute mark, to see if the top is browning too quickly. And if you find the top of the cake is browning too fast too brown, cover it with tin foil for the remaining baking time.
Then, after the cake is baked and delightfully golden brown, take it out of the oven to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Then you will lift the parchment paper to remove the cake from the pan and transfer the cake to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Step 3: Making the Glaze
While your keto cake is cooling, you can prepare the glaze/icing.
So, to do that, just mix the Confectioners Swerve, cream cheese, and lemon juice in a bowl.
After the ingredients are well combined, taste-test the icing and add more lemon juice if needed. Depending on how lemony you would like the cake will determine how much lemon juice you add to the icing.
Finally, spread the glaze evenly on top of the cooled cake. And let it drip off the edges of the cake to give it that iconic lemon pound cake look.
Once your icing has set, dig in!
Storing your Keto Lemon Pound Cake
So you made this keto lemon pound cake - you and everyone who ate it loved it - and now you have some leftover.
If this sounds like you, you can either keep your keto cake in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Then it will stay good at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
You can also freeze this cake - wrap it in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and the cake will last for up to 3 months. Just make sure you thaw it in the refrigerator before enjoying it.
And if you ever want to heat your cake back up, just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds.
Nutritional Info For This Keto Cake
Ok, so this keto lemon pound cake recipe makes 12 servings, giving you the perfect keto dessert for a get-together with friends or family - or just to treat yourself for the week with.
And as I mentioned earlier, this low carb cake has just over 3 NET CARBS per piece.
Check out the rest of the nutritional information for one piece below:
- 260 Calories
- 23 Fat
- 7.0 Carbs
- 3.6 Fiber
- 3.4 NET CARBS
- 7.5 Protein
Now that's one fantastic keto friendly cake!
I love this keto lemon pound cake because it is a fresh change of pace from traditional vanilla and chocolate cakes.
Every bite of this cake tastes like sunshine and will just make you happy while eating it.
If you're hosting or want to treat your family to a delicious low carb cake, this recipe won't disappoint.
And if you make this cake, take a picture of it and tag us on Instagram! We'd love to see how it turns out and share it on our story.
EASY KETO RECIPES
If you liked this pound cake, we have a ton of other keto recipes on the blog that you'll like too.
Give one of these a try next:
- No Bake Keto Peanut Butter Pie
- Keto Creme Brulee
- Keto Chocolate Cake
- Keto Cheesecake
- Keto Brownies
- Keto Bread Pudding
Keto Lemon Pound Cake | The Best Keto Cake
This keto lemon pound cake is rich and buttery with a zesty lemon flavor and topped with a sweet sugar free lemon glaze. And with just over 3 NET CARBS per slice, this keto lemon cake will let you have your cake and eat it too.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Keto Low Carb
Ingredients
For the cake you need:
4 large eggs at room temperature
1 stick of butter (112g), softened
¾ cup (90g) cream cheese
¾ cup (100g) Granular Swerve
2 cups (220g) almond flour
½ cup (56g) coconut flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
⅓ cup lemon juice
½ tablespoon lemon zest
And for the frosting:
1 cup (125g) Confectioners Swerve
1 tablespoon cream cheese
2 tablespoons lemon juice or more as needed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the almond and coconut flour with the baking powder and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, and Granular Swerve with a hand mixer. Add your eggs one at a time while mixing until everything is combined.
- Then add the lemon juice, flour mixture, and lemon zest and mix on the lowest setting to combine.
- Pour the batter into your loaf pan and bake for 45-60 minutes or until the center is firm and the edges are golden brown.
- Check the cake at about the 30-minute mark, and again at 40 minutes. If the top of the cake is becoming too brown, cover it with tin foil.
- Let the cake cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Then lift the parchment paper to remove the cake from the pan and transfer the cake to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- While your cake is cooling, prepare the glaze icing. Mix the Confectioners Swerve, cream cheese, and lemon juice in a bowl.
- Spread the glaze evenly on top of the cooled cake and let it drip down the sides.
- Enjoy!
Notes
The scale up function does not change the gram measurements.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 260
- Fat: 23
- Carbohydrates: 7.0
- Fiber: 3.6
- Protein: 7.5
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Heather Williams
This lemon cake is truly biting into sunshine! I love it! My family loves it. I make it all the time to have for sweet tooth cravings. Awesome! Thanks Joe!
★★★★★
Joe Duff
Aweee glad you like it!
Elaina K
I’ve made a few keto pound cakes and none of them were as good as this!! Subtle lemon flavor but soooo good. Definitely making it again soon!
★★★★★
Kendra
Loved this! My kids didn’t want to try it and after they had a piece they ended up eating the whole thing lol
★★★★★
Angie
DELICIOUS! Loved the icing.
★★★★★
Joanne M.
Ok, I submitted a review but don't see it to edit it as I promised. But my initial review was on the batter consistency and taste. I made the recipe as directed for my father who eats keto foods as a treat. Im a baker but this is my first keto friendly food I've ever made. The batter tasted horrible and was gritty in texture, but I then baked it and made the glaze as directed and OMG, its delicious!! If I ate this without knowing its keto, I would have never guessed it!! So if you taste the batter, you can't go by that!! This pound cake was moist, full of flavor and if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. So, if you taste the batter and get disappointed, just wait until after its baked!! My father loved it too and couldn't believe it was keto friendly!! He's already asked me to make him extras so he can freeze them and have them on hand. My dad is 86 and he was like a little kid in a candy shop!! I'm very pleased with the way it turned out! I will making him some more tomorrow, I'm making him 2 lemon ones and then I'm going to play with the recipe a little bit and try to make another one but chocolate-chocolate chip pound cake with a chocolate cake. If all turns out well with it, I'll submit it to the website and see if perhaps they're interested in posting it. But this lemon pound cake is really delicious! Thank you!!
★★★★★
Brendan Cunningham
Hi Joanne, thank you for sharing and for the kind review 🙂 We're so happy that you liked the pound cake and are very very happy that your father enjoyed it!! A chocolate one is a fantastic idea! Try replacing about 1/4 cup of the almond flour for cocoa powder!
Gale
Taste just like Starbucks’ pound cake.
★★★★★
Annita
Best pound cake I’ve tried!!
★★★★★
Donna Chase
I am just starting to make this lemon cake. I just want to be sure that itis melted butter and not softened butter. Thank you.
Brendan Cunningham
It is softened, sorry for the confusion!
Zack
Can’t stop eating this.
★★★★★
Danielle
Great flavor, cake texture, and icing! Probably my favorite cakey keto recipe I've tried. For sure going to make it again!!
★★★★★
Vivian
LOVED THIS! Tasted like the pound cake I used to get at the coffee shop. Will absolutely be making again!
★★★★★
Lauren parker
Satisfied after making this.
★★★★★
Chloe D
Can't get over how good the glaze is on this. I'm not typically a fan of lemon flavored recipes but I loved this cake!
★★★★★
Janice
Made this for my diabetic mom and she loved loved LOVED it🙂
★★★★★
Sophie
Came out tasting better than I hoped for. Very delicious recipe!!
★★★★★
Emily
Had my sister over and we made this, us and our kids loved it!!
★★★★★
Ivy
So good!!!!
★★★★★
Deborah
Hands down favorite keto cake I've tried!!! I had a friend over and she thought it was great too.
★★★★★
Heather
So addicting!!
★★★★★
Robin
I've made this pound cake a few times and really love it. One of my favorites!
★★★★★
London
This loaf is incredible! Best low carb one I've tried.
★★★★★
Alejandra
The cake consistency is very good and icing is a delicious touch.
★★★★★
Sandy
Thank you for this recipe, I can’t wait to make it! If I were to make cupcakes instead of a loaf, how long should I bake them?
Brendan Cunningham
Of course! Glad you're going to make it 🙂 I'd say around 15-25 minutes and then check them frequently until they're done
Georgina
I enjoy lemon tasting desserts and this was one of my favs!
★★★★★
Kaila
Lemon heaven.
★★★★★
Delilah
I enjoyed this more than the one I used to get at starbucks! New fav cake recipe.
★★★★★
Lila
This loaf cake was dense, moist, and really had a great flavor to it.
★★★★★
Jaret
Incredible cake all around.
★★★★★
Andie B
I think this was the best keto cake that I have tired. The icing is so good I could eat it by the spoonful.
★★★★★
Jacklyn
THE BEST!!
★★★★★
Larry
Just an incredible pound cake. We will be making it again.
★★★★★
Fiona
All I can say is yum!!! This pound cake was very good and easy to make.
★★★★★
Brittaney
The cake and icing are a one two punch of yumminess!!
★★★★★
Rick
Legit pound cake.
★★★★★
Jane M.
Everyone in my family loved this!
★★★★★
Zoe
Super good texture and flavor in this!
★★★★★
Margaret
, I made the glaze using 4 tablespoons confectioner sugar(my personal mix of erythritol, stevia and monk fruit), 2 T butter, 1 T cream cheese, 1 T lemon juice and 3 drops vanilla
★★★★★