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Best Ever Keto Spice Cake {Sugar Free}

This is the best ever keto spice cake, full of fall spices while super-moist and delicious! Topped with a dreamy sugar-free cream cheese frosting.

Keto spice cake

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Spice cake. What comes to mind when you hear it? So many tastes and food experiences are associated with a memory. The sense of taste so easily triggers the mind to remember the good (or bad) times you’ve tasted it before.

For me, my brain forms a picture of me standing in front of the pantry as a kid. I’m staring at that box of spice cake mix in amongst the cornstarch, rice, and other boxes. I sigh thinking how dry it may come out and, “Why couldn’t it be chocolate?”

However, for my daughter, when you hear the words “spice cake” and smell those traditional spices, she goes somewhere else completely. She’s at a picnic style table at a cowboy chuckwagon dinner and western show. Actually, it’s one of her favorite places in the world, and they serve her favorite dessert on a tin plate, spice cake.

Just between you and me, I think this keto spice cake version is even better. Not only is it gluten-free and sugar-free, but it’s super-moist. Also, did I mention the amazingly delish cream cheese frosting?

It’s just about the perfect cake, according to my 10-year-old. I hope you like it too!

Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe or PIN it here for later!

Fall spices flavor this best ever keto spice cake. Gluten-free, sugar-free with a deliciously dreamy cream cheese frosting, it may be the perfect cake for a keto diet. #ketodessertrecipes #ketodessert #lowcarbdessert

He who controls the spice controls the universe.

– Frank Herbert

What are the spices in keto spice cake?

I love a good strong spice mixture. If it’s called a spice cake, I’m of the opinion you should really taste those spices. However, it is necessary to get a good balance.

Also, it’s so important to get good quality fresh spices. You know that plastic container of ground allspice that’s been in your cabinet for 7 years? Toss it. Buy new. You’ll thank me.

Here are the spices I like to use.

Cinnamon

First of all, cinnamon. For me, cinnamon is truly a sign of fall and the coming winter. It leads us from the first cinnamon spiced fall tea, to the Christmas mulled wine, and of course those fabulous winter keto cinnamon rolls.

When you see a cinnamon stick, did you know that roll is actually tree bark? Yes, cinnamon comes from the inner bark of several trees. I’m not an expert, but most of our cinnamon comes from China and Indonesia. There are different species of cinnamon, and I’ve found what’s titled “Vietnamese Cinnamon” to have some of the strongest and best flavor.

Cinnamon has been prized as a spice for thousands of years. In ancient times, it was highly prized and valuable. In fact, it was considered worthy of the gods. There’s an inscription on the temple of Apollo at Miletus, an ancient Greek city on the western side of Turkey, which records the gifts of cinnamon and cassia.

So take a moment to really enjoy and breathe in this sacred spice fit for royals and ancient gods.

Allspice

What is allspice? Actually, allspice is not a mix of nutmeg, cloves, juniper, and others as many people believe. In actuality, it’s a berry, picked before it’s ripe from a tree (the Pimenta dioica). It’s found in southern Mexico, Central America, and other warm climates.

The berry is dried and made into a powder. It’s called “allspice” in English because Europeans thought it tasted like a mix of spices. Columbus actually thought it was pepper, and to his credit, when dried it does resemble a peppercorn.

Do you use allspice? It’s used in all sorts of dishes, from Jamaican jerk chicken to relishes, to spice cake. Try it out!

Moist gluten-free keto spice cake disappears quickly! Full of flavor, moist, with dreamy sugar-free cream cheese frosting. A fabulous low carb cake for a keto diet. #ketocakes #ketodiet #lchf

Nutmeg

Next, for a great spice that reminds me of zucchini bread and eggnog, nutmeg!

Where does nutmeg come from? I’m glad you asked! This fragrant spice comes from the seeds of a dark evergreen tree. The seed is dried out and tastes best when freshly ground.

It too is used to spice all sorts of foods, including stews, breads, puddings, you name it. Because I love history, I’m going to include that it was also prized in medieval times. Back then they used it for flavoring and food preservation. In addition, during Elizabethan times the price jumped dramatically because some believed it warded off the plague.

Cloves

Last but not least, I like to include ground cloves in my spice mixture for this low carb cake.

Cloves are a little different than the others because this spice actually comes from the flower buds of a tree (Syzygium aromaticum). Originally, like so many of these spices, they came from islands in Indonesia. The Spice Islands, and those surrounding, add an air of mystery and adventure to pirate stories.

Being a romantic, I drink in all the adventure stories surrounding them.

As far as medicinal properties go, back in the day it was used as a natural anesthetic for dental work. Some say it’s perfect for dental work being anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. Now, imagine the aforesaid pirate with his knife and eyepatch getting a tooth pulled and sucking on cloves. Fun picture.

For you, perhaps you’ve poked cloves into oranges at Christmastime? If you haven’t, well you should. 😉

🍽 Equipment

To make keto spice cake you’ll need:

Low carb keto spice cake is packed with fall spice flavor with sugar-free and gluten-free cream cheese frosting. A delight for your tastebuds while in line with a keto diet. #ketocake #ketodesserts #lowcarbcakes

🥘 Ingredients

  • butter
  • sweetener
  • cream cheese
  • eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • finely ground blanched almond flour
  • fine sea salt
  • baking soda
  • cinnamon
  • allspice
  • nutmeg
  • ground cloves
  • heavy cream
  • chopped nuts (optional)

🔪 Instructions

How to make the best keto spice cake

As I said before, the best cake is going to come from good quality fresh ingredients. Start off by assembling your ingredients and kitchen utensils. While they’re out, enjoy comparing the scents of the different spices.

Now to it. First, butter or otherwise grease an 8″ x 8″ baking dish and preheat the oven to 310 degrees Fahrenheit.

Second, start to combine the ingredients. In a high-powered blender, place the butter, sweetener, cream cheese, vanilla, and eggs. Blend it all together for about 30-40 seconds or until completely smooth. (Or mix it all together in a standing mixer).

Don’t you love how easy that sounds? I use a blender more and more lately for my baking, and it’s so quick and simple! You can always use a mixer. However, it’s more difficult to completely combine the ingredients like cream cheese and butter, without lumps.

Now, on the other side of your workspace, take out a large bowl. In it, whisk together the almond flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ground cloves.

Then pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and incorporate them with a spatula or mixer. Once completely combined together, add in the nuts if using. As this cake is generally for a member of the family with an allergy to certain nuts, we tend to leave them out.

On the other hand, if you’re not restricted by an allergy, chopped pecans would be absolutely amazing with this. Stir them in the batter until they’re evenly dispersed. Next, spread the batter into the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick just comes out clean.

Unfrosted keto spice cake. #ketocake #lowcarbdessert #spicecake

Sugar-free cream cheese frosting

While the cake cools, it’s a good time to prepare the frosting. This cream cheese frosting is neither too sweet nor too bland. In my opinion, it’s just about perfect!

To begin, mix together the cream cheese, heavy cream, and sweetener with a hand mixer for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth. Easy peasy. Mix it long enough to make it slightly fluffy if that makes sense.

Then, once the cake is cooled, spread it evenly over the keto spice cake. If you want, sprinkle some nuts on the top to make it pretty and add a nutty crunch.

And voílà! Keto spice cake for everyone! Grab a piece because it won’t last very long.

Take a bit of creamy keto spice cake. Packed with spices while gluten-free, sugar-free, and perfect as a low carb dessert. Topped with dreamy cream cheese frosting, delicious. #glutenfreecake #spicecake #ketocake

Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavor.

– William Cowper

🎂 Layered Keto Spice Cake

Are you looking for a keto spice cake that’s great for a birthday or special occasion? Simply double this recipe and bake in 8 or 9 inch round cake pans. Then frost them as a layer cake and decorate with spices or as you wish!

Layered keto spice cake is fabulous as a keto birthday cake or special occasion cake. Gluten-free, sugar-free, and delicious, it won't even seem like you're on a keto diet. #ketocake #ketodessert #ketocakerecipes

Low carb cakes

Do you have a favorite low carb cake? Keto spice cake is one we make a lot around here and everyone seems to like on a keto diet or not. This is one of the recipes I keep on hand for the inevitable cupcake the child takes to birthday parties for herself. And guess what! She likes it so much there are very few complaints about having to bring her own gluten-free cake.

Gluten-free, keto baking and cooking can be just as good as the originals, or even better, in my opinion. So embrace autumn, winter and spice. I’m willing it to come soon.

This is one cake you’re going to love!

Pin the recipe here!:

Low carb keto spice cake is deliciously moist and packed with spices. Sugar-free cream cheese frosting is the perfect touch on this popular moist gluten-free cake ideal for a keto diet. #ketocake #ketodesserts #ketorecipes #lowcarbcake

Tag me in your recipe pics on Instagram @explorermomma.

If you LOVE this recipe please consider giving it a five-star rating in the review area below!

📋 More keto fall recipes

  1. Low Carb Cinnamon Pecan Cookies
  2. Keto Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Smoothie
  3. Creamy Keto Italian Sausage Soup
  4. Keto Chili With Bacon
  5. Keto Peanut Butter Frosting
Delicious low carb keto spice cake is full of fall spices and super moist. Topped with a dreamy sugar-free cream cheese frosting, it's completely gluten-free. #ketocake #lowcarbcake #ketodessertrecipes

Best Ever Keto Spice Cake

Yield: 16
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Low carb and keto spice cake, full of fall spices while super-moist and delicious! Topped with a dreamy sugar-free cream cheese frosting.

Ingredients

Spice Cake

  • 4 tbsp melted butter
  • 1/3 cup sweetener
  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 beaten eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups blanched almond flour
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp allspice
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 4 tbsp heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup powdered sweetener, such as Swerve Confectioners

Instructions

  1. Butter an 8" x 8" baking dish and preheat the oven to 310 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. In a high-powered blender, place the butter, sweetener, cream cheese, vanilla, and eggs. Blend it all together for about 30-40 seconds or until completely smooth. (Or mix it all together in a standing mixer).
  3. Take out a large bowl, and whisk together the almond flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ground cloves.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and combine with a spatula or mixer. Once completely mixed together, add in the nuts if using. Stir until they're evenly dispersed.
  5. Spread the batter into the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick just comes out clean.

Cream cheese frosting

  1. Mix together the cream cheese, heavy cream, and sweetener with a hand mixer for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth.
  2. Spread the frosting onto the cooled spice cake. Garnish with extra nuts if using.

Notes

Nutrition Facts

Servings 16.0 Amount Per Serving 1 piece Calories 231  Total Fat 22 g Saturated Fat 8 g Monounsaturated Fat 7 g Polyunsaturated Fat 2 g Trans Fat 0 g Cholesterol 59 mg Sodium 172 mg Potassium 128 mg Total Carbohydrate 4 g Dietary Fiber 2 g Sugars 2 g Protein 6 g Net Carbohydrate 2 g

*Nutrition Facts per MyFitnessPal.com. For most accurate facts, calculate your own with the exact ingredients you use in the recipe.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 231Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @explorermomma on Instagram and hashtag it #explorermomma. Thanks a bunch!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please be aware I am not a medical specialist or nutritional professional. On this blog, I share recipes and what works for me. Please do not take anything on this blog as medical advice and always consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I use MyFitnessPal.com to calculate nutrition facts as a courtesy to my readers, and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count because does not affect my own blood glucose levels.
 
 
This is as accurate as possible, but it’s best to independently calculate nutritional information on your own with the specific ingredients you use. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Heloa

Thursday 2nd of November 2023

Can you use honey as sweetener?

Lauren

Saturday 4th of November 2023

I've never used honey so I don't know what it would do to the texture.

Lynette

Friday 29th of September 2023

Can I use the blender or food processor to combine the wet and dry ingredients as well?

Lauren

Tuesday 3rd of October 2023

I often use the blender for the wet ingredients, but then pour them into the dry to mix as it can get super thick and difficult to get all out of the blender if everything's mixed in there.

Debbie

Tuesday 12th of September 2023

This was a very delicious and moist cake. I didn't think it would come out moist as the dough was very stiff. But to my surprise, it was very moist! I loved it but the others I made it for said it could've used more sweetener, at least in the icing. I will add more next time but this recipe is a keeper for sure.

Lauren

Tuesday 3rd of October 2023

You can definitely add more or less sweetener to your liking. So glad you enjoyed it - it's one of my favorites!

Debbie

Monday 20th of March 2023

This was fabulous. Everyone who had some of this loved it too.

Lauren

Monday 20th of March 2023

Thanks for sharing! Glad you liked it!!

Britani

Wednesday 8th of February 2023

Is it supposed to rise. My cake mix turned out pretty dry and is not rising… I hope it’ll be ok.

Lauren

Thursday 9th of February 2023

It does rise but not a lot - if it's dry add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and mix.

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This post may include Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only mention products or services I genuinely love and would recommend to a friend.
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