Low Carb Fruitcake

An easy recipe for a gluten-free, keto and low carb fruitcake, that tastes wonderfully nutty and rich without being cloyingly sweet.

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

What makes a good fruitcake?

A good cake should not be dense, heavy or sickeningly 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.

The ingredients needed to make this recipe

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

1. Eggs
2. Unsalted butter
3. Vanilla extract
4. Sweetener (I use stevia glycerite, which I believe is quite safe)
5. Orange zest
6. Kosher salt
7. Almond flour (a healthy ingredient)
8. Baking soda
9. Dried cranberries
10. Chopped walnuts (another healthy ingredient)

How to make low carb fruitcake

The recipe card below has the full details. Here are the basic steps:

1. Start by whisking together the eggs, butter, vanilla, stevia, orange zest, and kosher salt.
2. Add the almond flour and baking soda.
3. Fold in the cranberries and walnuts.
4. Pour the mixture into a loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

My version of a gluten-free, low carb fruit cake, 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 1/2 cup of cranberries with any dried fruit you like. Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions.

How to flavor the cake

I use vanilla and orange zest. My low carb fruitcake 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 the vanilla extract if you wish.

Is this low carb fruitcake appropriate on the keto diet?

I think it can be, as long as it’s not a daily habit. Despite being much lower in carbs than traditional cakes, this cake is not ideal if you need to eat super low carb. For example, less than 50 grams per day. You get a thin slice for 5 grams net carbs.

This is not too bad, but my low carb gingerbread cake is probably a better choice. You get a generous slice for 3 grams net carbs.

Speaking of thin slices, this is a very rich cake, so definitely cut it into thin slices. I cut mine into 14 slices.

How to store leftovers?

Leftovers of this keto and low carb fruitcake keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. I warm them slightly in the microwave before enjoying, just a few seconds per slice. You can also freeze individual slices, separate with wax paper squares.

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4.83 from 45 votes

Low Carb Fruitcake

An easy recipe for a very tasty gluten free and low carb fruitcake, that tastes wonderfully nutty and rich without being cloyingly sweet.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Rest time30 mins

Total Time1 hr 15 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cake

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 1/2 teaspoons stevia glycerite (equals 1/2 cup sugar)
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1½ cups blanched finely ground almond flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a small loaf pan (8 X 4 inches) with two overlapping strips of parchment, 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 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 center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. The cake won’t get very dark.
• Cool in 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 to cool 10 more minutes, then slice into 14 thin slices and serve.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

NUTRITION INFO Nutrition info is approximate and may contain errors. It is calculated using the SparkPeople.com recipe calculator, and the carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Please feel free to make your own calculations. Please read the disclaimers in our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Please verify they are before using.

Nutrition Facts

Low Carb Fruitcake

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 195 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Sodium 106mg5%

Carbohydrates 7g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 5g10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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