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Updated 11/22/2021
If delicious pancakes have been off the menu at your house because you’re following a low carb diet, we’ve got some great news for you. We searched high and low for the best keto pancake recipes, and we found some real winners. Best of all, if you’ve got already got almond flour sitting around for your other baking needs, you can use it to make many of these low carb recipes right now.
So what are you waiting for? Check out our top picks below, and let us know which pancake recipe is your new favorite.
The Best Keto Low Carb Pancake Recipes
You’ve probably seen keto pancake mix at your local store. We admit, some brands aren’t too bad if you’re in a pinch. But if you’re following a lower carb diet and don’t want to settle for “not too bad”, we highly recommend that you try one of the recipes below.
Before you get started, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Each recipe yields two servings, so double or triple the ingredients if you’re cooking for a larger crowd
- We recommend butter for oiling your pan, but you can use ghee or vegetable oil if you prefer
- Because these recipes don’t use wheat flour, you can easily adapt them to be gluten-free pancakes by just double-checking the baking powder and artificial sugar
1. Traditional Low Carb Keto Pancakes
If you’re looking for a quick and easy keto pancake recipe that mimics traditional hotcakes, this is the one to try. You’ll enjoy plain pancakes that are just waiting for faux maple syrup, butter, or whatever fixings you prefer.
Ingredients:
2 large eggs, whites and yolks separated
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons granulated artificial sugar
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup loosely packed almond flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites for several minutes until they’re foamy.
- In a separate bowl, blend the egg yolks, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, artificial sugar, and salt until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the almond flour and baking powder to the egg yolk mixture, and blend again until smooth.
- Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the egg yolk mixture until incorporated, being careful not to stir or mix too much.
- Using medium heat, melt the butter in a non-stick pan.
- Scoop two tablespoons of pancake batter into the heated pan, and allow to cook for about two minutes on each side.
2. Yummy Hot Cocoa Keto Pancakes
When we’re craving something a little sweet, we turn to these incredible keto pancakes. The cocoa powder isn’t overwhelming, but there’s just enough to give you warm feelings. We like having them with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate made with heavy cream.
Ingredients:
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon granulated artificial sugar
4 ounces softened cream cheese
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- Combine all ingredients except butter in a bowl, and use a hand mixer to blend until smooth.
- Using medium heat, melt butter in a non-stick pan.
- Scoop two tablespoons of the pancake batter into the heated pan, and allow to cook for about two minutes on each side.
3. Savory Keto Cream Cheese Pancakes
The eggs and cream cheese in these low carb pancakes produce a denser, more savory result. With these, we prefer to add a nice pat of butter rather than a sugar free syrup.
Ingredients:
4 large eggs
4 ounces softened cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon granulated artificial sugar
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- Combine all ingredients except butter in a bowl, and blend using a hand mixer until smooth.
- Using medium heat, melt butter in a non-stick pan.
- Pour two tablespoons of batter into the heated pan, and cook for about two minutes on each side.
4. Thick and Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Low Carb Pancakes
When a sugar craving strikes, these fluffy keto pancakes hit the spot. To really get that cinnamon roll vibe, you have to make the glaze —it’s so good, you’ll think you’re cheating on your no carb diet.
Ingredients:
3 large eggs
1/2 cup almond flour
2 tablespoons coconut flour
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon granulated artificial sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons coconut butter
1 teaspoon butter
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl except butter, coconut butter, one teaspoon cinnamon, and one tablespoon milk.
- Blend the ingredients using a hand mixer until the mixture is thick and smooth.
- Allow the pancake batter to sit for 10 minutes so that the flours can absorb some liquid. If the mixture becomes too thick, you may add additional milk to thin it slightly.
- Using medium heat, melt butter in a non-stick pan.
- Scoop two tablespoons of batter into the heated pan, and cook for about two minutes per side.
- After you’ve prepared the pancakes, heat the remaining coconut butter, cinnamon, and milk in a saucepan until melted , stirring regularly, to create a glaze.
- Drizzle the glaze over pancakes as you serve.
5. Double Chocolate Low Carb Keto Pancakes
Even long-time followers of a low carb diet have to admit that cravings for chocolate can come out of nowhere. Thankfully, we’ve got delicious but totally low carb pancakes that are so rich and decadent, you might make them for dessert too.
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons coconut flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated artificial sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 large eggs (whites only)
2 tablespoons applesauce
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons low-carb chocolate chips
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- In a bowl, add all dry ingredients except for chocolate chips, and stir to combine.
- In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and vanilla extract until foamy.
- Stir the egg whites mixture and applesauce into the dry ingredients, and blend well.
- Slowly add milk to the mixture until you form a thick, pourable batter.
- Let the batter sit for several minutes to thicken further. If it gets too thick, add milk until it regains the right consistency.
- Using medium heat, melt butter in a non-stick pan.
- Pour two tablespoons of batter into the heated pan, and cook on each side for about three minutes.
6. Tangy, Blueberry-Loaded Low Carb Pancakes
Blueberries are an awesome fruit for those following a keto diet because they pack tons of flavor into such a tiny serving. We’ve included this recipe on our list of favorite keto pancake recipes because the ricotta and blueberries come together perfectly.
Ingredients:
2 large eggs
1/4 cup ricotta
1/8 cup vanilla almond milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup almond flour
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1/4 teaspoon granulated artificial sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup blueberries
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- Using a hand mixer, blend the eggs, ricotta, almond milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the almond flour, flaxseed meal, artificial sugar, salt, and baking powder.
- Slowly add the almond flour mixture to the eggs mixture, blending until smooth.
- Using a hand mixer, blend the eggs, ricotta, almond milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the almond flour, flaxseed meal, artificial sugar, salt, and baking powder.
- Slowly add the almond flour mixture to the eggs mixture, blending until smooth.
- Add the blueberries to the pancake batter, stirring gently.
- Using medium heat, melt the butter in a non-stick pan.
- Pour about two tablespoons of batter into the heated pan, making sure to each pancake gets an equal number of blueberries (typically three to four each).
7. Festive Pumpkin Spice Low Carb Keto Pancakes
This keto pancakes recipe is obviously a winner for the holidays, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying them all year round. We use fresh pumpkin puree in the fall, but we cheat with canned puree in the warmer months.
Ingredients:
2 large eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon butter
1 cup almond meal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
- Add the eggs, sour cream, pumpkin puree, and two tablespoons of butter to a bowl, and blend using a hand mixer until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the almond meal, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and baking powder.
- Add the eggs mixture to the dry ingredients mixture, and blend again until smooth.
- Over medium heat, melt the remaining butter in a non-stick pan.
- Pour two tablespoons of batter into the heated pan, and cook on each side for about two minutes.
- Serve warm with pumpkin spice sprinkled on top.
Tips For Making the Best Keto Pancakes
Here a few tips to help ensure your pancakes come out as perfect as possible.
Use the Right Flour for Keto Pancakes
Almond flour is the typical go-to for making keto and low carb pancakes. While coconut flour is also a popular choice, you’ll find that almond flour pancakes look and taste more like traditional pancakes. Almond flour also has fewer carbs than coconut flour and a more neutral flavor.
When whipping together a food that’s been modified to satisfy a particular diet, it’s always best to follow your chosen recipe as closely as possible for the best results. If your recipe calls for coconut flour, we suggest following it. But if you’re given the choice between the two, we think you should opt for making almond flour pancakes.
Make Sure Your Pan is Hot (But Not Too Hot)
Ensuring your pan gets nice and hot is one of the secrets to creating the best keto pancakes.
If your pan isn’t hot enough, your pancakes will absorb your melted butter and be greasy. They’ll also take longer to cook, and they may be under-cooked if you follow our recommended cooking times.
On the other hand, if your pan is too hot, you’ll burn your butter and your pancakes. And believe it or not, the pancakes may still end up under-cooked if you pull them because the outside is turning dark brown too soon.
You can tell that your pan is at the right temp by flicking a couple of drops of water on it. If the water remains in the pan, it’s not hot enough. If the drops spatter and then quickly evaporate, the pan is ready.
Double-Check Your Syrups and Toppings
The last thing you want to do is go through all the trouble of making the perfect low carb pancakes, just to undo your efforts by adding the wrong toppings.
Of course, just because you’re following a keto diet, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy traditional pancake fixings. If you’re craving a thick, sweet glaze, reach for a keto maple syrup (sugar free maple syrup typically fits the bill).
Depending on which recipe you’ve followed, a sugar-free chocolate syrup or a fruity keto-friendly jam may also be tasty options.
FAQs About Making Keto Pancakes
Why do my keto pancakes fall apart?
If your low carb pancakes are falling apart, you’re probably missing or are short on an ingredient.
If you’re cooking with almond flour, you may need to add more egg to the batter for better cohesion. If you’re making coconut flour pancakes, it might be more cream cheese that you need.
What’s best for keto pancakes, almond or coconut flour?
Between the two, we find that flour made from almonds is a better choice. It has fewer carbs, a more neutral taste, and a consistency that’s closer to wheat flour.
Why are my keto pancakes so dry?
Biting into a keto pancake to find it too dry or grainy is no fun. What you need to do next time is add more liquid. That’s because almond and coconut flours tend to absorb more liquid than wheat flour.
You can generally tell a pancake is going to come out dry by carefully looking over the batter. If it’s too thick, just add milk or your favorite milk substitute by the spoonful until it reaches a smoother consistency.
Wrapping Up
Your days of craving pancakes you can’t have are over. The recipes above are perfect for those following keto, but they’re also great if you’re gluten free or looking for sugar free options. Just be sure to watch those product labels, and yummy, keto-friendly pancakes are all yours.
Looking for more low carb breakfast ideas? Check out our favorite keto egg breakfast recipes to find more meals you’ll love.