Low carb sweet snacks are an option for those on low carb diets who crave sweets.
Most sweet snacks contain high amounts of carbohydrates and calories, so low carb options are needed. People concerned about weight or blood sugar levels should know their foods’ calories, carbohydrates, and added sugars.
Studies suggest that low carb diets can promote weight loss in the short term and help with glycemic control for people with diabetes.
However, severe carbohydrate restriction can have unwanted side effects (10).
A better choice for complex carbohydrate and fiber intake is to limit refined carbohydrates and added sugars and focus more on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Before we discuss this topic in depth, it is essential to understand what low carb means. Studies define it as the total daily carbohydrate load or a percentage of daily macronutrient intake (9).
Experts typically categorize low carb as:
Very low carb | Low carbs | Moderate carbs | Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range |
---|---|---|---|
<10% energy from carbs or 20 -50g per day | <26% energy from carbs or less than 130g/day | 26-44% energy from carbs | 45%-65% energy from carbs |
If you are on any of these low carb diets or just want to reduce your added sugar intake, there are several low carb sweet snack recipes that you can try.
Let’s discuss everything you need to know about low carb sweet snacks healthy and what to avoid.
What Are Some Low Carb Sweet Snacks?
There are a lot of low carb sweet snacks recipes that you can try.
Here are some popular low carb sweet picks:
- Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate with low added sugar and high cocoa content has minimal carbs.
A 28-g block of chocolate contains about 17g of carbohydrates (5).
It is an excellent snack to pair with other foods such as fruits, nuts, cheese, and tea. However, depending on your dietary requirements, the food you pair with may contain carbohydrates or need to be keto-friendly.
- Chia Seed Pudding
Chia seed pudding is another low-carb sweet snack. A cup of chia seed pudding (about 205g) contains about 21g of total carbohydrates (1).
Chia pudding is also rich in other nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids and powerful antioxidants. To limit the carbs more, you can eat a smaller portion instead of doing a cup just to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Coconut Macaroons
A large coconut macaroon, weighing about 41g, contains about 22g of carbohydrates (3).
They are easy to bake and satisfy your desire for a sweet snack. If you want to make this recipe for a low carb diet, you can use a keto-friendly sweetener to keep it low in carbs and sugar.
- Coconut Flour Pancakes
Coconut flour pancakes are great for a sweet, low carb snack.
A coconut flour pancake (about 43g) contains about 2.9g of carbs (2).
These pancakes satisfy your desire for a sweet snack and are great for breakfast.
Of course, you can eat them with scrambled, poached, or fried eggs for a high-protein, low carb breakfast.
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- Keto No-Bake Cookies
These no-bake cookies are also an excellent low carb sweet snack option.
They contain about 5.2g of carbohydrates per serving (8).
As the name puts it, keto means they are keto-friendly and low in carbs.
The recipe uses ingredients that do not add on carbohydrates yet still make the cookies sweet. Of course, the sweeteners used are also low in carbs.
- Low Carb Ice Cream
Low carb ice cream uses ingredients that are low in carbs and sweet.
If you choose store-bought options, check the labels to ensure they are low in carbs.
If you make homemade low carb ice cream, you will need sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, or monk fruit extract.
- Keto Fat Bombs
Keto-fat bombs are known to be a good option for keto diet.
They are low in carbs and rich in iron and dietary fiber.
A keto fat bomb serving size weighs about 47g and contains about 7.5g of carbohydrates (1).
These fat bombs use healthy fats like nut butter, coconut oil, and cream cheese. You can enrich them with different flavors, such as vanilla or chocolate.
- Zucchini Chips
Zucchini chips are low in carbs and an excellent choice for a keto diet. A cup of zucchini chips (229g) contains 18g of carbohydrates (12).
They are a low-carb alternative to potato chips. If you want chips, you can replace potatoes with zucchini for a lower-carb option.
In addition to being low in carbohydrates, zucchini is high in water content. It is also versatile, and you can eat it air-fried or baked, among other ways.
- Berries With Whipped Cream
Berries are naturally sweet and low in carbohydrates compared to other fruits.
Combined with whipped cream, they make a wholesome snack that satisfies your sweet tooth. Use berries like strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries.
- Low Carb Cheesecake Bites
Most low carb cheesecake bites use a low carb sweetener, cream cheese, and almond flour for the crust.
They are one of the delicious snacks you can eat for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
The sweetness comes from natural or artificial low carb sweeteners that are low in carbs, as mentioned.
Read more: Best Keto Dessert Recipes: Low-Carb Delights You Will Love!
- Zucchini Brownies
Most zucchini brownies contain unsweetened cocoa powder, eggs, almond flour, a sugar substitute, and vanilla extract, key ingredients for a keto diet.
These brownies are sweet and can satisfy your sweet snack desire.
- Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Pumpkin spice muffins are easy to make.
You need sugar substitutes, eggs, pumpkin puree, almond flour, almond milk, and berries as part of your ingredients.
All the ingredients make it possible to bake muffins that are low in carbs and keto-friendly. These muffins will quench your cravings for a sweet snack.
Of course, you can add more spices to achieve your preferred taste.
- Nuts And Low Carb Yogurt
You can combine the crunch of nuts and seeds with the sweet flavor of cinnamon in low carb yogurt.
This option will satisfy your sweet snack craving and is also low in carbs.
Whole-milk Greek yogurt is one of the keto-friendly options that can accompany nuts. Our previous article covers everything you need to know about keto candy recipes with chocolate and nuts.
- Sugar-Free Gelatin Or Pudding
You can buy sugar-free gelatins and puddings to satisfy your desire for a sweet snack.
Sugar-free gelatins or Jello are low in carbs and are widely available in the market.
You can choose this when you don’t have time to prepare your own from scratch.
These gelatins also come in different flavors; you can always choose the flavor that satisfies your desire.
- Low Carb Crepes
Some crepes are low in carbs and can satisfy your sweet snack craving.
You can either buy store-bought crepes or make your own.
When making homemade low carb crepes, use low carb ingredients, sugar substitutes, or berries for a sweet taste.
These recipes are available online. Several are 3 ingredient keto desserts, which make them time-efficient and easy to make.
Can Sweets Be Low Carb?
Yes, sweets can be low in carbs.
Sweets made with alternative ingredients instead of high carb flour and sugar are low in carbs.
These low carb sweets include zucchini brownies, berry cheesecake bars, and peanut butter fat bombs.
Some of the key ingredients that make up these low carb sweets include the following:
- Low Carb Flours – these flours are low in carbs and are usually rich in other nutrients such as healthy fats and fiber. Examples of these flours include almond and coconut flour.
- Sugar Substitutes—these sugar alternatives have a lower glycemic impact than regular sugar. These sugars include monk fruit, stevia, erythritol, and sucralose.
- Dark Chocolate – unsweetened dark chocolate contains few carbs and makes a good ingredient for low carb sweets.
- Fat-Based Ingredients – perfect for enhancing the flavors and texture without adding carbs.
What To Eat When Craving Sweets On Low Carb?
If you are on a low carb diet and are craving sweets, there are plenty of options to satisfy cravings.
Here are some easy low carb sweet snacks, drinks, or homemade treats to choose from:
- Berries with whipped cream – they are low in carbs and with unsweetened whipped cream, you get the satisfaction you want. Use berries such as blueberries or strawberries since they are lower in carbs than other fruits.
- Low carb hot cocoa – mix unsweetened almond milk and unsweetened cocoa powder and add keto friendly sweetener.
- Apples and oranges – these are naturally sweet fruits that can satisfy your sweet tooth. These fruits are also rich in fiber among other nutrients.
- Store-bought keto options – you might also choose keto-friendly options such as ice creams or protein keto cookies.
What Are The Most Healthy Sweets Can I Eat On Low Carb?
There are plenty of sweet options for low-carb dieting. However, it is not easy to identify which are healthier.
Choose nutritious options like berries, nut butter, and dark chocolate.
Read more: Yogurt On Keto: Which One Is Best for Your Macros?
What Is Sweet And Has No Carbs Or Sugar?
Natural sweeteners and some natural foods are sweet and have no carbs or sugar added. Some of these sweeteners and foods include the following:
- Stevia is a natural sweetener with no calories or carbohydrates. Experts extract it from the stevia plant leaves to use it in beverages or baking, among other ways.
- Monk fruit sweetener – doesn’t have carbs or calories. Experts extract the sweetener from the monk fruit of the Siraitia grosvenorii plant. It is helpful for baking and other culinary purposes.
Other naturally sweet low carb options include unsweetened cocoa nibs and coconut flakes. However, these may contain carbohydrates, so be cautious and set your portions accordingly.
Artificial sweeteners, such as erythritol, allulose, and sucralose, are also available. These sweeteners are very low in carbs and calories and valuable in baking and cooking.
What Happens If You Eat No Carbs For A Week?
If you avoid carbohydrates for a week, your body will eventually start burning more fat to release the required energy.
It will also use its stored carbohydrates and turn some protein into glucose.
Here are some of the things that are likely to happen:
- Weight Loss:
The scale goes down almost immediately when you eat no carbs for one week—your body stores glycogen in the muscles and liver, associated with water.
Without carbs, you use up your glycogen stores and release the water, often resulting in some initial water weight loss.
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- Low Energy:
You will likely feel low energy as your body adjusts to burning fat without carbohydrates.
You should adapt, but a low carb diet may not be the best fit if you don’t feel better.
- Digestive Changes:
Another common issue with avoiding carbohydrates is changes in digestion. Carbohydrates are usually a good fiber source, improving digestive function. However, depending on your food choices, you might experience constipation or other digestive issues when you reduce your carb intake.
What Is The Number One Carb To Avoid?
You need to limit added sugars as a priority.
Foods and drinks with added sugars include:
- Sodas
- Candy
- Cakes
- Cookies
- Energy drinks
These foods are high in calories and highly palatable, which makes them easy to overeat. Most dieticians recommend that added sugars make up only a tiny percentage of your energy from food.
Yes, Greek yogurt is low carb. Some other yogurt options may be higher in carbs but Greek yogurt has relatively lower carbs than some regular yogurt options. About 6 ounces or 170g of low-fat Greek yogurt contains about 6.1g of carbs (6). Some low carb junk foods include low-sugar beef jerky, sugar-free chocolate, low-carb ice cream, pork rinds, cheese crisps, vegetable chips, and dark chocolate. There are plenty of low carb junk foods, but before you try any, check the nutrition label to know the ingredients and the amount of carbs in it. Yes, cucumber is keto-friendly. It contains low carbs and is suitable for a keto diet. Therefore, it is an excellent choice for salads and a good snack. A medium cucumber weighing about 201g contains only about 7.3g of carbohydrates (4). It also has a high water content, which aids in hydration. You should not eat honey if you are strictly on keto. Honey contains high amounts of natural sugars and is also high in carbs. A tablespoon (21g) of honey contains about 17g of carbs and sugars (7). Therefore, you may need to avoid honey since it can easily break your keto targets.Frequently Asked Questions
Is Greek yogurt low carb?
What junk food is low carb?
Is cucumber keto?
Can I eat honey on keto?
The Bottom Line
Low carb sweet snacks are excellent for managing weight and blood sugar levels. When following a low carb diet, it’s crucial to prioritize healthy choices like non-starchy vegetables, protein, and healthy fats.
Remember that you can effectively achieve weight loss through a calorie deficit. While reducing carb intake can be effective for some, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
Low carb sweet snacks can help you manage daily carb consumption when embracing a low carb lifestyle.
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SOURCES:
- Chia Pudding (n.d., nutritionix.com).
- Coconut Flour Pancakes (n.d., nutritionix.com).
- Coconut Macaroon – 1 large (3″ diameter) (n.d., nutritionix.com).
- Cucumber (n.d., nutritionix.com).
- Dark Chocolate (n.d., nutritionix.com).
- Greek Yogurt (n.d., nutritionix.com).
- Honey (n.d., nutritionix.com).
- Keto No-Bake Cookies (n.d., fatsecret.com).
- Low-Carbohydrate Diet (2023, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
- The Merits and the Pitfalls of Low Carbohydrate Diet: A Concise Review (2020, sciencedirect.com).
- Zucchini Chips (n.d., nutritionix.com).