This keto lemon pound cake is incredibly moist and fluffy! It tastes zingy, fresh and fragrant and I've topped it with a rich coconut butter drizzle. Your family won't believe this cake is low carb, sugar free and only 3.6g net carbs per slice.
Table of contents
There's nothing like a zingy, moist low carb lemon cake! I'd say that it is the ultimate cake for lemon lovers. I've added both lemon juice and lemon zest to the batter, which gives it oodles of flavour.
I'm telling you, EVERYONE is going ask for seconds, whether they are on a low carb diet, the keto diet or neither!
The recipe is a nod to the humble pound cake.
What is a pound cake?
Traditionally, a basic pound cake has only 4 ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs and flour. And guess what? You're using a pound of each. It's a super simple cake with a buttery crumb.
Of course, we're tweaking things here and there to make this cake taste like heaven AND keep it low carb at the same time.
A keto pound cake recipe
When it comes to baking, low carb recipes call for different ingredient amounts than regular cake recipes. So, keeping EXACTLY to the idea of using the same amount of each does not work.
For example, you need to use more eggs with grain free flours to achieve a fluffy texture and good crumb structure as they lack gluten.
Yet, it lives up to is name because you're getting the same look, feel and taste of a real pound cake!
I decided to use both almond flour and coconut flour for this low carb keto bundt cake - the two complement each other so well. And to increase the moisture and complement the zing of the lemon, I added plain full fat yoghurt. It adds a wonderful fresh dimension.
Ingredients
I am using:
- Butter - melted
- Eggs - large, separated, room temperature
- Yoghurt - plain natural, room temperature
- Lemon juice and zest
- Almond flour - Note that I'm using what we in the UK call ground almonds. This is equivalent to regular / coarser almond flour in the US. If you use superfine almond flour, you may want to reduce the amount of almond flour by 2-3 tbsp. Check the images for batter consistency! You want it to be smooth and not firm.
- Coconut flour
- Baking powder
- Lakanto Classic Monkfruit Sweetener
- Salt
How to make a keto lemon pound cake
1.) Melt the butter in a saucepan or microwave until just warm. Don’t boil it. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes and add the egg yolks.
Whisk with a balloon whisk or with an electric mixer to combine. Then whisk through the yoghurt and the juice of 2 lemons - approximately 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice.
2.) Place all the dry ingredients - blanched almond flour, coconut flour, gluten free baking powder, Lakanto Classic, lemon zest - in a clean mixing bowl and stir to combine. Keep 1 tsp of lemon zest back to sprinkle on top after the coconut butter drizzle.
3.) Add the wet ingredients to the dry and fold together with a spatula or blend with an electric mixer.
4.) Whisk the egg whites in a clean mixing bowl using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
5.) Fold the egg whites through the batter until smooth using a spatula (no electric blenders here!). Don’t over-mix or you will deflate the eggs.
6.) Spoon the batter into your non-stick bundt tin and level. I used this 20 cm / 8 inch diameter tin. (Amazon aff link)
Note - I cannot stress enough how important it is to GREASE your tin GENEROUSLY!
Tip: If you're using a loaf pan, line it with baking paper. This way you'll have no issues removing the cake from the pan.
Spoon the mix into the mould and level the top with a spatula.
Baking tips
Bake the low carb pound cake in the oven for about 45 - 50 minutes until golden and you can insert and remove a skewer without crumbs sticking. Mine took 48 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edge of the tin then allow to fully cool. DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE TIN.
I left mine overnight. You can also place it in the fridge. It needs to be fully cooled before you remove from the tin to prevent it sticking.
Coconut butter drizzle
7.) To make the coconut butter drizzle, melt the coconut butter and oil using the bain marie method - in a glass proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Remove from the heat and stir through the vanilla.
Remove the keto lemon pound cake from the mould and drizzle with coconut butter. Option to top with lemon zest and slices for decoration.
Using different cake pans
You don't have to use a bundt cake tin. This lemon cake recipe works just as as well in a full size rectangular cake pan (9x5 inch) like you would choose for a regular lemon loaf cake. Or you can use a springform tin.
Don't forget to line the bottom and sides of your pan with parchment paper so the cake does not stick.
One more thing about bundt pan: There are beautiful round gugelhupf tins out there with intricate swirled surfaces. Don't choose one of those! I recommend to use one with a very simple shape like mine.
Why? Almond flour cakes are more fragile than wheat cakes because they lack the gluten in wheat. And with a round cake we can't use parchment paper. You don't want your cake to break when you remove it from the pan!
Adjust baking times
The oven time the pound cake needed in my bundt cake tin was exactly 48 minutes. When I used my silicone loaf tin, I had to increase the baking time to 60 minutes.
Be sure to check the cake after 45 minutes. If the top has browned enough, cover it for the remainder of the baking time with an aluminium foil dome. This way it the pound cake can continue to bake but does not burn.
Alternative toppings
The coconut butter drizzle is delicious and works so well on this lemon cake. (Note: I tried to add lemon juice to the drizzle, but it made the coconut butter curdle. That's why I added vanilla).
If you prefer a simple lemon glaze or a creamy frosting, here are a couple of options:
Easy sugar free lemon drizzle: Mix 2 tbsp lemon juice with 4 tbsp powdered Lakanto (simply powder the Classic sweetener in a food processor for this).
Lemon glaze: Mix 4 tbsp melted butter, 4 tbsp heavy cream, 4 tbsp powdered sweetener and the juice of 1 lemon. Let the glaze cool and thicken, then spoon over the cake.
Low carb lemon cream cheese frosting: Mix 1 cup / 240g cream cheese, 4 tbsp powdered sweetener, juice of 1 lemon and grated lemon zest. Spread over the cooled sugar free lemon cake.
Keto lemon curd frosting: Make a batch of sugar free lemon curd and cool in the fridge. Whip 1 cup / 240ml of double / heavy cream until stiff and fold in the cold lemon curd.
Recipe variations
Increase lemon flavour: For a stronger lemon flavour, add ⅓ cup of lemon juice in total or add 1 tsp lemon extract to the recipe.
Lemon poppy seed cake: Add 2 tablespoons poppy seeds to the batter!
Almond flour lemon cake: Leave out the coconut flour and use 3 cups / 300g of almond flour.
It's not possible to replace all of the almond flour with coconut flour.
Can you make this cake dairy free?
Of course! Simply replace the butter with coconut oil and use coconut yoghurt instead of yoghurt.
Is it necessary to beat the egg whites?
The stiff egg whites are the secret to a supremely fluffy-airy cake. However, it will still work if you start the cake by beating the full eggs with an electric mixer until frothy.
Storage
This keto lemon cake is fine on the kitchen counter for 1-2 days, provided your kitchen is not hot. I prefer to store it in the fridge in an airtight container for 5-6 days. Alternatively, slice and freeze for up to 3 months.
More keto cake recipes:
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Keto Lemon Pound Cake
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary. ***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- ½ cup / 120g butter melted
- 5 eggs large, separated, room temperature
- ½ cup / 120g yoghurt room temperature
- 5 tbsp lemon juice roughly 2 lemons
- 2 tbsp lemon zest zest of 2 lemons
- 2 cups / 200 g almond flour or ground almonds
- ⅓ cup / 45g coconut flour
- 3 tsp baking powder
- ⅔ cup / 120g Lakanto Classic Monkfruit Sweetener *** see notes for Europe/UK availability
- pinch of salt optional
Coconut butter drizzle
- 3 tbsp / 35g coconut butter
- ½ tbsp coconut oil
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- optional - decorate with 1 tsp lemon zest and lemon slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F / 175C / 155fan. Generously grease a bundt tin with butter. If using a rectangular loaf pan or springform, line the bottom and sides with baking / parchment paper.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan or microwave until just warm. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes and add the egg yolks. Whisk with a balloon whisk or with an electric mixer to combine. Then whisk through the yoghurt and lemon juice.
- Place all the dry ingredients in a clean mixing bowl and stir to combine. Also add in the lemon zest, reserving 1 tsp for decorating the cake later.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and fold together with a spatula or blend with an electric mixer.
- Whisk the egg whites in a clean mixing bowl using an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the egg whites through the batter until smooth using a spatula (no electric blenders here!). Don’t over-mix or you will deflate the eggs.
- Spoon the batter into the bundt tin and level with a spatula.
- Bake in the oven for about 45 - 50 minutes until golden and you can insert and remove a skewer without crumbs sticking. Mine took 48 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edge of the tin. DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE TIN UNTIL FULLY COOLED.
- Melt the coconut butter and oil using the bain marie method - in a glass proof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Remove from the heat and stir through the vanilla extract. Remove the lemon cake from the mould and drizzle over the coconut butter. Option to top with lemon zest and slices for decoration.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and purchase a product, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Sugar Free Londoner.
First published in June 2020. Updated with more details in April 2022.
Elois says
Could 1 cup of the almond flour be subbed with 1 cup sprouted soft wheat flour?
Katrin Nürnberger says
The honest answer is I am not sure. You would have to try it out. The key is to stick with the same dry / wet balance. You can check the texture of the batter in the video and in the image. Hope this helps!
Natalie says
This looks so delicious! To make dairyfree could I substitute mayonnaise or coconut cream for the Yoghurt? Which is better
Katrin Nürnberger says
I would actually go for coconut yoghurt, otherwise you're adding too much fat which will change the texture of the cake.
Britta Olsen says
You post measurements in weight as well as volume. I find weight so much easier. Ich danke dir!
Katrin Nürnberger says
You're welcome! Bitteschön!
Mona says
Hi can I use stevia instead of monkfruit sweetener? And in what quantities? Thanks
Katrin Nürnberger says
You would have to work out how much stevia drops you need. Normally, 4-5 drops are equivalent to 1 teaspoon of sugar. And 3 teaspoons are 1 tablespoon. 4 tablespoons are 1/4 cup. However, do check if you need to use more dry ingredients - low carb flour - to get the same dough consistency.
Annarita says
Really tasty and incredibly soft. I added the lemon aroma and I think it really makes the difference.
Beverly says
I have an allergy to nuts can I use plain flour or any other flour?
Katrin Nürnberger says
Yes, but you'll need to make adjustments. For a low carb nut free flour you could try 1/3 the amount in coconut flour. If you use regular flour, you may need to use a little less because it's finer than the ground almonds I used. You'll have to go by the consistency of your batter.
Cheryl says
Hi, do you think greek yogurt would work in a similar way to full fat yogurt or would it change the taste significantly?
Katrin Nürnberger says
I think it would taste pretty much the same. You'd just be adding more fat, so the texture may be just a little heavier.
Tammy says
I don’t have coconut butter. Can I use regular butter in the place of it? If not is there something I can substitute for the coconut butter. Thank you
Katrin Nürnberger says
I suggest you make one of these toppings:
Easy sugar free lemon drizzle: Mix 2 tbsp lemon juice with 4 tbsp powdered Lakanto (simply powder the Classic sweetener in a food processor for this).
Lemon glaze: Mix 4 tbsp melted butter, 4 tbsp heavy cream, 4 tbsp powdered sweetener and the juice of 1 lemon. Let the glaze cool and thicken, then spoon over the cake.
Iris says
An amazing cake. Best keto lemon cake. I did the butter-HW-Lemon juice topping. Yum yum yum
Marileta says
Excellent texture and taste. Highly recommend this recipe! My only issue is I want to eat it all in a day.
Katrin Nürnberger says
That's a good problem to have!!
Britta Olsen says
I understand!!
Susan Virnala says
My husband does not like lemon, but I do! So I would like to know how to change it to a vanilla pound cake, so we can both enjoy it. That way I'm not tempted to eat a whole cake!
Katrin Nürnberger says
I would simply replace the lemon juice with almond milk!
Justin says
Your Keto Lemon Pound Cake recipe is one of my favourites. I have made it 5 or 6 times so far, and it's always wonderful. Is it possible to make this into a chocolate cake by omitting the lemon juice and zest/lemon extract and using Cocoa with 5 tablespoons soy milk or similar liquid. If so, how much Cocoa should I use? Thank you
Katrin Nürnberger says
Yes, I think that would work. I would use about 1/3 cup cocoa powder. However, I have a great chocolate cake recipe here that you may want to take a look at.
Sharon Mack says
Oh my! So so delicious! And it was surprisingly easy to prepare too. For sweetener, I used Agave Syrup. Unfortunately, the cake stuck in the bundt pan. Do you know why? Maybe not enough butter coating?
Oh well, despite that, the cake was most, lightly sweetened, the right hint of lemon, and I topped it with Cream Cheese, Agave, Vanilla and Soy Milk whipped together; perfect addition. Bc it was gf and sf, my husband could eat it...and he did!! All of it but 2 slices! I am so grateful for your recipes ❤
Katrin Nürnberger says
Glad you liked the recipe! You have to grease your cake pans really, really well when you bake with nut flours. And then wait until the cake is fully cooled because that's when it firms up. In rectangular pans I always use parchment paper, so the cakes cannot stick.
Barbara T says
We only use 5% Greek yogurt so to keep the fat content equal to yours (3.6% I think you said in an answer to another question) I can adjust the amount of Greek Yogurt and add almond milk to make up the volume. Or alternatively I suppose I could just use the Greek yogurt and have a cake with a higher fat content. Would the increased fat change the cake at all? Thanks
Katrin Nürnberger says
I think there would no noticeable difference between a fat content of 3.6 and 5%.
Clare Allan says
I made this for my Mum's birthday. We were going away for the weekend, and I wanted to make a cake to take with us. It was one of those slightly tricky situations, as I wanted to take something I could happily eat but that also wouldn't make her feel her celebrations were being impacted by my dietary requirements. I needn't have worried. This was wonderful! Truly delicious! I iced it with cream cheese frosting, as above, and used a stevia/erythritol mix. We both agreed it was one of the most delicious cakes we had ever tasted. Thank you!
Katrin Nürnberger says
Happy birthday to your mum! I'm glad you enjoyed the cake.