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My keto cheesecake recipe is by far the most popular of all my keto desserts here on Wholesome Yum — and with good reason: It tastes like the real thing! I don’t say this lightly. Since I first developed it back in 2017, it has become my #1 impressive dessert for holidays, birthdays, and just about any occasion where I want to bring something to avoid the sugar. And even though it’s a low carb sugar-free cheesecake, it’s just as rich, sweet, and decadent as its sugar- and gluten-filled counterparts. Pinky promise.
This keto cheesecake is also special to me because it marked the turning point when I defined my site as “10 ingredients or less” and really started focusing on my readers. I know you love quick and easy low carb recipes as much as I do, and I’m so grateful to share this journey with you. So, here’s a big thank you with my best gluten-free, low carb cheesecake recipe!
Why You’ll Love My Keto Cheesecake Recipe
- Indistinguishable from the real thing – This cheesecake tastes so “real” that your friends and family will question that it’s sugar-free. I’ve had guests ask me for the recipe, thinking it was the traditional, sugar-packed version!
- Creamy, dreamy filling – The filling is just the right combo of smooth, creamy, and rich, with that slightly dense texture you expect from a classic cheesecake. It took me a few tries to get it just right, but oh, was it worth it!
- Buttery shortbread crust – I make the crust using almond flour, and it’s a lot like my almond flour pie crust. It reminds me of shortbread! But I also have other crust options for you below, including no crust at all if you prefer.
- Easy to make – You only need 8 ingredients to make this beauty, including the crust and the filling! And the prep is so easy — I love that I can whip it up without any fuss, even on a busy day.
- Keto friendly, refined sugar free, and gluten free – At only 6g total carbs and 5g net carbs per slice, my low carb cheesecake is flexible enough for a keto diet, or for your diabetic friends or family. Or just make it if you simply want to reduce sugar in your life, as I do these days. And like all my recipes, it’s gluten-free, too.
- Hundreds of 5-star reviews – Don’t just take my word for it! My easy keto cheesecake recipe has hundreds of reviews (see below), so you can be confident that it will turn out. Since so many people loved it, I also included it in my Easy Keto Cookbook. (You’ll also find 100 of my other easy keto recipes in there, including 20 popular website faves and 80 exclusive ones.)
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my keto cheesecake recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
For The Almond Flour Crust:
- Almond Flour – I highly recommend using my Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour here (and in other keto baked goods), and not just because I made it. 😉 I developed this one after years of low carb baking because I was tired of the coarse, gritty texture in other brands. (Almond meal is even worse.) Mine has the finest consistency out there, which will give you that shortbread texture you want.
- Butter – Helps the crust stay together and imparts a buttery flavor. I recommend unsalted, though you can add a pinch of salt to the crust if you want to for balance.
- Granulated Sweetener – Probably the number one question I get is about sweeteners. “Can I make this keto cheesecake with stevia? Granulated erythritol? Monk fruit? Sucralose? Something else?” Here’s what you need to know:
- My top recommendation for the crust is Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend. It tastes just like sugar, with no aftertaste or cooling effect, and the crust doesn’t turn out as dry as with other sweeteners.
- Other sugar substitutes will work if that’s what you have. Unlike the filling (below), the almond flour cheesecake crust is not finicky and will also work using erythritol, xylitol, or an erythritol blend (most brands of monk fruit or stevia are actually blended with erythritol). Check my sweetener conversion chart for amounts to use if you choose something other than Besti.
- Powdered sweetener is also fine for the crust (if you just want to buy fewer products), but otherwise it has no advantage for the crust.
- Don’t use liquid or concentrated sweeteners (like pure stevia or pure monk fruit). Both will make the crust too runny.
- Vanilla Extract – Not strictly required, but I highly recommend including it! I like this vanilla extract brand, which is great quality and has zero sugar.
Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List
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Crust Variations:
Many people ask if they can make my low carb cheesecake with a different crust, or no crust at all. You can! Here’s how:
- Coconut flour cheesecake crust – If you need a nut-free option, you can use coconut flour instead of almond flour, but it’s not a 1:1 replacement. To use coconut flour, you’ll need 1 1/2 cups of coconut flour, 1/2 cup of coconut oil or butter, 4 large eggs, and 2 tablespoons of Besti.
- Crustless cheesecake – Feel free to skip the crust altogether! Just pour the filling directly into the pan and bake as usual. I always line the pan with parchment paper, but it’s extra important for this version to prevent sticking.
- Substitute other nut flours – For the best texture in your keto cheesecake crust, I recommend leaving some of the blanched almond flour in the crust, but you can replace 1/4 to 1/2 of it with ground macadamia nuts or pecans if you like.
- Substitutes for butter – I prefer the flavor and consistency of the crust with butter, but unrefined coconut oil or ghee would also work fine instead. I don’t recommend using oils that are liquid at room temperature, such as olive or avocado oil.
- Mini size – If you want more portion-controlled servings, try my keto mini cheesecakes (in a muffin tin) or my even smaller keto cheesecake bites (in a mini one).
For The Sugar-Free Cheesecake Filling:
- Cream Cheese – The base of the filling! Use plain, full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor, texture, and keto macros. However, from a recipe standpoint, low-fat or neufchatel cream cheese would work fine. (You can read about other cream cheese substitutes on my cream cheese recipes page.) It’s also very important that you use softened cream cheese (at room temperature), otherwise your filling will have little chunks of cream cheese instead of a smooth batter. I also have a variation using Greek yogurt — see my healthy cheesecake recipe.
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – For the filling, powdered sweetener is a must; don’t use granulated, liquid, or super concentrated versions. The sweetener provides some bulk in the keto cheesecake, and the powdered consistency is required so that the end result is not grainy. Most brands of cup-for-cup-like-sugar powdered sweeteners work okay, but I highly recommend using Besti Powdered if you can, because it creates the creamiest texture. Others tend to be more dry and can crystallize. I’ve definitely noticed a difference in how smooth it is when using Besti, compared to the other brands I used to use for this recipe.
- Eggs – These help the filling set up and also give it a creamy texture. Sorry, there is no substitution for them. If you can’t have eggs, make my keto no bake cheesecake instead.
- Lemon Juice – Helps bring out the sweetness and flavor. It’s not enough to make the sugar-free cheesecake lemony, so don’t worry about that if you’re not a fan of lemon — you’ll still want to include the lemon juice in the filling.
- Vanilla Extract – Use the same one you used for the crust.
VARIATION: Add sour cream!
If you want a richer, creamier New York style low carb cheesecake, add 1/4 cup of sour cream right before you beat in the eggs.
How To Make Keto Cheesecake
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
If we want to make our keto cheesecake taste like the real thing, we’re going to have to make it using the same method as the real thing! 😉 For the most part, my method here is very similar to a regular one:
Make The Crust
- Get everything ready. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
- Mix the dough. In a medium to large bowl, stir the almond flour, melted butter, Besti, and vanilla extract, until well combined. The dough will be slightly crumbly.
- Bake. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake your low carb cheesecake crust for about 10 minutes, until barely golden.
- Cool. Set the crust aside to cool for at least 10 minutes. Make the filling while you wait!
Make The Filling
- Beat the cream cheese and Besti. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer at medium speed, beat the cream cheese and powdered Besti, until fluffy. This is where room-temperature cream cheese is crucial!
- Add the eggs. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
- Add the lemon juice and vanilla. Beat them in at the end.
TIP: Keep your mixer at medium speed the whole time.
Too-high speed will introduce too many air bubbles, which we don’t want.
Assemble & Bake
- Add the filling to the crust. Pour the filling mixture into the pan over the crust. Smooth the top with a spatula. (I use a pastry spatula like this for a smoother top.)
TIP: Tap the pan on the counter to remove air bubbles.
This is not required, but if you want a denser result without air pockets, this can help release some bubbles.
- Bake. Place the keto cheesecake in the oven and bake until the center is almost set, but still jiggly. (If you are concerned about cracking, see my troubleshooting tips below!)
IMPORTANT: Do not wait for the filling to set completely!
Remove it from the oven when it’s still jiggly. It will set more as it cools on the counter and then in the fridge overnight.
- Cool. Remove the cake from the oven. If the edges are stuck to the pan, run a knife all the way around (but don’t remove the springform edge yet). Let it cool in the pan on the counter, until it reaches room temperature.
- Chill. Cover the sugar-free cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely set. (Do not try to remove the cake from the pan or slice before chilling.) Once set, I slice it with a sharp knife, and wipe with a damp paper towel between cuts.
Topping Ideas
This classic keto cheesecake is already so decadent plain, but I love it even more with one of these toppings:
- Raspberry Sauce – This is hands down my favorite topping, and yes, it’s the one you see in the pictures here! You can find my detailed recipe in my Easy Keto Cookbook, but all you really do is simmer raspberries with Powdered Besti, mashing them as they soften, until they turn into this gorgeous sauce.
- Real Fruit Syrup – Lately I’m obsessed with Wholesome Yum Strawberry Syrup, Raspberry Syrup, or Blueberry Syrup as zero-effort keto cheesecake toppings! They’re a lot like my sauce above, just a little thinner, and so much easier because I made them for you. The ingredients are so simple — fresh berry puree, monk fruit, allulose, and a little citric acid — all with zero sugar and 1 net carb per serving.
- Melted Chocolate – You can use my sugar-free chocolate sauce, or just melt down some sugar-free chocolate chips (this brand is my favorite, we go through bags of them at my house!).
- Whipped Cream – Can’t go wrong with a dollop of my homemade sugar-free whipped cream for the perfect light, fluffy finish!
- Caramel Sauce – A drizzle of my sugar-free caramel sauce is my second-favorite after the raspberry sauce above. I also have a caramel-topped keto cheesecake recipe made into cupcakes in my second book, The Easy Keto Carboholics’ Cookbook.
- Fresh Berries – All berries are keto, but you can check my keto fruit guide for more detailed carb counts.
Troubleshooting Sugar-Free Cheesecake
You shouldn’t have any problems with my recipe if you follow the instructions, but here are the most common mistakes I see people make that you can watch out for:
- Cracking Or Settling – Most often, this is caused by sudden temperature changes. Make sure the cake cools on the counter before refrigerating. Mine doesn’t usually crack, but if you want to be on the safe side, you can bake your low carb cheesecake in a water bath. Line the outside of the pan with foil to keep moisture out, pour a little water into a bigger pan, and place the foil lined pan inside. Then bake. I usually skip this step for convenience, but you can try it if you have problems with cracking. Worst case, if you do have cracks, add some berry or caramel topping to hide them — problem fixed!
- Gritty Filling – This can happen if you use the wrong sweetener. Use Besti Powdered for smooth results.
- Runny Filling – Underbaking can leave the filling runny, but more often than not, people reporting this have missed the step of cooling and refrigerating. This is required to fully set the filling.
- Dry or Crumbly Filling – This is a result of overcooking the cheesecake (and can also be another reason for cracks). Remember to remove it from the oven when it’s still jiggly, not fully set. When cooked properly, it should set only after cooling and chilling.
- Carb Count Differences – Many online calculators get the nutrition information wrong for my keto cheesecake. This is because most don’t recognize that Besti can be excluded from carb count (this really adds up!), and rounding errors are common for cream cheese. Most nutrition labels round up or down to the nearest whole amount of carbs, but the serving is only an ounce. Since my sugar-free cheesecake recipe calls for 32 ounces of cream cheese, rounding up makes a big difference! My recipe card below uses the exact carb count directly from the USDA National Nutrient Database, which is most accurate. My full keto food list has those values for all the major low carb foods, or you can find them in the Wholesome Yum App on iPhone or Android.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Yes, you can make this cake ahead! After the initial chilling time, keep it in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Moving it can be tricky, so I usually keep it on the bottom of the springform pan without the sides, and cover it in plastic to prevent drying out.
- Freeze: This sugar-free cheesecake freezes beautifully, as long as you let it set first. For best results, place it into the freezer uncovered (on a parchment lined baking sheet) for several hours first, until solid. (I prefer doing it this way so that I don’t crush it while wrapping.) Once solid, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil, and then place back into the freezer. If you prefer, you can freeze individual slices instead, but just like a whole cake, they are still easier to wrap after freezing solid first. The texture is best within 1 month, but up to 3 months is okay.
- Thaw: You can thaw the cake in the fridge overnight, or on the counter for 2-4 hours. I remove the foil before thawing, but it’s fine to leave the plastic on.
Tools I Use For This Recipe
- Hand Mixer – Mine has variable speeds, which is particularly useful for cheesecakes where high speed introduces too many air bubbles. And the best part? I can store all its attachments right in the base, so no more hunting around in drawers! (But if you’re not up for holding a mixer for a while, go with a stand mixer instead.)
- Springform Pan – If you’re making any kind of low carb cheesecake, you’ve gotta have a springform pan like this one. Trying to get one out of a regular cake pan is just asking for trouble. Some readers have asked about using a pie pan — I haven’t tested this, but you’d probably need less filling.
- Pastry Spatula – This little tool is a lifesaver for getting the top of your cheesecake perfectly smooth. I also use it for frosting my other keto cakes!
Keto Cheesecake (Sugar Free & Low Carb)
By
An easy keto cheesecake recipe that tastes like the real thing! This low carb sugar-free cheesecake is rich and sweet, but just 5g net carbs.
Ingredients
[ See substitutions ]Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
Almond Flour Cheesecake Crust:
Keto Cheesecake Filling:
Instructions
[ See step photos ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
Almond Flour Cheesecake Crust:
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line a 9-inch (23-cm) springform pan with parchment paper.
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To make the almond flour cheesecake crust, stir the almond flour, melted butter, Besti, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl, until well combined. The dough will be slightly crumbly.
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Press the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, until barely golden. Let cool at least 10 minutes.
Keto Cheesecake Filling:
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Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese and powdered sweetener together at low to medium speed until fluffy.
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Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
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Beat in the lemon juice and vanilla extract. (Keep the mixer at low to medium the whole time; too high speed will introduce too many air bubbles, which we don't want.)
Assembly:
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Pour the filling into the pan over the crust. Smooth the top with a spatula (use an icing spatula for a smoother top if you have one). If you want to ensure no air bubbles, tap the pan on the counter several times.
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Bake for about 40-55 minutes, until the center is almost set, but still jiggly.
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Remove the cheesecake from the oven. If the edges are stuck to the pan, run a knife around the edge (don't remove the springform edge yet). Cool in the pan on the counter to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight), until completely set. (Do not try to remove the cake from the pan before chilling.)
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 slice (1/16 of recipe)
- Tips & substitutions: See the details in the post above! I’ve got ways to make this keto cheesecake with different crusts (or crustless), the impact of different sweeteners, and tips to avoid cracking, a gritty texture, or a runny or crumbly filling.
- Carb count differences: Many online calculators get the nutrition info wrong for this recipe. See the details on why in the post above.
- Topping ideas: You can use raspberry sauce (from my Easy Keto Cookbook), one of my recipes for sugar-free chocolate syrup, sugar-free whipped cream, and/or sugar-free caramel sauce, my new zero sugar syrups with real fruit (in strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry), or simply fresh berries.
- Store: 3-5 days in the fridge.
- Freeze: Up to 1 month for the best texture, but up to 3 months is okay. To get good results when freezing, see my instructions in the post above.
- Thaw: In the fridge overnight, or on the counter for 2-4 hours.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Easy Keto Cookbook here.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Keto Cheesecake
More Keto Cheesecake Recipes
I use this keto cheesecake as a base for all my other sugar-free cheesecake recipes! After you’ve tried the classic version, try one of my variations:
2,270 Comments
Sandy Brandon
0Best no sugar, low carb recipe I have ever tried. I do add sour cream to my recipe for a little more tang.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m glad you like it, Sandy! I do have sour cream as an option in my recipe as well. 🙂
Taig
0Absolutely, insanely delicious cheesecake! I wouldn’t have believed it was possible!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thanks, Taig! It’s possible, hehe. 🙂
CE
0I made this as a christmas gift for my husband but the crust came out really burned and gross tasting. So sad. The filling was good a very nice consistency but not quite sweet enough with the pure allulose I used. I Should have used more or a blend as recommended but that was all we had. Burnt almond flour is just really unappealing so be careful on precooking your crust- that did not help me at all.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Sorry to hear that happened. It sounds like you pre-baked the crust for too long, so it burned after baking with the filling. Bake the crust for less time next time. Hope this helps!
abrio0523
0This is the best cheesecake that I’ve ever tasted and bonus that it’s keto. Easy too!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you! Enjoy!
Sue Bee
0I made this cake two years ago and have made it at least 7 times since, my family loves this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Awww, 7 times, thanks Sue! I’m so glad your family likes it.
Betty Stanley
0I am new to the keto recipes that you share. I have bought the easy keto cookbook and it is by far the best cookbook I have purchases for healthy cooking. I love the flatbread dough recipes as well as cheesecake.
w
0This recipe is the most popular for a reason: you can’t tell it’s not a “standard” dessert! I just serve it with no explanation and no one ever queries it. Well done, Maya.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much for saying that! Enjoy!
Ranika
0I love it !!!! It’s not overly sweet and I know exactly what’s in it. Thank you!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0You’re very welcome, Ranika! Enjoy!
Kathy
0I’m fairly new to Keto and this was the very first dessert I made. It has become my “go-to” dessert for all occasions! It is not only easy to make, but the taste is delicious!!!! I have tried other cheesecake recipes and I always come back to this one!!! 5 stars for sure!!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Awww, I’m so happy to hear that, Kathy! Best of luck on your journey.
Donna C
0Excellent recipe! Absolutely delicious and tastes like the real thing! I did modify the recipe slightly because I didn’t have 32 oz of cream cheese. I had 24 oz, then I added 8 oz of sour cream. I also used stevia instead of allulose because I don’t have that. Crust is great also but add a little cinnamon to it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Donna! I’m glad those modifications worked well for you.
marymQUADSEARCH
0Hi Maya,
Just popped your cheesecake recipe into our oven. Husband Mike’s been on a keto diet for years. Has been disappointed that keto cheesecake crusts are usually soggy…as crusts not baked beforehand. Look forward to how yours will turn out!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I hope you and your husband like this one, Mary! Yes, I pre-bake the crust to avoid the soggy issue. Please let me know how it turns out.
Katherine
0This cheesecake is really good. The crust was so buttery and the filling was absolutely delicious. We used a powered monk fruit sugar that we got in Australia where we live and it was just fine. But my partner and I totally enjoyed this very close to the real thing!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m glad to hear that, Katherine! Enjoy!
Pat Varga
0It is not stated what temp to bake the filling once on the crust. Would you please clarify?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Pat, It’s the same temperature as the crust. You don’t turn the oven off or change the temp, that’s why it’s not stated. Hope this helps!
Gunnar Erickson
0Maya, I have a favorite Scone recipe using all purpose flour and cane sugar. I recently tried to make it with your coconut flour and your granular Allulose sugar substitute. It was quite dry and didn’t rise at all. Any suggestions? The recipe uses sourdough discard which is why I began using it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Gunnar, Coconut flour is not a good substitute for all-purpose flour because it’s very absorbent and drying, as you found. Coconut flour makes some great recipes, but it’s not even close to a 1:1 sub for white flour, so almond flour would be a closer substitute if you’re trying to modify an existing recipe. Hope this helps!
Tyna Ek
0Do you have suggestions for making this as a single-serving in a ramekin? I’m particularly wondering how full to fill the ramekin and how long to bake. Also, would you bake it in a water bath or just alone in the oven? Thanks, Tyna
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Tyna, I haven’t done just one serving before so I’m not sure how you’d be able to scale that down. I do have keto mini cheesecakes that can make single portions and you can freeze the rest more easily than slices of a whole cake.
Denean R
0Delicious recipe. Made this for a diabetic who’s really missing their sweet treats. Even the non-diabetics love this cheesecake. I added a strawberry sauce made with fresh berries, maple syrup, cornstarch and lemon juice for the topping. Yum!
Julie
0This recipe is just great: tastes as it should and no one guesses it’s keto, so I don’t have to explain a thing!
Jody Killam
0Hello Maya!! In the video you had 4-16 oz. Blocks if cream cheese totaling 64 oz. In my book and your blog it says 32 oz. ? Help!! Lol
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jody, It’s 4 8-ounce blocks of cream cheese in the video, not 16-ounce blocks. So, 32 ounces is correct. Hope this helps!
Wendy Moncrief
0I can’t get your Besti Allulose Monk Fruit sugar in Canada. Do you have plans to make it available on Amazon.ca (the Canadian Amazon site)?
I haven’t tried the recipe yet but plan to make it using Dixie Diners’ Club Monk fruit sugar. It’s a 1:1 replacement ratio
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Wendy, You can get it in Canada on my product website here — just change the flag at the top to Canada. I’m not familiar with the sweetener you listed, but keep in mind that most brands of monk fruit contain erythritol, which will make a more dry and gritty texture.
Sandi
0Did you make the chocolate that you drizzled over the top? I couldnt find directions for that.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Sandi, I have topping ideas in the post above. If you want to make chocolate sauce, here’s my sugar-free chocolate syrup recipe – it’s super simple and easy.