This keto lemon pound cake recipe creates a sweet treat with a tart lemon flavor and an optional sour cream glaze. It is a lemon loaf to love. And it will disappear quickly, too, since a slice of keto lemon pound cake is appropriate at just about any time of day.
A few simple ingredients and just minutes of prep time come together to create a marvelous treat that's sure to become one of those easy keto recipes you'll revisit time and time again.
This keto lemon pound cake recipe makes a sweet, tart and tender lemon loaf that's also gluten-free, grain-free, dairy optional and packed with intense lemon flavor (all from real lemons, no lemon extract!).
I am a sucker for any kind of lemon-y dessert and I LOVE this lemon pound cake recipe.
Since I first posted it a couple of years ago, I've adapted it a bit to create a slightly larger loaf (more servings!) as well as a sweet lemon glaze to go on top.
Think of it as the low-carb version of a Starbucks lemon loaf- that's the inspiration.
With each keto lemon pound cake I bake, I find even more versatility in how to enjoy it. A few options for you:
- dress up a piece with lemon curd (or may I suggest lime curd for an extra tart treat), coconut whipped cream and fresh berries because layers always bring a good dessert to the next level
- top it with strawberries and whipped cream for an easy, lemon version of keto strawberry shortcake
- serve up a slice for breakfast (my kids are all about this one, and can you really beat breakfast cake?!)
why you'll love it
This keto lemon pound cake is so tasty and tender, and it's a lemon pound cake recipe you'll make over and over again.
I use a combination of almond flour and coconut flour which results in the perfect texture: moist but not too crumbly, dense and flavorful as any good pound cake should be.
As for the fat content, I've found that I like it best with grass-fed butter or extra virgin olive oil (opt for that if you're dairy-free).
Olive oil cakes are delightful, and the flavor of extra virgin olive oil is extra nice with lemon. I especially love Olio Piro extra virgin olive oil, an award-winning olive oil with high antioxidants that is made in Italy (affiliate).
Overall, oil will make the cake a bit less dense compared to butter, but the differences are pretty subtle. I haven't tried it with avocado oil but I'm sure it will also work out just fine.
This keto lemon pound cake is:
- easy to make
- low-carb with only 3 net carbs per serving
- gluten-free, sugar-free and dairy optional
- super versatile
the ingredient list
Lemon is a wonderful flavor to incorporate into keto baking as it adds a delicious tartness without the carbs.
I have always loved lemon-y treats and this keto lemon loaf strikes the perfect balance between dessert and snack, without any guilt. 😉
To make it, you will need:
- extra virgin olive oil or grass-fed butter
- granulated monk fruit sweetener (I use Lakanto which is my favorite keto sweetener for baking)
- vanilla extract
- large eggs
- sour cream (or unsweetened coconut cream if dairy-free)
- fresh lemon juice and lemon zest
- almond flour
- coconut flour
- baking powder
- salt
- xanthan gum (optional)
keto lemon pound cake recipe
This lemon cake recipe is so simple, you can easily whip one up in no time! Take a look at the process (for all the details, check out the recipe card at the bottom of the page):
- Mix the oil/butter and sweetener: Cream together the melted butter or oil and the sweetener in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer (or using an standup mixer). Add in the rest of the wet ingredients: fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, eggs and sour cream. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed and mix until well combined.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. This helps break up the almond flour to prevent any lumps.
- Stir the batter: Pour the egg mixture into the almond flour mixture and mix until it is incorporated and there are no streaks of flour.
- Bake the keto lemon pound cake: Line a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and transfer it to the oven. Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes, or until done. If the top of the pound cake begins to brown around 30-45 minutes into the baking time and the center isn't done yet, place a sheet of parchment paper over the loaf to protect the top from getting too dark.
- Cool and serve: Allow the low carb lemon cake to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack. Let it cool completely. If desired, make a glaze and pour it on top of the cake. Place it in the freezer for 10 minutes to set the glaze.
tips for the best keto lemon pound cake
- Please, please, PLEASE do not substitute the flours. The almond flour and coconut flour combine well to create a specific texture, and they cannot be substituted 1:1 for each other.
- Almond meal cannot be substituted for almond flour. Almond meal is ground, whole almonds while blanched almond flour has the skins removed and is ground super fine.
- Granulated monk fruit is often found as a blend of monk fruit and erythritol. If you don't have granulated monk fruit, you can substitute plain erythritol (like Swerve), but you might find it has more of a cooling aftertaste.
- Parchment paper is your friend! Line baking dishes with parchment paper to easily remove the bread after baking. For this keto pound cake recipe, I leave paper hanging over the sides of the pan which I then use to lift the loaf out after it has cooled.
- Using butter will create an extra dense texture in this lemon pound cake, a bit more true to a traditional pound cake. A few different oil varieties that will work include olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil.
- If you're using coconut oil, be sure to let the eggs and sour cream come to room temperature. Cold eggs and cold sour cream will harden the melted coconut oil and make the cake batter lumpy.
keto lemon loaf: frequently asked questions
This low-carb lemon loaf is such a great treat if you're following a keto diet because one slice contains only 3 grams of net carbs.
You can make a simple keto lemon glaze by mixing fresh lemon juice with powdered monk fruit sweetener and a tiny amount of vanilla extract. I like to take it a step further and mix in a couple of tablespoons of sour cream to create a creamy, tangy, lemony glaze that's irresistible.
Absolutely! This keto lemon pound cake is sugar-free in the sense that it contains zero added sugar and is instead sweetened with a granulated monk fruit sweetener (like every single one of the keto cake recipes on the blog!).
You can keep any extra, un-glazed pound cake in an airtight container at room temperature. If you do add the sour cream glaze, it's best to store the pound cake in the refrigerator.
Enjoy this keto pound cake recipe, friends! And as always, if you make it and love it and feel like giving it five stars in the recipe card below, I'd be so grateful!
you might also love...
- This keto cake trifle with olive oil lemon curd. In fact, it's another way to use this pound cake!
- Keto lemon bars with a raspberry center are the ultimate lemon lover's treat! Gf, dairy-free and low-carb, you'll love the tart lemon filling with a raspberry layer.
- Keto zucchini bread is another favorite of ours and this one is goooood. Easy to make and so delish, it's the number one best thing about zucchini season.
- Everyone needs a simple keto cheesecake recipe! Serve this New York-style cheesecake with a fresh strawberry topping or a sugar-free chocolate sauce. It's one of the most popular keto desserts on the blog!
Keto Lemon Pound Cake Recipe (Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free)
This keto lemon pound cake is sweet, tart and tender! It's an easy low-carb recipe that every lemon lover will enjoy.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup softened butter or extra virgin olive oil (see notes if substituting coconut oil)
- ¾ cup granulated monkfruit sweetener (I like Lakanto's Golden monkfruit)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons)
- 4 eggs (pasture-raised when possible)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup sour cream (or coconut cream if dairy-free)
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (optional)
lemon sour cream glaze
- ⅓ cup powdered monk fruit sweetener
- zest of half a lemon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan by lining it with parchment paper, leaving parchment hanging over the sides as wings (this will help you lift it out after baking). Rub a bit of oil on the opposite ends of the pan that don't have parchment.
- In a large bowl (or bowl of standup mixer), beat together the butter or oil and the sweetener. Add in the rest of the wet ingredients: fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, eggs and sour cream. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed and mix until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. This helps break up the almond flour to prevent any lumps.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir (or mix on low-medium speed) until it is incorporated and there are no streaks of flour.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and transfer it to the oven. Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes, or until done. If the top of the pound cake begins to brown around 30-45 minutes into the baking time and the center isn't done yet, place a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil over the loaf to protect the top from getting too dark.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack. Let it cool completely.
- To make the glaze, combine all of the glaze ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Drizzle it over the cooled pound cake and place it in the freezer for 10 minutes to set the glaze.
Notes
- Line the baking dish with parchment paper to easily remove the cake after baking. I leave paper hanging over the sides of the pan which I then use to lift the loaf out after it has cooled.
- Butter will give the pound cake an extra dense texture while oil will allow it to rise slightly better.
- You can substitute olive oil for avocado oil or coconut oil. If you use coconut oil, make sure your eggs and sour cream are at room temperature otherwise the cold ingredients will solidify the coconut oil and make the batter lumpy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 260Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 39mgCarbohydrates: 7gNet Carbohydrates: 3gFiber: 4gSugar: 1gProtein: 8g
This nutritional information is approximate and is provided for convenience as a courtesy.
Sarah says
I had to write to say thank you!!! This is the first low carb dessert/baked good that has not only turned out (without me wasting/having to throw away $5 worth of almond flour!!!) but also tastes AMAZING!!!!! SO FREAKING GOOD! My kids and husband ate it too! Tastes like the lemon bread at our favorite coffee stand. I made a glaze for the top using ~ 1/3 cup powdered monk fruit sweetener, ~ 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Poured it over the top when cooling. DELISH!!!
Abby says
Hi Sarah,
Thank you so much for your sweet comment- hearing this makes my day! I'm so glad you and your family liked this recipe. And that glaze sounds awesome- I will have to try it next time!
Marie E says
Excellent cake! I used it to make a lemon berry trifle for Easter and it was fabulous! I can absolutely see myself making this cake often in the future as it is very delicious and very versatile.
Abby says
Wonderful, Marie! That sounds delicious. Thanks for the sweet comment!
Anita says
This sounds delicious 😋 do you think I could use coconut sugar I stead of the monk fruit sweetener?
Abby says
It should work fine texture-wise and you can swap the same amount, but I imagine you'll end up with more of that deep, brown sugary flavor that coconut sugar has. It might overpower the lemon but I haven't tried it so can't say for sure. Let me know if you do!
Anita says
I ended up going to the store and I found the monk fruit sweetener!
It was delicious, thank you!
kj says
if i didn’t want to include the 1/2 cup coconut flour, could i just substitute it with more almond flour instead?
Abby says
I haven't tested it this way but I would say it should work, it will just be slightly more crumbly without the coconut flour. I'd use at least 3/4 cup more almond flour since it won't absorb as much of the liquid as coconut flour.