21 Low Carb Holiday Recipe Swaps

As if the mad rush of the holidays were not enough, anyone on a Keto Diet knows that this time of the year you need more than just willpower and determination to not succumb to the seemingly unlimited supply of carbs at office parties or holiday events. Most Keto-followers are already aware that for (most) every festive food or dish served during this special time, there is an equivalent—and even superior—Keto-friendly alternative to your holiday favorites.

However, your challenge might be convincing your loved ones just how delicious these low-carb alternatives can be. But given how many low-carb options there are available these days that taste just as good as the “originals”, it’s only a matter of time before these options become your family’s new holiday favorites. This list is by all means just a small sampling of the endless choices available for anyone on a low carb eating style.

21 Low Carb Holiday Swaps

Biscuits

Make your own low carb biscuits with almond flour or coconut flour instead of regular flour. Try one of our favorite biscuit recipes with less than 3g of net carbs per biscuit: 

• Savory Sour Cream Biscuit
• Cheddar Cheese Keto Biscuit

Cheesecake

There are plenty of natural sugar-free sweeteners that can be swapped for regular sugar in cheesecake and other baked treats, which help take a large “bite” out of the carb count. Substituting nut flour for regular flour in the crust also makes it that much easier to enjoy your cheesecake without the guilt and without sacrificing flavor. If it’s recipes you’re searching for, we have an assortment of cheesecake recipes to choose from:

• Keto Walnut Turtle Cheesecake
• Keto Fudge Brownie Cheesecake
• Coconut Lover’s Cheesecake
• Low Carb Blueberry Cheesecake Squares

Corn Syrup

Use a sugar-free sweetener and a no-carb thickening agent such as xanthan gum, guar gum, acacia gum, or agar agar. See our simple recipe for Quick Keto Corn Syrup which offers endless possibilities for great tasting desserts!

Crackers

In addition to a growing number of tasty low-carb crackers you can find in your grocery store, you can also make your own using either nut-based flours, seeds, or a combination of the two. Check out a couple of our favorite cracker recipes:

• Italian Herb Walnut Low Carb Crackers
• Almond Seedsation Keto Crackers

Fudge

Use our sugar free Sweetened Condensed Milk recipe to make your favorite guilt-free low-carb treat. We have our own version of delicious fudge, featuring two nutritional superstars – walnuts and dark chocolate: Guilt-Free Chocolate Walnut Fudge made with one of our staple ingredients for chocolate dessert recipes, Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips.

Fudge Sauce

Use a sugar-free powdered or confectioner’s sweetener and either unsweetened chocolate or sugar-free chocolate bar/chips (i.e. Lily’s) and you’re well on your way to a great tasting – and easy – fudge sauce. Check out our own 5-Minute Keto Chocolate Fudge Sauce recipe.

Pumpkin Pie

Make your own low carb version of this holiday dessert using heavy cream instead of evaporated milk, Monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, and almond flour and/or coconut flour or our own Keto Graham Crackers instead of flour for crust.

Cranberry Sauce

Make your own with fresh or frozen whole cranberries and Monk Fruit sweetener instead of sugar. Check our recipe for Cranberry Orange Holiday Sauce.

Holiday Eggnog

Use a natural sugar-free sweetener instead of sugar to eliminate most of the carbs in traditional holiday eggnog. The rest of the ingredients are naturally low-carb: whole eggs or egg yolks, cream, your choice of spices and a dash of rum. Here’s our own low-carb version of homemade holiday eggnog: Sugar-Free Rum Egg Nog.

Magic Cookie Bars

Try our Magic Cookie Bar recipe made with our Keto Graham Crackers and our own Keto Sweetened Condensed Milk to make this popular treat for kids and adults alike.

Gingerbread Cookies

Make your own gingerbread cookies using nut flour (e.g. almond and/or coconut flour) instead of regular flour, and a sugar-free brown/golden sweetener (e.g Golden Monk Fruit sweetener) instead of brown sugar.

We’d love for you to try our own version of Gingerbread Cookies decorated with a sugar-free powdered sweetener.

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Make your own low-carb version of this popular dessert staple, using only a handful of ingredients that include sugar-free powdered/confectioner’s sweetener, heavy cream, butter, and xanthan gum. Try our simple recipe for Keto Sweetened Condensed Milk and you’ll be convinced how much it tastes like the real thing!

Whipped Topping

Using a hand or electric mixer, make your own super simple sugar-free whipped topping by blending heavy whipping cream, granulated low carb sweetener and vanilla extract (or your own favorite flavor extract).

Graham Cracker Crust

Make your own crust with almond flour instead of regular graham cracker crumbs and Monk Fruit sweetener instead of regular sugar. If you enjoy eating graham crackers as much as the crust, check out our recipe for Keto Graham Crackers.

Hot Cocoa

Make your own low carb hot cocoa with Hershey’s unsweetened dark cocoa powder, Monk Fruit sweetener instead of sugar, and cream or unsweetened nut milk (almond, coconut) instead of cow or soy milk. Add peppermint extract for an extra special holiday version of this favorite hot beverage.

Mac and Cheese

Check out our Cauliflower Mac & Cheese Casserole which uses cauliflower instead of macaroni noodles and crushed pork rinds instead of bread crumb topping.

Risotto (Rice)

As with the tried-and-true swap for mashed potatoes, you won’t miss carb-heavy rice when you make this traditional dish with riced cauliflower (make your own or use either fresh or frozen prepared versions). Check out one of our favorite holiday side dishes made with cauliflower rice: Creamy Cauliflower & Mushroom Risotto.

Mashed Potatoes

You’ll be more likely to ditch carb-loaded mashed potatoes after trying the online versions of mashed cauliflower recipes, including our own Creamy Cauliflower Mash. Use fresh or frozen bags of riced cauliflower or cauliflower florets for added convenience and time savings!

Green Bean Casserole

Check out our special recipe for Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole which also uses a topping of crushed pork rinds instead of fried onions.

Stuffing

Try our version of Keto Skillet Stuffing made with our own Keto Cauliflower Bread Recipe.

Gravy

Use xanthan gum instead of cornstarch to thicken broth/drippings.

Lauren Paley

Creator of Fearless Keto. Model + health & wellness enthusiast. After losing 45 pounds on Keto, I want to give back to the community that gave me so much 👑