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Vanilla Keto Cake Diabetic-Friendly

4.84 from 1388 votes
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This recipe may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This Almond Flour Vanilla Keto Cake is the most delicious, moist, and buttery diabetic-friendly birthday cake.

Plus, this vanilla keto cake has a dairy-free option,  is gluten-free, and is made with only 6 ingredients in 1 bowl!

So keep reading to learn how to make the ultimate low-carb cake.

Keto Vanilla Cake

Is it your birthday, or do you need to make a keto-friendly cake for a friend on a low-carb diet?

This easy keto birthday cake recipe is exactly what you need.

What’s A Keto Vanilla Cake?

This keto sponge cake is a simple but super tasty sugar-free vanilla cake that is also gluten-free and diabetes-friendly.

Because it is made with low-carb flour and no all-purpose flour, it comes with very few carbs: only 3 grams of net carbs per slice!

If you follow the keto diet, this won’t hurt your macros, and you will stay in ketosis!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Keto Cake is absolutely amazing, it tastes like a classic cake, and it’s:

  • Gluten-Free
  • Diabetes-Friendly
  • Paleo
  • Dairy-Free Option
  • Low-Carb
  • Keto-Friendly
keto cake ingredients

How To Make Keto Vanilla Cake

This is the perfect recipe for keto diet beginners, probably as easy as using a keto cake mix.

It is definitely a no-fail keto birthday cake recipe made in 1 bowl with only 6 simple ingredients.

Sugar-Free Vanilla Cake Ingredients

Let’s see what you need to make this moist and buttery sugar-free vanilla cake.

  • Almond Flour – I recommend fine almond flour for this Almond Flour Vanilla Cake rather than almond meal. Almond meal would work as well, but the cake would be less moist. Find other recipes with almond flour.
  • Eggs – this recipe is not vegan friendly. For a vegan cake, try my keto vegan mug brownie.
  • Sugar-free crystal sweetener – I love Monk fruit, but erythritol or xylitol are great options as well. Check out my review of keto-friendly sweeteners for alternatives.
  • Coconut oil – or any oil with a light taste will work very well here. Avoid vegetable oils. They are not keto. Good options are almond oil, flaxseed oil. If you are using melted coconut oil, make sure it is not burning hot when you add it to the cake batter. Hot oil will cook the eggs.
  • Baking powder or half the amount of baking soda, meaning 1/2 teaspoon.
  • Vanilla extract. Find all my recipes with vanilla extract.
gluten free vanilla cake

Making Almond Flour Cake

Usually, keto cake batter made with almond flour sticks a bit more to cake pans, so it is crucial to use a non-stick high-quality, aluminized pan.

It may sound expensive to invest in a high-quality pan, but they last for years. The one below has been in my kitchen for 7 years, and none of my cakes stick to it.

Making the Almond Flour Cake

Pan choice

I am using a 9-inch springform cake pan with a non-stick coating and a ridged texture at the bottom.

If your pan doesn’t have a ridged texture, your cake may stick slightly at the bottom. To prevent your keto cakes from sticking to the pan, I recommend a double-greasing method.

First, grease the whole pan, bottom, and sides with butter or coconut oil.

Then, cut out a piece of parchment paper, the same diameter as the pan, so in a 9-inch circle.

Place the piece of parchment paper at the bottom of the pan. It will stick to the pan since you grease it before. Finally, grease the whole pan again, including the paper.

This 2-step greasing method will ensure that your keto cake does not stick to the pan.

sugar free almond flour cake

Making A Layered Cake

You don’t have to make a layered keto cake, but it does look more like a classic birthday cake if you do.

You can follow the keto vanilla cake recipe and serve this delicious almond flour cake in 30 minutes.

It is a good sugar-free vanilla cake to enjoy plain or with the vanilla buttercream frosting recipe provided.

I recommend making the layers and frosting, though, to have a lovely light and fluffy keto birthday cake.

To make the layers of this diabetic cake, I recommend baking 2 small vanilla cakes instead of slicing a bigger one. It means you repeat the entire low-carb cake recipe 2 times.

This is the best way to create a lovely keto sponge cake with even layers and a decent cake height.

Keto vanilla almond flour cake

Tip 1: Make the vanilla cake recipe provided two times

I know it is tempting to double up the recipe to save time and then divide the batter in half.

It would work, but I’m not too fond of this technique because it is challenging to halve the batter perfectly. Often, you end up with a layer thicker than the other.

Tip 2: Bake one almond flour cake at a time

Never bake two cakes at the same time in your oven. It will impact the baking time too much, and the baking will not be consistent.

There is always one cake that burns and one that is not cooked. So take the time and bake them separately.

Tip 3: Level the cake layers before frosting

Your sugar-free birthday cake will come up with a small bump on top.

Fully cool the cake, then use a knife or a cake leveler tool to remove that bump and create 2 flat cake layers.

This will make it much easier to frost them later on.

Keto Vanilla Birthday Cake on a dessert place

Assembling Keto Vanilla Cake

First, make sure your low-carb cake layers are cool at room temperature to prevent the frosting from melting.

Then, I recommend using a turning table and icing spatula. You can use the frosting below or use any of my other frosting recipes:

Add a tablespoon of frosting to the center of the turning table and place the first cake layer on it.

This frosting is not cream cheese frosting, and so it will act like glue and stick the cake to the table.

Next, add 1 cup of frosting to the middle of the cake. Spread the frosting with an icing spatula turning the table at the same time to spread evenly.

The frosting will fall on the sides, and that is ok. Finally, add the second cake layer and repeat this process until you have covered all the top of the cake. Use more frosting to cover the edges.

I hope you enjoyed my 36-year-old diabetic birthday cake recipe. Happy birthday to you if you try this recipe for your birthday today.

keto buttercream frosting

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Almond Flour have carbs?

Yes, Almond Flour does contain some carbs but far less than all-purpose flour. It gives about the same texture to baked goods as regular flour though.

What can I use instead of Almond Flour?

If you don’t have almond flour or are allergic to almonds, you can use Sesame Seed flour. It’s also keto-friendly and bakes similarly.

You can also use all-purpose flour, but it wouldn’t be keto-friendly.

Can I use stevia instead of erythritol?

You can’t use pure stevia extract as Erythritol provides both sweetness and texture to this recipe. You need something that brings a sugar-like texture.

A stevia and erythritol blend works. Allulose would also work.

Can I use coconut flour instead of almond flour?

No, this vanilla cake wouldn’t work with coconut flour instead of almond flour as coconut flour is 4 times more water-absorbent.

It would make the cake very dry and gritty and would alter the flavor.

Can I Add Chocolate To The Batter?

You can add chocolate, but I recommend instead making my Keto Chocolate Cake.

dairy free vanilla cake

Or browse all my recipes in the low-carb cake recipes category

Is this keto sugar-free vanilla cake recipe too large for you? Then, try my keto vanilla cupcake recipe instead

Also, don’t forget to share a review or comment below! I love to hear your feedback on my keto recipes

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keto vanilla cake

Keto Vanilla Cake

3gNet Carbs
Keto Vanilla Cake an easy 1-bowl recipe for a moist and buttery dairy-free diabetic birthday cake with sugar-free buttercream icing.
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Yield: 12 slices
Serving Size: 1 slice
4.84 from 1388 votes

Ingredients

Vanilla Cake

  • 4 large Eggs
  • ½ cup Granulated Sweetener Monk Fruit or erythritol
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil melted or melted butter
  • 2 cups Almond Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder

Vanilla Buttercream frosting

  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter soft, out of the fridge for 4 hours (5.3 oz) – or vegan butter.
  • 1 ½ cups Powdered Erythritol
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2-3 tablespoons Heavy Cream or coconut cream
This recipe may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

Vanilla cake

  • Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F). Grease a 9-inch round springform pan with coconut oil or butter. Cut out a piece of parchment paper into a 9-inch circle and stick it to the bottom of the pan. Grease the paper and pan sides again. These steps prevent the cake from sticking to the pan. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs with sugar-free sweetener, oil, and vanilla. Process as if you whisked a breakfast omelet. It should not take more than 30 seconds to 1 minute, all you want is to combine the ingredients.
  • Whisk in almond flour and baking powder and whisk until evenly combined.
  • Pour the vanilla cake batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 25 minutes in the center of your oven. The fan-bake mode is ideal if you have one. Otherwise, use the regular mode. Your cake is cooked when a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean or with few to no crumbs on it.
  • Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then release the cake on a cooling rack. Cool for 1 or 2 hours before adding the frosting, or enjoy plain.
  • Note that this is a gluten-free cake. It doesn't rise much. You should expect a small bump raise in the middle, not more. The recipe is made to create flat cake layers to make a layered birthday cake.

Layer vanilla cake

  • Repeat the vanilla cake recipe one more time to create a second vanilla cake.
  • Make sure you clean, dry, and grease again the cake pan before baking the second cake.

Light and Fluffy Buttercream frosting

  • Add the soft butter cubes and vanilla to a stand mixer. Make sure you use the paddle attachment. Mix on high speed until it forms a pale, smooth, and fluffy butter.
  • Reduce to low speed and gradually add the sugar-free powdered sweetener, half a cup at a time. When all the sugar-free sweetener has been added, mix on medium speed for 2 minutes until it forms a fluffy cream.
  • Add cream and keep whisking for 1 minute to incorporate.
  • Spread the frosting between the 2 cake layers and on sides using an icing spatula. Watch my video to learn how to frost your layer cake easily.
  • Place the cake in the fridge for 2 hours to set up the frosting if desired.

Storage

  • You can make this cake 24 hours before, store it in an airtight cake box in the fridge to prevent the frosting from drying.
  • Store leftover for up to 4 days in the fridge or freeze in ziplock bags. Defrost the day before at room temperature.

Notes

This recipe doesn’t work with egg-replacer or flax egg, you must use eggs
The nutrition panel is for one slice of single-layer vanilla cake with no frosting. This is calculated this way so that it’s easier to tailor the nutrition to your baking!
  • A simple one-layer vanilla keto cake will have 3g of net carbs per slice.
  • A double-layer cake will have 6g of net carbs per slice.
  • A triple-layer cake will have 9g of net carbs per slice.
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetashoneyrecipes
Serving Size: 1 slice
Yield: 12 slices
Serving: 1sliceCalories: 151kcal (8%)Carbohydrates: 3.7g (1%)Fiber: 0.7g (3%)Net Carbs: 3gProtein: 4.8g (10%)Fat: 7.2g (11%)Sugar: 0.8g (1%)
Carine Claudepierre

About The Author

Carine Claudepierre

Hi, I'm Carine, the food blogger, author, recipe developer, published author of a cookbook and many ebooks, and founder of Sweet As Honey.

I have an Accredited Certificate in Nutrition and Wellness obtained in 2014 from Well College Global (formerly Cadence Health). I'm passionate about sharing all my easy and tasty recipes that are both delicious and healthy. My expertise in the field comes from my background in chemistry and years of following a keto low-carb diet. But I'm also well versed in vegetarian and vegan cooking since my husband is vegan.

I now eat a more balanced diet where I alternate between keto and a Mediterranean Diet

Cooking and Baking is my true passion. In fact, I only share a small portion of my recipes on Sweet As Honey. Most of them are eaten by my husband and my two kids before I have time to take any pictures!

All my recipes are at least triple tested to make sure they work and I take pride in keeping them as accurate as possible.

Browse all my recipes with my Recipe Index.

I hope that you too find the recipes you love on Sweet As Honey!

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    405 Thoughts On Vanilla Keto Cake Diabetic-Friendly
    1 2 3 4 5 6 11
  1. 5 stars
    Great recipe! I just made it to ease a cake craving and it was fast and easy. I topped it with whipped cream sweetened with sugar free maple syrup. Yum! But it would also be good with lemon drizzle as suggested in one of the other reviews. Thank you for the recipe x

  2. Hello, could you please recommend a couple of substitutions for the heavy cream to be used in the frosting. ( i cant find it where I live). Thank you!

  3. 5 stars
    Just tried this recipe since I made a cake for my sons 8th birthday and couldn’t have any. It’s delicious. Thank you for sharing

  4. 5 stars
    I make this cake all the time, it’s the best diabetic,sugar friendly,keto cake, I have come across. This and also the Red Velvet cake are amazing. Thank you for the recipe🙂

  5. 4 stars
    I baked this, cake was nice, but l find the baking powder leaves a little taste in the mouth, but the wife loved it, l used less butter but more cream

  6. Hi, I’m going to try to make this cake for a friends bday. Can I sub eggs with ju.st eggs? Also I’m trying to do a “funfetti” like cake if possible. I saw that kaliforia has a birthday cake cookie mix. I was going to experiment a little to see if I add some of that in substitute for the almond flour your recipe calls for.
    Thoughts and prayers are needed lol.

    I’m not keto or vegan and this is my first rodeo baking like this so I’m just hoping for the best but will make a couple different options I think.

  7. Would this work with regular all purpose flour? I don’t need the cake to be low car, just sugar free. Thank you.

    • I would check the cake 10 minutes before the recommended time for a 9 inches pan. Simply insert a pick in the center of the cake, if it comes clean, the cake is ready to take out the oven. Enjoy! Carine

  8. About to make a birthday cake from the womans weekly b/day book.
    using a pudding steamer.
    Which suppose to turn out a shape of a mouse
    Would this turn out the same using yr wonderful recipe
    My 4 yr old granddaughter is t1 diabetic

    • Keto low-carb cake are always more dense than the one you describe. They won’t be a like sponge cake but still delicious and this cake suit any kids. Mine love it, they are 4 and 8 years old. Enjoy and happy birthday to her.

  9. 5 stars
    About to make this cake for a friend. This recipe looks perfect. Do you think this recipe would be good to make two small 6 inch layers instead of one 9 inch layer?

    • Sure, if the layer are baked in a smaller pan, they will be thicker and bake slightly longer, insert a pick in the center of the cake to check baking after 30 minutes, if its stikcy keep baking by extra 5 min burst. Enjoy

  10. 4 stars
    My first keto vanilla cake. The texture was perfect except for the crust on the top, which was a bit like thin cardboard or plastic. Still tasted good. I used MCT oil instead of coconut oil, would that have done it?I also found the frosting way too sweet, I used powdered xylitol.

  11. 5 stars
    What a fabulous recipe. Thank you! Just had a little slice with a small spoon of Halo ice-cream. Delicious! I will have a go at your avocado chocolate cake next. Wonderful. Thank you!

  12. 5 stars
    Can’t wait to make this. Yum. I was wondering about adding berries then I saw your reply re adding 1/2 C berries by rolling in 1T of coconut flour first. Perfect. My grandbabies will be happy! Thanks for all your great recipes. Hubbs was diagnosed with diabetes this summer and you are the only reliable source I’ve found for low carb desserts and breads that are tasty. He had been a fabulous bread baker with a sweet tooth – thus the diabetes – and has missed carbs. Thank you for adding so much to our quality of life.

1 2 3 4 5 6 11

Disclaimer

The recipes, instructions, and articles on this website should not be taken or used as medical advice. You must consult with your doctor before starting on a keto or low-carb diet. The nutritional data provided on Sweetashoney is to be used as indicative only.

The nutrition data is calculated using WP Recipe Maker. Net Carbs is calculated by removing the fiber and some sweeteners from the total Carbohydrates. As an example, a recipe with 10 grams of Carbs per 100 grams that contains 3 grams of erythritol and 5 grams of fiber will have a net carbs content of 2 grams. Some sweeteners are excluded because they are not metabolized.

You should always calculate the nutritional data yourself instead of relying on Sweetashoney's data. Sweetashoney and its recipes and articles are not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose, or treat any disease. Sweetashoney cannot be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or advice found on the Website.

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