Following a keto diet doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorite treats. Trust me, I know how hard it can be to watch everyone else enjoy those sweet, cinnamon-coated churros at the fair while you’re trying to stay on track with your low-carb lifestyle. And explaining to kids why you can’t share their favorite desserts? That’s a whole other challenge.
That’s why these keto churro bites are such a game-changer: they’re low-carb but still taste like the real deal, easy enough to make when sugar cravings hit, and perfect for sharing with family members who might be skeptical about keto-friendly desserts.
Why You’ll Love These Keto Churro Bites
- Keto-friendly treat – These churro bites have all the taste of traditional churros but fit perfectly into your low-carb lifestyle, using almond flour and monk fruit instead of regular flour and sugar.
- Quick preparation – You can whip up these treats in less than 30 minutes, making them perfect for when those sweet cravings hit.
- Simple ingredients – Most of these ingredients are common keto pantry staples, and you won’t need any special equipment to make them.
- Satisfying snack – The combination of protein powder and almond flour makes these churro bites more filling than traditional versions, helping you stay satisfied while enjoying a sweet treat.
What Kind of Almond Flour Should I Use?
For these keto churro bites, you’ll want to use blanched almond flour rather than almond meal. Blanched almond flour is made from almonds that have had their skins removed and is ground much finer than almond meal, giving your churros a smoother, more authentic texture. Regular grocery store brands like Bob’s Red Mill or Anthony’s work great, but avoid using natural almond flour (with the skins on) as it will make your churros grainy. If you notice your almond flour has some larger pieces, you can give it a quick sift before using it to ensure the smoothest possible result.
Options for Substitutions
Making these keto churro bites but missing some ingredients? Here are some helpful swaps you can try:
- Almond flour: You can swap almond flour with sunflower seed flour in equal amounts if you have a nut allergy. Coconut flour isn’t recommended as a direct substitute since it absorbs much more liquid.
- Perfect Keto protein powder: Any unflavored whey protein powder will work here. If using flavored protein powder, reduce the cinnamon in the recipe by half to avoid overwhelming the taste.
- Xanthan gum: This is pretty important for texture, but in a pinch, you can use guar gum in the same amount. Without either, the churros might be more crumbly.
- Sour cream: Full-fat Greek yogurt works great as a 1:1 replacement for sour cream in this recipe.
- Monk fruit: Feel free to use erythritol, allulose, or any other keto-friendly sweetener you prefer. Just adjust the amount based on your sweetener’s conversion chart since some are sweeter than others.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest challenge when making keto churro bites is achieving that perfect crispy exterior while maintaining a soft interior – the secret lies in maintaining the right oil temperature between 350-375°F, as too hot will burn the outside while leaving the inside raw, and too cool will make them greasy and soggy. When mixing the dough, avoid overworking it as this can lead to dense, tough churros – mix just until the ingredients are well combined and stop. To prevent the churro bites from falling apart while frying, make sure your dough is the right consistency – it should be firm enough to pipe and hold its shape, so if it’s too wet, add a bit more almond flour one teaspoon at a time. For the best texture and flavor, coat your churros in the cinnamon-monk fruit mixture while they’re still warm (but not hot) so the coating sticks properly without melting.
What to Serve With Keto Churro Bites?
These sweet and cinnamony keto churro bites are perfect for pairing with your favorite low-carb beverages and toppings. A cup of rich, black coffee or unsweetened almond milk hot chocolate makes an excellent companion for these treats. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, try serving them with a side of sugar-free chocolate sauce or vanilla-flavored whipped cream (made with heavy cream and sugar substitute) for dipping. You can also plate these churro bites alongside some fresh berries like strawberries or raspberries to add a bright, natural sweetness while keeping things keto-friendly.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These keto churro bites are best enjoyed the day they’re made, but you can keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Just make sure they’ve cooled completely before storing to maintain their crispy exterior.
Refrigerate: Pop them in the fridge in a sealed container, and they’ll stay good for up to 5 days. Keep in mind that the texture might become slightly softer in the refrigerator, but they’re still yummy!
Crisp Up: To bring back that fresh-made texture, warm them in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes. After heating, you can even give them a quick roll in some fresh cinnamon-monk fruit mixture to refresh the coating. They’ll taste almost like they just came out of the fryer!
| Preparation Time | 15-20 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 6-8 minutes |
| Total Time | 21-28 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 1200-1400
- Protein: 35-45 g
- Fat: 85-95 g
- Carbohydrates: 60-70 g
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup perfect keto protein powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- Cinnamon sugar coating:
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/3 cup monk fruit
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (165°C) to ensure it is evenly heated by the time your dough is ready to bake.
Step 2: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
In a small bowl, combine 1 cup almond flour, 1/4 cup unflavored or vanilla protein powder, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon xanthan gum, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Add 1/4 cup melted butter, 2 tablespoons sour cream, and 2 tablespoons hot water to the dry ingredients.
Mix everything together with a fork until fully combined.
If the dough seems crumbly, incorporate a bit more hot water to reach the desired consistency.
Step 3: Form the Dough Balls
To prevent sticking, wet your hands with water or use a dab of olive oil.
Roll the prepared dough into balls about 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter.
Place these dough balls on a parchment-lined baking tray, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow for even baking.
Step 4: Bake the Doughnut Bites
Place the tray with the dough balls in the preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 6 minutes, ensuring they are slightly firm yet tender.
After baking, allow the doughnut bites to cool slightly on the tray.
Step 5: Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
While the doughnut bites cool, use a small bowl to combine 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/3 cup monk fruit sweetener, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.
Stir this mixture until well blended, creating your cinnamon sugar coating.
Step 6: Coat the Doughnut Bites
Dip each doughnut bite into the melted butter and then roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat evenly.
Set the coated doughnut bites back on the parchment-lined tray to cool completely.
Once cooled, they are ready to enjoy!