This decadent chocolate eclair cake is made with keto graham crackers and filled with sugar free pastry cream. Pour on some delicious chocolate ganache and it’s a dreamy low carb dessert!
I bet you didn’t expect to be eating chocolate eclairs on your keto diet, did ya? Well in case you hadn’t noticed, I like to defy expectations. Particularly when it comes to keto desserts.
In fact, I’ve made it my mission in life to prove to the world that special diets need not be boring or restrictive. Many people are surprised to find that a keto diet is not all eggs, meat, and cheese. And they’re even more surprised to learn that keto desserts can be just as good, or even better, than the conventional, carb filled counterparts.
That’s why I love nothing more than to take the sugariest desserts I can find and figure out a way to make them keto friendly. Without sacrificing taste or texture.
And this keto chocolate eclair cake proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt!
What is Eclair Cake?
Conventional eclair cake is a no bake icebox cake that tastes like a chocolate eclair. You can see an example here on My Baking Addiction.
It’s an easy recipe made with a whole bunch of storebought ingredients that aren’t very good for you. Graham crackers, boxed pudding, frozen whipped topping, and canned chocolate frosting.
Um, no. Let’s not even go there. My blood sugar is rising just thinking about it.
But it sure is pretty, isn’t it? Definitely ripe for a keto makeover!
Revamping my Keto Eclair Cake recipe
I first wrote this recipe back in 2014. At that time, I took a different approach, and made cake with layers of meringue cake instead of graham crackers.
It was delicious, but it was messy and the presentation wasn’t quite up to my current standards. So I decided to give it another go, this time with my homemade graham crackers for the layers.
I also changed the filling to make it a bit fluffier and lighter. I still used the sugar free pastry cream from my Keto Boston Cream Pie, but I folded in some whipped cream as well.
And finally, I revamped the keto chocolate ganache, making it similar to the delicious glaze from my Keto Chocolate Cheesecake.
The end result is easier to make and looks far more impressive than my original version. And it absolutely tastes like a chocolate eclair!
How to make keto eclair cake
Unlike the sugary version, we have to make everything from scratch. But this is still a very easy cake to make and I know you will love it. Here are my best tips for getting it right.
The graham crackers
My keto graham crackers were the very first of their kind and have stood the test of time. And they make the perfect low carb layers for this eclair cake.
Be sure to make them well in advance of the cake, as they need to cool properly. You will need the whole batch (minus a few bits and pieces) for this recipe.
The pastry cream
Sugar free vanilla pastry cream is easy to make but it does need constant attention. Don’t walk away even for a second, as it may thicken too quickly and curdle.
I recommend using a good heavy duty pan over medium-low to medium heat. Be sure to temper the egg yolks properly by whisking in about half of the hot liquid. Slowly drizzle it in as you whisk. Then slowly drizzle the tempered yolks back into the remaining cream in the pan.
Once it thickens up, remove it from the heat immediately. It needs to cool to room temperature before you can fold in the whipped cream.
Layering the cake
Cover the bottom of an 8×8 inch pan with graham crackers. They won’t fit perfectly so you will need to break or cut some to cover the pan evenly.
Use half of the pastry cream filling and spread it over the graham crackers, then add another layer of crackers, another layer of pastry cream, and top with one more layer of graham crackers.
Make the ganache
Sugar free chocolate ganache is one of my favorite ways to top a keto cake. I’ve used it in so many recipes and it’s always delicious.
Be sure to use unsweetened chocolate here, not sugar free chocolate. What’s the difference? Well, unsweetened chocolate has NO sweetener at all, whereas sugar-free chocolate is sweetened with things like erythritol, stevia, or other non-nutritive sweeteners.
Sugar free chocolate makes the ganache too thin and it won’t firm up properly. So be sure you are using 100% cacao unsweetened chocolate.
Pour it on!
Nothing is more beautiful than chocolate ganache pouring over a delicious cake. Am I right?
Can you make this Keto Eclair Cake in advance?
This is a great keto cake for prepping a day or two ahead. In fact, letting it sit overnight helps it firm up and cut into nice slices.
That said, it really should be made and consumed within a few days. It’s not really a freezable recipe, as both the filling and the ganache will change in consistency.
More delicious keto recipes
- Keto Coconut Cream Pie
- The BEST Keto Nanaimo Bars
- Chocolate Mousse Pie
- Easy Keto Mascarpone Mousse
- Keto Coconut Flan
- Dairy Free Chocolate Pudding
Keto Chocolate Eclair Cake
Ingredients
Pastry Cream Filling
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or hemp milk for nut free)
- 3 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener divided
- pinch salt
- 2 tbsp butter cut into two pieces
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Ganache
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate chopped
- 1/4 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Layers
- 1 recipe keto graham crackers
Instructions
Pastry Cream Filling
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the almond milk to a simmer.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks with 1/2 cup of the powdered sweetener and the salt until pale yellow.
- Slowly whisk about half of the hot milk into the yolks to temper them, then return the yolk/cream mixture back to the saucepan, whisking continously. Cook until thickened, whisking continuously.
- Remove from heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla extract. Let cool to room temperature.
- In a large bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream with the remaining 1/4 cup powdered sweetener until it holds stiff peaks. Fold the pastry cream into the whipped cream until no streaks remain.
Chocolate Ganache
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the cream to a simmer. Remove from heat and add the chopped chocolate. Let sit 5 minutes to melt.
- Add the sweetener and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
To Assemble
- Line the bottom of an 8x8 inch pan with graham crackers, cutting to fit as needed. Spread half the filling over the graham crackers. Repeat with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining filling.
- Top with one more layer of graham crackers and pour the chocolate ganache over top, spreading to the edges. Refrigerate at least 4 hours to firm up before serving.
Mayi says
Can I use your yummy almond crust for this recipe?
Carolyn says
Not quite sure how that would work to make layers, since that’s a press in crust.
Larisa says
I see in the comments mentions about adding arrowroot or xantham gum, but I don’t see it in the recipe. Did you change the recipe by any chance?
Carolyn says
Please read the blog post…
Christine says
I was wondering if it would be ok to use stevia or other non-sugar sweetened chocolate chips in place of the unsweetened chocolate and swerve?
Christine says
Never mind Carolyn, just got to the last part of the notes above where it says to use only unsweetened chocolate to get it to set up right, thanks anyway lol!
Jenny says
Oh my goodness!! Is this for real? If I didn’t just make it I wouldn’t believe it!! This is outstanding!! I can’t wait to bring it for Easter dessert!!! Thank you Carolyn!! Another fantastic dessert from you!
Carolyn says
So glad you enjoyed it!
2pots2cook says
Yes, you are right ! Totally unexpected and totally beautiful !
Kelly says
How about using sunflower seed flour? Would that work as a good substitute for almond flour?
Carolyn says
That might work!
Andrew W. says
HOLY COW. This is a devastatingly good dessert. The meringue is almost like a crispy almond cookie. This, layered with an rich, glossy pastry cream, and top with a slightly bitter chocolate… It was a definitive moment in my life. It can’t be possible for something to taste this good… or so I thought.
The only thing I’m weary on, is rationing it out. It it very difficult!
Carolyn says
Glad you like it!
Lorinda says
This got 12 thumbs up at Thanksgiving. I’m the only diabetic in my fam, so I have something to prove when making dessert – and thanks, Carolyn for helping me prove it! I added thin banana slices (maybe 1.5 medium bananas total) in each cream layer because I miss banana cream pie and chocolate/banana is a sure way to win over my Dad. Being foodies, my Mom and I sat and brainstormed other variations that would work: for the chocolate ganache topped version, coconut or raspberries in the pastry cream layers, Leaving off the ganache and doing a sour cream creme pat would go with a chunky blueberry sauce or thin slices of cinnamon apples. . I found the amount of fruit I ended up adding per slice was pretty negligible = maybe 4 carbs – but all agreed it was a great enhancement. The only change I’d make next time is to pipe the meringues in single serving-sized oblongs or circles so that each serving could be an individual stack of meringues and there’d be no custard blurping out the sides from cutting. A bit more time, but it would be worth it to me for a prettier presentation for a special dinner.
Carolyn says
Many great ideas here!
Wanda says
Can the individual meringues Lorinda mentioned be frozen for later asembly?
Carolyn says
I don’t know if they would survive the freezer.