Keto Cheese Soufflé

Name: Keto Cheese Soufflés
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup almond flour; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp ground mustard; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1/2 tsp xanthan gum; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper; 1/2 cup unflavored almond milk; 1/4 cup heavy cream; 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded); 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives; 6 large eggs (at room temperature and separated); 1/4 tsp cream of tartar; Dash of salt

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Sharp cheddar and chopped chives add rich flavor to these savory keto soufflés. Light and fluffy, they make a wonderful side dish or breakfast!

A Keto Cheese Soufflé in a white ramekin on a wooden cutting board, with chives.

Cheese soufflé is a classic French dish that looks impressive and tastes delightful. The astonishing way it rises and puffs up always elicits oohs and aahs as you set it in front of people. Of course, it begins to fall soon, but those first few minutes when it’s fresh out of the oven are highly enjoyable.

You might be surprised to find that you can make Keto Cheese Soufflé just as easily as a flour-based one. It rises just as delightfully, puffing up and then sinking in on itself in the very same fashion. And it tastes just as rich and flavorful too.

I first created this keto soufflé recipe in 2015, and I haven’t revisited it in a while. But with the holidays coming, I thought I would update this recipe and show you just how fun it is to make!

If you love cheesy recipes, be sure to check out my Cheddar Ranch Roasted Cauliflower and the ever-popular Cheesy Chicken Fritters.

Three Keto Cheese Soufflés in white ramekins on a white table with chives scattered around.

You need to try it yourself!

Soufflé can seem a little intimidating, but it’s really not all that difficult. I walk you through the process step by step in this recipe. The most important thing is whipping those egg whites to nice stiff peaks before folding it into the cheese mixture.

I always make recipes like this with Cabot cheddar, because it’s so amazingly flavorful and adds depth to my cheesy recipes. These days, it’s available in grocery stores all over the country so look for it if you can. If not, any good sharp white cheddar will do.

(FYI: This is not a sponsored post; I am just a Cabot cheese devotee from my many years in New England. The closest I’ve found on this side of the country is Beecher’s in Seattle. But I still prefer my Cabot!)

Then these little delights do their soufflé thing, rising to lovely peaks in the oven. They look so great when they are warm, but they do begin to fall within about 5 minutes. To be honest, I prefer the flavor when they’ve collapsed a bit. They have a creamy custard-like texture and delicious cheesy flavor.

They also made a great high protein breakfast the next day, with 14g of protein and less than 3g of carbs. They won’t puff up again, but you can warm them gently in the oven or microwave.

Reader Reviews

“This came out beautifully! Thank you for the recipe i have many in my family who are gluten intolerant and they loved this ????” — Tiffany

“Wow…. This was so delicious. I’m a brand new Keto convert and it’s recipes like this that make it an even more exciting prospect! I can’t wait to browse this site more.” — Sharon

“These are AMAZING! What a great recipe!!!” — Amanda

Ingredient notes

Top down image of the ingredients for Keto Cheese Soufflé.

Almond flour: Using good quality almond flour is extremely important for these keto soufflés. A finely ground flour will give them a much better consistency.
Xanthan gum: This helps thicken the batter so it will rise a little better.
Cream and almond milk: I use a combination of these liquids to cut back a little on the fat and lighten them up.
Cheddar cheese: And sharp cheddar works. I recommend Cabot Seriously Sharp.
Fresh chives: You can also finely chop green onions or use any other fresh herbs like basil or oregano.
Eggs: Be sure to bring them to room temperature first and separate the whites and yolks.
Pantry staples: Cream of tartar, cayenne pepper, ground mustard, black pepper and salt.

Step by Step Directions

A collage of 6 images showing the steps for making Keto Cheese Soufflé.

1. Whisk the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, salt, mustard, pepper, xanthan gum and cayenne.

2. Start adding wet ingredients: Slowly whisk in the cream and milk until well combined. Whisk in the cheese, chives and egg yolks until fully incorporated.

3. Whip the egg whites: In a large, clean bowl, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar and salt until stiff peaks form and mixture is glossy.

4. Fold them together: Carefully fold the egg whites into the almond flour/cheese mixture until just combined.

5. Bake the soufflés: Divide the mixture among 8 (eight) greased 4-to-6 ounce ramekins placed on a large cookie sheet. Carefully place cookie sheet into preheated oven. Bake at 350ºF about 25 minutes or until soufflés have risen an inch or two above the rim and are golden brown.

Close up shot of a Keto Cheese Soufflé with a spoonful taken out of it.

Tips for Success

A few tips for beating the egg whites: Make sure you use a clean, dry bowl, as any amount of moisture or dirt could prevent them from whipping properly. Also make sure you separate the eggs properly and don’t get even a speck of yolk in the whites. Any amount of fat will prevent the egg whites from stiffening up.

This recipe makes 8 servings but you can easily cut it in half to make only four servings. You can also bake the whole recipe in a larger 8-inch soufflé dish. It will probably take about 20 minutes to bake through.

An individual Keto Cheese Soufflé in a white ramekin on a small white plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a soufflé rise so much?

Soufflé requires beaten egg whites to rise and puff up properly. Make sure you beat them to stiff peaks before you fold them into the cheese mixture. The word comes from the French “souffler”, which means to breath or to puff.

What is cream of tartar?

Cream of tartar is a by-product of the wine-making process. When used in baking, it helps beaten egg whites holds stiff peaks. If you can’t access it, you can skip it. But it does help give the soufflés some structure.

How many carbs are in Keto Soufflé?

This keto cheddar and chive soufflé recipe has 2.7g of carbs and 1g of fiber per serving. That comes to 1.7g net carbs per soufflé.