These keto chocolate fudge crumb bars are my healthy answer to an old Starbucks favorite. With less than 3g net carbs per serving, it’s a delicious sugar-free dessert you won’t want to miss!
I used to be such a Starbucks aficionado. It’s funny but I don’t go at all anymore unless I am traveling somewhere and in desperate need of a cuppa joe. I much prefer to make my own coffee and specialty drinks at home. Or maybe I have just become THAT anti-social.
I do have fond memories of their old baked goods, back when quality mattered to them. And I have created any number of low carb copycat recipes, like Keto Maple Pecan Scones and Keto Frappuccinos.
To be honest, my healthier versions are just as good as, or possibly even better than, the originals. And these Keto Fudge Crumb Bars are no exception!
Why this recipe rocks!
I really used to love the oatmeal fudge bars, with a delicious crumbly crust and rich chocolate filling. So how does one replicate that same crumbly, buttery crust in a low carb way?
You will be happy to hear that it’s not that hard. Done correctly, almond flour makes a great crumb crust for keto baked goods. It really comes down to the right ratio of almond flour, sweetener, and butter. I always like to add in a bit of coconut flour too, to dry out the mixture. I’ve used similar crusts in recipes like Keto Caramel Butter Bars and Keto Pumpkin Coffee Cake.
The filling is a simple keto chocolate ganache with a little added thickener. It’s like chocolate sauce when you pour it over but it becomes a thick, delicious fudgy layer as it bakes. The end result is spectacularly delicious!
Reader Reviews
“These were absolutely AMAZING!! I can’t believe they are low carb. No one would ever suspect. The only thing I did differently was add extra sweetener because the chocolate was pretty bitter and I’m not a fan of extra bitter chocolate. Thank you once again, Carolyn, for a marvelous dessert!” — Nancy
“OK it doesn’t get any better than this – quick and simple recipe, easy to throw together in a jiffy and tastes great! This one is a home run. This was a hit with everyone – keto, gluten free or people with no dietary restrictions. Everyone LOVES these bars. I have already been asked to bring these to the next family gathering. Thank you for an AMAZING recipe!!!” — Joyce
“Made this recipe over the weekend & delighted how easy to make!! Definitely another winner!! I was amazed how the chocolate ganache turned out. Thank you for sharing this fudgy delight with us!!! Your baking tips & videos are great & so beneficial for successful outcomes!!” — Diana
Ingredients You Need
- Almond flour: You really do need to use a good finely ground almond flour for this recipe.
- Sweetener: Erythritol based sweeteners will give you the best results for the crust. But you can use other sweeteners in the filling. See the Tips for Success for more information.
- Coconut flour: A little coconut flour gives the cake a lighter, fluffier consistency. It also helps cut down in fat and calories!
- Butter: For a dairy free option you can swap it out for coconut oil or palm shortening.
- Heavy whipping cream: A good chocolate ganache always starts with heavy cream!
- Unsweetened chocolate: Do note that this is completely unsweetened chocolate, meaning it doesn’t contain any sweeteners at all. I recommend getting a good brand like Guittard or Ghirardelli, as they are less likely to seize.
- Glucomannan: This helps the fudge filling thicken. You can also use xanthan gum.
- Pantry staples: Vanilla extract and salt.
Step by Step Directions
1. Make the crumb crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, coconut flour, and salt. Stir in the butter and vanilla extract and toss until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
2. Bake the bottom crust: Press ⅔ of the mixture firmly into bottom a greased 8×8 baking pan. Bake at 325ºF for 8 minutes, until just golden on the edges and then remove (it will not be baked through).
3. Prepare the fudge filling: In a large saucepan, heat the whipping cream and powdered sweetener over medium heat, stirring to combine. Bring to barely a simmer and remove from heat. Add the chopped chocolate and let sit 5 minutes to melt.
4. Pour over the crust: Whisk filling until smooth, then add the vanilla. Sprinkle with glucomannan and whisk to combine. Pour the filling over the crust and spread to the edges.
5. Bake the bars: Sprinkle the surface with the remaining crumb mixture. Bake 22 to 25 minutes, until the topping is golden brown. Remove and let cool completely.
Tips for Success
You want the crust mixture to resemble coarse crumbs, so if it’s too soft, add a little more almond or coconut flour to help thicken it.
Unsweetened chocolate makes a better fudge filling because it thickens up better than sugar-free brands like Lily’s or ChocZero. You can use these if you like but your filling may be a little too soft.
Sweetener Options
An erythritol based sweetener is your best bet for the crust in this recipe. Allulose sweeteners will make it too soft and hard to pick up. If you want to cut back on the erythritol, try using only ⅓ cup and adding a little stevia extract to make it sweeter.
The filling should work with both erythritol and allulose, although it may take longer to firm up properly with allulose. Make sure you use a powdered sweetener. I don’t recommend stevia extract here, as it can be very bitter when directly combined with chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can make a wonderful crumb crust with almond flour, coconut flour, sweetener and butter. It’s great on everything from keto coffee cake muffins to Keto Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars.
These crumb bars will be good on the counter for up to 5 days, as long as you are not in a hot area. Otherwise, keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze these bars. Wrap them up tightly and store in a freezer safe container for several months.
This keto fudge crumb bar recipe has 5.4g of carbs and 2.7g of fiber per serving. That comes to 2.7g net carbs per bar.
Keto Fudge Crumb Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ cup Swerve Sweetener
- 2 tablespoon coconut flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling:
- ¾ cup whipping cream
- ⅓ cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon glucomannan (or xanthan gum)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF and grease an 8×8 inch metal baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, coconut flour, and salt. Stir in the butter and vanilla extract and toss until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press ⅔ of the mixture firmly into bottom prepared baking pan. Bake 8 minutes, until just golden on the edges and then remove (it will not be baked through).
- In a large saucepan, heat the whipping cream and powdered sweetener over medium heat, stirring to combine. Bring to barely a simmer and remove from heat. Add the chopped chocolate and let sit 5 minutes to melt.
- Whisk filling until smooth, then add the vanilla. Sprinkle with glucomannan and whisk to combine. Pour the filling over the crust and spread to the edges.
- Sprinkle the surface with the remaining crumb mixture. Bake 22 to 25 minutes, until topping is golden brown. Remove and let cool completely.
Video
Shoshi says
Hi!
I didnt have any of the thickening agents you required so I added an egg and it turned out amazing. Wow !! By far the best keto cake recipe I’ve tried. It also hot got better in the fridge. Thanks so much.
Shoshi (hi from Israel ❤)
Carolyn says
Excellent!
Dawn Arroyo says
These turned out perfectly. Admittedly, I did not have heavy cream (thought I did) so I used part half and half/part almond milk and added an oz of cream cheese. The end result was amazing. I loved that they weren’t as sweet as I was expecting and one small square was quite satisfying.
Can’t wait to have with my morning coffee.
Nicole says
Hi Carolyn,
I’ve got these in the oven now…is the chocolate sauce supposed to be on the runnier side? I used 90% Lindt chocolate and added an extra few drops of liquid stevia. Not sure if I did anything wrong. I can’t wait to try it. Anyway to get the sauce to thicken up? Thanks!
Carolyn says
This recipe very specifically uses unsweetened chocolate and powdered Swerve, because both of those things have fibre which helps thicken the chocolate. I am afraid yours may not thicken.
Nicole says
Thanks Carolyn for your response., I did use the powdered swerve but added a few liquid drops of stevia. I got the chocolate to firm up after putting it in the fridge overnight. My husband wanted these for breakfast when he saw them! They are soooo good!!! Thanks for all your efforts!
Carolyn says
Glad it worked out!
Anna says
These bars were a huge hit! So delicious!
Toni says
My kids really loved it!! Such a perfect treat for everyone!
Kristyn says
Oh, these would be so dangerous for me!! I’d eat them all! Love fudgy bars & love the options! Thanks!
Julie Blanner says
My mouth is watering, and low carb? love it!
Erin says
That fudge layer in the middle is perfect!
Sarah says
Sprinkled these with crunchy Icelandic sea salt. Amazing <3
Nicole says
Carolyn,
What type of chocolate do you recommend using? I have a couple of Lindt 85% bars and also 99% on hand but worry the 99% will be too bitter. Unfortunately they do not sell Ghirardelli in my region. Can I add some extra swerve or liquid stevia drops? I like it a little on the sweeter side but not too sweet. Thanks!
Carolyn says
Don’t add extra Swerve, it will be too thick. But some stevia drops should be fine. I think you need the 99% because the fiber in the chocolate helps it set properly.
Nicole says
Thanks again Carolyn!
Christine says
Can I use cocoa powder?
Carolyn says
That won’t work in this recipe. It won’t thicken enough and will be quite gritty.
Kortney says
Do you use sweve granulars or powdered?
Carolyn says
If it just says Swerve, that’s granular.
Carol says
Carolyn,
We LOVE all your recipes – this one included! If I were to make this into a more Christmas dessert by adding mint to the chocolate, do you have any idea how much peppermint extract I would add to a recipe?
Thanks,
Carol
Carolyn says
That depends a bit on your peppermint extract and how strong it is but I think 1 tsp.
Cynthia says
Carolyn, i love your food! I am not a baker so it intimidates me. I just made this recipe, my chocolate was thin even after beating for what i felt like was long enough ? and my crumb mixture was wet sorta so it sank. On the positive side it smells yummy, not sure what it’s to look like when i take it out ? i will let you know how it tasted. Thank you for sharing all your yummy stuff with us wanna be cooks/bakers ♥️
Carolyn says
What brand of chocolate did you use?
Ashley says
Can I use Lily’s chocolate for this recipe?
Carolyn says
No, it doesn’t have enough fiber and the filling won’t set as well.
Karen LoPinto says
Just made these for the first time. They were a huge hit! I followed the recipe exactly so the flavor was perfect. They didn’t set up real well in our 100+ degree weather in Arizona so I refrigerated them. Would they set up better with a little extra Xanthan Gum do you think?
Carolyn says
That might help a bit!
Y. Destasio says
Carolyn!!
Thank you, thank you thank you for this recipe. Low carb sweets have been my nemesis. But, THESE! They got rave reviews from the kids and hubby. I’m not a fan of coconut and it does have a slight taste of coconut in the crust but I loved it. It reminded me of chocolate cream pie in bar form. I followed the recipe exactly as written except I halved the recipe and baked in a 8×8 pan. Thanks for all the hard work you put in to give us healthy and yummy food! 🙂
Carolyn says
Delighted it hit the spot!
ashley says
Hi, foolish question but is whipping cream the same thing as heavy cream?
Carolyn says
Yes and no. Heavy cream must have a milk fat percentage of 36% or higher. Whipping cream is anywhere between 30 and 36%. They can both be used here, though.
Sue says
Just saw this recipe on Facebook. Looks delicious, but I’m not fond of coconut. Would slivered almonds provide the texture needed in the crust?
Carolyn says
If you can use sliced almonds, that works best.
Mary Fox says
This looks wonderful, but do I have to have Swerve Sweetner? I have THM Sweet Blend. Can I just exchange that for equal amounts of the Swerve Sweetner? I do have the POWDERED Swerve Sweetner for the filling
Carolyn says
Don’t do equal amounts, the sweet blend is much sweeter than Swerve. Swerve measures like sugar so figure out how much of the THM blend to add in relation to sugar.
Margaret says
Several people mentioned using half and half instead of whipping cream. Do you think it would work as well? Just looking to keep some of the calories down. Would it just not taste as rich or would it alter the recipe? Looks delicious.
Carolyn says
I think it would be fine for this recipe.