All the best of strawberry season in one delicious low carb poke cake. Tender almond flour cake with a sweet strawberry filling and topped with whipped cream. An easy keto strawberry shortcake recipe!
It’s strawberry season in the Pacific NorthWest and I honestly believe no one could be more excited than I am. There is simply nothing quite like a fresh local strawberry. Now, having grown up in Ontario, where the strawberries are delicious, having lived in British Columbia, where the strawberries are delicious, and having spent 11 years in New England, where the strawberries are delicious, I can tell you that it doesn’t really matter where you are.
If that region is good for strawberry cultivation, then the fresh-picked local strawberries are the best you’ve ever had. Local folks will tell you that their strawberries are THE BEST EVER! And they are, of course, in that very moment. Because you are popping a fresh strawberry into your mouth and nothing else in the world matters. It’s good, it’s juicy, and you think there simply can’t be anything better.
One of the famed local varieties in this part of the world is the Hood strawberry. Oregon is famous for these berries, which have great colour and an extra sweet flavour. People around here want their Hoods, asking for them by name at farmer’s markets and accepting no substitutes.
And they are wonderful berries, but they are fragile and don’t travel well, so don’t expect to see them much outside of Oregon. They are so soft that they are best eaten within days of picking. Which is perfectly fine in my family, as my kids can down a pint or two in one sitting!
Strawberry season always sparks my creativity in recipe creation. I often buy a half-flat at our local farmer’s market simply so I can get the strawberry recipe juices flowing. Since fresh berries like these go so much faster than store-bought, the pressure is on! But this recipe has been on my mind for ages and I was just barely hanging on until strawberry season rolled around to make it.
My low carb poke cakes are always ridiculously popular. And what could be better than a combination of strawberry shortcake and a poke cake? You’re right…nothing could be better.
Keto Strawberry Shortcake! The best of strawberry season in a poke cake. Tender almond flour cake with a sugar-free strawberry filling and whipped cream topping.
- 3 cups almond flour
- 3/4 cup Swerve Sweetener
- 1/3 cup unflavoured whey protein powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cups almond or cashew milk
- 1 1/2 cup chopped strawberries
- 1/3 cup water
- 3 tbsp powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum or glucomannan
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 tbsp powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
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Preheat oven to 325F and grease a 9x9 baking pan well (you can use an 8x8 but the cake will take a little longer to cook).
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In a large bowl, whisk together the almond flour, sweetener, whey protein, baking powder, and salt. Stir in melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract and almond milk until well combined.
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Spread batter in prepared baking pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until edges are beginning to brown and top is firm to the touch. Remove and let cool, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke large holes all over the cake.
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In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine strawberries and water. Bring to a boil and then simmer until berries are very soft. Puree in a blender or with a hand blender, then stir in the sweetener.
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Sprinkle surface with xanthan gum and whisk vigorously to combine. Let cool until somewhat thickened.
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Pour filling over cake and tap the baking pan gently on the counter to help it fill the holes. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.
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In a medium bowl, combine whipping cream, sweetener, and vanilla extract and beat until stiff peaks form. Spread over cake and refrigerate another hour or so to firm up.
