Cream cheese is a dairy product that is a staple in many diets, and perhaps could be included to spice up the keto diet as well.
Is Cream Cheese Keto-friendly? Yes, cream cheese is keto-friendly because it is higher in dietary fats and very low in carbs. It would be difficult to eat enough cream cheese to exceed your daily carb limit and get kicked out of ketosis, which is why cream cheese is a staple for those on the keto diet.
Cream cheese can be included in a variety of ways for those on the keto diet but is enjoyed most often as a keto dessert since dessert options are limited on the keto diet.
After reading this article you’ll learn:
- How many carbs does cream cheese have
- How to include cream cheese on the keto diet
- The 5 best keto desserts with cream cheese
How Many Carbs Does Cream Cheese Have
Cream cheese is a great option for the keto diet because it has 99 calories and 2 grams of net carbs per serving (1 oz), which means that you can have a decent portion size of cream cheese without affecting your state of ketosis.
Most people on keto are trying to keep their net carbs to 25 grams or less to encourage ketosis and ultimately weight loss. With that in mind, you would have to eat thousands of calories worth of cream cheese to hit those numbers, which makes cream cheese a keto-friendly option.
Cream cheese is very low in carbs, but it is also loaded with fats (10 grams per serving) and has some protein (2 grams per serving), which is perfect for the keto diet. The main nutrients that you’ll consume on keto are fats and protein, so it pays to have options available so that you’re not struggling to find things to eat with the lack of carbs.
How To Include Cream Cheese On The Keto Diet
Cream cheese is keto-friendly, however, most of the foods you put cream cheese on are not so you’ll need to be creative with how you choose to incorporate cream cheese into your meals/snacks while on keto.
Cream cheese can be used as:
- As A Dip
- As A Spread
- As A Stuffing
- As Dessert
1. Cream Cheese As A Dip
One of my favorite ways to use cream cheese while on keto is as a dip for low-carb veggies. I like to whip up cream cheese with some herbs and spices and use it as a dip for veggies such as celery, broccoli, and cauliflower.
You could include cream cheese whipped with some rosemary, garlic, and chives along with your favorite vegetables as a low-carb snack.
2. Cream Cheese As A Spread
Another popular way to use cream cheese on the keto diet is as a spread. I enjoy spreading some cream cheese on top of some delicious smoked salmon and adding capers to make a keto-friendly lox. You could also spread it on any keto-friendly baked goods made with almond flour or coconut flour.
3. Cream Cheese As A Stuffing
Cream cheese is also often used as a stuffing in dishes like bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers or cream cheese stuffed chicken breasts, which can add an extra flavor boost to your meals and snacks while on the keto diet.
4. Cream Cheese As Dessert
My last and favorite way to use cream cheese is in keto desserts because keto desserts typically aren’t as good as desserts that aren’t keto-friendly, but keto desserts made with cream cheese actually taste fantastic.
The 5 Best Cream Cheese Keto Desserts
The 5 best cream cheese keto desserts are:
- Keto Chocolate Cheesecake
- Low Carb Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
- Mini Keto Cheesecake
- Mini Keto Cream Cheese Tart
1. Keto Chocolate Cheesecake
My favorite is probably my keto chocolate cheesecake because it’s creamy, delicious, and low in carbs. One slice of this chocolate cheesecake contains just over 5 net carbs, which can fit quite easily into your daily carb allotment while on keto.
2. Low Carb Chocolate Chip Cheesecake
Another great keto-friendly cream cheese recipe is my low-carb chocolate chip cheesecake recipe. It tastes great, it’s loaded with keto-friendly fats, and it contains just over 5 net carbs per slice. The combination of the creamy cheesecake and the chocolate chip cookie crust is too good to pass up.
3. Mini Keto Cheesecake
The third best keto dessert with cream cheese is my mini keto cheesecake recipe, which is great if you’re someone who struggles with portion control while on the keto diet because this recipe only yields 2 servings.
The mini cheesecake packs a flavour punch with only 3.6 net grams of carbs per serving which would leave you with plenty of carbs leftover for the rest of the day without affecting your ketosis.
4. Mini Keto Cream Cheese Tart
Last but not least, is this mini keto cream cheese tart, which is a better size if you’re cooking for just one or two people. If you’re someone who likes a thicker crust for some crunch factor, then you’ll love this cream cheese tart recipe. Each Tart is 2 servings and only 3.2 grams of net carbs per serving!
For other keto dessert options made with cream cheese, check out my other article” 15 Amazing Keto Desserts Made With Cream Cheese“.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Cream Cheese For Keto?
The best cream cheese for keto is the original cream cheese rather than the lower fat varieties because the regular cream cheese is higher in fat and lower in carbs, but the lower fat cream cheese varieties have less fat and slightly more carbs, which isn’t ideal for the keto diet.
Is Philadelphia Cream Cheese Keto?
Philadelphia cream cheese is a great brand of cream cheese for the keto diet as long as you choose the regular, rather than the lower-fat varieties because it only has 1 gram of net carbs, which is low enough to be considered keto-friendly.
Final Thoughts
Not only is cream cheese keto-approved, but it also tastes great and is versatile. Since cream cheese is loaded with fats and is low in carbs, you can enjoy quite a bit of it on the keto diet.