Cheesecake! The quintessential low carb dessert, amiright?
When I first did Atkins in the 90’s – I ate so much low carb cheesecake that I thought I’d been ruined on it forever. Of course the low carb cheesecakes of the 90’s were a far cry from all the delicious low carb cheesecake recipes out there today.
In the “old days,” ? ☎️ ? low carb cheesecakes were usually crustless ? – and basically a mixture of cream cheese, eggs, saccharin sweetener (ugh) and maybe some cinnamon.
It was better than nothing, but not great. ? ? ?
With all of the improvements in sweeteners and the availability of low carb nut flours now, the low carb cheesecake game has definitely made some amazing strides!
And so I bring you this truly delectable low carb strawberry swirl cheesecake recipe! It’s so good that if you didn’t already know it was low carb and gluten free, you’d never guess!
Now imma bout to get real with some of you…
You ready??
You’ve gone and gotten lazy. There – I said it.
Don’t get me wrong – I love a quick low carb dessert recipe that gets me from craving to eating in less than five minutes as much as the next person (i.e. I’m not a complete moron.)
Case and point – this low carb Chocolate Brownie Mug Cake recipe.
That being said, this no bake cheesecake thing is getting a little out of hand.
In fact I’d go so far as to say that “no bake” cheesecake isn’t really cheesecake at all – at best it’s a really heavy mousse. And I’m not saying that it’s not tasty – but it does not, it simply can not, compare to REAL cheesecake.
So I’m going to ask you to work with me here and turn your oven on for this one. ? That’s right, you can do this. ? And I promise you that it will be worth it. ?
This crust is the same as the one for my wildly popular low carb raspberry cheesecake bars – it’s made with dried coconut and has a crunchy, chewy, texture and sweet, toasty, flavor that rivals any traditional graham cracker crust in my opinion.
The cheesecake itself contains less eggs than some versions, which results in a sturdy, but still very creamy texture that is to die for. ? Seriously.
I made this in three small cheesecake pans because I’d already packed up my large springform pan and put it into storage for our move, but you could easily make this in a 9 inch springform pan. You may have to cook it a little longer to get the center to set, but a quick jiggle of the pan will let you know when it’s ready (it will still move, but will no longer be liquidy.)
You will definitely need to let this cheesecake chill for at least a couple of hours before the center sets all the way, so plan ahead for that if you’re making it for an event.
Super rich, this cheesecake won’t be as tall as some others (does that make it a “short”cake? Sorry… ?) but the crust to cheesecake ratio is perfection as is in my opinion.
If you prefer a really thick cheesecake, you’ll have to double the filling recipe and then bake it for at least 30 minutes (maybe more) longer to get it to set up. Then will likely take a full 10-12 hours in the fridge to thoroughly chill. I have no doubt the end result will be epic and totally worth the extra time though!
So are you guys with me??
It’s time for a “real” (actually baked) cheesecake revival! Let’s do this! ?
NOTE: The company that makes my recipe videos used a larger pan and the cheesecake is extremely thin as a result – more of a bar and that’s fine, but if you want it a bit thicker than use the called for size, and if you want it really tall then double the filling recipe as stated in the instructions.
Low Carb Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Low Carb Dessert Recipe
- Cuisine: American
Description
This low carb strawberry swirl cheesecake has a lush, creamy texture and a beautiful flavor with notes of lemon and sweet berries. The coconut crust is perfection.
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 6 Tbsp butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar substitute
- ½ cup desiccated unsweetened coconut
- ¼ cup coconut flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
For the filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar substitute (I used Swerve)
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 egg
For the strawberry swirl:
- 1/2 cup pureed strawberries (about 3/4 cup chopped)
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar substitute (I used Swerve)
Instructions
To make the crust:
- Cream together the butter and sugar substitute. Add the coconut, coconut flour and baking powder, mixing until thoroughly combined.
- Press into a lightly greased nonstick springform pan (8 inches or several mini’s) and set aside.
To make the cheesecake filling:
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar substitute together until smooth.
- Add the egg and lemon juice and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the cheesecake filling over the crust.
- Combine the strawberry puree and 1 Tbsp sweetener (I used Swerve.)
- Drop by spoonfuls over the filling and then swirl gently with a knife or fork. Don’t over mix.
- Bake the cheesecake at 350 degrees: 30 minutes for a 9 inch springform pan, 22 minutes for 3 mini cheesecakes, 50 minutes if you double the filling recipe for a taller cheesecake.
- After baking the cheesecake will have a slight wiggle in the center while warm.
- Chill for several hours (longer for the bigger cake) until firm before serving chilled.
Notes
To see a list of my favorite low carb products and brands that I recommend for sweeteners, flours, etc. you can check out the IBIH Pantry Ingredients Page!
Nutrition
- Calories: 239
- Fat: 23
- Carbohydrates: 3g net
- Protein: 4
SUMMER IS COMING! Not ready to get into that bathing suit yet?!? I know the feeling!!! Get back on track with my free keto menu plans and you’ll be hitting the beach with confidence in no time!
Asigden says
Just made this for a dinner party using mini muffin tin. Baked 14-15 minutes. Ended up with 24 pcs, which comes out to only 1 carb each. Very DELISH! Notes: taste your berry purée before adding sweetener as it might be sweet enough as is. Also, I had some purée left over which made an awesome sweet/tart drizzle sauce just before serving. I used half regular cream cheese and half “low fat” since the latter has fewer carbs. Worked perfectly. Thanks for this recipe!
Jill says
If i want to leave out all the coconut components… what would i substitute for ½ cup desiccated unsweetened coconut?
Crushed pecans?
Bistra says
Hi, just about to make this cheese cake. I have a question: do you bake the crust beforehand? Or do you bake everything at he same time? thanks
Mellissa Sevigny says
Bake it all at once Bistra – hope you like it!
Kristy says
I just made this cheesecake without changing anything. All I did was double the recipe, and it was amazing! My boyfriend and I are currently on the Keto diet, so this recipe was perfect to satisfy sugar cravings while still following the diet. Thank you so much for the recipe! I definitely prefer this coconut crust to graham cracker crust any day!
Kristy says
Forgot to leave my rating!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Kristy, glad you guys liked it!
Jo says
I am new to low carbing and relish my desserts. Tried this today…..super easy and tasted so yummy. Thank you very much for this awesome recipe. The base and the consistency of the cheese when baked was just right. Will definitely recommend to anyone.
★★★★★
Kathleen Ruth says
Perfect timing! My son’s birthday is tomorrow and we even have strawberries in the refrigerator!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yay! Hope it’s a hit!
Kathleen Kelly says
One of my favorite desserts is cheesecake, in any shape or form. I have saved this recipe and will be trying it soon! Thank you for sharing!
Sue says
This is the BEST dessert ever!!!
Wendy Grove says
I use xylitol as my sweetener. It has no after taste and is one to one with sugar. When required, I powder it with my small blender. Your cheesecake was FAB!
AC says
Thank you so much for this recipe! I absolutely loved the crust but my filling was kinda runny..I baked it for 28 min and then left it in the fridge overnight to chill..where did I go wrong ?
★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
Not sure AC – if everything was exactly according to the recipe then it could be the sweetener you used, or your oven might run cooler than mine – it’s hard to know not having been there!
Jen says
Hi there! I tried this recipe and loved it! In fact, I loved the crust so much I was wondering if I could make cookies with the crust recipe? Is there something I would need to alter for them to come out chewy? I appreciate ur help and love your recipes! Thanks!
★★★★★
Mellissa Sevigny says
I think you just have to be careful not to bake them too long. 10-12 minutes at 375 should do it! Let us know if it works!
Jenn says
I’m excited to try this! Should the butter be salted or unsalted? Thanks!!
Jenn says
It tastes SO good!! Thank you for this recipe! I’m allergic to nuts so it’s amazing to find a low carb AND nut free delicious baked good.
Mel says
These TRULY are an amazing low carb/sugar free dessert. I made mine into muffin sized cakes. The crust is sooo good. I was out of strawberries, so I used a tiny bit of sugar free strawberry syrup instead. They were still excellent but probably even better with the real berries. This is the first low carb/sugar item that I’ve made that doesn’t taste terrible. In fact it’s great. These have really helped me through week 1 of my low carb diet. Thanks!!!!
shayna says
Wondering as well if these can be made in a muffin pan with liners and if so, how long do you think to bake them? Also wondering only 8 oz of cream cheese and 1 egg is right? Does not seem like enough?
Jennifer says
This is THE best cheesecake recipe! It’s the perfect size, couldn’t be more simple. I’ve always been intimidated by cheesecake but this one comes out perfect every time. And I’ve added ganche instead if strawberries to change it up, delicious! Thank you for posting it!
★★★★★
LindainCO says
I love the filling, but the crust:even better! I
am making just the crust for cookies!
★★★★★
Felicia says
Can I use almond flour instead of coconut as I am allergic to coconut?
Gina says
Hate to admit this, but I have no spring form pans. Could this be done b in muffin pan , like with paper liners? Thank you
Jennifer says
I made mine in a small casserole, dish worked fine.
Angie Fisher says
I baked this cheesecake, and I loved the texture! I used xylitol sweetener, and I will caution anybody using it to use about half of what it calls for in the recipe. I already used less that was called for in the recipe, but it was still too sweet. I do think, however, that this cheesecake is a way too thin, as in not enough cheesecake topping. On a plate, it only just barely came up to my first knuckle on my index finger. It reminded me of the thickness of one fluffy pancake, back when I ate carbs. I will definitely be making it again, but at least doubling the filling. I also recommend heavily greasing the bottom of the springform pan, because my nonstick pan absolutely held tight! The crust was extremely crumbly, even though it was moist, but I did forget the baking powder and I had to pry the crust off the pan. Xylitol users, keep Xylitol and all crumbs away from your dogs!!!
Lika says
Thank you so much for this creative recipe! It looks great! I’m not a baker but am starting to try things, after my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and I try to make her happier about food by having desert every once in a while (before, we only had desert for guests but I guess now I’m compensating :))
Two questions: I have shredded coconut at home but I don’t know if it’s desiccated. Online I find desiccated coconut that they call “flour” – would that work better than just the grated coconut flakes I have?
And, may I use silicone muffin forms for this?
Thanks so much!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Desiccated just means dried out – it looks like tiny flakes, but not flour! As long as your shredded coconut is unsweetened it will work great! Silicone muffin forms would work well, but you may need to adjust the cooking time back a bit since they’ll be smaller. Enjoy!!!