Keto Lemon Drizzle Squares

The ketogenic diet doesn’t mean giving up sweet treats entirely. These keto lemon drizzle squares use almond flour and erythritol to recreate a British classic without the sugar rush. At just 3g net carbs per portion, they fit comfortably within most keto macros.

Ingredients and substitutions

For the base:

200g ground almonds (£3.20 for 200g at Tesco)
50g coconut flour
100g unsalted butter
1 large egg
2 tbsp erythritol

For the lemon topping:

Juice and zest of 2 unwaxed lemons
50g erythritol
2 tbsp double cream

almond flour alternatives like sunflower seed flour work for nut allergies. The citrus tang cuts through the richness – a welcome contrast to savoury keto cheese crackers.

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Line a 20cm square tin with parchment. 2. Rub butter into dry ingredients until crumbly. Beat in egg to form dough. 3. Press evenly into tin. Bake for 15 mins until golden. 4. Whisk topping ingredients. Poke holes in warm base with a skewer. 5. Pour topping over base. Cool completely before slicing.

Nutritional breakdown

Per square (makes 16):

145 kcal
3g net carbs
13g fat
4g protein

What this means in practice

British summers demand proper afternoon tea treats. At £0.32 per square (based on Waitrose Essentials ingredients), these cost less than most supermarket keto bars. The erythritol won’t spike blood glucose, as shown in studies of sugar alternatives in ketogenic diets (Yancy WS et al., 2005). Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use xylitol instead?

Xylitol works but isn’t suitable for dogs. Erythritol has minimal digestive impact at this quantity. Both have similar sweetness to sugar.

Why did my squares crumble?

The base needs proper binding. If too dry, add another egg yolk. Overbaking also causes crumbling – check at 12 minutes.

Are these suitable for freezing?

Yes. Freeze individual portions between parchment layers for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

The bottom line

These keto lemon drizzle squares satisfy sweet cravings without compromising ketosis. The almond flour base provides fibre, while erythritol keeps carbs low. If you’d rather not do the macro maths yourself, the Keto Dieting app does it for you on Google Play and the App Store.

References

Yancy WS, Foy M, Chalecki AM, Vernon MC, Westman EC (2005). A low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet to treat type 2 diabetes. Nutrition & Metabolism. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-2-34
Paoli A, Rubini A, Volek JS, Grimaldi KA (2013). Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.116