Luxurious Keto Sugar-Free Buttercream Candy (Rich, Sweet & Homemade!)
Indulge in a truly luxurious and guilt-free treat with this Luxurious Keto Sugar-Free Buttercream Candy! These delightful bites feature a smooth, creamy butter-and-cream-cheese filling infused with your favorite extract, all coated in a rich, dark sugar-free chocolate shell. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or as an impressive homemade gift, these low-carb, sugar-free, and naturally gluten-free candies are a delightful addition to your health journey, especially for a sweet moment here in beautiful Puerto Vallarta!
Yields: Approximately 20-24 candies Prep time: 20 minutes Chill time: At least 1 hour (for filling) + 1 hour (for coated candies)
Ingredients:
For the Buttercream Filling:
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 ½ ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature (about 3 tablespoons)
- ¾ teaspoon flavored extract (e.g., lemon, peppermint, almond, or vanilla)
- 1 ½ cups Swerve Confectioners Sweetener (or your preferred powdered erythritol blend)
For the Sugar-Free Chocolate Coating:
- 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate (e.g., Lily’s baking bars, or another high-quality sugar-free chocolate bar)
- 1 ounce cocoa butter (or 2 tablespoons refined coconut oil for a substitute, though cocoa butter provides a better snap)
- 3 tablespoons Swerve Confectioners Sweetener (or your preferred powdered erythritol blend)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment:
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment
- Rubber spatula
- Spoon or small cookie scoop
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Double boiler setup (or microwave-safe bowl for melting chocolate)
- Dipping tools (fork, candy dipping tools, or toothpicks)
Instructions:
- Prepare Buttercream Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and softened cream cheese.
- Beat on medium speed with a hand mixer (or stand mixer) for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides often, until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
- Add the flavored extract (e.g., lemon, vanilla) and continue beating until well mixed.
- At low speed, slowly add the Swerve Confectioners Sweetener to the butter and cream cheese mixture. Once it’s all added, increase speed to medium and beat until the mixture is well combined, smooth, and fluffy.
- Chill the Filling: Place the buttercream mixture in the refrigerator for about 1 hour, or in the freezer for at least 10-15 minutes. This chilling step is crucial to make the mixture firm enough to work with.
- Form & Freeze Balls: Once the filling is firm, use a spoon or a small cookie scoop to portion out even-sized balls (about 1-inch in diameter). Roll them gently between your palms to smooth them out.
- Place the formed buttercream balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Transfer the baking sheet with the balls to the freezer while you prepare the chocolate coating. This ensures they are firm for dipping.
- Prepare Chocolate Coating: In a Chocolate Melter or a double boiler setup (a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water), combine the unsweetened baking chocolate, cocoa butter (or coconut oil), Swerve Confectioners Sweetener, and vanilla extract.
- Stir gently and continuously until all ingredients are completely melted and the chocolate coating is smooth and uniform. Keep it warm over very low heat or off the heat while dipping.
- Dip & Harden: Remove the buttercream balls from the freezer.
- Using a fork or candy dipping tool, dip each ball into the melted chocolate coating, ensuring it is completely covered. Lift it out, tapping gently against the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate.
- Place the coated candies back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Once all candies are coated, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or until the chocolate coating is completely firm and set.
- Store & Enjoy! Once hardened, transfer the Sugar-Free Buttercream Candies to an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator to maintain their firmness and freshness. Enjoy these delightful homemade candies!
Nutritional Information (per 2 candies, approximate):
- Calories: 69 kcal
- Net Carbs: 0.9g (1.9g total carbs – 1g fiber)
- Protein: 0.9g
- Fat: 7.4g
- Fiber: 1g
Tips for Success:
- Softened Ingredients: Ensure both butter and cream cheese are truly softened to room temperature for the smoothest filling.
- Powdered Sweetener: Using confectioners (powdered) Swerve is essential for a silky-smooth, non-gritty filling and coating.
- Chill Times are Crucial: Don’t skip the chilling steps! The filling needs to be firm enough to roll, and the balls need to be cold for easy dipping and to help the chocolate set quickly.
- Quality Chocolate: Using a good quality unsweetened or sugar-free baking chocolate (like Lily’s) will greatly impact the final taste.
- Cocoa Butter: While optional, cocoa butter provides a superior snap and mouthfeel to the chocolate coating compared to coconut oil.
- Dipping Technique: Work quickly when dipping the cold balls into the chocolate. If the chocolate starts to thicken, gently reheat it over the double boiler.
- Storage: These candies must be stored in the refrigerator due to the cream cheese in the filling.
Recipe Analysis & Dietary Classification:
This Sugar-Free Buttercream Candy is a delicious addition to your health journey!
- High Fat: Yes, primarily from butter, cream cheese, cocoa butter, and chocolate.
- Low-Carb: Yes, this recipe is very low-carb due to the use of sugar-free sweeteners, unsweetened chocolate, and no-carb butter/cream cheese.
- Keto: Yes, this recipe is keto-friendly. All listed ingredients are suitable for a ketogenic diet, provided the sweeteners and chocolate are sugar-free.
- Gluten-Free: Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free.
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