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🍽️ My Low-Carb & Gluten-Free Recipe Experiments
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items When I started eating low-carb and gluten-free, meat and vegetables were the easy part. It was everything else I missed: bread, buns, bagels, muffins, pancakes, crackers, cookies and treats! Gluten-free alternatives were harder to find back then, and...
Sections
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🍞 Breads, Bagels & Pancakes
🧁 Muffins, Cookies & Sweet Treats
🧀 Crackers, Snacks & Savoury Favorites
🥗 Meals, Sides & Drinks
🛒 Low-Carb & Gluten-Free Pantry Staples
🍞 Baking Tools & Kitchen Essentials
🍞 Breads, Bagels & Pancakes
These were some of the foods I missed most when I started eating low-carb and gluten-free. I experimented with flaxseed, eggs and other simple ingredients to make breads, buns, bagels and pancakes I could actually enjoy again.
I created this recipe when I was eating keto and missed having a good bun for hamburgers and sandwiches.
I experimented with ground golden flaxseed, psyllium husk, chia seeds and hemp hearts until I got something I really enjoyed.
These are much denser than regular white bread, more like a hearty whole-grain bread, but that's exactly what I came to love about them!
They're gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free, with just 1.6g net carbs per bun.
I've used them for hamburgers, sandwiches, sloppy joes, garlic bread and even breakfast sandwiches.
The recipe makes six and they can be refrigerated or frozen.
I've shared my complete recipe, directions, nutrition information and all my little tips from experimenting with it on my Carbs & Fat blog.
I experimented with ground golden flaxseed, psyllium husk, chia seeds and hemp hearts until I got something I really enjoyed.
These are much denser than regular white bread, more like a hearty whole-grain bread, but that's exactly what I came to love about them!
They're gluten-free, nut-free and dairy-free, with just 1.6g net carbs per bun.
I've used them for hamburgers, sandwiches, sloppy joes, garlic bread and even breakfast sandwiches.
The recipe makes six and they can be refrigerated or frozen.
I've shared my complete recipe, directions, nutrition information and all my little tips from experimenting with it on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🍔 My Clean Keto Buns: Just 1.6g Net Carbs
I tried this low-carb bagel recipe after it was shared with me by JWag on DiabetesForum.com, then experimented with making them myself.
They're made mostly with ground golden flaxseed and chia seeds, with a little coconut flour.
I poured the batter into a donut pan, which gave me six perfectly bagel-shaped rounds without having to shape anything by hand. They turned out beautifully, and I loved them warm with butter or cream cheese.
Next time I wanted to add poppy seeds because I've always loved poppy seed bagels!
My original nutrition calculation came to 2.3g net carbs per bagel, although that can vary depending on the ingredients you use. 👉
The complete recipe and my original notes are on my Carbs & Fat blog.
They're made mostly with ground golden flaxseed and chia seeds, with a little coconut flour.
I poured the batter into a donut pan, which gave me six perfectly bagel-shaped rounds without having to shape anything by hand. They turned out beautifully, and I loved them warm with butter or cream cheese.
Next time I wanted to add poppy seeds because I've always loved poppy seed bagels!
My original nutrition calculation came to 2.3g net carbs per bagel, although that can vary depending on the ingredients you use. 👉
The complete recipe and my original notes are on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🥯 Low-Carb Flaxseed & Chia Bagels
This recipe exists partly because I made a mistake. 😂
I was cutting another low-carb bread recipe in half and forgot to reduce some of the ingredients... but I liked the result!
I wanted something more like regular sliced bread instead of focaccia, so I baked it in loaf pans.
I especially liked using golden flaxseed because I found it milder than brown flaxseed.
Toasted with butter and WowButter was one of my favorite ways to eat it.
My original nutrition calculation came to approximately 1.7g net carbs per slice.
I've shared the complete recipe and all my original experimenting notes on my Carbs & Fat blog.
I was cutting another low-carb bread recipe in half and forgot to reduce some of the ingredients... but I liked the result!
I wanted something more like regular sliced bread instead of focaccia, so I baked it in loaf pans.
I especially liked using golden flaxseed because I found it milder than brown flaxseed.
Toasted with butter and WowButter was one of my favorite ways to eat it.
My original nutrition calculation came to approximately 1.7g net carbs per slice.
I've shared the complete recipe and all my original experimenting notes on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🍞 Low-Carb Gluten-Free Flaxseed Bread
I originally made these as a birthday treat after going online looking for a low-carb birthday cake and somehow ending up with pancakes instead. 😂
They're incredibly simple, made mostly from cream cheese and eggs.
Mine weren't nearly as pretty as the pancakes I'd seen online, but they tasted good, which was considerably more important!
Because I wasn't using artificially sweetened syrup, I added a little palm sugar and cinnamon directly to my batter.
My original calculation came to approximately 2g net carbs per pancake.
I've shared the complete recipe and my original notes on my Carbs & Fat blog.
They're incredibly simple, made mostly from cream cheese and eggs.
Mine weren't nearly as pretty as the pancakes I'd seen online, but they tasted good, which was considerably more important!
Because I wasn't using artificially sweetened syrup, I added a little palm sugar and cinnamon directly to my batter.
My original calculation came to approximately 2g net carbs per pancake.
I've shared the complete recipe and my original notes on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🥞 Easy Low-Carb Cream Cheese Pancakes
🧁 Muffins, Cookies & Sweet Treats
Because giving up carbs shouldn't mean giving up treats! 😂 These are some of the muffins, cookies and chocolate treats I experimented with when I wanted something sweet that still fit the way I was eating.
I created these because I wanted an oatmeal-style cookie that was low-carb, gluten-free and nut-free, but still filling enough to feel like I was actually eating something! 😂
I experimented with ground flaxseed, hemp hearts, chia, psyllium and a small amount of steel-cut oats, plus a few other ingredients I was already using in my low-carb recipes.
Yes, the ingredient list got a little... enthusiastic. 🤣
But most of those ingredients were staples I used over and over in my breads, buns, muffins and other recipes, and many of them can be left out or substituted.
The finished cookies came out at 0.7g net carbs each based on my original nutrition calculations, and the recipe makes about 56.
👉 My complete original recipe has all the ingredients, directions, nutrition calculations and notes about substitutions and why I used the different ingredients.
I experimented with ground flaxseed, hemp hearts, chia, psyllium and a small amount of steel-cut oats, plus a few other ingredients I was already using in my low-carb recipes.
Yes, the ingredient list got a little... enthusiastic. 🤣
But most of those ingredients were staples I used over and over in my breads, buns, muffins and other recipes, and many of them can be left out or substituted.
The finished cookies came out at 0.7g net carbs each based on my original nutrition calculations, and the recipe makes about 56.
👉 My complete original recipe has all the ingredients, directions, nutrition calculations and notes about substitutions and why I used the different ingredients.
🍪 My Low-Carb “Oatmeal” Cookies: Just 0.7g Net Carbs
I originally started playing around with dark chocolate and coconut oil, and then wondered what would happen if I turned the mixture into a little frozen treat.
Naturally, I started adding things. 😂
Because I'm allergic to nuts, I used Savi Seeds for a little crunch and nutty flavor, along with unsweetened coconut and sweetener.
They turned out almost too good because I kept going back for another piece!
I've shared my complete recipe and all my notes from the experiment on my Carbs & Fat blog.
Naturally, I started adding things. 😂
Because I'm allergic to nuts, I used Savi Seeds for a little crunch and nutty flavor, along with unsweetened coconut and sweetener.
They turned out almost too good because I kept going back for another piece!
I've shared my complete recipe and all my notes from the experiment on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🍫 My Frozen Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites
This was one of my favorite quick lunches when I was eating low-carb.
It's made with ground flaxseed instead of flour and cooks right in a coffee mug in about 99 seconds.
And yes, the muffin really does rise right out of the mug while it's cooking! 😂
I used to prep several batches of the dry ingredients ahead of time so I could make one whenever I wanted something quick and filling.
I've shared my complete recipe, nutrition information and make-ahead trick on my Carbs & Fat blog.
It's made with ground flaxseed instead of flour and cooks right in a coffee mug in about 99 seconds.
And yes, the muffin really does rise right out of the mug while it's cooking! 😂
I used to prep several batches of the dry ingredients ahead of time so I could make one whenever I wanted something quick and filling.
I've shared my complete recipe, nutrition information and make-ahead trick on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🫐 5-Minute Low-Carb Blueberry Mug Muffin
When I was eating low-carb and wanted chocolate, this was one of my ridiculously easy homemade treats.
It takes just four ingredients and about 10 minutes in the freezer, and my original recipe worked out to approximately 1g net carb per piece.
I once tried making beautiful individual pieces in a candy mold... and managed to spill chocolate on the counter, the floor AND inside the freezer. 😂
I eventually decided the less glamorous square-container method was considerably safer.
I've shared the complete recipe, nutrition information and both methods on my Carbs & Fat blog.
It takes just four ingredients and about 10 minutes in the freezer, and my original recipe worked out to approximately 1g net carb per piece.
I once tried making beautiful individual pieces in a candy mold... and managed to spill chocolate on the counter, the floor AND inside the freezer. 😂
I eventually decided the less glamorous square-container method was considerably safer.
I've shared the complete recipe, nutrition information and both methods on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🍫 Easy Coconut Oil Chocolate Fudge
🧀 Crackers, Snacks & Savoury Favorites
Sometimes you just need something crunchy, cheesy or satisfying! These are my homemade low-carb experiments for snacks, quick meals and those times when I was really missing the foods I used to eat.
I found several versions of low-carb egg muffins online and, naturally, couldn't resist experimenting and making my own version. 😂
Mine have bacon, cheddar and Parmesan cheese, colorful peppers and a little heavy cream.
One lesson I learned the hard way: don't bake these in paper muffin liners!
My first batch stuck horribly to the papers.
I switched to large silicone muffin cups and they popped right out.
They make an easy breakfast or lunch, and my version came out to about 3.4g net carbs per large muffin based on my original nutrition calculations.
👉 I've shared the complete recipe, directions and nutrition information on my Carbs & Fat blog.
Mine have bacon, cheddar and Parmesan cheese, colorful peppers and a little heavy cream.
One lesson I learned the hard way: don't bake these in paper muffin liners!
My first batch stuck horribly to the papers.
I switched to large silicone muffin cups and they popped right out.
They make an easy breakfast or lunch, and my version came out to about 3.4g net carbs per large muffin based on my original nutrition calculations.
👉 I've shared the complete recipe, directions and nutrition information on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🥓 My Low-Carb Bacon, Cheese & Egg Muffins
Not every recipe experiment comes out perfect the first time! 😂
I tried making a low-carb, gluten-free pizza with a crust made entirely from cheese, based on a recipe I'd found and adapted.
The good news: it tasted great.
The not-so-good news: frying cheese in olive oil made the crust WAY too greasy for me!
I also discovered I'd been far too enthusiastic with the pepperoni and bacon. 😂
I shared the recipe, what worked, what didn't and what I planned to change next time on my Carbs & Fat blog.
My original calculation came to about 1.5g carbs per slice.
I tried making a low-carb, gluten-free pizza with a crust made entirely from cheese, based on a recipe I'd found and adapted.
The good news: it tasted great.
The not-so-good news: frying cheese in olive oil made the crust WAY too greasy for me!
I also discovered I'd been far too enthusiastic with the pepperoni and bacon. 😂
I shared the recipe, what worked, what didn't and what I planned to change next time on my Carbs & Fat blog.
My original calculation came to about 1.5g carbs per slice.
🍕 My Great Low-Carb Pizza Experiment
I couldn't believe how easy these were the first time I tried them.
One slice of mozzarella makes about 16 little crispy crackers in the microwave!
I used to make them for snacking or to have alongside soup and salad.
My original batch worked out to about 0.1g net carbs per cracker.
I've shared the ridiculously simple method, microwave tips and nutrition information on my Carbs & Fat blog.
One slice of mozzarella makes about 16 little crispy crackers in the microwave!
I used to make them for snacking or to have alongside soup and salad.
My original batch worked out to about 0.1g net carbs per cracker.
I've shared the ridiculously simple method, microwave tips and nutrition information on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🧀 Easy Low-Carb Cheese Puff Crackers
I created these because I wanted crackers with my chicken soup, but the low-carb recipe I'd found used almonds, which I couldn't eat.
So I started experimenting with cheese instead.
My first batch involved the highly scientific measurement of “16 strokes on the cheese grater.” 😂
Somehow, they still turned out great!
These use grated mozzarella and Parmesan to make five crispy microwave crackers.
My original nutrition calculation showed 0g carbs with the cheese I used, although that can vary by brand.
I've shared the complete recipe and my parchment-paper warning on my Carbs & Fat blog.
So I started experimenting with cheese instead.
My first batch involved the highly scientific measurement of “16 strokes on the cheese grater.” 😂
Somehow, they still turned out great!
These use grated mozzarella and Parmesan to make five crispy microwave crackers.
My original nutrition calculation showed 0g carbs with the cheese I used, although that can vary by brand.
I've shared the complete recipe and my parchment-paper warning on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🧀 Easy 2-Ingredient Cheese Crackers
🥗 Meals, Sides & Drinks
Not everything I made involved turning flaxseed or cheese into something it wasn't. 😂 Here are a few of my easy low-carb meals, vegetable sides and drinks that became part of the way I ate.
I originally found the idea for Sassy Water years ago and made my own version with green tea.
Forget all the miracle claims that used to surround drinks like this. 😂 I liked it because it made water taste good!
Lemon, cucumber, fresh ginger and mint make a wonderfully refreshing combination, especially when the pitcher is prepared ahead and chilled overnight.
I've shared my recipe, variations and my little trick for keeping fresh ginger on my Carbs & Fat blog.
Forget all the miracle claims that used to surround drinks like this. 😂 I liked it because it made water taste good!
Lemon, cucumber, fresh ginger and mint make a wonderfully refreshing combination, especially when the pitcher is prepared ahead and chilled overnight.
I've shared my recipe, variations and my little trick for keeping fresh ginger on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🍋 Sassy Water with Lemon, Cucumber, Ginger & Mint
This was one of my favorite filling lunches when I was eating low-carb.
I made it with chicken, crispy bacon, mozzarella, Parmesan, romaine and Caesar dressing, plus a little chia seed.
My favorite trick was cooking and dicing chicken ahead of time so I could throw together lunches like this quickly.
And because I was following a very high-fat version of low-carb at the time, my original recipe even suggested adding some bacon drippings. 😂
That's definitely optional!
I've shared my complete recipe, original nutrition calculation and make-ahead chicken trick on my Carbs & Fat blog.
I made it with chicken, crispy bacon, mozzarella, Parmesan, romaine and Caesar dressing, plus a little chia seed.
My favorite trick was cooking and dicing chicken ahead of time so I could throw together lunches like this quickly.
And because I was following a very high-fat version of low-carb at the time, my original recipe even suggested adding some bacon drippings. 😂
That's definitely optional!
I've shared my complete recipe, original nutrition calculation and make-ahead chicken trick on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🥗 Low-Carb Chicken Bacon Caesar Salad
This recipe started with a sample my husband and I tried while grocery shopping!
I liked the original braised green beans enough to take the recipe home, but naturally I started changing it to use ingredients I already had. 😂
I used bacon and the drippings in place of the original spread, then added a frozen mixture of green beans and baby carrots along with onion, garlic and broth.
I've shared my adapted recipe and the story behind it on my Carbs & Fat blog.
I liked the original braised green beans enough to take the recipe home, but naturally I started changing it to use ingredients I already had. 😂
I used bacon and the drippings in place of the original spread, then added a frozen mixture of green beans and baby carrots along with onion, garlic and broth.
I've shared my adapted recipe and the story behind it on my Carbs & Fat blog.
🥕 Savoury Braised Green Beans & Carrots with Bacon
🛒 Low-Carb & Gluten-Free Pantry Staples
These are some of the ingredients I used again and again when experimenting with low-carb and gluten-free recipes. Ground flaxseed was especially important in my kitchen because I used it for everything from bread and buns to muffins and cookies. I’v...
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Golden flaxseed was one of my most-used ingredients when I was experimenting with low-carb, gluten-free baking. I used it in everything from bread and buns to bagels and muffins! I usually bought whole golden flaxseed and ground it myself in a small ...
Don't want to grind your own? I've also linked the already-ground golden flaxseed meal,
Don't want to grind your own? I've also linked the already-ground golden flaxseed meal,
Bob's Red Mill Organic Whole Golden Flaxseed
When I originally created these recipes, I usually bought whole golden flaxseed and ground it myself. Now you can skip that step and buy golden flaxseed already ground into meal! This is an easy option for my flaxseed breads, buns, muffins and other ...
Prefer to grind it fresh like I did? I've linked the whole golden flaxseed as well.
Prefer to grind it fresh like I did? I've linked the whole golden flaxseed as well.
Bob's Red Mill Ground Golden Flaxseed Meal
Chia seeds were another staple in my low-carb kitchen. I used them in several of my recipes, sometimes ground together with other seeds for baking and sometimes added whole. They're especially handy in my flaxseed recipes because I could keep the sam...
Amazon Grocery Organic Chia Seeds
Psyllium husk was one of the unusual ingredients I started using when experimenting with low-carb, gluten-free baking. I used it along with ground flaxseed and other seeds in recipes like my homemade buns and oatmeal cookies. A little goes a long way...
Yupik Organic Psyllium Husk Powder
Hemp hearts were another ingredient I kept on hand for my low-carb baking experiments. I used them along with flaxseed, chia and psyllium in recipes like my homemade buns and oatmeal cookies. I liked being able to combine several of these pantry stap...
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts
Coconut flour was another useful ingredient in my low-carb, gluten-free baking experiments. A little goes a long way because it absorbs a lot of moisture, so I generally used it in small amounts alongside ingredients like flaxseed and chia. I used co...
Wholesome Organic Coconut Flour
Coconut oil was another staple in my kitchen when I was creating these recipes. I used it in everything from my low-carb bagels and blueberry muffin to homemade chocolate fudge. It's especially handy for baking because it's easy to measure, melt and ...
Amazon Grocery Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Nutritional yeast was one of the ingredients I experimented with in my low-carb, gluten-free baking. I added it to recipes like my homemade flaxseed buns and oatmeal cookies along with flaxseed, chia, hemp hearts and psyllium. It was one of those unu...
Anthony's Premium Nutritional Yeast Flakes
In my original recipe, I called these Savi Seeds, which was the brand name I knew them by at the time. They're actually sacha inchi seeds, sometimes called Inca peanuts. I used them in my coconut and chocolate treat because I couldn't use nuts and li...
Organic Sacha Inchi Seeds
🍞 Baking Tools & Kitchen Essentials
A few of the kitchen tools that made my recipe experiments easier. Nothing fancy, just practical things I used for baking, grinding seeds, making individual portions and turning unusual ingredients into something that actually resembled bread! 😂
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(AD) This list contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
I used a small coffee grinder constantly when making my low-carb recipes! It was perfect for grinding flaxseed, chia seeds and other ingredients into a finer texture for breads, buns and muffins. You don't need anything fancy, just a simple little gr...
Electric Coffee & Spice Grinder for Seeds & Baking
I used a hamburger bun pan like this when making my homemade low-carb flaxseed buns. The 4-inch wells help keep the batter in a nice bun shape while baking. I also love that pans like this can be used for more than just hamburger buns, including sand...
4-Inch Hamburger Bun & Muffin Top Baking Pan
I used a donut pan when I made my homemade low-carb, gluten-free bagels, and it worked perfectly for getting that classic bagel shape. These have six full-size wells per pan and can be used for baked donuts too, so they're a handy little pan to have ...
Nonstick Donut & Bagel Pans, 2-Pack
I learned the hard way not to make my low-carb egg muffins in paper muffin liners. They stuck terribly! 😂 A silicone muffin pan worked much better and the muffins popped right out. I especially like this style because it has a reinforced metal frame...
12-Cup Silicone Muffin Pan with Reinforced Frame
A loaf pan is essential if you want your homemade low-carb bread to look and slice more like regular bread. I originally experimented with small loaf pans for my flaxseed bread, then planned to try a standard-size loaf. I like silicone pans because b...
Silicone Loaf Pans, 2-Pack
This is the parchment paper I actually use in my kitchen. I used parchment paper for several of my low-carb recipe experiments, especially the cheese crackers, because it keeps everything from sticking and makes cleanup so much easier. And learn from...
Reynolds Kitchens Unbleached Parchment Paper
Completely unnecessary? Yes. Would watching a blueberry muffin grow out of the top of one of these make me laugh? Also yes. 😂 (ad)
Funny Face Microwave-Safe Mugs, Set of 4
I used small containers like these to make my 5-minute muffins even quicker. I'd measure out several batches of the dry ingredients at once, keep each batch in its own container, and then just grab one when I wanted a muffin. Add the wet ingredients,...
Food Storage Containers with Lids, 12-Pack
I use a salad spinner to get freshly washed lettuce nice and dry before making salads. I used one when making my low-carb Chicken Caesar Salad, and it really does make salad prep easier. This one also doubles as a colander and serving bowl, so it's u...
Salad Spinner with Bowl & Colander