15 Low-Carb Chocolate Dessert Recipes

True or False: America leads the world in chocolate consumption. Answer: False. Believe it or not, the U.S. is eighth on the list, says 2019 data from Statista. More chocolate is eaten in Switzerland than anywhere else in the world—the average citizen eats around 20 pounds per year. Despite coming in eighth, chocolate is still huge industry here in the states. Because sugar is often associated with chocolate dessert recipes, the classic sweet treat can mean bad news for your low-carb weight loss plan.

It’s our addiction to sugar—and the accessibility of candy—that makes us need chocolate. We often want chocolate because we’ve been conditioned to associate it as a happy treat. Occasional desserts are 100-percent approved here at South Beach Diet. An occasional indulgence may help you stay on track in the long run. However, we also know how addictive sugar can be, which is why we’ve spent oodles of time developing low-carb desserts using stevia and erythritol, two natural, no-sugar sweeteners.

The following is a list of our best chocolate dessert recipes, which include sugar-free and flourless recipe options. Some are satisfying Extras you’ll need to account for when you log your food; others actually help you fulfill your daily Healthy Fat or Protein requirements. Kudos to South Beach Diet’s creator and author of The New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet, Dr. Arthur Agatston, for several of these gems!

1. Mini Cocoa Swirl Cheesecakes >

Cream cheese, ricotta and eggs combine to make these single-serve treats creamy, light and best of all, rich in protein. Want a crust on your cheesecake? Use a food processor to grind walnuts or pecans. A bit of butter binds it together.

2. Chocolate Freezer Fudge >

Quick: Put some ocean sounds on YouTube and then look really hard at the picture of this chocolate fudge. Voila! You’re at the beach at your favorite fudge shop. Now that you’ve taken that little vacay, head to the kitchen and make this awesome six-ingredient fudge. There’s no cooking, no stirring, no mess. Just mix, freeze and eat!

3. Chocolate Brownie Cookies >

Why do most diets fail? They require deprivation. But people have to have occasional indulgences, which is why South Beach Diet works. Case in point: Our Chocolate Brownie Cookies. They satisfy your sweet tooth but are low-carb and low-sugar, thanks to almond flour, stevia, dark chocolate cocoa powder and avocado oil.

4. Double Chocolate Birthday Cake Recipe >

What’s a birthday without cake? Not a birthday. This double chocolate cake is exactly what you want—a treat, but not a treat you’ll feel guilty for eating six days afterward. The cake is dense and decadent and the frosting is light and fluffy—a wonderful contrast. Want to add a little peanut butter? Add two or three tablespoons before mixing. Garnish with peanuts.

5. Peanut Butter Mug Muffins >

Fancy up your Saturday morning—or evening—with a mug muffin. Chocolate and peanut butter unite in a warm, gooey package. Best part: These muffins are ready in 90 seconds or less.

6. 4-Ingredient Sugar-Free Chocolate Sauce >

Drizzle some on fresh berries. Add a little to your afternoon coffee. Drizzle some on popcorn. Make your own ice-cream sundae (using sugar-free ice cream, of course). Or, swirl some on these Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes or Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches. You can really get creative with this easy chocolate sauce and your inner chocoholic will thank you.

7. Chocolate Chip Cookies >

The world’s most perfect dessert is now low carb. You’re welcome. If you’re nuts about nuts, you’ll love the buttery sweetness that comes from the coconut oil and almond flour. If you want more of that flavor, add walnuts or toasted hazelnuts.

8. Chocolate Avocado Pudding >

Avocados are pure butter when it comes right down to it. They’re smooth, rich and indulgent, but they’re also loaded with vitamins and minerals as well as heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. So remember when you used to tell yourself carrot cake was healthy because it contained carrots? Well, that was a lie, but this pudding is the real deal. Enjoy every single bite.

9. Chocolate Almond Butter Shake >

Chocolate seems like a great way to start the day, which is why we developed this delightful, healthful shake. Despite the green avocado and spinach, the end result looks like a tall glass of chocolate milk. Not an almond milk person? Regular full-fat dairy milk or coconut milk will do the trick.

10. No-Bake Chocolate Tahini and Mixed Seed Protein Bars >

If you’re a diligent shopper (and almost everyone on a low-carb diet has to be), you don’t just grab the first box of protein bars you see. You read the label to check the carbs and hopefully read through the rest of the ingredients, too. It’s tough to find a protein bar that checks all the nutrition, taste and texture boxes, so we made our own. One recipe makes eight bars, which gives you snacks or breakfasts for more than a week.

11. Peanut Butter Cups >

Positively sinful, you’ll say. “Can I have the recipe?” your friends will say. We kept this dessert small on purpose: Peanut Butter Cups are addictive. But, if you’re expecting guests or know you won’t eat all six servings in one sitting, you can maximize your effort and double the recipe. Freeze for longer storage.

12. Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake >

Sometimes life calls for a milkshake. And who are we to argue? In fact, we’ll be thrilled if you indulge in this chocolate peanut butter shake because it’s: One, delicious; two, low-carb; and three, delivers one Protein and Healthy Fat serving.

13. Whipped Yogurt Sundae Cups >

When you combine yogurt and our homemade whipped cream (which is ridiculously easy to make), you get a light, airy pudding. Now add sweet berries, crunchy coconut flakes and a rich chocolate sauce and it’s a sundae funday. One recipe treats a family of four.

14. Easy Flourless Black Bean Brownies >

Yes, we said black beans. They make a terrific binder and they’re WAY healthier than flour. Yet they’re virtually tasteless when the brownies are finished. All you’ll taste is a fudgy chocolate brownie with hints of cinnamon, vanilla and just the right amount of salt.

15. Ice Cream Sandwich Cookies >

Use the Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe from earlier to make these awesome ice cream sandwiches! The “ice cream” is made from heavy whipping cream, some erythritol-based confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract. Just freeze for an hour.