The Key to Keto Baking
The ketogenic diet (keto diet for short) has become extremely popular due to its health benefits. It is a low-carb, high-fat diet that helps boost wellness. Studies have shown that the keto diet can help with weight loss. Other benefits include controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels. However, switching to the keto diet doesn’t need to mean swearing off desserts. Keto-friendly baking can help you have the best of both worlds!
Keto Baking Ingredients
Let us take a look at some keto-friendly baking ingredients.
1. Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum is produced through the fermentation of sucrose, glucose, and lactose. After fermentation, the resulting residue is dried and ground into a fine powder. This process was discovered in the 1950s by scientists from the US Department of Agriculture. Xanthan gum powder becomes viscous and gel-like when mixed with liquid.
Gluten acts as a binding agent for flour and retains moisture. In gluten-free baking, xanthan gum performs these functions instead. Xanthan gum provides elasticity and stickiness in doughs and batters, helps thicken liquids and is a binding agent. Xanthan gum also acts as a stabilizing agent, dough-improver and gelling agent in baking. Some of the many baked goods xanthan gum is used in are bread, brownies, ice cream and cake. Xanthan gum is so useful and versatile that it’s almost as magical as Chemical X from The Powerpuff Girls!
A key tip for baking with xanthan gum is that a little goes a long way. It is vital to ensure that the flour used in the recipe does not already contain xanthan gum. Too much xanthan gum can ruin the texture of your desserts, making them too sticky.
2. Keto baking sugar
Life is always sweeter with a little bit of sugar in it. Starting a keto diet can be daunting because it requires you to cut sugar out of your diet. But that doesn’t mean you have to cut sweetness out of your life altogether! Keto baking sugar helps you bake your favourite desserts while keeping your carb count low enough for your diet. Keto sugar acts as a useful substitute for sugar in keto-friendly recipes. You can have your cake and eat it too! Health and taste can go hand-in-hand with keto sugar.
3. Keto-friendly flours
There are several keto-friendly flours you can use to bake some scrumptious desserts. Almond flour is the most popularly used keto flour. It is made out of crushed almonds and has a very low carbohydrate content. Coconut flour is also another popular keto-friendly flour. It is made out of coconut flesh and is also low in carbs, making it very useful in keto baking. You’ll be sure to be nutty for some delicious keto-friendly treats with these flours in your arsenal!
Where to source keto baking ingredients
It’s time to put your keto baking knowledge to good (and tasty!) use by crafting some delectable and healthy desserts. The Select Aisle has just launched xanthan gum and keto baking sugar to make your dream keto desserts a reality! You can also source high-quality almond flour and coconut flour from us. The carbs in your desserts will be low, but the deliciousness will be at an all-time high!