This Keto Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball shaped like a pine cone is perfect for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. You’ll love this quick and easy recipe with just five ingredients!

Cheese Balls make such a nice (and easy!) appetizer. They are perfect for holidays, game days and dinner parties. What makes this one keto? Well. depending on the ingredients, most cheese balls should be low carb and keto friendly. For this, we’ll specifically use no sugar added bacon and avoid adding any jam or dried fruits like you might find in a traditional cheese ball.

KEY INGREDIENTS KETO BACON CHEDDAR CHEESE BALL

Cream Cheese

I use light cream cheese for this one but you could always use full fat. This is the yummy binder that holds our cheese ball together!

Bacon

Bacon adds such a smokey, rich note to the cheese ball. It’s the prefect partner for cheddar! This low carb Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball only has a few ingredients so go for quality! Look for bacon with no sugar added.

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Cheddar

Cheddar has a great richness and creaminess – perfect for an appetizer like this. Cheddar is one of the main ingredients so quality really matters. Spring for some Kerrygold to make your keto cheese ball special!

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Green Onions

Green Onions make our cheese ball a bit more zingy! They add some crunch, color and a hint of onion flavor, which is always great with bacon!

TECHNIQUE

This is very simple to make, just mix the ingredients together! Shape the cheese ball into an almond shape with your hands and cover with almonds. Very easy with a beautiful result!

EQUIPMENT

• Mixing bowl
• Fork

TROUBLESHOOTING

How do I get the almonds to cover the cheese ball?

Lay them down in a brick like pattern, where they stagger. The point of each additional row, starting from the bottom up, will fill in and cover almost all of the cheese below.

SERVING

These would be perfect to serve in many ways!

How to serve a Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball:

• Perfect for a dinner party appetizer
• Great for Christmas celebrations or other winter holidays
• Amazing for game day!

What should I drink with a Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball?

How about some nice beer or bubbly?

STORING

Refrigerate any leftovers and enjoy in a couple of days.

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• You’ll love these Keto Kabocha Latkes
• For game days Asian Spicy Sticky Wings
• Yule love this Keto Yule Log
• Keto Peppermint Marshmallows

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Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball, Keto & Low Carb

This Keto Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball shaped like a pine cone is perfect for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. You’ll love this quick and easy recipe with just five ingredients!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword Christmas

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 169kcal

Author Lindsay

Equipment

• mixing bowls
• Fork

Ingredients

• 8 ounces light cream cheese
• 2 pieces bacon sugar free
• 1/4 cup cheddar shredded
• 2 stalks green onions
• 3/4 cup almonds

Instructions

• Bring cream cheese to room temperature
• Fry bacon and chop into small pieces
  
• Combine cream cheese, bacon, cheddar and scallions.
  
• Shape into an almond or tear drop shape.
• Starting from the bottom up, cover in rows of almonds. Offset to cover the cheese mix.
  
• Serve garnished with rosemary.
  

Notes

Nutrition information from Cronometer.  Please calculate using your ingredients for accuracy.

The post Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball, Keto & Low Carb appeared first on Starfish in the Kitchen.

These Keto Kabocha Latkes will become your new Hanukkah favorite! Low carb Japanese kabocha squash makes for a crispy fried latke everyone will love!

Hanukkah is a festival of lights that celebrates the miracle of a one day supply of oil that lasted for eight nights. The backdrop of this miracle was the defeat of the Seleucids, taking back the temple and lighting the menorah, read more about the history here. The most recognizable symbol of Hanukkah is the eight armed menorah or hanukkiah that is lit each night of the holiday. And as with any good holiday comes good food! Many foods traditional for this holiday symbolize this miracle of the oil and, as such, are fried – like latkes!

Latkes are usually made with potatoes and are sometimes called potato pancakes. They are traditionally served with sour cream and apple sauce as toppings. Of all these ingredients, sour cream is about the most keto friendly! So, we’ll have to figure out some new ingredients to make keto latkes!

Rather than potatoes, we’ll make Japanese kabocha squash the star of our latkes. Kabocha is rich in nutrients, like it’s fellow orange veggies, it’s just miraculously naturally lower in carbs. The slightly sweet flavor of this Japanese squash pares really well with salty and smokey flavors. So, we’ll play up those flavors in our Keto Kabocha Latkes!

KEY INGREDIENTS KETO LATKES

Kabocha Squash

This is one of my favorite keto foods! It’s a bit like sweet potato and pumpkin had a baby in terms of texture and flavor. In our Keto Kabocha Latkes it’s a bit like sweet potato. It’s also great when mashed, roasted or even in baked goods. It is OUTSTANDING as Keto Crispy Kabocha Chips – be sure to check out that recipe!

Green Onions

A bit of onion bite adds some great flavor to our Keto Kabocha Latkes. The white part we’ll use with the shredded kabocha and the greens we’ll use as a flavorful garnish. These are just the perfect complement to our sweet and smokey flavors!

Smoked Salt

What makes these Keto Crispy Kabocha Chips taste so amazing is smoked salt. I love this alder smoked salt and it is my most frequently used seasoning, by far! Believe it or not, I do buy the big bags to use at home. I don’t go through it that quickly but it is more economical than the small jars. I have a cute salt cellar that I just refill to keep out. This is my everyday salt when I’m cooking.

Whey Protein

This is what gives our Keto Kabocha Latkes their crispy edges! This protein is particularly good for frying and baking – I use it in cakes and baked donuts, etc. I highly recommend adding this ingredient to your keto pantry!

TECHNIQUE

Pan frying is the way to go with our Keto Kabocha Latkes. We’ll use Avocado Oil to help make them a golden brown with a great crunch.

EQUIPMENT

Making latkes is a fairly easy process! We need to shred the squash and drain it well for a good final product.

Box Grater

Uniform size is the key to our Keto Kabocha Latkes cooking evenly. For this, we’ll make use of a box grater. If you prefer to use a food processor, that should work too. The quarters of the squash can be a bit uneven so the grater can probably get the job done with a bit less mess.

Strainer

The grated kabocha will be a bit wet. Allowing the squash to sit a drain will help remove excess moisture. Using a towel to help absorb excess moisture is also a good move.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Let’s take a look at some of the things that can go wrong to see if we can’t prevent them or course correct.

Why are my latkes too dark?

Sounds like the oil might be too hot if they are turning dark too quickly. Try turning down the oil and frying a couple to see how they turn out before frying another batch. TIP: It’s always a good idea to try a couple before frying an entire batch.

Why are my latkes greasy?

There are two reasons why this can happen. The first would be not thoroughly draining them. Allow the oil to drip off as you remove them from the oil and then spread out in a thin layer on paper towels to soak up any excess oil. Another issue is that the oil temperature is too low. That means the latkes will take too long too cook and absorb too much oil. Make sure the latkes sizzle when you add them to the oil.

SERVING

What should I serve with Keto Kabocha Latkes?

• These are pictured with sour cream, smoked salt, green onion and chipotle. Tangy, salty and smokey!
• These would make a great base for protein like BBQ chicken or smoked salmon.
• Try adding different herbs and spices smoked paprika and chives would be good!

What should I drink with Keto Kabocha Latkes?

Since it’s a holiday celebration bubbles would be great with these latkes. I recommend sparkling water, sugar-free soda or some lower carb beer .

STORAGE

Honestly, I’ve never had enough left to store! They should be good for a few days in an air tight container.

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Keto Beautiful Braided Challah Bread – this is the best keto challah out there
• You’ll love this chocolate pull-apart Keto Babka Snowflake
• Delicious Keto Chocolate Babka Buns
• Our Keto Chocolate Frosted Donuts – also equally good with jelly!
• Keto Peppermint Marshmallows
• Try this amazing Keto Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball

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Keto Kabocha Latkes

These Keto Kabocha Latkes will become your new Hanukkah favorite! Low carb Japanese kabocha squash makes for a crispy fried latke everyone will love!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Jewish

Keyword Hanukkah, party

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 128kcal

Author Lindsay

Equipment

• Box grater
• Strainer
• Nonstick frying pan

Ingredients

• 8 oz kabocha squash
• 2 green onions divided (white for latkes, green tops for garnish)
• 1 egg
• smoked salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• 1 scoop whey protein approximately 1/4 cup
• avocado oil enough to cover pan with 1/4 inch
• sour cream optional
• chipotles in adobo optional

Instructions

• Wash and remove seeds from kabocha squash, there is no need to peel. Weigh out 8 oz for recipe.
  
• Grate kabocha with box grater.
  
• Allow kabocha to drain in a strainer to remove excess moisture. Blot with a towel.
• Cut green onion into small slices, reserve green tops for garnish.
• Add strained kabocha, green onion, egg, salt and pepper to a bowl and mix thoroughly.
• Add enough oil to cover the bottom of a frying pan and set the heat to medium low.
• Add half a scoop of whey protein to a small plate and spread out.
  
• Take a small spoonful of the kabocha mixture and carefully dredge in the whey protein. Be sure to get both sides.
• Carefully add to the pan. Continue until you have one small layer with room between the latkes. 4-6 will probably be a good amount.
• Using a spatula, press down on the latkes. Having a thin latke helps them stay crispy and cook evenly.
• When latkes appear browned around the edges, flip them over.
  
• Carefully remove cooked latkes and place on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
• Continue working in small batches until all latkes are cooked. Recipe should total about 12 latkes.
• Garnish with sour cream, green onions and chipotle sauce. Enjoy!
  

Notes

Nutrition based on 4 servings
Info from Cronometer. Please input using ingredients you use for accurate macros.

The post Keto Kabocha Latkes appeared first on Starfish in the Kitchen.

These Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites are the perfect finger food served as an appetizer, hors d’oeuvres or game day snack. They have the great flavor of pizza, minus the carbs! Quick and easy with just five ingredients and ready in 15 minutes.

Pepperoni, cheese, herbs, spices and toppings – what is not to love? These are packed full of flavor without any of the guilt of the carby crust of pizza.

As any of my friends I met while living in Cleveland can attest, Presti’s in Little Italy had the best pizzaand specifically artichoke pizza in the world. I think I may have had it for lunch every day for a year! Some of the best laughs of my life were had over that pizza! I may have given up my love of carbs, but I’ve never given up the taste for pizza! These Keto Cheese Pepperoni Bites have the amazing taste of pizza – they’re so good you won’t even miss the crust!

YOU’LL LOVE THESE

These are super quick to whip up – just five simple ingredients with no bowls or utensils to clean up, this is truly easy! They are also ready in 15 minutes so you can throw them together during half time and be enjoying them before the end of the 3rd quarter!

These will also suit a large variety of eaters these Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites are low carb, sugar-free, naturally gluten free and nut free.

KEY INGREDIENTS

Pepperoni

These little pizza bites have a “crust” of pepperoni. Like bacon, the pepperoni crisps up and renders some fat as it cooks leaving a deliciously chewy and crispy base for our bites!

Mozarella Cheese

The mozzarella cheese acts like the glue holding together our pizza bites. When the Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites are done, the cheese should be a little crispy on the edges and chewy in the center, basically how you’d like your perfect pizza!

Artichoke Hearts

I love serving these up with artichoke hearts. They add a little bit of heft (as well as a veggie!) to this appetizer. What I love is that I can crack open a can and not have to do any additional chopping or dicing, etc. You can change up the toppings to anything in your liking. I also love these with mushrooms and olives. Whatever you like on pizza, you’ll likely also enjoy on these!

TECHNIQUE

Making these Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites is no more complicated than assembling them and baking them! The base of each one is four pepperoni topped with a big pinch of cheese and then herbs, spices and your favorite toppings.

EQUIPMENT

• silicone mat or foil
• baking sheet

Using a silicone mat or foil will help keep clean up a breeze. I’d recommend using a rimmed baking sheet because the pepperoni can definitely render some fat and it wouldn’t be too fun to clean off the bottom of the oven.

TROUBLESHOOTING

This is a pretty simple and straight forward recipe – but, anytime we’re in the kitchen, anything can happen!

What if my pepperoni bites are greasy?

I would definitely recommend draining or blotting your Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites when they are done cooking. Just like your old favorite greasy slice of pizza, the cheese and pepperoni can render some fat as they cook. You can carefully blot the bottoms with a paper towel to remove excess fat. Be sure to serve with napkins!

What if my pepperoni bites don’t crisp up?

You might want to give them a little longer in the oven if they aren’t crisping up to your liking. These should be crispy on the bottom from the pepperoni and the cheese with a nice amount of chew. Yum!

SERVING

How to serve Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites?

• Did I mention game day? These are a perfect finger food – with napkins!
• Amazing with Keto Crispy Kabocha Chips and wings for some game day treats
• Perfect with some marinara as a dipping sauce

What to drink with Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites?

These are great with bubbles to help cut some of the fat. Maybe some bubbly water, sugar-free soda or beer would hit the spot?

STORAGE

Definitely plan to eat these on the day you make them – take advantage of the crispiness!

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Another crispy treat – Keto Crispy Kabocha Chips
• Perfect game day mates Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings
• Sesame Chicken, Keto & Low Carb is awesome
• You’ll love these Keto Kabocha Latkes

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Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites

These Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites are the perfect finger food served as an appetizer, hors d’oeuvres or game day snack. They have the great flavor of pizza, minus the carbs! Quick and easy with just five ingredients and ready in 15 minutes.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword game day

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 135kcal

Author Lindsay

Equipment

• silicone mat
• baking sheet

Ingredients

• 2.25 ounces pepperoni 32 slices
• 2 ounces mozzarella cheese or 1/2 cup shredded
• 2 ounces artichoke hearts drained, can substitute with any toppings of choice
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning can substitute oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed pepper flakes or to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
• Line baking sheet with foil or silicone mat
• Place pepperoni in groups of four pieces
• Top each group with a big pinch of cheese
• Add artichoke hearts, or toppings of choice
• Sprinkle on italian herbs and crushed pepper flakes
• Bake for 15 minutes
• Blot excess fat and serve immediately
• Enjoy!

Notes

Nutrition bases on data from Cronometer.  Please calculate based on your ingredients.

Nutrition based on two pepperoni bites as an appetizer.  Four pepperoni bites make for a good game day lunch – try with marinara!

The post Keto Cheesy Pepperoni Bites 🍕 appeared first on Starfish in the Kitchen.

These Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings are extra crispy and lacquered with a sweet, sticky and spicy sauce – all without frying or sugar! They will blow you away! Read on for all the deets on this soon-to-be-favorite in your house! (Perfect for game days!)

I’m sure everyone is familiar with chicken wings. There’s no need to sell you on their virtues! Done right they are crispy, spicy and finger lickin’ good. What I might need to sell you on is making them some a sauce other than traditional Buffalo sauce (there’s a reason it’s a classic)!

YOU’LL LOVE THESE

These Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings have a nice amount of sweetness and spice that makes them particularly addicting. Even my better half – who was horrified we were having wings NOT covered in Buffalo sauce – was totally distraught when the last one was gone!

What really sets these apart – THAT LACQUER! The sauce forms a glaze that really hardens up – especially when the wings are so crispy to begin with.

While sticky wings would traditionally use sugar or honey to create the glaze, we know that on keto we need to find a workaround. Read on to learn how to make these legendary Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings!

KEY INGREDIENTS

Allulose

Ah, my favorite ingredient – all of the sweetness and none of the carbs! Allulose is so helpful in non-baking applications as well. It adds sweetness to sauces, salad dressings and spice rubs. I’s sugar-like characteristics also allow it to melt and caramelize; it’s definitely a game-changer! This is how to reach this amazing lacquer on these Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings.

Check out more keto recipes with allulose.

Toasted Sesame Oil

While you could make this Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings recipe without it, the toasted sesame oil just adds SO much richness to the flavor. If you haven’t used it before, it really adds to punch and richness of the dish and is great in tons of dishes. I add it to many dishes with Asian flair but it’s also amazing drizzled on roasted veggies or to add some interest to salad dressings. Highly recommended!

Baking Powder (THE SECRET INGREDIENT)

I first learned of this trick through Serious Eats (great site!). They recommended to use baking powder to crisp up the skin on chicken. According to their tip, it helps to break down the proteins in the skin resulting in a great crispy texture. I mix about 1/2 tablespoon of baking powder and 1 teaspoon of smoked salt per dozen wings and coat my well-dried wings early in the morning and let them rest in the fridge all day, uncovered. This mix, along with the high temp will result in a texture you only thought was possibly from frying!

TECHNIQUE

These Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings and their crispiness really rely on our baking powder rub. It is like a dry brine where you’re helping to draw some of the moisture out of the wings and skin before they hit the oven. So a good coating and a good rest will help out.

Do I have to have an air fryer or deep fryer to make crispy chicken wings?

No, with a couple of tricks, some high heat, and our secret ingredient (baking powder!) you can definitely make some crispy wings at home! Although, if you love your air fryer or deep fryer, please, by all means, bust them out!

Can I really make crispy wings in the oven?

Yes! These Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings will rival your favorites from the wing joint. Baking at high heat helps to render all the fat from the wings and really crisp up that skin. A little extra time in the fridge and a little baking powder will help take your crisp to the next level!

EQUIPMENT

• rack
• silicone mat or foil
• Affiliate HTML Code “silpat image”
• baking sheet

The baking powder and salt coated wings should be assembled on the rack and placed on a lined baking sheet. After resting for about 8 hours, this whole set up goes into the oven at high heat and full blast. Having the wings raised up will keep them from roasting in their own juices. If you have it, use the convection setting on your oven to help circulate that hot, hot air!

TROUBLESHOOTING

This Asian Spicy Sticky Wings recipe is pretty easy, but as any starfish in the kitchen knows, cooking always presents some challenges!

What if my wing sauce doesn’t thicken?

The sauce will thicken as it reduces down – the end result will be like syrup. BE CAREFUL not too cook it on too high a heat – it can burn! You can also add xanthan gum to thicken it up but it isn’t completely necessary.

What if my wing sauce doesn’t stick to the wings?

Sometimes it seems like the sauce doesn’t want to coat the wings. Just place the wings in the nonstick pan with the sauce and turn the heat to low. This will help make sure the wings and sauce are both warm, and help the sauce cook onto the wings.

 SERVING

How to serve Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings?

• Did I mention game day? These are a perfect finger food – with napkins!
• Amazing with a side of Keto Crispy Kabocha Chips
• Make an assortment of wings for a party. Roast a bunch and toss in different sauces
• With cucumber salad for a refreshing side

What to drink with Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings?

Personally, my favorite is some Kirin beer. Beer always seems to be a good friend to wings! You could choose sake to go with these as well to keep up with the Asian flavors. Sparkling water, maybe in a citrus flavor would go well with these. If you have access to an Asian grocery store I think Yuzu or Ume sparking water would go really well with these too.

STORAGE

Definitely plan to eat these on the day you make them – take advantage of the crispiness! You could make some extra sauce though and save for chicken skewers or some tofu.

MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

• Sesame Chicken, Keto & Low Carb
• Another crispy treat – Keto Crispy Kabocha Chips
• Keto Cheese Pepperoni Bites a great game day recipe
• You’ll love these Keto Kabocha Latkes
• Try this amazing Keto Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball

Print

Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings

These Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings are extra crispy and lacquered with a sweet, sticky and spicy sauce – all without frying or sugar! They will blow you away!

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine American, Japanese

Keyword game day, party

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Resting Time 8 hours hours

Total Time 8 hours hours 55 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Calories 378kcal

Author Lindsay

Equipment

• rack
• silicone mat
• baking sheet

Ingredients

• 1 dozen wings broken down and well dried
• 1/2 tablespoon baking powder aluminum free
• 1 teaspoon smoked salt

sauce

• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons allulose
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon orange zest I used fresh but dried can also work
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon ginger ground (you could always use fresh)
• 1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum added at the end (optional if it needs thickening)
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil added at the end

garnish

• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 1 green onion chopped

Instructions

• Break down the wings into drumettes and flats; reserve the tips to make stock. (I keep a bag in the freezer!) Dry well with paper towel and coat with baking powder and salt mixture.
  
• Arrange on a rack, leaving space around the wings. Place in fridge, uncovered for 8-24 hours.
  
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and remove wings from the fridge. Be sure to allow the oven to fully preheat. TIP: Air circulation helps with the crispiness so a rack really helps! The fat will render so place the rack over a rimmed baking dish. Add a silicone mat or foil for easier clean up.
• Check for doneness at 20 minutes. Wings should be browned and crispy!
  
• As wings bake, make your sauce. Combine all ingredients minus the xanthan gum and toasted sesame oil to a nonstick frying pan. Sauce will reduce and become nice a fragrant!
• Just as the wings are getting done, (if needed) add the xanthan gum to help thicken the sauce and the toasted sesame oil (it prefers not to be cooked!).
• When the wings are done, use tongs to remove them from the rack and dump them directly into the sauce. Give them a good stir to coat them on all sides.
  
• Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion. Enjoy!

The post Keto Asian Spicy Sticky Wings appeared first on Starfish in the Kitchen.