Less Than 5 Ingredients

April 1, 2021 Dairy-Free

Steamed Cauliflower

Steamed cauliflower is an easy way to get perfectly tender cauliflower florets in no time at all. A drizzle of olive oil and a little herbs and lemon zest take it to another level. Low calorie, low carb, and full of fiber and antioxidants.

What Makes This Steamed Cauliflower So Good

A drizzle of olive oil and a little salt, fresh herbs, and lemon zest take this cauliflower from bland to delectable in no time at all.
Cauliflower is naturally low calorie, low in carbs, and high in fiber, which is great if you’re following a specifically low carb or ketogenic way of eating, or if you’re just watching what you eat in general!
It’s super easy to make, which is great for busy nights when you don’t really feel like cooking, or busy meal prep days when you have a lot on your plate (literally!)
Speaking of meal prep, you can refrigerate steamed cauliflower in an airtight container up to 5 days, so it’s a great make-ahead option!

Steamed Cauliflower

Key Ingredients for Steamed Cauliflower

Cauliflower – This not-too-distant cousin of cabbage and broccoli is full of fiber and antioxidants that your body will love. It’s blown up in popularity in the last few years because it’s a great, carb-friendly alternative to starchy foods like potatoes and rice. You’ve probably heard of cauliflower rice, mashed cauliflower, or even cauliflower pizza crust. Does cauliflower taste like rice or potatoes? Not really, no. But for a lot of people, it’s a workable alternative!

Olive Oil – Olive oil compliments the natural flavor of the cauliflower, herbs, and lemon zest without detracting or overpowering. Plus it’s a great source of healthy fats, and it’s got a solid amount of antioxidants, too.

Chef’s Tips

Fresh cauliflower will you give you the best flavor and texture! I definitely recommend it here over frozen!
You can use a metal or silicone steaming basket for this recipe.
What’s the best way to cut a head of cauliflower into florets? Easy! Remove the leaves from the head, then cut around the large stem to remove it. The cauliflower will break apart, and from there you can keep breaking or cutting it into smaller florets. Cut off any large stems from the florets
For a twist, stop after step 4 of this recipe and use your steamed cauliflower to make our Cauliflower Chips.
Looking for a hands-off way to steam cauliflower? Check out our post on Instant Pot Cauliflower.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Our recipes focus on real ingredients and homemade elements. We try to avoid processed flour and sugar, like white flour or white sugar. Our recipes often swap less healthy options (like a commercial, deep-fried tostada) for an easy homemade version.

Our recipes are not necessarily low fat or low calorie, and we aren’t afraid of fat or carbs! Some of our recipes will be “skinny,” low carb, keto, paleo, dairy free, grain free, gluten free, Whole30, or vegan, and they will be labeled when they qualify for any of these diets. All our recipes are easy and family friendly!

Olive oil poured onto a bowl of steamed cauliflower

More Basics You’ll Be Glad You Know

We hope you loved this recipe as much as we did! We’d love for you to give us a star ★ rating below, and follow us on Instagram! For more delicious, healthy recipes, be sure to check out 40 Aprons.

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Steamed Cauliflower

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Basics, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dairy-free, gluten-free, low carb

Servings:

Calories: 198kcal

Equipment

Saucepan
Steamer basket
Fork
Large bowl

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower
½ cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3-4 tablespoons fresh herbs chopped, optional
1 teaspoon lemon zest optional

Instructions

Chop cauliflower into florets.
Add water to saucepan, then place steamer basket in saucepan and bring water to boil over high heat. Note: The surface of the water should be just under the bottom of your steamer basket.
Once water starts boiling, add cauliflower to steamer basket. Reduce heat to medium.
Steam 10 minutes or until tender and can be easily pierced with fork.
Remove cauliflower from steamer basket and transfer to large bowl. Drizzle olive oil onto cauliflower, then add salt, herbs, and lemon zest. Toss to coat, then serve.

Notes

We used fresh parsley for the herbs this time around, but you can use any herbs you like, or skip them altogether!
Cook times will vary slightly based on the size and thickness of your florets, and how fresh your cauliflower is. The fork method is the best test of tenderness.

Recipe yields approximately 2 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for one serving of chicken cordon bleu casserole. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire recipe when finished. Divide the total weight (not including the weight of the container the sauce is in) by 6. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

March 11, 2021 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Corn Dogs

Cooking frozen corn dogs in the air fryer is the easiest way to get crispy corn dog batter outside and perfectly cooked, juicy hot dogs inside. Once you try this method, you’ll never want to cook corn dogs any other way again!

What Makes Air Fryer Corn Dogs So Good

The corn dogs come out perfectly hot and crispy in just 10 minutes! If you’ve ever tried microwaving corn dogs, you know the soft-batter struggle, and sometimes the hot dogs inside aren’t heated evenly. The oven takes care of the cooking issues, but you need to preheat it for 10 minutes and then wait 15-20 minutes for your corn dogs to cook. The air fryer gives you the best of both worlds – perfectly cooked corn dogs in minimal time.
No thawing needed! Take the corn dogs out of the freezer and pop them straight into your preheated air fryer. Great for last-minute meals!
Over-anticipate your hunger and cook too many corn dogs or corn dog nuggets for one sitting? No problem! Refrigerate them and use this same method to reheat them later! They’ll crisp right up again. Start out by reheating them for just 3 to 5 minutes, then add more time if needed.

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Corn Dogs

Frozen Corn Dogs – This method works for any kind of frozen corn dogs, even mini corn dogs! You can cook as many or as few as you want, too. You might need to work in multiple batches if you’re cooking a lot, especially if your air fryer is small, so keep that in mind!

Chef’s Tips

As with any appliance, cook times will vary from one air fryer to another. Keep an eye on your food, especially the first time or two, and adjust your cook times as needed.
You can totally eat corn dogs on their own, but I love mine with mustard. Ketchup is another tried-and-true topping, but really, when it comes to corn dog condiments, anything goes. I even like my mini corn dogs with honey mustard or a little nacho cheese!
A light spritz of air-fryer-safe spray oil on the basket will help keep the corn dogs from sticking, but depending on your air fryer, it may not be necessary. Be sure not to use any aerosol cooking sprays in your air fryer, because they can damage the coating on your basket!

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Air fryer corn dogs on a tray next to a bowl of mustard

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Air Fryer Corn Dogs

Cooking frozen corn dogs in the air fryer is the easiest way to get crispy corn dog batter outside and perfectly cooked, juicy hot dogs inside. Once you try this method, you'll never want to cook corn dogs any other way again!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: frozen food, kid friendly, summer

Servings: corn dogs

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

4 frozen corn dogs
spray oil optional
mustard optional, for serving

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit. Place corn dogs in air fryer basket in one even layer. Cook in air fryer for 10 minutes, turning over once after 7 minutes. Remove from air fryer and serve plain or with mustard (or condiment of choice).

Notes

Cooking mini corn dogs? Cook them at 380° Fahrenheit for 7 to 8 minutes, turning once halfway through cook time.
Depending on the number of corn dogs you’re cooking and the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in multiple batches. Be sure the corn dogs are always in one flat layer, not touching or overlapping.

This method will work for any brand of frozen corn dogs. Nutritional information will depend on the specific brand of corn dogs you use.

March 5, 2021 Air Fryer

Sausage in the Air Fryer

Cooking sausage in the air fryer is our favorite way to get Italian sausage or bratwurst on the table! Hands off and super quick, the air fryer cooks sausage beautifully, with a perfect crisp skin.

What Makes Sausages in the Air Fryer So Good

This air fryer method is SO easy. No standing over the stovetop while grease splashes everywhere, turning the sausages constantly to make sure they’re browned (not burnt) outside but still perfectly cooked inside. Here the air fryer does all the work, and it’s virtually hands-free! You just need to flip the sausages once, halfway through the cook time.
Air fryer sausages come out perfectly cooked, every single time. Stovetop sausages can vary every time you make them if the heat is even slightly off, or if you flip them too many times, or not enough, or any number of little factors. Air fryer sausages are always beautifully crisp outside and outrageously juicy inside.
It takes less than 20 minutes to go from fridge to table! Sausages make a great pairing with all sorts of things, too – roasted peppers and onions, potatoes, pasta with a cream sauce… you could even eat the sausages in buns or just on their own!

Key Ingredients for Sausage in the Air Fryer

Sausage – Link sausages are literally the only ingredient you need for air fryer sausages! This method will work for any link sausage, so just pick your favorite (or try something new, it’s entirely up to you!). Smaller links, like breakfast sausages, will cook a little faster than thicker sausages like bratwursts. If you’re Whole30, make sure the sausages you use are Whole30-compliant!

Chef’s Tips

For larger sausages or smaller air fryers, you may not be able to fit 5 link sausages in the basket at once. That’s okay! You can work in batches if you need to. The key is to make sure they’re laying in one even layer, not touching or overlapping, so the air can circulate completely. Any spot the air can’t reach is a spot the sausage won’t cook completely.
Don’t pierce the skin of the sausages before you put them in the air fryer! The skin is there to hold in all the juices, and poking holes in it would just let all those juices run out during cooking.
Air fryer smoking? No worries! Sausages are high in fat, and sometimes the dripping fat causes a little smoke. If you run into this, you can try putting a parchment paper made specifically for air fryers in the bottom of the basket, under the sausages. A little water in the bottom of the basket could help, too.
Air fryers are phenomenal, but like with any appliance, one can be a little different from another. Keep an eye on your sausages in the air fryer the first time or two you make them, so you know exactly what cook time works best for your air fryer! Remember, with pork sausage, you want an internal temperature of at least 160° Fahrenheit.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

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Sausage in the Air Fryer

Cooking sausage in the air fryer is our favorite way to get Italian sausage or bratwurst on the table! Hands off and super quick, the air fryer cooks sausage beautifully, with a perfect crisp skin.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time14 mins

Total Time19 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: carnivore, keto, summer cookout

Servings: servings

Calories: 388kcal

Equipment

Air Fryer
Tongs

Ingredients

5 sausage links like Italian sausage or bratwurst, about 18 ounces

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 370° Fahrenheit. Place sausages in single layer in basket.
Return basket to air fryer. Cook 13 minutes for a softer skin or 14 minutes for a nice browned exterior. Using tongs, flip sausages once midway through cooking.

Notes

Recipe yields 5 cooked sausages. Nutritional values shown reflect information for 1 serving, or 1 cooked sausage. Macros may vary slightly depending on the specific brand and type of sausages used.

Nutrition

February 4, 2021 Desserts

Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Chocolate covered espresso beans are the bite-sized energy boost you’ve been craving! Sweet and crunchy, with a little punch of caffeine. This 2-ingredient recipe comes together in less than 15 minutes.

What Makes This Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans Recipe So Good

There’s only 2 ingredients in this recipe, and you can find them at almost any grocery store! No need to run around tracking down crazy ingredients you might not use ever again.
They give you a little energy boost, thanks to the caffeine content of the espresso beans. How much exactly depends on the type of beans you use, but generally whole coffee beans have more caffeine than brewed coffee! Keep that in mind if you’re caffeine-sensitive.
Store them in an airtight container (refrigerated or room temperature) up to one week for a sweet treat you can keep on hand! They also freeze well – just keep them in an airtight container up to one month.

Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans Ingredients

Espresso Beans – You can use basically any whole bean coffee you can find at your local grocery store! Hazelnut and vanilla beans add a little extra flavor to this recipe. Dark coffee beans generally work well with the sweetness in milk chocolate, while medium or light roast beans work well with the bitterness in dark chocolate.

Chocolate – The great thing about this recipe is you can customize it so easily! We used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but you can use a chocolate bar, chili-flavored dark chocolate chips, mint chocolate chips, or any other flavor chocolate you like!

Chef’s Tips

Eat them on their own by the handful, or use them as a garnish for chocolate cupcakes or brownies.
We used a microwave to melt the chocolate because it’s so quick and easy, but you can totally use a double boiler if you prefer!
For a keto treat, try something like Choczero chocolate chips or Lily’s 55% Dark chocolate chips.
After coating the beans in the melted chocolate, you can roll them in cocoa powder if you like a really chocolatey snack.

Close up of chocolate covered espresso beans in a white bowl

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Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Chocolate covered espresso beans are the bite-sized energy boost you've been craving! Sweet and crunchy, with a little punch of caffeine. This 2-ingredient recipe comes together in less than 15 minutes.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 2 ingredients, easy to make, no cooking

Servings: servings

Calories: 130kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Microwave
Microwave-safe bowl
Baking sheet
Parchment paper

Ingredients

1 cup espresso beans
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or 1 milk chocolate bar

Instructions

Place chocolate chips (or chocolate bar, broken into pieces) in microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave in 10-second intervals, stirring between each, until chocolate is melted. Be careful not to burn chocolate.
Remove bowl from microwave and add in espresso beans, stirring until well combined.
Remove each espresso bean individually using a fork. Place beans on baking sheet lined with parchment paper, being careful not to let them touch.
Repeat until all beans are coated in chocolate and placed on parchment paper.
Let beans cool at room temperature. Alternately, chill them in the refrigerator to help them set up faster.

Notes

Make it Keto: Use keto-friendly chocolates like Choczero or Lily’s brands chocolate.

Recipe yields approximately 8 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect information for 1 serving. Macros may vary slightly depending on the specific brands of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe . Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the bowl, pot, or plate the food is in) by 8. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

November 19, 2020 Air Fryer

Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

These delicious frozen sweet potato fries are a little sweet and a little salty. They crisp to perfection in the air fryer, making them a perfect snack or side when you want something quick, easy, and healthy.

Why Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer Are So Good

Because air fryers use air instead of oil to fry food, you save calories but still get that great deep-fried flavor and crunch.
Oven-baked fries can be soggy (or worse, burnt), especially if you’re reheating leftovers. Air fryer fries are perfectly crisp every time – plus you can cook them from frozen, no need to thaw!
Sweet potato fries specifically are best in the air fryer. Because of their lower starch content, it’s almost impossible to get the perfect fry texture when you cook sweet potatoes in the oven.
Air fryers generally cook faster than a conventional oven, and the clean up is usually easier, too!

New to air fryers and trying to decide which one to get? Visit our sister site, 40 Aprons, to read about the 5 Air Fryers We Love.

Frozen Sweet Potato Fries Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes – This root veggie is a traditional Thanksgiving staple, but I love them all year long! When it comes to macros, they’re comparable to white potatoes, but they’re a much better source of antioxidants and vitamins A, B, C, and D.

Cinnamon – Everyone knows cinnamon is a little spicy and a little sweet – but did you know cinnamon is believed to have some wonderful health properties? It has essentially no protein or fat, but it does have small amounts of beta carotene and Vitamin A, which are both great for eye health!

How to Make Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

This recipe honestly could not be any easier! Toss your frozen sweet potatoes in oil, then coat them evenly in salt and cinnamon. Pop them in the air fryer for 7 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, flip them, and fry for another 7 minutes. If you like your fries a little crispier, add another 2-3 minutes in the air fryer.

Serve these hot with your favorite dipping sauce – they’re great with ketchup, honey mustard, spicy sriracha-mayo, or comeback sauce! If you’re Whole30, be sure your condiments are compliant!

Chef’s Tips

Bags of frozen sweet potato fries are super quick and easy, but I recommend making your own fries from scratch! Start with a sweet potato and cut it into fries by hand or with a french fry cutter. Plan ahead – you want all of your fries to be roughly the same size so that they cook consistently. Spread the unseasoned fries evenly on a parchment-paper-lined sheet pan and stick them in the freezer. Freeze them for a couple of hours or until they’re hard. Toss them in a baggie or airtight container and keep them in your freezer until you’re ready for them. They’ll keep like this for a few months!
Be sure to spread the fries in a flat layer in the air fryer basket, and don’t let them touch or overlap. If the air can’t flow around them easily, they won’t cook evenly!
If you have any leftovers, you can totally reheat them in the air fryer! A few minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit will make them nice and crispy again.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy”?

Close up of sweet potato fries in a white bowl

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Sweet potato fries with salt in a white bowl

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Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: comfort food, family friendly, healthy snack

Servings: servings

Calories: 218kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $4

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 15-ounce bag frozen sweet potato fries
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
big pinch cinnamon
Kosher salt

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss frozen sweet potato fries with oil and season evenly with kosher salt and cinnamon.
Working in small batches, spread an even layer of sweet potato fries in the fryer basket. Cook at 375° for 7 minutes. Flip fries, then cook 7 minutes more, adding 2-3 minutes if necessary. Fries are done when crispy and golden brown.

Nutrition

November 5, 2020 Condiment

Keto Cranberry Sauce

This ridiculously easy keto cranberry sauce is the perfect holiday side. Made with fresh tart and sweet cranberries and no added sugar, it’s perfect if you’re trying to stay in ketosis this holiday season.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

One cup of cranberries has about 7 grams of net carbs, so you can easily add this dish into your keto Thanksgiving plan!
This keto cranberry sauce only takes about 10 minutes to cook, so it’s a great easy side that doesn’t take a lot of work or ingredients.

Fresh cranberries – Use fresh cranberries for a lightly tart, sweet burst of flavor
Orange zest – A little zest from an orange is optional, but it gives your cranberry sauce a bit of citrus of flavor and scent
Swerve – A great sugar substitute that fits in great with the keto diet, or if you’re watching your blood sugar. It also doesn’t have the artificial, chemical taste some other sugar subs have.

How To Make Keto Cranberry Sauce

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

Whisk the Swerve into a saucepan of water on the stove. Add the cranberries and let them cook until they start to pop and form a sauce.

Place the sauce in a bowl and pop in the fridge for a couple hours prior to serving.

Top Tips For Making

You can also use powdered or granulated erythritol instead of Swerve. If you’re not on a keto diet, you can use regular granulated sugar or maple syrup.
If you’d like to make this recipe ahead of time or you have leftovers, you can keep it in the freezer in an airtight container up to 3 months.

More Keto Holiday Recipes

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Keto Cranberry Sauce

This easy cranberry sauce is the perfect holiday side

Cook Time10 mins

Chilling Time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 10 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy side dish, fewer than 5 ingredients, thanksgiving

Servings: servings

Calories: 16kcal

Cost: $2

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup Swerve granulated
12 ounces fresh cranberries whole
1 teaspoon orange zest optional

Instructions

In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, whisk swerve into water. Stir in the orange zest and cranberries and cook until they start to pop, about 10-12 minutes. You can smash the cranberries a bit if you like.
Remove from heat and place in a bowl, then chill for at least 2 hours.

Notes

Swerve substitutes: Can also use powdered or granulated erythritol to taste. If not on a keto diet, you can use regular granulated sugar or maple syrup to taste.
Freezing: Keep in freezer in an airtight container up to 3 months.

Nutrition

November 3, 2020 Dairy-Free

Keto Green Beans

These easy keto green beans are the perfect low carb dinner veggie, whether you eat them alone or add them to other dishes. Simply, yet perfectly seasoned, they are bright, crisp, and full of green flavor.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

This recipe only takes about 12 minutes to make, so it’s great for whipping up for a quick side dish.
Made with only 5 ingredients, these keto green beans are perfect for when you want to bulk up your meal without spending a lot of money!
Each serving of these green beans is about 6g net carbs, so it’s easy to fit into your low carb or keto diet.

Ingredients for keto green beans in bowls

How To Make Keto Green Beans

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

Add the green beans to a large skillet and cook until they are bright and shiny.

Add the seasonings and cook while stirring constantly until the garlic is fragrant.

Keto green beans in a skillet being stirred with a wooden spoon

Top Tips For Making

You can fancy up this dish by adding a squeeze of lemon juice or some lemon zest, a little butter (great if you need some more of your daily fat while on keto), fresh parmesan cheese, bacon, or slivered almonds.

More Veggie Recipes

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Keto Green Beans

These bright and fresh green beans are the perfect low carb side

Prep Time2 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time12 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: low carb, under 30 minutes, vegetables

Servings: servings

Calories: 101kcal

Cost: $2

Ingredients

16 ounces fresh green beans
2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Add oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add trimmed green beans and cook, stirring often, until beans are shiny, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and seasoned with salt and pepper. Cook while stirring constantly about 3 minutes until garlic is fragrant and beans are bright and tender.

Notes

Variations: Try adding a squeeze of lemon juice or some lemon zest, a little butter (great if you need some more of your daily fat while on keto), fresh parmesan cheese, bacon, or slivered almonds.

Nutrition

October 26, 2020 Condiment

Keto Cream Cheese Frosting

This keto cream cheese frosting is smooth, creamy, and full of fluffy goodness! Made in just a few minutes with only 5 ingredients, it’s the perfect way to top keto cakes, cupcakes, or even brownies.

A chocolate cupcake in a paper wrapped topped with keto cream cheese icing

What Makes This Recipe So Good

Cream cheese – Use full-fat cream cheese for slightly tangy, rich flavor
Powdered erythritol – Unlike other sugar substitutes, erythritol doesn’t have a chemical or artificial taste, helping make this frosting taste like the real thing.
Heavy cream – Helps make the frosting smooth and creamy, perfect for decorating desserts (or eating out of the bowl – no judgment!)

How To Make Keto Cream Cheese Frosting

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

Mix together the first four ingredients until creamy and fluffy.

Slowly add in the cream until the frosting is pipeable or spreadable enough to your liking. (You may not need all of it.)

Keto cream cheese being mixed in a large bowl

Top Tips For Making

Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature before mixing. Cool or cold cream cheese will be way too lumpy! You can either let your cream cheese sit out until it warms up or heat it in the microwave in 5-10 second intervals.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

A chocolate cupcake topped with keto cream cheese icing with a bite taken out of it

More Keto Desserts

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Keto Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time7 mins

Total Time7 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: icing, low carb, no added sugar

Servings: servings

Calories: 208kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $2

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter softened
8 ounces cream cheese
3 cups powdered erythritol
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-3 tablespoons heavy cream for consistency

Instructions

Mix butter, cream cheese, powdered erythritol, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Slowly add cream until desired consistency for piping or spreading.

Notes

Cream cheese: Make sure the cream cheese is room temperature before mixing. Cool or cold cream cheese will be way too lumpy! You can either let your cream cheese sit out until it warms up or heat it in the microwave in 5-10 second intervals.

Nutrition

October 6, 2020 Dairy-Free

Pumpkin Seed Butter

Pumpkin seed butter is deliciously creamy, lightly sweetened with maple syrup or honey, and a pinch of cinnamon that takes this spread or dip over the top. Pop your roasted pumpkin seeds in the food process and let it do the work.

An apple slice dipped in pumpkin butter in a glass cup

What You Need

Pumpkin seeds — Make sure they’re raw, shelled, and preferably unsalted. If you have pre-roasted pumpkin seeds, you can skip the roasting and go straight for the food processor!
Cinnamon — Optional, but this brings so much delicious flavor to the pumpkin butter.
Salt — This helps bring the natural flavors out of your ingredients a bit more.
Oil — Nut and seed butters are naturally filled with oil, and sometimes they need a little extra to be super creamy and luscious. A little goes a long way here!
Honey — Also optional, but the only sweetness in the recipe. Skip if you want, or swap it with maple syrup to make this recipe vegan.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

This creamy fall butter is great on so many dishes! Dip your farm-picked apples in it, make a pumpkin butter and banana sandwich, or add it to your morning smoothie for some nuttiness and protein!
While this recipe takes some time to make, it’s almost all hands-off. The food processor will do all the work while you sit back and wait for pumpkin butter!
With only one ingredient swap, this recipe is easily made vegan and is naturally vegetarian!

How to Make Pumpkin Seed Butter

Preheat your oven and toss your pumpkin seeds with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Then, spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown. Be sure to stir the pumpkin seeds halfway through baking!

Once baked, let the seeds cool to room temperature. This could take an hour or more.

When the seeds have completely cooled, move them to your food processor with your oil and process for a solid 15 minutes or more. If your butter becomes too crumbly, let it rest for half an hour and try processing again.

Then, add your honey and continue until creamy.

That’s it! You can store this pumpkin butter in an airtight container for up to 2 months. This seed butter is a great substitution for peanut butter or almond butter!

Side shot of a clear glass filled with pumpkin butter garnished with seeds

Top Tips for Making

To keep this as healthy as possible, we chose to roast our own pumpkin seeds. Pre-roasted seeds are seasoned with extra salt and other preservatives usually, and it’s so quick and easy to roast your own! You can even use the seeds from your jack-o-lantern for this recipe!
We tried this in a blender and it did not go as smoothly as the food processor. A blender is meant to combine foods together and was not prepared for the long, long processing time for this recipe. However, your food processor should whip through these seeds with no struggle and keep processing for many minutes without needing to cool down.
If the pumpkin seed butter gets too crumbly in the middle, all is not lost! Let your mixture rest for 30 minutes to an hour for the natural oils to return and try again. If it’s way too crumbly, you can always add a little extra avocado oil to the mix! Much like peanut butter, you’ll need a little neutral oil to make smooth for spreading and dipping.

What Do We Mean by “Healthy?”

Overhead shot of pumpkin seed butter garnished with roasted seeds

more pumpkin recipes

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Pumpkin Seed Butter

A delicious and easy fall favorite! Perfect butter for dips and spreads.

Cook Time15 mins

Processing time20 mins

Total Time35 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Calories: 1450kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Ingredients

3 cups pumpkin seeds raw and shelled
¼ teaspoon cinnamon optional
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons neutral oil
2 tablespoons honey optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, toss pumpkin seeds and cinnamon to evenly coat. Spread seeds across baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Stir seeds halfway through cooking for even browning.
Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature.
Once cooled, place seeds in a food processor and process into butter for about 15 minutes, occasionally scraping down the sides with a spatula.
Add the honey and continue pureeing until it becomes smooth.
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Notes

Ingredient notes: If you’re using pre-roasted pumpkin seeds, skip steps 1 through 3.
Processing notes: This works better in a food processor than in a blender. If your mixture becomes too crumbly, let it rest at least half an hour and try processing again.

Nutrition

October 1, 2020 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Popcorn

Buttery air fryer popcorn gives you a salty, crunchy, delicious snack in under 15 minutes! Popping your own kernels lets you control the amount of butter and seasoning you use, for an easy healthy snack that’s totally new every time you make it.

An Important Note About Air Fryer Popcorn

Air fryer popcorn takes A. LOT. of trial and error to get right. When you do get it right, it’s a great alternative to the stove or the microwave when you just can’t use those methods.

The downside, though, is that air fryer popcorn can actually destroy your air fryer. See, the air fryer isn’t closed inside. The fan and vents are directly above the basket, which allows the air to circulate. That also means it’s really easy to blow small or lightweight foods – you know, like popcorn kernels – all over the place. When that happens, popcorn kernels can easily become lodged inside the heating element, causing your air fryer to short (and creating a fire hazard).

For that reason, we don’t really recommend using an air fryer for your popcorn. You’ll likely have an easier time and much better results by using the stovetop or a microwave. That being said, it can be done, and if you want to know how, we’re here to tell you!

Key Ingredients for Air Fryer Popcorn

Popcorn Kernels – From a bag or from a jar, it doesn’t matter what kind of kernels you use, so long as they’re unpopped!

Oil – You can use 1/4 tablespoon oil to coat your kernels, or you can spray a little air-fryer-safe spray oil on them instead. Any oil will work – avocado, olive oil, even coconut oil if you like!

Air Fryer Popcorn

Chef’s Tips

It can be hard to get all the kernels to pop at the same time. That’s why we’re working in batches and removing the popped popcorn every few minutes. If you leave the basket in until all the kernels pop then the ones that popped early on will burn. And believe me, no one likes burnt popcorn.
As with any appliance, air fryers can vary dramatically from one unit to the next. I have two and they don’t always act the same! There’s definitely a lot of trial and error to this method. You may have better luck with a shorter or longer cook time, or you could try picking out the popped kernels more frequently. Your air fryer may do better with the foil laid flat on the bottom of the basket, and some may do better with the foil bowl almost completely closed at the top. The method outlined below is the one that gave me the fluffiest, best tasting popcorn after lots of testing.
Just like when you pop popcorn in the microwave, you’re going to end up with some unpopped kernels at the end of your cook time. I think there’s some law of nature that prevents all of the kernels from popping completely no matter what method you use. Okay, maybe not, but it seems like it. You can increase your odds of popping every kernel by lowering the amount of kernels you start out with.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

More Air Fryer Recipes

Print Recipe

5 from 4 votes

Air Fryer Popcorn

Buttery, delicious popcorn is made in 15 minutes thanks to the air fryer!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time8 mins

Total Time13 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy snack, low carb, under 30 minutes

Servings: servings

Calories: 193kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $1

Equipment

Air Fryer
Aluminum foil
Microwave-safe bowl
Large bowl

Ingredients

¼ cup popcorn kernels
¼ tablespoon oil
2 tablespoons butter
salt to taste

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit.
Line air fryer basket with foil in shape of basket or bowl.
Toss popcorn kernels with ¼ tablespoon oil. Arrange in single layer on top of foil.
Return basket to air fryer. Cook 5 minutes.
While popcorn cooks, melt butter in microwave.
Remove air fryer basket. Pick out popped popcorn and set aside in large bowl. Return basket with unpopped kernels to air fryer.
Cook 3 minutes, then remove basket. Pick out popped popcorn and add to large bowl. Discard any remaining unpopped kernels.
Pour melted butter over popcorn in bowl and add salt to taste. Cover bowl and toss to coat popcorn evenly. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

This method for making popcorn is pretty finicky and will probably take some trial and error to get right with your specific air fryer. It is unlikely all the kernels will pop at the same time.

Nutrition