Very Low Carb Almond Cheesecake Squares

These tasty low carb cheesecake squares
are light, creamy and so simple to make!

Crust Ingredients:

2 cups finely ground blanched almond flour**

1/3 cup Lakanto Monkfruit Baking sweetener or ultra fine monkfruit sweetener***

1/4 teaspoon maple extract

6 tablespoons butter, at room temarature

Filling Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup Lakanto Monkfruit Baking sweetener or ultra fine Monkfruit sweetener***

1 egg

2 tablespoons heavy cream

2 - 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (1 medium lemon)

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon pure almond extract

1/4 cup sliced almonds

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*. Line an 8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.

Use a large fork to combine all of the crust ingredients in a medium bowl. Mash and stir until well combined. (You may also use your fingers to create a crumb texture.)

Remove one cup of the crumb mixture and set aside. Press the rest of the mixture into the bottom of the lined baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool for 20 minutes.

In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese and sweetener with an electric mixer, at medium speed, until smooth and creamy. Add the egg, cream, juice and extracts. Mix very well, at medium speed, until all of the ingredients are very smooth. Spread evenly over the cooled crust.

Sprinkle the reserved one cup of crumbs on top of the cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with the sliced almonds. Press the crumbs and almonds gently on top of the cream layer.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, being careful not to let the top brown too much. When the pan is wiggled the middle should not wiggle. Cool on a rack for one hour at room temperature. 

Finish cooling and allow to set in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight. Cut into 16 squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (If desired, serve with a few fresh berries.)

**To create an almond flour with a finer texture, pulse in a food processor.

***If you do not have Lakanto Baking sweetener, you can process regular granulated Monkfruit sweetener in a food processor to create a finer powder. This does make a difference in the texture of baked goods.

Notes: These light and creamy cheesecake squares aren't overly sweet. They are good by themselves or garnished with berries. 

 I made these for a family with a dad who could not eat sugar and the entire family loved them!

Nutritional info per square: 63 calories ~ 6.15 grams fat ~ .525 grams total carbs ~ .075 grams fiber ~ .45 grams net carbs ~ .7 grams protein