On a low-carb or ketogenic diet and dying for chocolate? You've landed in the right spot! These keto coconut clusters are incredibly simple to make and better than reaching for a candy bar. The ingredients are vegan, free from artificial sweeteners, and around two carbohydrates for every cluster. And with unsweetened chocolate and a best-of-the-worst artificial sweetener like monk fruit extract or stevia, the carb count is even less!
Jump to:
I am a private chef and culinary consultant with a basic formal education in nutrition and food safety. I am not a certified nutritionist or dietitian, and none of the information here is intended as medical advice. If you are overweight, hypertensive, or suffer chronic disease and seeking to improve your health, consult your doctor first. If your doctor doesn't recommend a change of diet, find a new doctor.
The Story
A ketogenic, or "keto", diet is a low-carbohydrate, high healthy fat diet designed to improve insulin resistance, cure obesity, and aid in overall health. So naturally, sugar-laden snacks and sweets are off-limits.
And as if a keto diet isn't difficult enough to stick to, processed food brands are always paying attention. At any grocery store now you'll find a plethora of packaged foods with a "keto" label on them. These coconut clusters will somewhat replicate the brand sold at Costco.
But buyer beware.
On Artificial Sweeteners
Many of these foods are just as processed as their traditional counterparts and contain both processed sugar syrups and artificial sweeteners. While the jury is still out on newer sweeteners like monk fruit and stevia, existing studies show artificial sweeteners can actually contribute to weight gain and negatively affect your microbiome (gut bacteria).
So this coconut cluster recipe calls for a brand of dark chocolate chips sweetened with coconut sugar. If you can't find the Guittard brand or don't want to shell out big bucks, you can easily make your own keto chocolate chips.
Here's a recipe where I explain how to make chocolate chips sweetened with honey or coconut sugar (head to the Notes section of the recipe). For sugar-free chocolate chips, use a teeny-tiny bit of powdered monk fruit extract or stevia, as both are much sweeter than cane and coconut sugar. I don't buy or consumer artificial sweeteners. But I'd recommend a bit of trial and error to find your preferred sweet spot, and consulting the brand's recommendations.
The Ingredients
Only three! And keto coconut clusters, or any version of a chocolate cluster, are truly customizable to your tastes. For best results, run a knife through the coconut flakes if they are longer than half an inch. Smaller flakes will make the mixing and scooping process easier.
Coconut is high in medium-chain triglycerides which are ideal for a ketogenic diet. The most successful keto followers aim for a high ratio of dietary fat compared to other macro ingredients like protein and carbohydrates.
- dark chocolate, Guittard Santé recommended (it's lightly sweetened with coconut sugar)
- unsweetened, dried coconut flakes
- sea salt
The Method
The brief explainer for how to make keto coconut clusters is threefold:
- Melt chocolate.
- Mix in coconut.
- Scoop or pour into clusters.
You will need parchment paper, wax paper, or a silicone baking mat for scooping the clusters onto. Foil or a bare sheet pan won't work - you won't be able to get the clusters off once cooled.
How to Melt Chocolate
You can melt chopped chocolate or chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl set over a small pot of simmering water (known as a double boiler). Or you can nuke it in the microwave in short intervals. If you choose the microwave, stop and stir every thirty seconds until the chocolate is smooth and melted.
I prefer the double-boiler method for melting chocolate, as I find it's easier, more reliable, and doesn't subject your food to radiation (even the supposedly harmless kind). When I melt chocolate chips and am not worried about tempering the chocolate, I set it and forget it for a few minutes. A gentle simmer of the water in the pot will slowly melt the chocolate, no stirring necessary. Once all the chips appear mostly melted, you can remove the bowl from the heat. A quick stir will incorporate any remaining unmelted chocolate.
Substitutions
For the coconut: Chopped, roasted nuts that are low-carb friendly are great additions or substitutions for the flaked coconut. Pecans, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, walnuts, and hazelnuts are popular for a ketogenic diet given their fat content. Flaxseed, chia seeds, or shelled pumpkin seeds are also crunchy, delicious nutrient-dense additions.
For the chocolate: If you don't want any natural sugar in your clusters, use a brand of chocolate chips sweetened with stevia or monk fruit extract. You can also begin with unsweetened chocolate, then after you melt it thoroughly mix in a tiny amount of powdered sweetener or drops before adding the coconut.
Be aware, that every brand brings a different level of sweetness. Again, it's best to follow the instructions on the package or the brand's website. And also be prepared for a bit of experimentation. Definitely start small and taste as you go!
Variations
If your goal is to simply alleviate a bit of guilt in eating chocolate, you have more leeway here. As with making chocolate bark, anything goes! But here are a few ideas:
- chopped peanuts
- dried fruit
- a few small spoonfuls of almond, peanut, sunflower seed butter
- sunflower seeds
- lightly sweetened white chocolate chips or cocoa butter
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! In comparison to most processed snacks. If the coconut clusters are made with unsweetened coconut and pure chocolate, the snack is more or less nutrient-dense. And one that can be enjoyed on a low-carb or ketogenic diet. Always check the ingredient list on store-bought coconut clusters, as they are not all created equal. Many contain processed sugar syrups and sugar alcohols, a few of which have been shown in studies to affect intestinal health.
Store-bought coconut clusters marketed as "keto" contain anywhere from four to six net carbs per ounce, depending on the brand. Many brands use brown rice syrup, which is a processed sugar syrup in addition to artificial sweeteners like erythritol. One coconut cluster made using the recipe below contains around six carbs.
Keto coconut clusters made with organic ingredients will be just as nutrient-dense as ones made with conventional chocolate and coconut. Organic ingredients have not been proven to contain higher levels of vitamins and minerals, but they will contain lower amounts of agricultural pesticides and chemicals. Especially if you use unsweetened coconut and avoid artificial sweeteners that can disrupt intestinal health, coconut clusters can be a delicious and nourishing snack.
Edible Epilogue
Please feel free to comment below and share your favorite mix-ins for chocolate keto coconut clusters. And keep fighting the good fight. Even if you are not attempting a ketogenic diet, small changes can make a big difference in your overall health. And that doesn't mean giving up chocolate!
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Keto Coconut Clusters
Chocolate coconut treats for a ketogenic diet! I avoid artificial sweeteners, but you can reduce the carbohydrates even more in this recipe by choosing chocolate chips sweetened with stevia or monk fruit extract. The nutrition information below is based on coconut sugar-sweetened chocolate.
Substitute the flaked coconut with chopped nuts or seeds, the sky is truly the limit!
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: About 16 1x
Ingredients
- 1 bag (9 ounces) dark chocolate chips sweetened with coconut sugar, stevia, or monk fruit extract*
- 1½-2 cups chopped, flaked unsweetened coconut
- flake sea salt, for garnish
Instructions
- Lay one or two pieces of parchment or wax paper on the counter or large baking pans.
- Bring an inch of water just to a simmer in a small pot over medium-low heat. Pour the chocolate chips into a heat-proof bowl and place the bowl on top of the pot.
- When most of the chocolate is melted, take the bowl off of the heat and stir to incorporate the remaining formed chips. Be very careful not to let any water near the bowl, as it will cause the chocolate to seize (harden).
- Gently mix in the coconut flakes and a pinch of sea salt, if you like.
- Scoop the chocolate into small clusters onto the parchment paper using a small ice scoop with a release lever, or two small spoons.
- Sprinkle a few flakes of sea salt on the top of each cluster before they set.
- Store the chocolate clusters in a sealed container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If you store the clusters chilled, bring them to room temperature before enjoying (unless you like cold chocolate).
Notes
Substitutions
For the coconut: Chopped, roasted nuts that are low-carb friendly are great additions or substitutions for the flaked coconut. Pecans, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, walnuts, and hazelnuts are popular for a ketogenic diet given their fat content. Flaxseed, chia seeds, or shelled pumpkin seeds are also crunchy, delicious nutrient-dense additions.
For the chocolate: If you don't want any natural sugar in your clusters, use a brand of chocolate chips sweetened with stevia or monk fruit extract. You can also begin with unsweetened chocolate, then after you melt it thoroughly mix in a tiny amount of powdered sweetener or drops before adding the coconut.
Be aware, that every brand brings a different level of sweetness. Again, it's best to follow the instructions on the package or the brand's website. And also be prepared for a bit of experimentation. Definitely start small and taste as you go.
On Nutrition Information
The nutrition information below is based on the recipe as written with the Guittard brand of chocolate chips.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Keto
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cluster
- Calories: 123
- Sugar: 2.5 g
- Sodium: 1.9 mg
- Fat: 11.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.6 g
- Trans Fat:
- Carbohydrates: 7.9 g
- Fiber: 6.1 g
- Protein: 1.4 g
- Cholesterol:
Keywords: keto coconut clusters, coconut keto clusters, chocolate coconut clusters, keto snacks, keto artificial sweeteners, how to melt chocolate
Janice
So yummy! Love how easy they are to make.
Christina
So glad you enjoyed them, and they are dangerously easy to make.:)