Best Sugar-Free Cake Mix and Brownie Mix (2026): 14 Options Ranked by Net Carbs, Sweetener, and Price

We compared 14 sugar-free cake and brownie mixes by net carbs, sweetener, allergens, and price. See which are truly keto and which only say sugar-free.

Malik's profile picture
Author

Malik

Date
September 28, 2026
14 min read
SHARE

The best sugar-free cake mix for low-carb bakers is Sweet Logic Keto Baking Mix at just 1 g net carbs with no sugar alcohols, and the best sugar-free brownie mix is Good Dee's Chocolate Keto Brownie Mix at 1 g net carbs with a nut-free formula. But "sugar-free" on a label means wildly different things depending on the brand — some of these mixes have 11–17 g net carbs per serving and use wheat flour as the first ingredient. The comparison table below breaks down every option by what actually matters.

Key takeaways

  • "Sugar-free" does not mean "low-carb." Pillsbury Zero Sugar mixes use enriched bleached wheat flour as ingredient #1 and maltitol as the sweetener. They are zero sugar on the label but not keto-friendly.
  • Net carbs range from 0 g to about 17 g across these 14 products. The keto-focused baking mixes (Duncan Hines Keto, Good Dee's, Sweet Logic, Scotty's, Fitbake, Lakanto) stay at or below 4 g net carbs per serving.
  • Sweetener type matters for blood sugar. Maltitol (Pillsbury) has a glycemic index around 35. Erythritol (Duncan Hines Keto, Good Dee's, Lakanto, Fitbake) has a GI near 0. Allulose (Sweet Logic, Scotty's) is technically not a sugar alcohol and has a near-zero glycemic response.
  • Allergen profiles vary significantly. Good Dee's brownie mix (sunflower seed flour) and Lakanto's brownie mix (chickpea flour) are nut-free by formulation. Most other keto mixes rely on almond flour.
  • Price splits into two tiers: budget grocery-store options at roughly $3–$6 per box (Pillsbury, Duncan Hines) and premium online-only brands at $10–$14 per pack (Good Dee's, Sweet Logic, Scotty's, Fitbake, Lakanto).

Full comparison table: every sugar-free cake and brownie mix ranked

ProductTypeNet carbs/servingCalories/servingPrimary sweetenerSugar alcohols?Contains wheat?Gluten-free?Price tier
Sweet Logic Keto Cake MixCake1 g~170Allulose + steviaNoNoYesMid-range (~$10)
Lakanto Keto Cake MixCake1 g~160Erythritol + monk fruitYesNoYesPremium
Scotty's Keto Cake MixCake0 g90Allulose + monk fruitNoNoYesPremium (~$12–$13)
Good Dee's Yellow Snack Cake MixCake2 g130Erythritol + steviaYesNoYesPremium (~$13–$14)
Fitbake Yellow Cake MixCake2 g90Erythritol + monk fruitYesNoYesPremium (~$12–$13)
Duncan Hines Keto Yellow Cake MixCake4 g200Erythritol + allulose + steviaYesNoYesBudget (~$5–$6)
Pillsbury Zero Sugar Yellow Cake MixCake~17 g*140 (dry)Maltitol + sucralose + acesulfame KYesYesNoBudget (~$3–$5)
Pillsbury Zero Sugar Devil's Food Cake MixCakeNot low-carb*120 (dry)Maltitol + sucralose + acesulfame KYesYesNoBudget (~$3–$5)
Good Dee's Keto Brownie MixBrownie1 gNot listedErythritol + steviaYes (8 g)NoYesPremium ($13.99)
Duncan Hines Keto Brownie MixBrownie2–3 g**130–170Erythritol + allulose + steviaYesNoYesBudget (~$5–$6)
Sweet Logic Keto Brownie MixBrownie2 g150Allulose + steviaNoNoYesMid-range (~$10)
Lakanto Sugar-Free Brownie MixBrownie3 gNot listedErythritol + monk fruitYesNoYesPremium ($12.39)
Pillsbury Zero Sugar Brownie MixBrownie~11 g*90 (dry)Maltitol + sucralose + acesulfame KYesYesNoBudget (~$3–$5)

* Pillsbury Zero Sugar products use wheat flour as ingredient #1. They are zero sugar on the label but not low-carb. The brownie mix's ~11 g net carbs figure follows from Pillsbury's own label (24 g total carbs, 3 g fiber, 10 g sugar alcohol per serving); the yellow cake mix works out to about 17 g (37 g total, 1 g fiber, 19 g sugar alcohol). SureKeto.com classifies the Pillsbury brownie mix as "not keto-friendly."

** Duncan Hines Keto Brownie Mix appears to have been reformulated. Earlier packaging listed 3 g net carbs; current grocery listings show 2 g net carbs. The Duncan Hines FAQ page still shows 3 g (17 g total carbs minus 4 g fiber minus 5 g sugar alcohol minus 5 g allulose).

How we ranked these

Every product here is ranked on verifiable, label-based criteria — not taste tests or personal opinions. We do not test products in-house. Here is what we looked at, in order of weight:

  1. Net carbs per serving — the single most important number for anyone searching for sugar-free baking mixes. Lower is better.
  2. Sweetener type and glycemic impact — maltitol (GI ~35) gets flagged; erythritol (GI ~0) and allulose (near-zero glycemic response) rank higher.
  3. Ingredient quality — wheat flour as ingredient #1 in a "sugar-free" product is a dealbreaker for keto and gluten-free bakers. Artificial sweeteners (acesulfame potassium, sucralose) and artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5) are noted.
  4. Allergen profile — contains wheat, tree nuts, dairy, soy.
  5. Availability and price tier — grocery-store access vs. online-only, and budget vs. premium pricing.

Best sugar-free cake mixes: the top 6

Sweet Logic keto baking mix (yellow cake) — lowest net carbs without sugar alcohols

Sweet Logic's yellow cake mix comes in at 1 g net carb per serving using allulose and stevia as sweeteners — no erythritol, no sugar alcohols at all. The first three ingredients are allulose, almond flour, and coconut flour. At roughly $10 per pack on Amazon, it sits in the mid-range price tier and is one of the more affordable keto cake mixes.

For bakers who experience digestive discomfort from erythritol, this is worth a close look. Allulose behaves differently from other sweeteners in baking — it browns more like real sugar and holds moisture well, which the chemistry predicts should help cake texture. Sweet Logic also makes a keto brownie mix (covered below).

Lakanto keto cake mix — monk fruit sweetened, 1 g net carbs

Lakanto's cake mix matches Sweet Logic at 1 g net carb per serving, though it does contain erythritol (as part of their monk fruit sweetener blend). The ingredient list is longer than most competitors: almond flour, monkfruit sweetener, resistant tapioca starch, sugarcane fiber, tapioca fiber, cellulose, psyllium husk, natural flavors, baking powder, sea salt, and baking soda. That fiber-heavy formula (including psyllium husk) should help with moisture retention — psyllium is one of the most effective binders in gluten-free baking.

Price is in the premium tier.

Scotty's keto cupcake and cake mix — 0 g net carbs, but read the fine print

Scotty's is the only cake mix on this list with 0 g net carbs and just 90 calories per serving. It uses allulose and monk fruit extract (no sugar alcohols). The ingredient list leans heavily on fiber: resistant tapioca starch, allulose, psyllium husk, chicory inulin, and konjac gum.

Here is the contrarian take: Low Carb Simplified's reviewer wrote that Scotty's tastes more like a sweet roll or sweet bread than yellow cake. That high-fiber, no-flour formula (no almond flour, no coconut flour) may explain why. If net carbs are your absolute priority and you are willing to accept a denser texture, Scotty's delivers. Chicory root fiber (inulin) adds bulk and a touch of sweetness but does not replicate the tenderizing role of sugar in cake.

Premium price tier at roughly $12–$13.

Good Dee's yellow snack cake mix — 2 g net carbs, almond-flour based

Good Dee's cake mix uses almond flour, erythritol, soluble tapioca fiber, leavening, salt, and stevia extract — a short, clean ingredient list. At 1–2 g net carbs (Good Dee's site now lists 1 g; older retail listings show 2 g) and about 130 calories per serving, it is competitive with the best keto options. The brand is well-known in the keto baking space and also makes a standout brownie mix (see below).

Premium price tier at roughly $13–$14 per pack. Note: contains almond flour, so it is not nut-free.

Fitbake yellow cake mix — 2 g net carbs, 90 calories, requires yogurt

Fitbake stands out for having the lowest calorie count among the cake mixes at 90 calories per serving (prepared), tied with Scotty's. It uses a blend of erythritol, monk fruit extract, blanched almond flour, organic coconut flour, baking powder, salt, and natural flavors.

One practical difference: Fitbake requires yogurt or sour cream to prepare, while most other keto cake mixes only need eggs and fat. That adds a step and a perishable ingredient, but the dairy fat and acidity from yogurt should help with tenderness and rise. Price is in the premium tier at roughly $12–$13.

Duncan Hines keto friendly yellow cake mix — best budget option

At 4 g net carbs per serving, Duncan Hines Keto is the highest-carb option among the keto cake mixes — but it is also the most accessible. It is sold at Walmart and other large grocers for roughly $5–$6 per box. That is less than half the price of most specialty brands.

The first three ingredients are erythritol, almond flour, and coconut flour. It also contains allulose and stevia. Duncan Hines calculates net carbs as: 21 g total carbs minus 5 g dietary fiber minus 8 g sugar alcohol minus 4 g allulose = 4 g net carbs.

For someone just starting with sugar-free baking who wants to pick up a box at the grocery store without ordering online, Duncan Hines Keto is the obvious entry point.

Why Pillsbury Zero Sugar cake mixes are not keto (even though they say "sugar-free")

This is the single most important distinction in this entire category, and it trips up a lot of shoppers.

Pillsbury Zero Sugar Classic Yellow Cake Mix lists enriched bleached wheat flour as ingredient #1, followed by maltitol and leavening. It contains zero grams of total sugars on the label. But "zero sugar" is not the same as "low carb." The wheat flour base means the carb count is substantially higher than the keto-focused alternatives.

Pillsbury's Zero Sugar Devil's Food Cake Mix follows the same pattern: enriched bleached wheat flour, maltitol, and cocoa processed with alkali as the first three ingredients. Both products also contain acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and artificial colors (Yellow 5 and Red 40 in the yellow cake; Red 40 in the devil's food).

The Pillsbury boxes state: "Excess consumption may cause a laxative effect (due to maltitol)." They also state: "Contains a Bioengineered Food Ingredient."

Maltitol has a glycemic index of approximately 35 — significantly higher than erythritol (GI ~0) or allulose (near-zero glycemic response). For anyone managing blood sugar, this matters. If you are looking for a sugar alternative that does not spike blood sugar, the keto brands using erythritol or allulose are the better choice.

Who should buy Pillsbury Zero Sugar: Someone who only needs to avoid added sugar (not carbs), does not need gluten-free, and wants the cheapest box on the shelf at any grocery store.

Who should skip it: Anyone on keto, low-carb, or gluten-free diets. Anyone avoiding artificial sweeteners or artificial colors. Anyone sensitive to maltitol's laxative effects.

Best sugar-free brownie mixes: the top 5

Good Dee's chocolate keto brownie mix — 1 g net carbs, nut-free

Good Dee's brownie mix hits 1 g net carb per serving (14 g total carbs minus 5 g fiber minus 8 g sugar alcohols from erythritol). What makes it genuinely unusual in this category: it is nut-free. Instead of almond flour, it uses sunflower seed flour. That makes it one of the few keto brownie mixes made without nuts, though it is produced in a facility that also processes tree nuts.

The full ingredient list: erythritol, soluble tapioca fiber, unsweetened cocoa powder processed with alkali, sunflower seed flour, leavening, salt, and stevia extract. It is gluten-free and grain-free. The manufacturer claims it can produce either a fudge-like or cake-like texture depending on preparation method. Note: it is manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts, eggs, soy, and dairy.

Price: $13.99 per pack on the manufacturer's site. For bakers who want to pair this with sugar-free chocolate chips, adding a handful to the batter before baking is a common approach.

Good Dee's Chocolate Brownie Mix | Keto Baking Mix | Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free & Low Carb Baking Mix | Diabetic, Atkins & WW Friendly (Pack of 1)
Best Overall

Good Dee's Chocolate Brownie Mix | Keto Baking Mix | Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free & Low Carb Baking Mix | Diabetic, Atkins & WW Friendly (Pack of 1)

Check price on Amazon →

Duncan Hines keto friendly chewy fudge brownie mix — best value, widely available

Duncan Hines Keto brownie mix comes in at 2–3 g net carbs per serving (the formula appears to have been updated; current grocery listings show 2 g while the Duncan Hines FAQ still references 3 g). At roughly $5–$6 per 10 oz box at Walmart and other grocers, it is by far the most accessible and affordable keto brownie mix.

The ingredient list starts with erythritol, almond flour, and allulose, with coconut flour and stevia also in the mix.

Allergens: contains tree nut (almond) and milk. Does NOT contain wheat. It is gluten-free. Preparation requires water, eggs, and melted butter to make one 8x8 or 9x9 pan.

Per Giant Food's listing: 2 g net carbs, 4 g fiber, and 3 g protein per serving, with 12 servings per box.

Duncan Hines Keto Friendly Brownie Mix, Chewy Fudge, 10 oz.
Best Value

Duncan Hines Keto Friendly Brownie Mix, Chewy Fudge, 10 oz.

Check price on Amazon →

Sweet Logic keto brownie mix — allulose and stevia, no sugar alcohols

Sweet Logic's brownie mix mirrors its cake mix philosophy: 2 g net carbs, 150 calories per serving, sweetened with allulose and stevia. The manufacturer claims no rice, no soy, and no artificial flavors or sweeteners. Preparation is simple — add butter and eggs, bake for 20 minutes.

For bakers who want to avoid erythritol entirely, Sweet Logic and Scotty's are the two brands in this roundup that rely on allulose without any sugar alcohols. Price is in the mid-range tier at $10.99 per pack on Sweet Logic's site.

Lakanto sugar-free brownie mix — monk fruit sweetened, 3 g net carbs

Lakanto's brownie mix uses their signature monkfruit sweetener (erythritol + monk fruit extract) and comes in at 3 g net carbs per serving, making 9 servings per box. The ingredient list is notably different from the almond-flour-based competitors: tapioca fiber, monkfruit sweetener, dutched cocoa, chickpea flour, sugarcane fiber, acacia gum, oat fiber, sea salt, baking powder, guar gum, and natural flavors.

The mix is listed as nut-free and vegan, and requires coconut oil (or any oil), water, and eggs to prepare. Price: $12.39 per single pack on the manufacturer's site. If you are already a fan of gluten-free brownie mixes, Lakanto's formula is worth comparing to your current go-to.

Duncan Hines keto friendly walnut fudge brownie cup — single-serve convenience

This is a different format than the others: a single-serve microwaveable cup. Just add water. Duncan Hines' FAQ lists it at less than 6 g net carbs per cup. It contains walnuts, so it is not nut-free. Duncan Hines says its keto cups are made without gluten-containing ingredients.

This is not a baking mix in the traditional sense — you are not making a pan of brownies. But for a quick sugar-free chocolate fix, the convenience factor is hard to beat.

Why Pillsbury Zero Sugar brownie mix is not keto either

Same story as the cake mixes. Pillsbury Zero Sugar Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix lists enriched bleached wheat flour as ingredient #1, followed by maltitol and polydextrose. It also contains maltodextrin, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and artificial flavor. It comes in a 12.35 oz box.

Pillsbury's label works out to approximately 11 g net carbs per serving (24 g total carbs, 3 g fiber, 10 g sugar alcohol per 1/12 package, dry mix). SureKeto.com classifies it as "not keto-friendly" due to approximately 48 g net carbs per 100 g of mix. It carries a laxative warning due to maltitol. Contains wheat; may contain egg, milk, and soybean.

At the budget price point, it is the cheapest brownie mix here — but if you are counting net carbs, the roughly $5–$6 Duncan Hines Keto brownie mix is a far better value per gram of net carbs.

Brownie mix head-to-head: Good Dee's vs. Duncan Hines Keto vs. Lakanto

CriteriaGood Dee's Keto BrownieDuncan Hines Keto BrownieLakanto Brownie
Net carbs/serving1 g2–3 g3 g
Primary sweetenerErythritol + steviaErythritol + allulose + steviaErythritol + monk fruit
Flour baseSunflower seed flourAlmond flour + coconut flourTapioca fiber + chickpea flour
Nut-free?Yes (facility processes tree nuts)No (contains almond)Yes
Gluten-free?YesYesYes
Contains wheat?NoNoNo
Price tierPremium ($13.99)Budget (~$5–$6)Premium ($12.39)
AvailabilityOnline (manufacturer, Amazon)Grocery stores + onlineOnline (manufacturer)
Add-ins neededEggs, butter/oilWater, eggs, melted butterCoconut oil, water, eggs

Who should buy Good Dee's: Anyone avoiding nuts in the recipe who wants the lowest net carb count. Because it is made in a facility that processes tree nuts, people with severe nut allergies should check with the manufacturer.

Who should buy Duncan Hines Keto: Anyone who wants a keto brownie mix today without waiting for shipping, or anyone on a tighter budget. At roughly $5–$6 per box, it costs less than half of the specialty brands.

Who should buy Lakanto: Bakers who prefer monk fruit sweetener and want a nut-free, chickpea-flour-based formula. The 3 g net carbs is slightly higher but still well within keto range.

Sweetener comparison: what is actually in these mixes

Understanding the sweetener is arguably more important than the net carb count, because different sweeteners behave very differently in your body and in your batter.

SweetenerTypeGlycemic indexUsed byNotes
MaltitolSugar alcohol~35Pillsbury Zero SugarAmong the highest-GI sugar alcohols. Pillsbury's boxes carry a laxative-effect warning.
ErythritolSugar alcohol~0Duncan Hines Keto, Good Dee's, Lakanto, FitbakeWell-tolerated by most. Can recrystallize in frostings as it cools, causing grittiness.
AlluloseRare sugar (not a sugar alcohol)Near 0Sweet Logic, Scotty's, Duncan Hines KetoBrowns like real sugar. FDA does not require it on the "added sugars" line.
Monk fruit extractNatural high-intensity sweetener0Lakanto, Scotty's, FitbakeUsually blended with erythritol or allulose for bulk.
Stevia extractNatural high-intensity sweetener0Sweet Logic, Good Dee's, Duncan Hines KetoCan have a bitter aftertaste at high concentrations; usually used in small amounts in mixes.
Sucralose + Acesulfame KArtificial sweeteners0Pillsbury Zero SugarSynthetic. Some bakers prefer to avoid these.

For a deeper look at how these sweeteners perform in recipes you make from scratch, see our best sugar substitute for baking guide.

A worked example: cost per brownie across three price tiers

Say you want to compare the actual per-brownie cost. Here is a hypothetical calculation based on the serving counts and approximate prices from the research:

  • Pillsbury Zero Sugar Brownie Mix: ~$3.50 per 12.35 oz box, makes 12 servings = roughly $0.29 per brownie. But each brownie has approximately 11 g net carbs (per Pillsbury's label), so you are paying $0.03 per gram of net carb.
  • Duncan Hines Keto Brownie Mix: ~$5.50 per 10 oz box. At 12 servings per box, that is roughly $0.46 per brownie at 2–3 g net carbs each.
  • Good Dee's Keto Brownie Mix: $13.99 per pack. If we estimate 9–12 servings, that is roughly $1.17–$1.56 per brownie at 1 g net carb each.

The premium brands cost 3–5 times more per serving, but they deliver 4–11 times fewer net carbs. Whether that trade-off is worth it depends entirely on your goals.

What to watch for on the label

A few practical tips when shopping for sugar-free baking mixes:

  • Check ingredient #1. If it is wheat flour, the product is sugar-free but not low-carb. This is the fastest filter.
  • Look for the net carb calculation. Brands like Duncan Hines show the math on their FAQ page: total carbs minus fiber minus sugar alcohols minus allulose. If a brand does not show this, you can calculate it yourself from the nutrition panel.
  • Note the serving size. A mix that makes 9 servings vs. 12 servings will have different per-serving nutrition even if the total nutrition is similar. Always compare on a per-serving basis.
  • Check allergens. Most keto cake and brownie mixes contain tree nuts (almond flour). Good Dee's brownie mix is the notable exception with sunflower seed flour, though it is manufactured in a shared facility.

If you are baking for someone with celiac disease or multiple dietary restrictions, our guide to gluten-free low-sugar baking products covers additional options beyond mixes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best sugar-free cake mix for keto?

Sweet Logic Keto Baking Mix has 1 g net carb per serving and uses allulose instead of sugar alcohols, making it the lowest-carb option without erythritol. Scotty's Keto Cake Mix has 0 g net carbs, though one third-party reviewer (Low Carb Simplified) described it as more like sweet bread than cake. For the most accessible option, Duncan Hines Keto Yellow Cake Mix (4 g net carbs) is sold at Walmart and other grocers for roughly $5–$6.

Is Pillsbury Zero Sugar cake mix keto-friendly?

No. Pillsbury Zero Sugar cake mixes use enriched bleached wheat flour as the first ingredient and maltitol as the sweetener. While the label shows 0 g total sugars, the product is not low-carb. Maltitol also has a glycemic index of approximately 35, which is significantly higher than erythritol or allulose. The product also contains artificial sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium) and artificial colors.

What is the difference between sugar-free and keto brownie mix?

"Sugar-free" only means no added sugar — the product can still be high in carbs from wheat flour and other starches. "Keto-friendly" brownie mixes replace wheat flour with almond or coconut flour and use low-glycemic sweeteners like erythritol or allulose, keeping net carbs under 4 g per serving. Always check ingredient #1 on the label to tell the difference. For more on how sugar functions in baking and what changes when you remove it, see our sugar guide.

Are there nut-free keto brownie mixes?

Good Dee's Chocolate Keto Brownie Mix is one of the few keto brownie mixes that uses sunflower seed flour instead of almond flour, making it nut-free by formulation. However, it is manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts, eggs, soy, and dairy, so it may not be suitable for severe allergies. It has 1 g net carb per serving and costs $13.99 per pack.

Which sugar-free brownie mix has the lowest net carbs?

Good Dee's Keto Brownie Mix at 1 g net carb per serving (14 g total carbs minus 5 g fiber minus 8 g erythritol). The next lowest are Duncan Hines Keto Brownie Mix and Sweet Logic Keto Brownie Mix, both at 2 g net carbs per serving. Lakanto comes in at 3 g. The Pillsbury Zero Sugar brownie mix, despite the name, has approximately 11 g net carbs based on its own label and is not a low-carb option.

Sources

SHARE
Malik

Written by

Malik

Co-founder, BakingSubs

Co-founder of BakingSubs, where he turns the science of ingredient substitutions into tested, reliable guidance for home bakers.