Fat Head Dough Recipe | Fathead Pastry

Name: Keto Fathead Dough
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 250 g mozzarella (grated); 60 g cream cheese; 2 large eggs (at room temperature); 1.5 tbsp baking powder; 150 g almond flour ((See notes)); 1 tsp xanthan gum; pink Himalayan salt; Fresh herbs; Seeds, eg fennel seeds or caraway would be fabulous

A staple in most keto households, Keto Fathead Dough is used for everything from a flat bread to a pastry substitute. This is one of the easiest recipes.

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Why We Love This Recipe

Quick and easy – fathead dough is so easy to make and quick. No wait time just make and bake in minutes!

Simple ingredients – all of the ingredients are basic, regular pantry and fridge items.

Low carb – at only 2g net carbs per serve, this is is perfect for a low carb diet. Make your own low carb pizza, keto sausage rolls or even keto flatbread in minutes.

Versatile – fathead is super versatile and can be used as a keto pastry, keto bread or even for keto wraps, croutons, crackers and so much more!

Various cooking methods – I have given instructions for cooking this in the microwave as well as in your T hermomix or Magimix.

Keto Fat Head Dough Ingredients

Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the quantity of each ingredient used and the full detailed recipe for our easy low carb fathead dough recipe! Keep reading for more details on the ingredients, substitutes and step-by-step instructions on how to make it.

Fat Head Dough Ingredients in bowls on a white table.

Almond meal (or almond flour) – you can use either flour or meal for this recipe. For a nut-free fathead dough without almond flour, you can use coconut flour. (See notes and FAQs)

Cream cheese – I use Philidelphia cream cheese if you do use a soft “milkier” cream cheese you may need to add a little more almond meal to the mixture if it is too sticky.

Mozzarella – I just buy the cheapest shredded mozzarella cheese from the supermarket. For me, that is either Coles or Woolworths brand. You can shred your own fresh mozzarella if preferred.

Eggs – use room temperature (for no eggy taste) free-range fresh eggs. I always use the large ones.

Baking powder – I always use and recommend double-acting baking powder. It helps to start a reaction in the dough when wet and then when heated.

Xanthan gum – is used to help ad gluten-like structure to the dough and be more flexible for rolling etc.

How To Make It

My approach to making fathead is a little different than most. The order of the ingredients and mixing is very important. I really do believe this is the best keto fathead dough recipe. Please take note of each step process and not veer from the order of mixing each ingredient.

Step 1. Place the mozzarella and cream cheese into a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high for 2 minutes. Stir until it is smooth or extend the time if needed.

foaming fat head dough cheese in pyrex bowl

Step 2. Add the eggs and baking powder. Stir well. The mixture will foam and puff up. Continue to mix so that the batter is all foamy.

fat head dough in pyrex bowl with yellow spatula

Step 3. Stir in the remaining ingredients and continue. Use a stiff spatula to really work the dough in the bowl until it is no longer sticky. I press the dough into the base of the bowl to ensure it is even and a real dough consistency is achieved. Once you can press it with your finger without any of it sticking it is ready to turn out and knead it.

Step 4. Transfer the dough to a silicone mat and knead into a smooth ball/ Roll between 2 sheets of baking paper to your desired shape and thickness. Use as per the recipe you are using it for instructions.

Fathead Dough Uses

When it comes to low carb recipes, I think a good dough is one of the essentials. Being able to make loads of fathead dough recipes into so many other things, like this fathead pizza crust recipe, is an added bonus.

Use the fat head pastry for anything from pie tops, pasta (yes you can use this for a keto lasagna pasta), flat bread, fathead pizza dough, rolls, keto calzones, low carb buns, Danish pastries and so much more. Anything you would usually do with pastry try it with fathead.

Can I make fathead dough with yeast? Yes, you can! I love yeasted fathead. All you need to do is activate 2 teaspoons of instant yeast with 1 teaspoon of inulin in 1 tablespoon of warm water. The yeast mixture will be thick and pastey and can be added to the dough when you add the baking powder and eggs.

Fathead pinwheels with blueberry jam on a blue plate with rose petals.

Keto Fathead Dough FAQs and Hot Tips

What can I substitute for Almond Meal?

You can make a fathead dough with coconut flour (use 50g). In fact almost any low carb flour can be used. You can also make it with flaxseed flour/meal (use 50g), chia flour (use 50g), or sesame flour . So, it is possible to have a nut-free fathead. This will also be great for nut-free lunch box meals that are still low carb.

Can I use cheddar in a Fat head Dough?

Absolutely! You can use cheddar or a combination of cheddar/mozzarella. Other cheeses like gouda, Emmental or Massadam would also be fine.

What does the baking powder do?

When you add baking powder, the mix will get foamy and require a little bit of extra effort to mix together. Adding the baking powder results in a puffier, slightly risen pastry. It is so damn good. I use Bobs Red Mill Baking Powder, which is both gluten free and aluminium free.

Can I freeze fathead dough?

You sure can! I have frozen it pre-rolled and in a ball. Defrost it in the fridge overnight and bring it to room temperature before rolling it to use in your recipe.

I followed the recipe, but my fat head dough is wet and sticky?

My guess is something is missing or you have not mixed it enough in the bowl first. Keep Mixing with a stiff spatula! The only moisture is from eggs so it should not be wet. If it does not “dry up” then add a little more almond meal to your dough.

More Recipes To Try

Keto fathead pastry is so versatile and honestly, I have used it in so many different recipes. Here are just a few of my favourite easy keto recipes to use fat head.

Love our fat head dough recipe? Then please rate the recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review to help others know that this is worth making.

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