Keto Air Fryer Caramel Goat Cheese Balls

Annie Lampella @ Ketofocus

By Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Published December 15, 2020 • Updated June 2, 2025

Reader Rating
5 Stars (2 Reviews)

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

An elegant holiday appetizer, these caramel covered air fryer keto goat cheese balls contain only a few simple ingredients. Creamy goat cheese is covered with a gluten-free coating and fried in an air fryer to create a crispy bite. Then finished with a sugar-free caramel syrup.

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Keto Air Fryer Caramel Goat Cheese Balls

5 (2) Prep 40m Cook 8m Total 48m 24 servings

Ingredients

Step by Step Instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1
Portion the cheese

Pinch off a small piece of goat cheese and roll into 24 1/2-inch balls. Place on a parchment lined baking tray and freeze for 30 minutes.

24 goat cheese balls on a parchment lined tray
2
Fill the bowls

Remove from the freezer. Add almond flour to a small shallow bowl, beaten egg to another, and ground pork rinds to a third bowl.

three bowls with almond flour, egg wash and ground pork rinds
3
Make a ball

Roll a goat cheese ball into the almond flour.

rolling a cheese ball into almond flour with a fork
4
Dip it

Then dip in the egg wash to coat.

lifting up a goat cheese ball coated in egg wash with a fork
5
Coat in pork rinds

Then dredge in ground pork rinds. Repeat with remaining goat cheese balls.

coating cheese ball with ground pork rinds
6
Add balls to tray

Place balls in a single layer on an air fryer tray or basket leaving space for air to circulate around the balls. Spray with cooking spray. Air fry at 400 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes.

coated cheese balls on an air fryer tray
7
Drizzle

Drizzle with sugar-free caramel syrup.

caramel syrup drizzling down onto a goat cheese ball
8
Oven instructions

Oven Instructions: Place goat cheese balls on a parchment lined baking tray and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Nutrition Per Serving
48 Calories
3.3g Fat
2.9g Protein
0.6g Net Carbs
3g Total Carbs
24 Servings
Nutrition disclaimer

The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.

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Keto Air Fryer Caramel Goat Cheese Balls

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different type of cheese instead of goat cheese?

You can use cream cheese or ricotta for a similar creamy texture. The flavor will be a little different since goat cheese has that distinct tang, but both work well in this recipe.

What can I use instead of almond flour?

Finely ground sunflower seed flour works great here. You can also try a keto-friendly all-purpose flour blend. The taste and texture will be slightly different, but both get the job done.

How should I store leftover goat cheese balls?

Store any leftover caramel goat cheese balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes to regain their crispiness!

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes! Coat them in the breading, then refrigerate or freeze until you're ready to cook. They actually fry better from frozen since the cheese holds its shape.

Is this recipe suitable for a low-carb diet?

Yes! Each cheese ball has just 0.6g net carbs. With the sugar-free caramel syrup, you get all the indulgence without the carb load.

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crispy cheese balls with caramel syrup on top next to toothpicks

These goat cheese balls are coated with a gluten-free crust made up of almond flour and ground pork rinds, then fried to crispy, bite-sized perfection in the air fryer. Sugar-free caramel syrup is drizzled on these golden brown creamy snacks.

Caramel and goat cheese pair very well together. The sweet and tangy combination is a surprisingly nice complement. The result is an elegant low-carb appetizer worthy of any holiday party or gathering.

half eaten cheeseball showing the soft cheesy center

Is goat cheese low carb?

Yes, goat cheese is absolutely keto friendly.

Like most cheeses, goat cheese is very low in carbohydrates. A soft goat cheese has about 1 gram net carb per 1 ounce serving.

package of vermont creamery goat cheese

Goat cheese substitutions

Don’t have goat cheese or you don’t like it?

The good news is that you can substitute with other soft cheeses. Try cream cheese or mascarpone cheese. Both have a similar texture to goat cheese, although they don’t have the same tangy flavor. If you want that punchy flavor, just add a little yogurt to your cream cheese.

air frying cheese balls

Benefits of cooking goat cheese balls in the air fryer

An air fryer works by circulating air all around the food. It helps to crisp up the exterior of your dish while keeping the inside moist and juicy.

That is the case for these cheese balls. The outside coating is crispy with the pork rinds and the inside is creamy and cheesy.

Oven instructions

Don’t have an air fryer, no worries! You can still enjoy these caramel drizzled keto cheese bites. Simply bake them in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Then drizzle with your favorite sugar-free caramel syrup.
coating a cheese bite with pork panko

Make ahead cheese balls

It is necessary to freeze your cheese balls before frying. Since goat cheese is a soft cheese, frying it without hardening it first will cause the cheese to ooze out of the crusty breading. If you freeze your cheese balls before you fry them, they will keep their shape and have a warm, soft melty center.

Why do I freeze goat cheese balls?

Sweet caramel syrup is the perfect complement to the tangy goat cheese.

Of course, you need to find a sugar-free version. ChocZero is my favorite sugar-free caramel syrup. It is also sugar alcohol free. You can save 10% off your order with code KETOFOCUS at checkout.

pouring caramel syrup on crispy cheese balls

Sugar free caramel syrup

Sweet caramel syrup is the perfect compliment to the tangy goat cheese. Of course, you need to find a sugar-free version. ChocZero is my favorite sugar-free caramel syrup. It is also sugar alcohol free. You can save 10% off your order with code KETOFOCUS at checkout.
About the Author
Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie is a Doctor of Pharmacy, mom, and the recipe creator behind KetoFocus. With a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis, she has over 14 years of experience developing family-friendly keto recipes based on the science of human metabolism.

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  1. P
    Patricia Jensen Dec 24, 2020

    Love your site. Not even sure where i saw you do the goat cheese balls the pork belly and bacon boubon balls. I tried to sign up to follow you but you just disappeared. Put in the name and it brought me to this site. I like the ease if theses recipes and not so many ingredients. Cant wait to try them. I will be going on pinterest to sign in with you. Never got to see the bars ir how to get them.

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