I’ve seen the name Cloud Bread thrown about all over Pinterest for years now, and I pinned it ages ago, but never actually made it. I was skeptical: how can you make a good tasting bread out of just eggs, cream cheese and cream of tartar?
Cloud Bread was originally devised as a bread substitute for those on low carb diets, specifically Atkins, but has recently had a resurgence from those trying to avoid gluten as well. If you have the right equipment, it’s ridiculously simple to make, and also very budget friendly. You only need 3 eggs, 3 tablespoons of cream cheese (I used Neufchatel) and a pinch of cream of tartar. Many recipes call for a sweetener, but it isn’t necessary to the chemistry of the recipe so it’s easily skippable. I made mine without.
I used my KitchenAid stand mixer for the egg whites, and a hand mixer for the yolks and cream cheese, then folded them together in a large bowl before scooping the fluffy batter onto baking sheets lined with parchment. The bread bakes in the oven for 30 minutes at 300 degrees until golden brown on top and dried out. I allowed them to cool thoroughly before using. In less than an hour, my double batch of cloud bread made 16 pieces of golden brown goodness, ready for my chickpea burgers.
So what do they taste like? I was really worried that these adorable fluffy golden clouds were going to taste like cardboard or sadness, but they didn’t! They don’t taste like bread either, but they may taste familiar to you anyway: they reminded me of a savory pate choux dough, the pastry filled with sweet cream to make cream puffs or eclairs. (Note, I saw a recipe somewhere for cloud bread cheese DANISH *Homer Simpson drool sounds*)
When used to sandwich a spicy chickpea burger slathered in barbecue sauce these buns were PERFECT. The slight egginess faded into the background and they held up to the moisture of the barbecue sauce well. They even reheated well, in the microwave no less, the next day for lunch!
PROS
- Holds up well to moisture
- Reheats Well
- Easy to Make
- Super Cheap
- VERY low carb
- Low Calorie
- Vegetarian
CONS
- NOT bread
- Need electric mixer to make efficiently
- NOT for Vegans
- Short shelf life
All in all, I thought it was awesome and I WILL be making it again! I love a positive outcome from a culinary adventure, don’t you?
Thanks for the review. I have been very curious about this for a long time also. Will try making myself.
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SO glad that I know someone personally who was brave enough to make these, and gave a good review of them!! You don’t happen to have a nutritional value for them by any chance, do you? Your plate looks scrumptious!!
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They were 81 calories with 1 gram carbs, 6 grams fat, 6 grams protein 🙂 and that’s for TWO buns. One for each side of the sandwich
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Thank you! I was always wondering how they would REALLY taste! Interesting! Might have to give these a whirl!
-SM
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They’re definitely a little eggy plain but worked great as a sandwich
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I’m so glad to find someone who actually made this, I’ve seen it around but never have been brace enough to try!
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Definitely give it a shot! I’m going to try them with some cheese inside next time too.
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I’ll repeat what has already been said….I’m so glad you tried these! I’ve wanted to but I was afraid that it would be a huge bust. I will try this for sure now. 🙂
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I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to like them but they’re great!
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when you said cream puffs I was sold on the idea! rob isn’t a big fan of “alternate” food–but if I make this and tell him its a cream puff shell–that’s all i’ll have to day! going to try them–thanks!
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You could certainly add a bit of sweetener and they’d taste exactly like pate choux for sure!
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I’ve been living under a cloud bread rock, so this is my first exposure and I am intrigued!! I will definitely try this. My daughter has just started to cook with me (she’s 7) so this will be a nice low-cost way to spend time together in the kitchen. Thanks!!
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oh that’s a GREAT recipe to cook with kids! Have a fabulous time and thanks for your comment! 🙂
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