Ultra-Low-Calorie / High-Fibre “Fibre-Cloud” Bread
(1 small 8 × 4-inch / 20 × 10 cm loaf, ~10 thin slices)
Ingredient |
Grams |
Common-measure |
Function |
Bamboo-fibre flour* |
70 g |
≈ ⅔ cup, gently packed |
Main bulk; > 96 % insoluble fibre(KetoFoodMagic) |
Psyllium-husk powder |
10 g |
1 level Tbsp |
Soluble-gel network that traps gas & water; gluten replacement(Bon Appétit) |
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) |
3 g |
½ tsp |
CO₂ source |
Soy (or sunflower) lecithin, granules or powder |
4 g |
1 heaping tsp |
Emulsifier / crumb-softener; optional but improves sliceability(CalorieKing) |
Fine salt |
3 g |
½ tsp |
Flavour, ionic strength |
Warm water (45 °C) |
300 g |
1¼ cups |
Hydrates fibres |
Acid to activate soda – apple-cider vinegar or lemon juice |
5 g |
1 tsp |
Ensures full CO₂ release |
*Bamboo fibre (not “bamboo starch”) is essentially carbohydrate-free: 194 kcal/100 g, 96.3 g fibre, < 0.7 g digestible carbs(KetoFoodMagic).
Method – Why each step matters
-
Prep the pan
- Lightly oil or line a vented mini loaf tin. Fibre doughs need steady evaporation; slits or a perforated silicone mould help the crust dry.
-
Whisk dry phase (30 s)
- Combine bamboo fibre, psyllium, lecithin, baking soda and salt. Uniform distribution prevents green “baking-soda streaks” and yields even rise.
-
Add wet phase quickly (20 s)
- Stir vinegar into the warm water (the heat speeds psyllium hydration).
- Pour into the dry mix and immediately fold with a silicone spatula. You have about 15 seconds before psyllium locks the dough.
-
Shape & score (1 min)
- The mass will look like soft modelling clay. Drop it into the tin, press gently into corners, smooth the top with wet fingers and slash once along the centre (steam escape).
-
Bake
-
15 min @ 425 °F / 220 °C – sets the outer gel and flashes off surface moisture.
-
35 min @ 350 °F / 175 °C – drives to 94–96 °C internal; loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
- Optional: turn the oven off, crack the door, and let the loaf sit 10 min to finish drying.
-
Cool completely
- Leave on a rack at least 2 h. Hot fibre loaves cut early will gum up your knife.
-
Slice & store
- For razor-thin, sandwich-worthy slices, chill the loaf overnight, then slice with a serrated knife.
- Keeps 3 days sealed on the counter; 10 days refrigerated; freezes perfectly (toast from frozen).
Macros (entire loaf)
Metric |
Total |
Per 1/10 slice |
Calories* |
≈ 190 kcal |
~19 kcal |
Insoluble + soluble fibre |
~75 g |
7.5 g |
Net digestible carbs |
< 3 g |
< 0.3 g |
Fat (from lecithin) |
~3 g |
0.3 g |
Protein |
< 1 g |
— |
*US labels count insoluble fibre as 0 kcal; EU assigns 2 kcal g⁻¹. Using the stricter EU rule still keeps each slice under 35 kcal.
Optimisation & Variations
Goal |
Adjustment |
Rationale |
Even fewer calories |
Halve lecithin (2 g) or omit completely; texture becomes slightly more brittle but calories drop ~15 %. |
Lecithin is the main caloric contributor. |
Taller loaf |
Replace 50 g of the water with whipped aquafaba or egg whites; add 3 g cream-of-tartar. |
Introduces a protein foam the fibres can scaffold. |
Flavour |
Fold in herb powder, roasted garlic granules, or a teaspoon of nutritional yeast. |
Fibre bases are neutral; small inclusions don’t change macros much. |
Crisp crackers |
Press dough 4 mm thick between parchment, dock with a fork, bake 25 min @ 175 °C, flip, 15 min more. |
Removes even more water for shelf-stable fibre crisps. |
Why it works (quick science note)
-
Bamboo fibre provides a rigid cellulosic skeleton but almost no gelation.
-
Psyllium hydrates to a viscous, β-glucan-rich gel that traps the CO₂ from baking soda and water vapour, yielding a spongy crumb instead of a rubbery puck.
-
Lecithin’s phospholipids lower surface tension so bubbles expand more easily and stay intact during cooling; they also slow starch retrogradation (here, minimal but still present in psyllium) and extend softness.
-
Baking soda + acid supplies leavening without adding baking-powder starch. The warm water kick-starts gas release before the dough sets.
Enjoy fibre-cloud toast that barely dents your daily calorie budget yet delivers nearly 8 g of pre-biotic fibre per slice—perfect for a satiety-boosting vehicle for savoury spreads or sugar-free jam.
===
Below is the “Fibre-Cloud Chocolate Loaf”—exactly the same ultra-low-calorie, high-fibre base you liked, with just enough cocoa to give a real chocolate aroma while keeping calories minimal and the crumb light.
Revised Formula (1 mini 8 × 4-inch / 20 × 10 cm loaf)
Ingredient |
Grams |
Common-measure |
Notes / Function |
Bamboo-fibre flour |
62 g |
≈ ½ cup + 1 Tbsp, gently packed |
Bulk & structure |
Natural cocoa powder (non-alkalised*) |
8 g |
1 rounded Tbsp |
Colour, chocolate flavour, extra polyphenols |
Psyllium-husk powder |
10 g |
1 level Tbsp |
Soluble gel network |
Soy/sunflower lecithin |
4 g |
1 heaping tsp |
Emulsifier / crumb softness |
Fine salt |
3 g |
½ tsp |
Flavour |
Baking soda |
3 g |
½ tsp |
CO₂ source |
Warm water (≈ 45 °C) |
315 g |
1 ⅓ cups |
+15 g to offset cocoa’s absorption |
Apple-cider vinegar** |
5 g |
1 tsp |
Activates soda |
*If you only have Dutch-processed (alkalised) cocoa, keep the 8 g amount but reduce vinegar to 3 g to avoid excess acidity.
**Any clear vinegar or lemon juice works.
Method (changes in bold)
-
Dry whisk bamboo fibre, cocoa powder, psyllium, lecithin, baking soda, salt.
- Combine warm water + vinegar, pour in, fold quickly (the mix will look like thick brownie batter).
- Shape, score, and bake exactly as before: 15 min @ 220 °C → 35 min @ 175 °C.
- Cool completely before slicing.
Updated Nutrition (entire loaf / 10 thin slices)
Metric |
Whole loaf |
Per slice |
Calories |
≈ 214 kcal |
≈ 21 kcal |
Fibre |
~78 g |
7.8 g |
Net digestible carbs |
< 4 g |
< 0.4 g |
Fat |
~4 g |
0.4 g |
Protein |
~4 g |
0.4 g |
(Adds ~24 kcal vs the plain loaf—still very diet-friendly.)
Flavor Tweaks & Serving Ideas
Desire |
Adjustment |
Comment |
Sweeter “chocolate cake” vibe |
Add 1–2 g stevia/erythritol blend or 20 drops liquid sucralose to the wet phase |
No caloric impact |
Mocha loaf |
Replace 20 g of the water with fresh espresso |
Compliments cocoa bitterness |
Richer crumb (still low-cal) |
Stir in 5 g defatted peanut flour |
+14 kcal; bumps protein |
Dessert crackers |
Roll 3 mm thin, sprinkle with monk-fruit “powdered sugar,” bake 20 min per side |
Crunchy cocoa wafers |
Why this still works
-
Cocoa powder is mostly lignin-rich fibre and starch, so it behaves a lot like bamboo fibre in absorbing free water and reinforcing the psyllium gel.
- The extra water (+15 g) keeps the dough from stiffening, preventing tunnelling or a dry edge crumb.
- Natural cocoa remains acidic (pH ≈ 5.4), so the original soda+vinegar balance is unchanged; Dutch cocoa is alkaline, hence the vinegar reduction note.
Slice thin, toast lightly, and you’ll have a 21-kcal chocolate vehicle for sugar-free hazelnut spread, a smear of ricotta, or a dash of cinnamon—perfect for satisfying a cocoa craving without derailing a cut-phase diet.
“Fibre-Cloud” Cinnamon-Chocolate Loaf
Ultra-low-calorie ▸ high-fibre ▸ gluten- & grain-free
(8 × 4 in / 20 × 10 cm mini-loaf pan, ≈ 10 thin slices)
Ingredient |
Grams |
Home measure |
Function / note |
Bamboo-fibre flour |
62 g |
½ cup + 1 Tbsp, gently packed |
Bulk, scaffold |
Natural cocoa powder |
8 g |
1 rounded Tbsp |
Flavour, colour |
Ground cinnamon (Ceylon or cassia) |
3 g |
1 level Tbsp |
Aroma, polyphenols |
Psyllium-husk powder |
10 g |
1 level Tbsp |
Hydrogel network |
Lecithin granules/powder (soy or sunflower) |
4 g |
1 heaping tsp |
Emulsifier, softness |
Fine salt |
3 g |
½ tsp |
Flavour |
Baking soda |
3 g |
½ tsp |
CO₂ source |
Warm water (~45 °C) |
318 g |
1 ⅓ cups + 2 tsp |
+3 g to offset cinnamon’s uptake |
Apple-cider vinegar (5 %) |
5 g |
1 tsp |
Activates soda |
Why 3 g cinnamon?
That yields ~0.5 % of dough weight—strong but not throat-tickling. Cassia is harsher, so stay ≤ 3 g; Ceylon can go to 4 g if you love spice.
Method (changes in bold)
-
Whisk dry phase – bamboo fibre, cocoa, cinnamon, psyllium, lecithin, soda, salt.
-
Combine wet phase – warm water + vinegar; pour in, fold briskly 15 s.
-
Pan & score; bake 15 min @ 220 °C → 35 min @ 175 °C (same profile).
- Cool 2 h on rack before slicing.
Tip: Cinnamon modestly slows crust Maillard browning; if you want a deeper colour, leave the loaf 5 min longer at the first (hotter) stage.
Updated nutrition (entire loaf / per 1-of-10 slice)
Metric |
Loaf |
Slice |
Calories |
~221 kcal |
22 kcal |
Fibre |
78 g |
7.8 g |
Net carbs |
< 4 g |
< 0.4 g |
Fat |
4 g |
0.4 g |
Protein |
4 g |
0.4 g |
Cinnamon adds ~7 kcal total and trace carbs—still firmly diet-friendly.
Flavour & texture science
Aspect |
What cinnamon does |
Impact in this formula |
Polyphenols & aldehydes (cinnamaldehyde) |
Intensify perceived sweetness and warmth |
Lets you use less or no sweetener in a dessert-style slice |
Water sorption (≈ 1 g spice binds ~1 g water) |
Slightly thickens batter |
+3 g water keeps dough at “soft modelling-clay” consistency |
pH (mildly acidic, pH 5.3–5.7) |
Helps neutralise soda |
3 g cinnamon ≈ 0.05 g acetic-equivalent acid; negligible but synergistic with vinegar |
Essential oils vs yeast |
In yeast breads, high cinnamon can stall proof |
You’re using chemical leavening, so no risk |
Optional twists
Goal |
Adjustment |
Cinnamon-swirl |
Reserve 15 g batter; whisk in extra 1 g cinnamon + 1 g erythritol; ribbon it through pan before baking. |
Sweet breakfast loaf |
Add 1 g stevia-erythritol blend or 20 drops sucralose to wet phase – no calorie change. |
Cinnamon-nut crunch |
Fold in 10 g defatted almond flour + 1 g extra water; calories +20 kcal loaf, protein +2 g. |
Mexican-spiced |
Along with cinnamon add 0.5 g ground ancho or chipotle and a pinch of instant espresso. |
Bottom line
- A modest 1 Tbsp (≈ 3 g) cinnamon transforms the cocoa-bamboo loaf into a warming, brownie-meets-snickerdoodle experience while keeping each slice ≈ 22 kcal.
- Extra water (≈ 3 g) balances cinnamon’s moisture uptake; all other ratios stay intact, so rise and crumb remain airy.
- Enjoy toasted with zero-sugar apple-butter, fat-free ricotta, or a dusting of additional cinnamon for a high-fibre, ultra-light treat that still scratches the chocolate-spice itch.
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you can also just eat the dough (like I just did), it’s quite tolerable…