Keto Chocolate Mug Cake

Keto Chocolate Mug Cake is such a great recipe if you are craving cake yet are eating low carb. It is easy to make, all in one cup, and only takes 90 seconds in the microwave to puff up and become a delicious low carb dessert.

You can make Keto mug cakes in different flavors and use many toppings to dress them up.

Since I have not been able to eat carbs, I have really wanted to eat cake. In fact, I love cake even more than pie if you can believe that. 

I was thrilled when Stephanie said, “hey let’s make a mug cake”. Needless to say, this was the first time that we had ever made a keto mug cake and surprisingly it came out so good. 

I never thought you could make such a yummy treat, all in a cup…mixing, cooking, and eating…and so quickly too. In 2 minutes it goes from mixing to eating. 

The cake is low carb, but at the same time has that spongy texture and rich chocolate taste. If you top it off with whipped cream or some fruit like raspberries or strawberries, you will feel like you are eating a fancy dessert, and the best part is that it is a low carb dessert recipe!!!

What is a Mug Cake?

Mug cake is a dessert that you can mix, bake, and eat all in a cup. It is quick to prepare and quick to cook in the microwave. 

You make it in a mug as a single, stand-alone, serving. It’s so convenient and easy to do and it can entail different flavors and tastes. 

We will also share with you the difference between keto mug cakes and other ones. Our recipe is for keto chocolate cake in a mug but you can make it any flavor that you would like to.

Do they Actually Taste Good?

Just like anything else, you can get some mug cakes that taste good and some that do not, but I’m happy to say that after trying it several ways, our keto mug cake recipe does indeed taste amazing! 

It’s rich and the chocolate flavor is superb, and the texture is spongy just like you want the cake to be.

The keto cake in a mug is best when served warm right out of the microwave and then topped with your favorite treats. 

We have even served this keto chocolate cake in a mug for dessert when we have had company over for dinner and they loved it. 

And what’s really nice is that as an individual dessert, everyone can have their own choice in toppings, such as ice cream, whipped cream, or anything else like nuts, sugar-free chocolate chips, a dusting of powdered swerve on top, fruit like berries.

That makes it a truly “easy keto mug cake”!

How Many Carbs Are in a Keto Mug Cake?

Our almond flour mug cake is definitely low carb and keto-friendly. For 1 mug cake, it is only 5.3 NET Carbs, which fits into a keto diet or low carb way of eating. 

If you make a mug cake with regular flour and traditional sugar it can have an average of 80 carbs….what a big difference!

Our keto mug cake recipe is low carbs because we use almond flour instead of refined white flour, and we use Monk fruit sweetener which has zero net carbs, unlike white sugar which is high in carbs.

Are Mug Cakes Safe to Eat?

Some people wonder if mug cakes are safe to eat, because of the fact that there is an egg in them. Actually, it’s no different than baking a cake, with eggs, in the oven. Foods can cook just as well in the microwave as they do in the oven, and a lot faster too. 

When you make this keto mug cake recipe you will see that the entire cup of ingredients is totally cooked and safe to eat.

What Ingredients are in Keto Chocolate Mug Cake?

• Coconut Oil – This is refined coconut oil that comes in a solid form and you can just melt it and use it in your mug cake. It does not have a coconut flavor and is used a lot in low carb baking.
• Egg – This is good for holding your cake together and giving it that spongy texture like a big cake.
• Almond Flour – This is a flour made from 100% finely ground almonds, very low in carbs compared to regular flour., which makes it a perfect choice to make almond flour mug cake.
• Monk Fruit – A sugar replacement which when converted into net carbs comes out to be zero.
• Baking Powder – A product that helps all baked goods rise, without it you would have flat cake, cookies, etc.
• Vanilla – Most baked goods would be very bland without this extract which adds such a nice flavor to sweets.
• Cocoa Powder – A chocolate powder that is used in making all kinds of chocolate goodies. It’s pure chocolate without anything added to it, leaving you the opportunity to add other ingredients to make a yummy dessert.

Should I Use Almond Flour or Coconut Flour?

A lot of recipes can use almond flour, coconut flour, or a combo of both flours but in this keto mug cake recipe, we don’t recommend using coconut flour.

It is not recommended because coconut flour is too dry, and there isn’t any room in the mug to put the extra eggs and liquid needed to compensate for it.

So for best results avoid the coconut flour and use only the almond flour, to logically make almond flour mug cake.

Sweetener Options

In case you are not familiar yet with your sweetener options when you are on a keto or low carb diet, there are several choices in sweeteners:

• Swerve – A slight cool sensation, measures 1 for 1 with sugar. We use this a lot in the powdered form.
• Monk fruit – Measures 1 for 1 with sugar and only has a slight aftertaste. This is our choice for this recipe. It is in a granulated form just like sugar. 
• Xylitol – No aftertaste. Be careful around your pets. If they get a hold of any it is not good for them.
• Allulose – No aftertaste. A good sugar substitute but also about double the price of other sweeteners.
• Stevia – Another option to replace sugar but it doesn’t seem to blend as well with chocolate because it elevates the after taste.

It’s best to do some research on these to see what you want to use for this chocolate keto mug cake or any other low carb recipe. My 2 favorites are Swerve and Monkfruit. We use them both a lot and they are great for this recipe.

Chocolate Options

We tend to use dutch processed cocoa for a lot of our chocolate recipes, but you can use good old Unsweetened Hershey’s cocoa too. That’s what we used for the mug cake and it came out fantastic. 

Make sure that whatever brand you use, it’s cocoa and NOT cacao because it won’t give you the same results when making keto chocolate cake in a mug. 

Also, make sure that you always use unsweetened cocoa powder in any of your keto and low carb recipes.

Can I Use Egg Whites Instead of Whole Eggs?

In a lot of recipes, even if they call for whole eggs you can always omit the yolk and only use the white part. This Keto mug cake won’t be quite as rich but it will still be good. 

If you find that one egg white is not enough moisture you could always add 2.

Can I Make it Without Eggs?

You can easily make this keto chocolate without the egg if you are vegan or you simply ran out of eggs. By leaving out the egg it will leave you with a less spongy cake. 

Or you can use other ingredients as an egg substitute: 

• Flax Egg – Flax seeds mixed with water
• Nut butter
• Yogurt
• Chia seeds mixed with water
• Arrowroot powder mixed with water
• Pumpkin puree
• Mashed avocado
• Mashed bananas (Non-Keto)
• Apple sauce (Non-Keto)

What Else Can I Use Besides a Mug?

What if I do not have any mugs in my house? No worries, you can make a keto microwave cake in anything such as glass jars, custard dishes, drinking glasses….anything that can be used in a microwave, even paper cups.

You can try out any of these things and see what one you like most. Just keep in mind that your ingredients should not take up more than half of the space to allow enough room for expansion when it bakes.

How to Make Keto Mug Cake from Scratch

Now we are going to share with you step by step how to make this delicious keto mug cake recipe.

STEP 1: Melt the coconut oil in the mug in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

STEP 2: Next, add the remainder of the ingredients: egg, almond flour, cocoa, baking powder, sweetener, and vanilla.

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STEP 3: With a small spoon or whisk, blend the mixture thoroughly.

STEP 4: Place the mug in the microwave for 90 seconds. You will see the cake rise and then it will sink when you take it out.

If you add too much batter to the mug it may go over the sides. If you are afraid of that happening, then stick a plate under the mug to catch the overflow until you get the hang of how much to fill the cup or what size to use.

STEP 5: Take it out when done and garnish with toppings if you so desire. Your easy keto cake in a cup is now finished!

Can I Remove the Cake from the Mug?

The idea of making a mug cake is that it can be eaten right out of the mug. It is not meant to be removed from the mug the same way that you remove a larger cake from its pan that it was made in. 

Instead, it is a single-serve dessert that is made to be eaten right out of the mug one spoonful at a time.

Best Tips & FAQs

• Use a fork or whisk to thoroughly blend all of the ingredients before making keto microwave cake.
• Do not overcook it or else the low carb mug cake may at first rise higher than the top of the mug, so for easy clean up put a plate underneath.
• Use large eggs. Avoid using extra-large, or jumbo, they are too big for one single mug.
• The cake sinking in the middle is common, so no worries, just use some whipped cream which will cover it over.
• You do not need to grease the mug, it will come out without it.
• Don’t forget to check the date on the baking powder because you need it in order for the cake to rise.
• Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the mug.
• Need it to be nut-free? try sunflower seed flour instead.
• If you don’t eat dairy, then use avocado oil or coconut oil instead of butter in a chocolate keto mug cake.

Why are Mug Cakes Chewy?

If your keto cake in a mug comes out with a little rubbery texture then usually the cause of that is because you overcooked it or there is too much oil and it weighed it down. 

One option could be to switch from using oil to trying butter which can make the cake lighter.

Is it Ok if My Mug Cake Deflates?

After you take the keto mug cake out of the microwave it will be very puffy, rising right up to the top of the mug. However, when you take the cake out it’s natural for it to deflate somewhat. So don’t think that there is something wrong with your mug cake.

If it deflates, throw some fruit or whipped cream on top and it will cover up the indent and taste just as good.

Why Does My Cake Sink in the Middle?

The almond flour mug cake sinks in the middle because the cake batter could have gotten overmixed which forms air bubbles which in turn makes it sink. First, it rises and then it sinks.

Why Does My Mug Cake Come Out Dry?

The way to make sure that you end up with a moist cake is to make sure that the batter is thick but also smooth. The best thing is to undercook it slightly because if you over bake it then your keto cake in a cup will come out dry.

Can You Make this Recipe in the Oven?

Yes, you can make the chocolate keto mug cake in the oven if you don’t have a microwave or if you don’t want to use it. 

Just use the same amount of ingredients, blend them all together, and put the batter in a small dish or ramekin that is oven safe and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. 

Do not overfill the ramekins, fill them about ½-¾ full.

Different Variations of Mug Cakes

There are so many different varieties of cake that you can make in a mug, especially if you don’t like chocolate or can’t eat it. 

• Vanilla – the opposite of chocolate, a classic flavor.
• Lemon/poppy seed – It is so refreshing to eat anything lemon.
• Blueberry muffin – The most favorite type of muffin, and my personal favorite.
• Apple cinnamon – This variety makes it seem like you are eating a piece of apple pie.
• Banana Nut- This can be low carb using banana extract instead of bananas.
• Peanut butter – last on the list but certainly a favorite of so many people, the combo with chocolate.

Toppings & Add-in Options

You can add just about any toppings to your sweet treat in a cup, which will add to or change the flavor of your easy keto mug cake. Add whatever toppings are you in the mood for. It’s as simple as that. 

Some suggestions are:

• Sugar-Free Whipped Cream
• Low Carb Ice cream
• Low Carb Powdered Sweetener (ex. Swerve)
• Icing/frosting
• Fruit/ berries are always a good choice
• Nuts
• Coconut
• Chocolate chips

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

• Gluten-free – If you have a gluten allergy it is so good to have an option to be able to eat cake.
• Vegetarian – There is an egg in this mug cake. Some vegetarians eat eggs and some do not. If you do not you can substitute it with a few options.
• Dairy-free – There is no dairy in this recipe. We use coconut oil instead of butter.
• Paleo – All of the ingredients are acceptable.
• Vegan – You can replace the egg with one of many other things, such as mashed avocado, flax seeds mixed with water, chia seeds mixed with water, applesauce, arrowroot powder with water, pumpkin puree, nut butter.

Can I Make Mug Cake Ahead?

Yes, you can make this easy keto mug cake ahead of time, and store it properly until ready to eat it. 

The best way to do that is, follow steps 1-3 on the recipe card.

Do not microwave until ready to eat. Rather, once the ingredients have all been mixed up, place a small piece of plastic wrap or foil over the cup and place it in the fridge until ready to microwave.

How to Store

The best way to store your leftover keto mug cakes is to keep them in the refrigerator. It will keep it much fresher than if you kept it on your counter.

Cover it so that it does not dry out. It should stay fresh for up to 24 hours.

Can You Reheat Mug Cake?

If you want to reheat your mug cake just pop it into the microwave briefly, about 10-15 seconds, until it is warm. Don’t go any longer so that it does not overcook.

If your mug cake has dried out a little, then splash it with some coffee or milk which will bring it back to life.

Can You Freeze It?

If you have leftover mug cake, you can just wrap it up really well, and stick it in the freezer for 2-3 months at the most.

When it’s time to thaw it out, stick it in the refrigerator overnight. Then follow the same directions for reheating which is to stick it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

Low Carb Chocolate Dessert Recipes

If you’re in the mood for some other rich and chocolatey, Keto-friendly Desserts, check out our:

• Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Fudgy Keto Brownies
• Keto Chocolate Fudge
• Creamy Keto Chocolate Mousse
• Easy Keto Chocolate Pudding
• Chewy Low Carb Chocolate Cookies

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