Keto Mug Cake

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5 from 93 votes
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This keto mug cake recipe is truly the easiest low-carb dessert. It’s rich, chocolatey, and ready in under a minute. 2 grams of net carbs!

Craving more easy keto desserts? Try my keto donuts, keto truffles, keto brownies, and keto no-bake cookies next. 

low carb mug cake.

Not everyone in my house is on the keto train, so I sometimes need a single-serve dessert to satisfy my sweet tooth. Que, my keto chocolate mug cake. 

No one would guess anything is missing from this recipe–because there isn’t. It’s made with many of the same ingredients as my hot chocolate mug cake, just with a few swaps to cut the carbs in half. 

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How to make a keto chocolate mug cake
  4. Arman’s recipe tips
  5. More mug cakes to try
  6. Keto Mug Cake (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

  • Ready in one minute. Seriously, this cake bakes in just one minute, thanks to the magic of the microwave! 
  • Diet-friendly. It’s naturally low in carbohydrates, gluten-free, and easy to make vegan with one ingredient swap. 
  • It keeps you on track. One mug cake satisfies my sweet tooth for the day and helps me not raid the pantry after dinner. 
  • Make it in the oven or microwave. Obviously I prefer the microwave, but when I’m making more than two cakes, I’ll use the oven.

★★★★★ REVIEW

“Wow, what a great recipe, easy and very satisfying keto dessert. Eager to try the other mug cake flavor options”Dale

Ingredients needed

  • Coconut flour. My favorite high-fiber, low-carb flour for baking. Sift it to remove clumps.
  • Cocoa powder. I used sifted, unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
  • Brown sugar substitute. For flavor and moisture, buy it at the store or make my homemade brown sugar substitute using molasses and allulose. 
  • Baking powder. The leaving agent that gives the cake its rise. 
  • Salt. Just a pinch to balance out the sweet ingredients. 
  • Butter OR coconut oil. To add a richer texture. I prefer using melted butter, but coconut oil also works.
  • Eggs. Room temperature eggs. 
  • Milk. I used unsweetened coconut milk, but any dairy or dairy-free milk can be used. 
  • Chocolate chips. Skip the expensive store-bought kind and make your own sugar free chocolate chips.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

How to make a keto chocolate mug cake

Step 1- Prep. Grease a microwave-safe bowl or mug.

Step 2- Make the batter. In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add the wet ingredients and whisk until a smooth batter remains. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Step 3- Microwave. Transfer the cake batter to the greased mug and microwave for one minute.

keto chocolate mug cake.

No microwave? No problem!

If you’d rather not use a microwave, or if you’re making multiple mug cakes at once, you can bake them in the oven. 

Simply prepare the recipe as instructed, then transfer the batter to a greased, oven-safe ramekin. Bake at 180C/350F for 8-10 minutes or until firm on top.

Arman’s recipe tips

  • Avoid overcooking. Mug cakes are notoriously fickle and can easily get overcooked. My rule of thumb is to cook them for one minute. After a minute, if the cake feels underdone, let it sit for 30 seconds to firm up. If it’s still undercooked, continue microwaving in 15-second intervals. 
  • Pick a bigger mug or shallow cereal bowl if you’re worried about it expanding as it cooks. 
  • Add the milk last. The milk should only be added to thin out the batter. Add it one tablespoon at a time until it reaches the consistency of cake batter.

Variations

  • Make a keto vanilla mug cake. Swap the cocoa powder for extra coconut flour and add one teaspoon of vanilla extract. 
  • Add some mix-ins. Peanut butter, walnuts, pecans, or fresh berries are all great options. Just make sure they don’t exceed 2 tablespoons in the recipe. 
  • Top the keto mug cake with sugar-free chocolate syrup and keto whipped cream for a more decadent treat.
keto mug cake.

More mug cakes to try

All of my mug cake recipes can easily be made low carb with a few simple swaps. Here are a few favorites:

keto mug cake recipe.

Keto Mug Cake

5 from 93 votes
This keto mug cake recipe is truly the easiest low-carb dessert. It’s rich, chocolatey, and ready in under a minute. 2 grams of net carbs!
Servings: 1 serving
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 1 minute
Total: 2 minutes

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Grease a microwave-safe bowl or mug.
  • In a small bowl, add the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the wet ingredients and whisk together until a smooth batter remains. Fold through the chocolate chips.
  • Transfer the batter into the greased mug and microwave for one minute.
  • Remove the mug cake from the microwave and enjoy immediately.

Notes

To make this mug cake in the oven, prepare the cake as instructed. When ready to bake, transfer the batter to a greased ramekin and bake at 180C/350F for 8-10 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1mug cakeCalories: 194kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 9gFat: 18gSodium: 299mgPotassium: 169mgFiber: 4gVitamin A: 644IUCalcium: 113mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 2g
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Originally published February 2022, updated and republished June 2024

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Unfortunately I think in my city (shops) there is not brown sugar substitute. What do you think?

  2. 5 stars
    I’m considering playing around with this for variety since it’s perfect as is. If we can get this to be vanilla, we can make it anything. Hmmmmmmm, Arman? Otherwise, this Mug Cake..my Mom from 1960s (think Betty Crocker Cook Book) she ‘powered’ everything, so you could powder the top with keto confectioners which gives it contrast. Or my favorite..Spider Webs-changing out chocolate chip for butterscotch/caramel chips with a thin caramel spider web for contrast and flavor variety. Thank you again for all you do, Arman!

  3. 5 stars
    The Chocolate Mug Cake was so easy to make and tasted DELICIOUS!!
    This certainly satisfies the sweet tooth.
    Thank you for this amazing recipe. I look forward to trying more .

  4. 5 stars
    I made the carrot mug cake but used (2 tbls almond flour and 1 tbls oat flour) and the whole egg. Topped with cream cheese frosting. It was delicious! Will try the other recipes you have as well, thank you!

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