Keto Mug Cake

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Total Time 2 minutes
Servings 1 serving

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My keto mug cake recipe is truly the easiest low-carb dessert. It’s rich, chocolatey, and ready in two minutes. 2 grams of net carbs!

keto 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. 

I’ve made this low carb mug cake countless times to get the texture just right- moist, fluffy, and never dry (the most common mug cake fail!). It’s completely sugar-free, naturally gluten-free, and uses coconut flour and a brown sugar substitute to keep it keto. The best part? It’s ready in just two minutes in the microwave, so you can crush your chocolate cravings instantly! 

Table of Contents
  1. Key Ingredients
  2. How to make a keto mug cake
  3. Arman’s recipe tips
  4. More keto desserts
  5. Keto Mug Cake (Recipe Card)

Why make my keto mug cake

  • Cooks in one minute. Seriously- this cake bakes up in just 60 seconds, thanks to the magic of the microwave.
  • It keeps you on track. One mug cake completely satisfies my sweet tooth and keeps me from raiding the pantry after dinner.
  • Make it in the oven or microwave. I usually go for the microwave, but when I make a few at once, the oven works perfectly. 

Key Ingredients

keto mug cake ingredients.

Find the printable recipe with measurements below.

  • 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. Dark or black cocoa powder is great if you want a richer mug cake.
  • Brown sugar substitute. Make my homemade brown sugar substitute using molasses and allulose and skip the expensive store-bought kind.
  • Baking powder. The leavening 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 milk works.
  • Chocolate chips. Skip the expensive store-bought kind and make your own sugar free chocolate chips.

Tested recipe variations

Here are a few ways I’ve jazzed up this mug cake to change things up.

  • 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.

How to make a keto mug cake

dry ingredients with egg and melted butter added.

Step 1- Prep. In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients.

mug cake batter with chocolate chips.

Step 2- Make the batter. Add the wet ingredients and whisk until a smooth batter remains. Fold in the chocolate chips.

assembled mug cake ready to cook.

Step 3- Assemble. Transfer the cake batter to the greased mug.

keto chocolate mug cake.

Step 4- Microwave for one minute.

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 350°F (180°C) 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. 
  • Choose a larger mug or a shallow cereal bowl if you’re concerned about it expanding as it cooks. Mine is around 6 ounces.
  • 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.

★★★★★ REVIEW

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

More keto desserts

keto mug cake recipe.

Keto Mug Cake

5 from 99 votes
This keto mug cake recipe is truly the easiest low-carb dessert. It’s rich, chocolatey, and ready in just two minutes. 2 grams of net carbs! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!
Servings: 1 serving
Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 1 minute
Total: 2 minutes

Video

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Grease a microwave-safe bowl or mug.
  • In a small bowl, add the coconut flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar substitute, and baking powder. Add the butter, egg, and milk, 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

  • Sweeteners: Allulose or monk fruit sweetener works.
  • Vanilla mug cake: Omit the cocoa powder.
  • Oven method: Prepare the cake as instructed. When ready to bake, transfer the batter to a greased ramekin and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 8-10 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 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!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, culinary school graduate, 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.

5 from 99 votes (76 ratings without comment)

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