Keto Mug Cake
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
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!
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
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.
What readers are saying
★★★★★ – “Wow, what a great recipe, easy and very satisfying keto dessert. Eager to try the other mug cake flavor options” – Dale
★★★★★ – “Arman, this satisfies my sweet tooth every time.” – Claudia
Key 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
Step 1- Prep. In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
Step 2- Make the batter. Add the wet ingredients and whisk until a smooth batter remains. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Step 3- Assemble. Transfer the cake batter to the greased mug.
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.
More keto desserts
✅ Nutrition reviewed
Since this mug cake is presented as a lower-carb and gluten-free alternative, the nutrition information has been reviewed by registered dietitian Felicia Newell, MScAHN, RD, CPT.
Keto Mug Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar substitute or any keto granulated sweetener
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/2 tablespoon keto chocolate chips
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.
Yummy
Delish! I added half of the batter mixture to a mug, then topped with a layer of sun butter followed by a layer of sugar free chocolate chips, finally added remaining batter and again topped with a few chocolate chips. Soooooo good!
Thanks for the satisfying recipe.
Amazing mug cake, deliciuos
I used 4 tbs of almond flour as that’s what I had on hand and a drip of vanilla as well and it worked out lovely. I really appreciate the fast & easy recipes.
easy and delicious.
Very good chocolate mug cake. Great idea for the craving! Thanks for the recipe.
EXCELLENT, very chocolate-y, it’s hard to believe it’s a ‘diet’ dessert.
i agree!
Unfortunately I think in my city (shops) there is not brown sugar substitute. What do you think?
Yes, there is brown sugar swerve 😊
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!
I have made this several times. So easy and delicious.
I used coconut flour and instead of chocolate chips, I used pecans. Tasted good but little dry.
Wow so easy to make. And also keto. Amazing.
Love mug cakes and now we can enjoy them agsin after having to cit out carbs. Thanks!!
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 .
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!
Not bad at all…satisfied the cravings!
Oh my goodness!! Thank you!!
This girl can eat cake! This recipe was yummy!
Wow what a great recipe easy and very satisfying keto dessert. Eager to try the other mug cake flavor options
O.M.G. I was seriously dubious about any dessert that’s keto/low carb but…..these were freaking delicious!! Even my daughter’s boyfriend who wouldn’t have a clue what keto is 😂 devoured them!! I’m so excited to have such a quick and delicious dessert that I can enjoy guilt free!! Happy days!! 🤩🤩 Thank you so much!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I’ve made many mug cakes, and this is hands down the best one EVER. I made the choc-chip one (as you do), will definitely make more. One bite & I was like, OMG this is amazing! Jumped back on the low carb wagon just a few days ago and already super grateful for your recipes.
So easy and delicious. I almost feel guilty eating it. No almond flour is a plus!
thank you, nice to have so many options, and really appreciate your making these keto friendly with coconut flour, the choc chips and other additional ingredients add some nice flavor too!
So great to hear that!
Hi! What size ramekin do you use for your mug cakes? (8oz, 12oz etc?) Thanks!
8 oz 🙂
Hi, are the calories for each mug available anywhere? I’m trying to count calories but these look healthy and delicous enough to try. Thanks
Hi there! Click on the links- Some are included, and if not, feel free to calculate it using myfitnesspal or similar 🙂
OMG! Thank you so much for sharing the mug cake Recipie!! These are so simple and delicious! I’ve experimented w/other Keto Recioie before and they are usually for multiple servings. They also tasted grainy. :(. But your recipie is perfect and it’s so much easier that it’s single serving plus, the oven option too. Thank you for making my Keto diet more enjoyable.
You are so welcome! 🙂
where’s the red velvet we see on the cover?!
Hi! Sorry, it has been updated!
Thank You! These are great!
😀 Great!
I looked on Amazon for vanilla protein powder, but there are so many choices I became confused. What type/brand was used when creating these recipes?
Hi! thebigmansworld.com/shop
Mug cakes are seriously my favorite since they’re so convenient! You’re the best for creating all of these! Thanks dude!
Thanks, Taylor!