Craving a sweet treat without derailing your keto diet? This easy 3-ingredient keto mug cake recipe delivers a rich, single-serving chocolate cake in minutes, satisfying your sweet tooth without the guilt. This recipe is perfect when you need that cake immediately. And sometimes, you only need one, perfect piece of cake to satisfy your craving. That is when you should make a mug cake.
Why Mug Cakes?
Mug cakes are super simple cakes that are baked in the microwave. They all are essentially made the same way. All of the ingredients are mixed together in the mug or a small bowl and then the batter is microwaved for a minute or two. The result is a perfect, warm cake that will serve just one! There are actually a lot of keto mug cakes and low carb mug cake options out there. The dessert has become somewhat of a hallmark of the keto community. Maybe we all need access to a quick cake? That’s definitely true in my case so I am not complaining. Options are great!
The Magic of 3 Ingredients
This recipe shines in its simplicity. It proves that you don't need a long list of ingredients or complicated steps to enjoy a delicious keto-friendly dessert. It is chocolate cake at it’s finest without any extra fanfare or complicated ingredients. Cocoa powder, an egg, and some erythritol are all you need! Those three simple ingredients are things you probably already have at home which means you could go make this cake right now!
Core Ingredients
- Binder: A single egg is essential for providing structure and texture to the cake.
- Sweetener: To keep it keto-friendly, Swerve granulated sweetener is recommended. You can also use regular powdered erythritol instead of Swerve if you wish. Most mug cakes call for mashed banana, but to make this mug cake lower in sugar, we are using monk fruit sweetener instead. You can find monk fruit sweetener online or at your local grocery store. It's a sweetener derived from monk fruit (luo han guo), which is rooted in Southeast Asia. Monk fruit doesn't have any calories and has no impact on blood sugar levels, unlike regular sugar (via Healthline). For this reason, it may be helpful for individuals who want to lose weight or have diabetes. If you don't have monk fruit, you can use another zero-calorie sweetener like stevia or sucralose.
- Cocoa Powder: Choose unsweetened cocoa powder to ensure there are no added sugars. When buying cocoa powder, be sure to turn over to the nutrition label to ensure there are no added sugars and cocoa powder is the only ingredient. You may also come across cacao powder, which is a little bit different. Cacao powder is made from beans that have not been roasted. They are also processed at a low temperature before being milled into a powder (via Pure and Plant Based). This allows them to be slightly higher in nutrients but also quite bitter. Cocoa powder is made from beans that are both fermented and roasted. They are then processed at a much higher temperature. Overall, we recommend using cocoa powder for this recipe to provide a sweeter flavor for the mug cake.
Optional Enhancements: Vanilla Extract
Now, you may be looking at the recipe and thinking “hey, there’s a fourth ingredient on this list!”. You are correct. We have added vanilla extract to the list but it is completely optional. If you don’t have it or don’t want to measure out an extra ingredient, just skip it! The cake is delicious without it. However, a tiny splash of vanilla extract really takes this three-ingredient mug cake to the next level. Vanilla adds a warm, sweet taste that helps naturally enhance the flavor of the chocolate. It is also keto-friendly so you don’t have to worry about any extra carbs. We have also made this cake using almond extract and that was a wonderful keto mug cake version as well. You could even use coconut extract, peppermint or maple extract to switch up your three-ingredient cake.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the mug: Get out your favorite, ceramic 8 ounce mug. Prepare an 8 ounce mug by lightly spraying it with non-stick spray or rubbing the inside with butter. You'll need one that holds at least 12 ounces. Grease a microwavable safe mug or ramekin with butter or cooking spray.
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Make the batter: In a small bowl, add the egg, sweetener, and cocoa powder. Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl, breaking up the egg well and dissolving the erythritol. In a small bowl combine the egg, sweetener, and cocoa powder, Whisk together until fully combined. In a microwave-safe mug that holds at least 8 oz of liquid, add all ingredients. Then, stir everything together with a fork including dry ingredients and wet ingredients. Make sure all of the ingredients are mixed together really well. This is so that the ingredients are fully incorporated and you won’t hit any spots of dry cake mix while eating your mug.
"Bake" the cake: Place the mug in the microwave and cook on high for about 45 seconds. Cook in the microwave at full power for about 45 seconds. Cooking times may vary based on individual microwave ovens. Cooking time may vary with your microwave. I use a 1000 watt microwave. If your microwave power is less or more, please adjust cooking time and/or cooking power accordingly. Pour the batter into the mug then microwave for 60 seconds.
Cool and Enjoy: Let the cake cool a few minutes before eating. Enjoy right away while nice and warm! This mug cake can be enjoyed on its own, but it's even better with delicious toppings. We recommend eating this mug cake right away, because it dries out as it sits.
Topping Ideas
Toppings are up to you but I highly recommend them! Just make sure you aren’t adding too many additional carbs. I like to add a sprinkling of Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips as soon as the cake comes out of the microwave so they melt on top. If you are using chocolate chips, add them now so they will start to melt.
- Chocolate Chips: You can also find chocolate chips and chocolate bars that have been sweetened with artificial sweeteners such as Lily’s chocolate. Lily’s Brand is the status quo. However, as of late it’s not jiving with my body. So I’ve opted for Alter Eco 85 or 90% dark that is only 4 ingredients and has less carbs than even Lily’s despite being sweetened with cane sugar. We like to add a spoonful of chocolate chips to this mug cake for extra sweetness and creaminess. Chocolate chips can often pack in sneaky added sugars, so, instead, we like to use stevia sweetened chips. You could also opt to use the chocolate chips you have on hand. To go for lower sugar, your best bet is to look for a higher percentage of cocoa.
- Sugar-Free Chocolate Sauce: Drizzle sugar free chocolate sauce all over the top.
- Berries: Top with berries or mix in berries before cooking for something different. We like raspberries and strawberries.
- Nuts: Sprinkle pecans or walnuts on top.
- Peanut Butter Chips: Try using keto friendly peanut butter chips for a decadent chocolate peanut butter cake. The combination is so delicious.
If you are feeling really decadent, try adding a little of all 3 toppings to the cake.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Important Tips
- Microwave Variation: Cooking times may vary based on individual microwave ovens.
- Mug Size: We had plenty of room at the top so I think a 12 oz mug would have worked great too.
- Leavening Agent: Don’t skip the baking powder, You need a leavening agent in this recipe so that it will rise.
- Serving Size: You can make this into 2 smaller desserts. Just split the cake mixture between 2 ramekins or small bowl before microwaving.
Keto-Friendly Considerations
No cake is exactly healthy, but this three ingredient cake does not contain any flour. It is very low in carbs, which make it a great keto-friendly way to indulge your sweet tooth. When looking at the labels you will want to subtract the fiber and the sugar alcohols from the total carbs to get net carbs. If you want to learn more about new carbs check out this article.
Registered dietitian nutritionist Mackenzie Burgess of Cheerful Choices notes, "As a dietitian, I believe in finding a sustainable and nourishing eating pattern that works for you and your lifestyle. If that's keto, great!
Variations and Dietary Needs
- Dairy-free: Use vegan or dairy free butter instead of butter in this recipe.
- Coconut Flour: This is another option to try with low net carbs and this Keto Coconut Flour mug cake is a great option if you’re not a fan of chocolate.
A Note on Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer: We are not certified nutritionists. Nutrition facts are an estimate and are provided as a courtesy. They are generated by an online API which recognizes ingredient names and amounts and makes calculations based on the serving size. The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist.
We provide nutritional data for our recipes as a courtesy to our readers. We use Total Keto Diet app software to calculate the nutrition and we remove fiber and sugar alcohols, like erythritol, from the total carbohydrate count to get to the net carb count, as they do not affect your blood glucose levels. You should independently calculate nutritional information on your own and not rely on our data. This article has been medically reviewed by Dr.
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