Craving more easy keto desserts? Try my keto donuts, keto truffles, keto brownies, and keto no-bake cookies next. 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.
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.
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. “Wow, what a great recipe, easy and very satisfying keto dessert. Eager to try the other mug cake flavor options” – Dale
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
Almond flour mug cake Healthy mug cake Peanut butter mug cake Vanilla mug cake Protein mug cake
Originally published February 2022, updated and republished June 2024
