This Keto Chocolate Mug Cake is a quick & easy low carb treat with a brownie texture and rich chocolate flavor. Gluten-free and with built in portion control – it will satisfy your chocolate craving without blowing your carb budget!
This keto chocolate brownie mug cake recipe has been popular here on IBIH for quite a few years now. I decided to dust it off and update the post a bit for those of you that haven’t come across it yet.
The thing I love about keto mug cakes is that they are so easy (and fast!) to make, and that you aren’t committed to an entire bowl or pan of something. Portion control is so much easier when you are only making one or two servings of keto dessert at a time, instead of an entire chocolate cake!
I knew I wanted to do a keto chocolate mug cake, and definitely wanted it to have a brownie-like texture.
It took some experimenting (oh the things I do for you), but I finally hit on the right combination to get both the taste and texture that I wanted. Not too dry, with just the right amount of gooeyness! You could almost call these keto chocolate mug brownies – and you wouldn’t be wrong.
This keto chocolate mug cake was warm and comforting, and perfect with some whipped cream or sugar free vanilla ice cream on top.
In fact you almost need something creamy to break up the richness of the brownie. I used Rebel Natural Vanilla (not sponsored, I just like the brand) for this photo shoot and the results were delicious.
I added walnuts to mine because nuts are a must in brownies as far as I’m concerned. I’m listing them as optional though, because some crazy people out there don’t like nuts in brownies. Oh the humanity!
Keto Mug Cake FAQs and Variations
How do you bake a keto mug cake?
Typically, since mug cakes are all about convenience, they are cooked a microwave oven rather than a traditional bake oven. That being said, you can absolutely bake a mug cake in your regular oven. To do so I recommend a ramekin instead of a mug, a bake temperature of about 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and about 10-12 minutes of baking time.
If using a microwave as this keto mug cake recipe (and many others) call for, please be aware that microwave strengths and mugs vary – I found this out the hard way when testing this keto mug cake recipe out.
I had been using the same microwave-safe mug for several tries with great results, then I made the last one with a thinner walled mug and it was WAY overdone. So I’m giving you the shortest likely time, and if it’s too gooey just throw it back in for another 30 seconds until it’s the consistency you want.
Once you go over it’s trashed, so err on the conservative side if your microwave is really strong, or your mugs are really thin walled.
Same goes on the other side of the coin, if your mugs are really thick or your microwave oven is whimpy, you might need to add a little time to cook them all the way through.
I divided this keto chocolate brownie mug cake into two portions – but you could just as easily make it in one large mug or small bowl and microwave it for a minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
What ingredients are in a keto mug cake?
The ingredients used in a keto mug cake will vary based on the flavor, but typically they are made with almond flour, coconut flour, a sugar free sweetener like erythritol or xylitol, coconut oil or butter for the fat to make it tender, and baking powder to help it rise.
This particular chocolate mug cake also contains vanilla extract, a good quality cocoa powder, sugar free chocolate chips, and either pecans or walnuts.
How many net carbs are in this keto chocolate mug cake recipe?
This keto mug cake contains only 2 grams of net carbs, but a whopping 6 grams of protein. So it’s basically health food – especially if you throw a few berries on there. You’re welcome.
Can this chocolate mug cake be made dairy free and Paleo?
Yes! The only dairy in this mug cake recipe is the butter, so you can replace that with ghee (which is free of milk solids) or coconut oil with great results. To sweeten it, you can replace the erythritol (which is a natural sweetener but highly processed) with either honey or maple syrup for Paleo diets.
Keto Chocolate Brownie Mug Cake – Low Carb – Gluten Free
- Total Time: 6 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Warm and comforting, this keto chocolate mug cake is the quickest way to low carb brownie bliss there is! Gluten free too!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons superfine blanched almond flour
- 1 teaspoon coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar substitute
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar free chocolate chipsÂ
- 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small microwave safe bowl (about 30 seconds in microwave).
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir until combined.
- Pour batter into 2 small greased mugs or ramekins.
- Microwave for 1 minute. (add another 30 seconds if necessary).
- Serve with whipped cream or sugar free vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Approximate net carbs per serving = 2g
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute
- Category: Keto desserts
- Method: microwave
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug cake
- Calories: 216
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
Marge Burkell says
These are AWESOME! I am trying to figure out the best and fastest way to make a whole bunch for our Memorial Day picnic! Mellissa have you ever done that?
Mellissa Sevigny says
I’ve never made them in bulk Marge, but maybe you could bake them in cupcake tins in the oven if you want a bunch of them – try 375 degrees (F) for about 12 – 15 minutes. Hope it works! :)
Marge Burkell says
Thanks Mellissa! I think I will just buy some more ramekins or maybe a silicone cupcake pan and make them ahead of time in the microwave… after all they only take a minute apiece!
Marge Burkell says
Okay, what I ended up doing was buying a dozen silicone cupcake liner/cups to microwave in.
BUT some of my guests thought they were dry… so should I cut back the time in the microwave when not using ramekins? One minute was fine for in those.
Opinion Mellissa?
Thanks!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yes Marge, definitely cut back if they are dry! I made one the other night in a poster board thickness cupcake liner and it was inedible the first time because a minute was way too long. Next time test one out at 30 seconds and then 10 seconds more if necessary to get the right consistency. The thickness of the container you are cooking them in definitely makes a huge difference in timing!
Sonia! The Healthy Foodie says
And now you have done to me what Carolyn has done to you months ago. I will not rest until I have introduced this delicious looking concoction to my taste buds.
I might even add some caramel to it… Oh, the decadence!
Angela says
This looks great, wondering though if it’s possible to do this in the oven and what the cooking temp and time might be? I don’t have a microwave. Thanks!
Mellissa Sevigny says
I haven’t done it but I’m guessing 375 degrees (F) for about 15 minutes should do it – around what you’d do cupcakes for is what I’m basing it on. Let us know if it works! Thanks!
Samantha says
OK, trying this tomorrow night for some guests – but I will definitely have to exclude the nuts from it bc hubby thinks nuts in brownies are well . . . you guessed it – nuts! He does like puppies though – not so sure about rainbows :)
Mellissa Sevigny says
Well I guess as long as there are no raisins in it! :) Hope they are a hit with your guests! Don’t forget the whipped cream or ice cream!
movita beaucoup says
Obviously, I’m going to have to find a designated brownie mug.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Well obviously. ;) All that time in baking school perfecting your craft and you could have been busting out cakes and brownies in two minutes from your microwave all along! Maybe I’ll do my entire Bake My (your) Cake entry in mugs – that would be awesome…
Carolyn says
Ohhhhh, yummy. Mug cake is da bomb!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks for the inspiration Carolyn, I’ll be making mug cakes out of everything now, ha ha! :)
Ruta says
Yum! I’m always on the hunt for mug cake recipes, and this one looks pretty delicious. I love that it’s gluten free + low carb.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Ruta, enjoy guilt free!
MadSCAR says
I love it! Thanks for recipe :)
Matt says
I know that raisin crack was for me. Now that you mention it though, I might have to try your concoction and add some of that tasty wrinkled goodness to it. But not nuts though…that won’t do at all.
Mellissa Sevigny says
You, and others, whom I won’t mention by name, but they know who they are…. ;)
Sandy says
Or you could just be a “closet” raisin lover. What ever I simply do not know why people do not like dried grapes. They like fermented grapes. Why why why
What is oatmeal with out raisins. What is granola without raisins. What is cinnamon raisin bread toast without Raisins! SMH
Shelley says
Voted!
Thanks for the mug cake recipe!
Jennifer Parramore says
I just tried this cup cake and it was amazing!! I didn’t have the chocolate square so I doubled up on the unsweet coco powder it srill turned out very good.