What is a Mug Cake?
Mug cakes have become an internet trend over the past few years. It basically describes any type of cake that can be quickly made in the microwave (usually in a few minutes or less). The “mug” in mug cake refers to the coffee mug that these tasty cakes are usually cooked in.
Keto Mug Cake Variations
For this recipe, we use a vanilla base that has both nut and nut-free options. We also wanted to provide other flavor options than just vanilla, which is why we came up with these tasty flavors.
Vanilla
The most basic flavor is sometimes the best. To make a keto vanilla mug cake, you just need to follow the recipe and ignore all of the optional flavorings. Using the vanilla recipe is great with the addition of some walnuts or pecans and a pinch of cinnamon for a fun fall twist.
Blueberry
I used to get blueberry muffins from Dunkin’ Donuts all the time. The muffins were oversized, filled with a ton of blueberries, had the perfect pound cake-like texture, and even had sugar sprinkled right on top. To make a keto blueberry mug cake, you simply need to add some fresh blueberries to the mug cake batter prior to microwaving. The blueberries will come out soft and warm. They add a flavorful explosion to every bite.
Peanut Butter
Missing your old childhood favorite of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?! Well, we’ve got the perfect solution. Our Keto Peanut Butter Mug Cake uses the addition of peanut butter to flavor the mixture before cooking. To find a keto-friendly peanut butter option, just look for brands that use 2 or less ingredients. They will all use peanuts, and some may also add salt to their peanut butter. You want to avoid the cheap brands like JIF and Skippy that add sugar.
Chocolate
This keto chocolate mug cake is probably the most popular flavor option. We make this recipe after dinner at least once a week. To make a keto chocolate mug cake, you need to add cocoa powder for the chocolate flavor. Sometimes I will even add a square of dark chocolate for a stronger chocolate taste. For an even more intense chocolate mug cake flavor, try our mug brownie recipe!
Pumpkin
If you love fall and pumpkin spice, you’re going to love this mug cake. It’s spiced, sweet, and super tasty when paired alongside a latte. Plus, contrary to what most people think, pumpkin isn’t all that high in carbs thanks to all the extra fiber. Pumpkin is also low in sugar, but subtly sweet, so the cake itself needs less sweetener.
Make it With Coconut Flour Instead
Luckily, we tested this mug cake out with different types of flour to find the perfect ratios. We found that you need a bit less than half the amount of almond flour to create the right ratios with coconut flour. That means instead of 1/4 cup of almond flour (4 tablespoons), you will want 1.5 tablespoons of coconut flour. The cream helps to bring in extra fat and moisture that coconut flour doesn’t have, so don’t be afraid to add an extra tablespoon if you want the cake super moist.
Make it Dairy-Free
Yes, you can, but it won’t be quite as good. You need to find a substitution for the butter and heavy cream. Use coconut oil instead of butter. Use almond milk or water instead of heavy cream. When using the almond milk or water in place of heavy cream, use about half of the amount.
Steps for Making the Best Mug Cake
We’ve made many a mug cakes in our keto days and have compiled the best tips and tricks to getting the perfect mug cake every time. Here’s how to become a pro at making mug cakes:
Melt the Butter
The first step is to melt the butter. Thoroughly melting the butter by placing it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds will make mixing the remaining ingredients easier.
Add the Dry Ingredients
It’s important to do this step next to avoid cooking your egg with the hot butter! Add all of the dry ingredients directly into the melted butter and lightly mix. This creates a barrier between the hot butter and the egg you are about to add.
Add the Egg and Mix
Now we can add our egg. I like to use a fork to mix everything together because it means there is one less dirty dish to wash. At this point, you should have a relatively homogenous mixture. If you have a few clumps, it’s no big deal – the microwave will take care of that.
Add Your Flavorings of Choice
This doesn’t necessarily need to be the last step. If your flavorings are powders, then you are better off adding it with the dry ingredients. If you want to add any final touches like blueberries, raspberries, nuts, or sugar-free chocolate chips, now is the time to do it.
Microwave for 45 to 75 Seconds
This is by far the most important step in achieving a perfect mug cake. The amount of time you place this in the microwave is crucial for the moistness and tenderness of your cake. Every microwave is different, so it’s hard to say exactly how long yours will take. An indicator that I use is when the mug cake starts rising above the rim of your coffee mug – it’s done. Taking it out at this time will result in a tender, slightly undercooked center (sort of like a lava cake).
Making a Mug Cake in the Oven
Mug cakes can be baked, but you need to do it in an oven-safe dish or ramekin. The texture may also be a bit different than a normal mug cake. To cook, place into a 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Check with a toothpick to ensure it is fully cooked.
Keto-Friendly Toppings
Topping a low-carb mug cake is pretty individual-based on your preferences, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our favorite suggestions! Our favorite mug cake toppings are:
• Whipped cream – Whipped cream is a standout best when it comes to any kind of cake. Yes, a scoop of keto ice cream is extra tasty, but once you start, you might not be able to stop! Instead, make our keto homemade whipped cream!
• Sugar-free chocolate chips – Sugar-free chocolate chips are another sneaky delicious topping. They work with all these mug cakes, and some brands now even carry keto white chocolate varieties. This goes great on the chocolate keto mug cake as well as the peanut butter.
• Berries – Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries make great additions to mug cakes because they are sweet yet tangy to counterbalance the already sweetened mug cake.
• Nut butters – This can be any of your favorites, we love going ham on the peanut butter and almond butter, but sunflower seed butter is another great nut-free alternative.
