This moist and delicious keto chocolate mug cake is the perfect size for one. Made with almond flour and cocoa, it has a perfect cake texture.
If you’re a woman, you probably understand what I’m about to say, but sometimes I could literally go-out-of-my-mind for something chocolate. It doesn’t matter what it is – a chocolate smoothie, a chocolate cookie, a chocolate truffle, or a piece of chocolate cake.
When this chocolate craving hits, I don’t want to get out 12 ingredients and wait 40 minutes for a keto cake to bake. I want something fast and delicious and NOW! But, it has to be a single serving cake because, Lord knows, I would eat a whole cake if it was available. (Okay, so that was an exaggeration, but not by much!)
Keto Chocolate Mug Cake
My chocolate craving buster of choice is this keto chocolate mug cake. It’s super easy and the texture and taste is like the real thing – we’re talking a real chocolate cake in a mug!
I like to use cute ½ pint wide mouth mason jars for my cakes because I LOVE THEM. They are the perfect size for this 6 oz (volume) chocolate mini cake, but a small cappuccino cup works, too.
The fact that the chocolate cake cooks in just 50-60 seconds is even more attractive. There’s no excuse to go out and grab a snack from somewhere else when you can make this at a moments notice.
And because keto mug cakes are a single serving, I could literally eat a whole cake and not feel guilty about it. Something this delicious is the perfect cheat.
I know many of you are into “cheat days”. While some of you go off-plan, I think it’s fun finding something on-plan that tastes great and kills that chocolate craving.
Next level keto chocolate mug cake!
To take this cake to the next level try some of these ideas.
- add a few berries to the batter
- add 1/16-1/8th teaspoon flavoring extract to the batter
- put a spoonful of sugar-free jelly in the center of the batter
- place a small square of dark chocolate in the middle of the batter before cooking
- put a spoonful of sugar-free chocolate hazelnut spread in the center of the batter
- top with sugar-free homemade hot fudge or store bought sugar-free chocolate sauce
- top with whipped cream or whipped coconut cream
- sprinkle cinnamon, cocoa powder, powdered sweetener or grated chocolate on top
Why this keto chocolate mug cake is different:
Most mug cakes call for a whole egg. While this is efficient, it produces really dense and tough cakes. It took me about 15 tries to get this recipe just where I want it in taste and texture. The secret is using just the yolk and some mayonnaise. The yolk adds structure to the cake and the mayo makes it nice and moist.
This recipe works very well as a peanut butter mug cake, too. Make sure to see the peanut flour mug cake recipe I did for Sukrin USA.
What to do with that leftover egg white!
So now you have a leftover egg white. What do you do with it? Add it to another baking recipe, add it to the egg when making homemade mayonnaise, Whip it and fold into cream cheese clouds, or add it to your morning eggs.
-OR- Wait for it….. save it to make another mug cake. A single egg white works in this recipe, too.
Egg whites freeze really beautifully. I freeze three at a time so I always know how many are in any container I pull from the freezer. They are especially great in psyllium bread recipes or in buttercream frosting.
This easy Keto Chocolate Mug Cake is 3 net carbs per cake.
[Post and recipe may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through a link may result in my earning a small consideration at no extra cost to you.]
Keto Chocolate Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp almond flour
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp Sukrin :1 (Swerve or Lakanto)
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tsp water
Instructions
Preparation:
- Fluff up the almond flour with a whisk before measuring and sift the cocoa powder if it's clumpy. (I sift any cocoa powder I buy and keep it in an air-tight container. This breaks apart any lumps for more accurate measuring.)
Method:
- Measure the dry ingredients into a mug or jelly jar and mix completely with a fork.
- Add the mayonnaise, egg yolk, and water, stirring completely making sure to get it all from the bottom. Let batter sit 1-2 minutes.
- Microwave for 50 seconds, depending on your microwave. 3 Net Carbs.
- NOTE: Although the texture is a little different, 1 large egg white can be used instead of the large egg yolk, solving the problem of a leftover egg white.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I made this and used erythritol. It was definitely not sweet enough. How many tbsp of erythritol would be equivalent to what you used??
If you used regular erythritol, Wanda, you may want to try 3 – 3 1/2 tbsp erythritol since it is only 65-70 % as sweet as sugar. -Kim
I cannot even believe how good this is. It’s mg valentine dessert and the only thing that kept me from cheating today! I made strawberry cream cheese “frosting” for mine- Dab of cream cheese, pyure, and a teensy bit of strawberry purée. Perfect!! Thank you SO much for this recipe!
Could I use Stevia (drops or powder) instead of swerve?
Trying this tonight for Valentines dessert:)
Thanks!
Sure Phyllis, but be careful. Stevia and chocolate don’t play nice together. Stevia contains bitter flavor compounds and so does chocolate. They bring out the bitter compounds in each other. Happy Valentine’s Day. -Kim
Thanks so much for the info. THIs is my first Keto dessert so that’s good to know. Do you recommend anything else?
Not really, Phyllis. Just make sure that your cocoa powder has been sifted before you measure so you don’t end up using more than what was intended. Also, microwaves have different strengths, so the first may need more or considerably less time depending on how strong yours is. Enjoy. -Kim
What kind of mayo do you use?
Hi Lana. I’ve used both homemade and store bought like Helmans or Dukes. -Kim
Hello,
I was craving chocolate and tried this recipe tonight. It was great! Thanks for sharing it!
I have been dying for cake while on Keto and ran across this recipe. I was skeptical with the addition of mayo but I have to say I am pleasantly surprised how good this cake was. I added some sugar free chocolate chips and it was just the thing to take away the craving I have been having. Thank you for posting this. I know I will be making it again and maybe doing the whipped cream and berries next time.
I was a little unsure about mayonnaise but found it to be perfect and undetectable when eating. I added some coconut milk on top with shredded coconut. It was a great dessert!
A++ Moist, yummy and everything I’ve been looking for in a sweet Keto friendly treat! Only downside is that I am maxed out on my carbs for the day so will have to wait until tomorrow for another one LOL.
Thank you for such a wonderful recipe! Can’t wait to try some of your other recipes
This mug cake is ridiculous. Seriously, I am totally and completely addicted to making this. Thank you SO much for this recipe! My only question is….do you have a recipe for this in a normal sized cake?
I’ve been playing with a microwave version of a full sized cake, but I haven’t perfected it yet. There is also so much variability with microwave strength that I’m not sure it would work for everyone. Lol. Thanks for the nice compliment, Kristin. I’m glad you like it. -Kim
This is so good. Added a few chocolate chips and strawberries! Definitely helps with my chocolate obsession.
Yummy! This is going to be my go to for chocolate fix. Thank you
I just made this for my husband and myself. I put a piece of dark chocolate in the centers and on the top. I forgot to let the batter set for a minute or two, but I did sift the chocolate powder and mash the almond lumps.
Our cake was a little bit soggy on the edges and I nuked the pair together for 60 seconds. We ate them warm and a little bit soft and enjoyed them very much. We decided we might prefer them warm and soft with melted dark chocolate for the icing.
Thank you for the recipe; we will be having this dessert frequently.
I thought this was going to be like all the other keto mug cakes I’ve made. And I saw ‘mayo’ and I’m like, nope. But II followed the recipe and I’m so glad I did. It was perfect!!! I’m so glad I found this. I’m definitelt saving it for next time!
I absolutely love this cake. Thank you so much for sharing!
You are a goddess. This recipe is THE BEST. I added a few Lily’s chocolate chips for a tiny chocolate boost and just…WOW. Thank you soooo much for this!
Yum! This was the most like real cake of all the keto mug cakes I’ve tried. I added one tsp of PB2 to make a peanut butter/ choc cake and added a TBS of water. Thanks!
This was amazing! Best low carb treat yet!
This is amazing! Perfect consistency, flavour and amount! Thank you!!!
Can’t believe this is a guilt free keto treat!
Woooow…. This was the best mug cake and I’ve tried 3. I may have been a little over in the dry ingredients which is probably why the mix was super thick. I added a touch of vanilla extract and half a teaspoon of sour cream to make the mix a tad thinner… It worked and it was the best tasted just like chocolate cake. I added some crushed walnuts and some of my keto cream cheese frosting. I will be making this every time I get a craving for chocolate cake.
This was soooooo good – better than a lot of the regular mug cakes I have made in the past! I used Monkfruit sugar, added a 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract, and used hazelnut flower because I was out of almond flour. It still turned out perfect! Cooked for 80 seconds. I also made sour cream frosting with 1/4 C sour cream, a TBS of monkfruit sugar, and another 1/4 tsp of vanilla. Even my non-Keto hubby likes these!
This is my FAVE keto dessert – just so delicious! The right texture and the perfect amount of sweetness. I make it all the time! ***Btw, tonight I made it with coconut flour (subbed in 1 TSP of coconut flour for the almond flour) and it came together great. I had just already had a handful of almonds today and didn’t wanna go overboard with my nut intake – So happy to discover this recipe is so adaptable! Thanks!!!
I used coconut flour too. I’m completely new to it and used 1TBS happy to know I can use even less! I added some Lily’s chocolate chips on top!
Can’t wait to try this! What can I use instead of the mayo? I have butter, sour cream, cream cheese, heavy cream?
Try the sour cream first, Danielle. Then you can try the heavy cream next time if it isn’t as moist as you want. Remember that your microwave oven may be much more powerful than mine, so watch it to get the best time for your microwave. Enjoy! -Kim
Mmm, I would love to have whipped cream….however, sugar free syrup on top did the trick!! Thank you!!!!
Why not do whipped cream? Just a little hwc with a tiny bit of vanilla. Skip the sugar!
First time making this and it was amazing. My love for chocolate cake can continue! Thanks for this wonderful recipe!
Every time I enter these ingredients in MyFitnessPal it says 18 Carbs.
MyFitnessPal counts the sugar alcohols in the erythritol (which are not digested and contribute zero calories) and also has an algorithm that comes up with an average weight for the other ingredients. I always weigh my ingredients to get the most accurate carb counts. I do not like MyFitnessPal and suggest you use Fatsecret.com. Be careful how you add and choose ingredients. -Kim
This was great!!!! First time I made it and it literally was just like chocolate cake!
Hello! This is the first time I tried to make a mug cake.
Your recipe is utterly delicious. I couldn’t tell that it was low carb at all. In one word, decadent. It’s even better than the cupcakes sold at grocery stores. I topped it with choczero chocolate syrup. Perfect. This will be a staple for me. Thank you so much for sharing.
This was very good! I’ve made it about 4 times since discovering the recipe around Christmas time. The second time I added a little more sweetener and a few sugar-free chocolate chips, which suited my tastes more. My kids devoured it when I let them sample it, too.
Just a big blob of dryness. Added 1 cup of milk and it made no difference. I can’t choke down one bite….help
Hi Kelly. Are you sure you used almond flour? The almond flour in the US is finely ground blanched almonds. In some countries, defatted almonds are ground. That will make a difference in texture there. If you used coconut flour by mistake, it would be dry. If your cocoa was compacted from the grocery store, you may have accidentally used up to twice the amount specified in the recipe. Cocoa powder is another ingredient that can make baked goods very dry if more is used. So, make sure you are using blanched ground almonds that have not been defatted, sift your cocoa powder before using (I have included a tip about it in the recipe), and the third thing is your microwave may be more powerful than mine. You may only need 30-40 seconds. I hope these ideas help. -Kim
This cake is perfect! It’s moist, chocolate-y, not too sweet, and the perfect amount to eat guilt-free. THANK YOU for this! I’ve been looking for a Keto mug cake recipe that was even half this good.
TRY THIS ONE, YOU GUYS!
Y’all, this is the one! I’ve been keto for several months and I’ve had at least 8 different mug cakes. Some had good texture but left a weird bitter taste at the back of your throat! Some had crap texture and flavor. This one is awesome! It could be a tiny touch sweeter for my taste so I topped with whipped cream. I’ll make this again and again!!! For fun I put a small spoon of natural PB in the center!
I just wanted to say thankyou so much as this was one of the most delicious low carb recipes I have ever made, INCREDIBLE ❤️
I am very new to keto and this is the first keto cake I’ve made and it was easy, quick, and delicious!
I started Keto a week ago today. This is the first time I’ve had a chocolate craving. This totally fit the bill! Perfect.
Wow! This is probably the best taste and texture mug cake I’ve had….
This keto Mug Cake is heavenly. Don’t look any further. Keep up the great recipes…
I have used the recipe several times and just love it. I have given it to some of my co-workers as well, it has saved them doing Keto and missing their sweets. I would be interested to know how much you put in a jar. I would love to get these as Christmas gifts. Thank you for all you do
Hi Ruth. I am glad you like the recipe! I would line up the jars and as if in an assembly line, add the ingredients. -Kim
Hi! I absolutely love this recipe! My question is that I really want to make this is a “cake” in a transitional
Oven for an upcoming holiday party. Is this possible? And if yes what timings and temperature do you recommend? My favorite thing about this cake is the texture and how moist it is!
Hi Megha, the texture comes from the microwave. Although I haven’t tried baking it in the oven, yet, I have tried baking a larger batch of the batter in a 6″ silicone cake pan in the microwave. Let’s just say that I don’t have the timing and temperature down yet! -Kim
I tried the pan in the microwave- it was great! I had to cook for 3 mins with 30 s intervals towards the end because I was so scared of it bursting. It tasted great! Thanks!
I’m great to heat it, Megha. Did you use a class pan or a silicone pan? -Kim
This recipe is heavenly! Saves my sweet tooth! Love the fact that it’s not eggy tasting . Thank you!
What happens if youi use the whole egg?
Great question, Carin. I think the texture is nasty with a whole egg. It is tough and eggy. Give it a try and see what you think. -Kim
I had a terrible craving and made this delicious mug cake. Made 2, one with egg white, one with egg yolk. Both of them equally good just a different texture. I immediately texted my sister the recipe and she made it! We all love it. I want to add nuts next time if my macros allow and sprinkle some swerve over it. Love love love it. Thank you!
Hiya, didn’t have any mayonnaise so exchanged it for muscaponi cheese. same volume.Blooming lovely with summer fruit and cream. Loved it thank you!
Wow! By far my FAVORITE recipe!
I accidentally used coconut flour (made some mug bread and I guess I still had coconut flour on my mind) and the texture wasn’t there but the flavor was amazing. Obviously it would have been completely different if I made it correctly so I can already tell this is going to be made a lot. And because I can NEVER eat plain cake (and let’s face it…I used coconut flour so it was super dry) I mixed some heavy cream with lakanto and cocoa powder And made a chocolate whipped cream.
As did as it was when I made it wrong, I can’t wait to try it again and make it the right way.
Living in the south mayo is used in cakes and keeps it moist. It did that in this mug cake too. I added chocolate chips and vanilla instead of water.
I just made this for my husband and myself…..amazing!
this was amazing! i am new to keto and could not have gotten through Halloween without this! thank you so much!
Ok so I read a lot of really good reviews. I’m I the only one to say it? Yes you need another good review! This is amazing! You are amazing! Thanks so much for making me a believer of mug cakes again.
Lol. Thank, Melody! -Kim
You guys, when I say this is the best mug cake I’ve ever tried, I MEAN IT!!!! Keto AND non Keto. Not only is is it moist and delicious but it also tastes just like real chocolate cake!!! TRY THIS!!!!!
Loved this. I completely forgot the baking powder and it really didn’t seem to matter, lol. Thank you!
Thanks for this! I really enjoyed it. Added a few drops of vanilla flavored stevia drops. Soooo yummy.
I love the texture! I would switch out some of the Mayo for butter and some heavy cream instead of the water.
This was the best tasting and best textured mug cake ever!!
I am going to make up several batches of the dry ingredients to have ready.
Delish and moist. best mug cake I’ve ever had
EXCELLENT!! Thanks for the yummy and yummy easy recipe!
Just made this with cinnamon, as suggested in another review, because I didn’t have cocoa powder. Best mug cake ever! I drizzled with melted peanut butter & whipped cream. I will definitely make again!
Kim, you are a genius! I have tried so many mug cake recipes and this one is by far the best. I am now experimenting with other variations and they are coming out great – today I made pumpkin cake: replaced the cocoa powder with 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree and sprinkled some pumpkin spice. I also made cinnamon bun style: replaced the cocoa powder with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and topped with cream cheese, more cinnamon, and swerve. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe Kim! I can’t wait to try everything else on your website.
Yay! You’ve given me ideas for future posts – they sound so good! I’m so glad you are happy with the recipe. Thanks for taking the time for leaving your recipe ideas, people will love them! Have a great day. -Kim
Tried this exact recipe twice- first time using coconut flour and the second time using flax meal. Both came out crumbly messes that didn’t resemble or taste like a cake. Is there no substitute for almond flour? I’m allergic!
Hi Karen. Unfortunately, you can’t sub coconut flour or flax meal 1:1 for almond flour because they are too absorbent. Try this: 1 tbsp coconut flour, 1 tbsp sifted cocoa powder, 1 tbsp sweetener (like Sukrin or Swerve granulated), 1 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp oil, 1 egg yolk and 1/8 tsp baking powder. I think you will have better luck. -Kim
Try tigernut flour – it’s a tuber, not a nut, but it has a nutty flavour and is a 1:1 sub for almond flour!
I usually double the recipe, and recently experimented with adding 1/8th tsp of cake batter McCormick extract. Made a great thing, even better! Topped with some heavy cream, or whipped cream, it tastes like a cupcake!
I can’t wait to try that Kristina! Thanks for the tip. -Kim
This recipe is awesome!
I have erythritol and Monk Fruit (2:1 sugar). Which one should I use and how much? thank you
You could use either, Ana. Plain erythritol will be less sweet as it’s 70% as sweet as sugar, while your monkfruit is twice as much. Experiment and see which one you like best. -Kim
I made this a couple of weeks ago according to the recipe and it was delicious!
I just made it again and decided, why not just use one whole egg and double the rest of the ingredients and make two mug cakes.
I honestly could not tell the difference! Problem solved with wondering what to do with the white.
This was so good! I subbed the mayo for melted butter and used heavy cream instead of water. I added in sf chocolate chips and the texture was just like real cake! Soooo good. I did add the tiniest pinch of salt but next time will leave it out altogether!
I don’t even eat chocolate cake but this is delicious! I also changed out the Mayo for sour cream and hwc for the water. I also did 45 seconds and it was perfect. Had it tonight with ½ cup of PB chocolate chip Enlightened ice cream. My tummy is happy. My once a week treat from now on!
Wow just loved them. It satisfied my sweet tooth
I used the whole egg made no difference
Omg! You’ve done it again! This tastes just so amazing! I have to admit that the mayo really freaked me out at first and I was pretty tentative about taking that first bite because of it, but I certainly wolfed down the cake after the first bite! I don’t know how you do it but you’re a genius with low carb goodies. Thank you so much. Loved this. I’m going to try variations with essence of orange and maybe a peanut butter version soon too.
Every time I try a mug cake it fails. it is so-o-o-o dry I choke on it. Any ideas out there?
Was this one dry Irene? Did you make it with the egg yolk and mayonnaise? That is the best combination. This mug cake is super moist. The only thing I can think of is that you have a powerful microwave and that you don’t need as much cooking time. Also, I am using pretty small ramekins, jars, and cappuccino cups to make mine. Also, if you are using whole almond flour (with bits of the almond skin) opposed to blanched finely ground almond flour, there may be a difference in texture. I hope this helps. -Kim
Mine was dry too. Probably right about my microwave being too strong. I’ll try shortening the time, thank you!
Yes, Robin. As I mention in the recipe or post, every microwave is different and you may need to adjust the time. My microwave is pretty weak. The cake should be light and moist. -Kim
I did 45 seconds, try that.
I’ve been looking for the perfect Keto sweet treat and this was perfect. Other have been a major fail, so thanks so much for posting. Like other readers I exchanged the water for heavy whipping cream and added a tbsp of butter. This was exactly what I needed to beat the sugar craving!
This was the best microwave cake I have ever had. Thank you for posting, I just had to try it as I couldn’t believe it was going to be so good.
This was so good! I added a teeny dash of salt and swerve once it was done… So. Good. I ate it standing next to the microwave, lol. It was good without either but I’m craving salty-sweet this week…if u know what I mean. I will be experimenting with toppings to switch it up. Thank you for taking the time to figure this stuff out and share it. You made my life more manageable just when my daughter’s Oreos were starting to call my name.
I rarely comment on recipes but I had to give u a 10 star praise! First off, started off with your Keto Chilli dogs for dinner. Delish! I really wanted dessert but I only had 8 carbs left for the day. Low Carb maven to the rescue! I made 2 chocolate mug cakes one for me and my son and I used your recipe for sugar free cream cheese icing. I have had several mug cakes and they were horrible. Yours was like the real thing maybe even better!!! I had the one with egg whites. 4 carbs for a desert so moist and delicious, I can have ur cake every night and not feel guilty!!! Thank you 1000xs over!!!!
Best mug cake recipe ever. Threw a spoonful of peanut butter in the center. Delicious.
I Use sour cream instead of mayo. I like the taste better. Thanks for the recipe!
I used Swerve and 1 tablespoon is 12 carbsThe total for this was 17.61 so I don’t know where you just get 13
Hi Renae. Since erythritol is not broken down or absorbed by the body and has zero calories, convention is to count it as zero. I use Fatsecret.com to calculate the nutritional information. Make sure to choose a mayonnaise that has zero carbs when typing in the ingredients. Also, entering the weight of the ingredients in grams always gives you a more accurate count than just using teaspoons, tablespoons, and cups. -Kim
This is so good. I didn’t have mayo, so I used softened cream cheese and it turned out great. I used the whole egg and I also made a frosting out of cream cheese, swerve, cocoa powder and a little vanilla.
Amazing!!!!! I used heavy shipping instead of water. Was so yummy! Sprinkled powdered swerve on top. First microwave recipe i have thought was any good. Most turn out dry or crumbly or just nasty. I highly recommend this one!
I love this recipe! Tonight I added 1 tablespoon of sour cream to it, and it came out super moist. Thanks for posting it.
OMG! This is so good! If you are on Keto you will love this! You will love this even if you are not on Keto! This is so easy & good! 5-Stars! No 10-Stars! Cause it’s so good! yummy yummy ! Donaa
Mine turned out really bitter. Could it be my cocoa powder or should it taste like this?
Hi Mai Linn. Did you use stevia to sweeten? Stevia and chocolate bring out bitter compounds in each other. Is this what happened? -Kim
This was so great. The mayo really helped keep it moist. Will definitely be making this again.
Absolutely delighted with the results of this recipe. My first mug cake ever and esp being on the keto diet, it’s amazing! Thank you!
it was my first time making a mug cake and this was a huge success! I’m already thinking of all the possibilities with it. thank you!
Wow this is good! I was somewhat skeptical after trying multiple mug cake recipes and ending up with an eggy, crumbly mess but this was perfection. It’s moist, chocolatey, and doesn’t taste like egg. (I used egg white instead of egg yolk.) I’m now going to try more of your recipes!
I love this evening quickie! I mixed it up w/o the egg white then decided to stir it in. I think i like it better with the white! I also like adding a pat of butter on top when it’s finished! Love the mayo touch.
Okay, I tried it again with the egg yolk, and in stead of the tbsp of mayo (the last one tasted like mayo was the only ingredient), I did a tsp of mayo and half a tbsp of avocado oil and WOW!!!! 100% recommend trying it with the avocado oil!!! YUM!
I don’t usually comment on recipes but this mug cake is Amazing! like many, I have tried several mug cakes and they always end up being grainy or bitter. This one is absolutely perfection!!!
Only 3Ncarbs, gives me the chance to double up and not feel guilty about it.
Thank you
I have made a few mug cakes and they all suck but WOW THIS WAS AWESOME.
Thank for this one. I added SF chocolate chips on top and a bit of sweetened cream cheese.
I would love for this to be my go-to recipe for a quick sweet treat, but do you have any suggestions for an alternative for the egg yolk/whites?
Hi Amber. I tried to make it without an egg and it didn’t work out. Do you use egg replacer? I don’t have any. It may work? I’m trying to remember my vegetarian days…. maybe 1 tbsp of mashed up silken tofu would work? I really don’t know. Please let me know if you try one of these or have another idea that works. I would love to be able to add a note to the recipe for egg-free folks. -Kim
I tried substituting the yolk for just egg whites & it was no good. That’s why I was trying to experiment with the avocado oil (see above)
Some mayo brands have a more pronounced vinegar flavor than others. I love avocado oil. Others have tried using sour cream instead of mayo. -Kim
It’s possible that silken tofu, or 1/2 a flax or chia egg (1tbsp of the seeds in 2tbsps of hot water) might save the day on this one, you may need to experiment with adding a tiny bit of oil, and try subbing sour cream for mayo if It’s because of an allergy to eggs :) I haven’t tried with tofu before, but the flax egg worked pretty well in a plant-based version I made some time ago (using flax egg, aquafaba mayo and coconut oil…. granted it was the 1st time I rocked this recipe, so didn’t have much to compare to. I’ll be making the not-so-plant-based version as part of a trifle for a v-day dessert with my lover tonight!).
Wow! I have to admit, I’ve tried my share of mug cakes. When this one claimed to not be so spongy/eggy, I was a huge skeptic. I am a believer! Best keto mug cake I’ve ever had. This will definitely be my go to. Topped with chocolate chips and drizzled with a homemade cherry sauce…to DIE for! I’m hooked! Thank you for this recipe!!
This recipe is superb, thank you for sharing. Not only did it hit the spot with me, my sugar-addicted kid said it was “quite good” – that’s really high praise!! I drizzled some ChocZero sugar free syrup on top and it was just divine. Thinking about having this for breakfast tomorrow now…
This recipe is great I added 1 teaspoon of sour cream because I felt the chocolate was a little bitter And it came out perfect
I only had stevia so I added a little more – but this is the BRST mug cake ever! It was moist and delicious and chocolatey. It is seriously the first mug cake that actually tasted like cake – texture is spot on. Added bonus: it doesn’t stick to the mug! Well done!!
This hit the spot for my chocolate craving and I didnt have to wait 30 min for a traditional box cake.This will definitely get me over the hump during my low carb lifestyle .Thanks
This was a really satisfying chocolate cake! Thank you so much. Now I can stick to my low carb lifestyle and still have REAL chocolate cake when the craving strikes!
This is delicious! Truly wonderful recipe! Needed a chocolate fix tonight and this fit the bill in short order. Thank you for sharing!
Hi! I’m so pumped to make this for my Keto hubby and my pregnant belly! However, we don’t own a microwave (obviously, I wear a tin foil hat too) but was curious what your best guess for conventional oven baking instructions might be? Thanks!!
Hi Tiffany. I might do the recipe x 6 and use 3 whole eggs and a total of 1 1/4 tsp of baking powder. Then I would put it into muffin tins and bake at 350 Funtil they looked done. You can freeze them and have them ready when your pregnant belly is craving chocolate! OR you might be able to bake 1 serving in a toaster oven! I might do that instead. In that case, I would set the temp for 325 F and bake for 10-15 minutes? -Kim
Did anyone make these cupcakes in the oven. How much time do they need?
This was awesome! Absolutely delicious. Perfect texture and level of chocolaty goodness. Thanks!
Hi. What of I only have baking soda and not baking powder, will this work? Or what can I substitute for the baking powder? Thank you.
Try using 1/8 tsp baking soda, Patty. -Kim
This definitely felt like I was cheating! I only had olive oil mayo so decided to use sour cream instead which is something I’ve always enjoyed in cakes. I also added PB powder and because I did that, decided to add some heavy cream(maybe a tsp). It came out amazing and so fluffy. Loved that this only called for one egg yolk. I seem to find that many keto recipes(esp breads) come out tasting very eggy and I’m so glad that this did not disappoint. Will be making this for my non-keto hubby when he gets home for dessert. I’m sure he will be just as thankful as I am for the recipe!
Cake for dinner!? When not very hungry (thanks keto!), why not!? Let them eat cake, I say! My gosh this recipe is a keeper! And now I will also be checking out other recipes on your site. Thanks for sharing! Delish!!
Just wanted to say THANK YOU for this amazing recipe – so good especially with come cream! Have made it twice now – have saved me when I wanted something chocolatey!
Omg I love you! This is the first time I’ve ever made a “mug cake”. I wasn’t expecting it to be this good! Maybe I’ve been on keto for too long haha I don’t know, I really really love this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing!
Very tasty and moist. Melted a tsp. of butter over the top when it came out of the microwave. What a yummy treat!
Thanks for the instruction to fluff the almond flour before measuring. I have never been sure how to measure almond flour. Pack or fluff and measure? Should I be doing that for all recipes?
I’m glad you are happy with the cake, Kathy. You should fluff and measure ingredients before measuring with my recipes, for sure! I have seen enough comments on my recipes and other blogs where people mention that a recipe was dry when I know it wasn’t. I think that compacted ingredients is part of the problem – especially with moisture absorbing ingredients like coconut flour, oat fiber, and cocoa powder. Of course oven differences play a part, too. -Kim
Thanks for your quick response. I have been guilty of packing and wondering why my recipe came out dry in the past. I will fluff and measure from now on!
Love, love, love all your recipes I have tried so far. So glad I found you.
Ok this recipe is amazing. I made this last night, and we devoured it in 5 seconds. Then I made a vanilla variation using vanilla instead of water, vital wheat gluten instead of cocoa, and it was also crazy good. Woke up this morning and omitted the sweetener and it became a crazy delicious biscuit for breakfast. Mayonnaise is such a game changer! Wow!
I just started on a LCHF diet and so far, I love the results! I purchased Splenda Naturals sweetener
packets and granulated monk fruit sweetener. Which and how much would you recommend for the mug cake recipe? Thanks in advance!
Hi Colleen, nice to meet you. What a great question. I don’t really know because I have never used the products you mention. My guess is that you would use 1-2 packets (go by taste). -Kim
Wow!!!! Oh my goodness I swear to this is absolutely the best mug cake I’ve eaten . Best texture my far!!! Thanks so much for sharing I’ve had a lot of might cakes and they all seem absolutely mediocre compared to this . You rock for coming up with this !!!
Wow, this was just delicious. I was feeling a bit low today, I have a bad case of keto flu, and my spirits were low and I was questioning if this was a lifestyle I could live with and I found this recipe. Thank you so much. So easy, and so moist rich and the texture is spot on. Thanks again.
Oh, I’m sorry, Ambre. I’m glad the cake helped lift your spirits. Feel better soon! -Kim
Og God, this is so delicious!!! Thanksfor a great cake!!!
This was absolutely amazing!! I followed the recipe exactly and it was scrumptious! I am so happy to have found your blog, Kim! I looked at more of your recipes and I am excited to try many of them. Thank you for sharing your creations with us. I am new to Keto and really only started it to support my husband. I wasn’t sure how long I could last on a low-carb diet, because I love food and I like to cook. Seeing recipes like yours with the gourmet flair combines my love of cooking with the Keto parameters. THANK YOU!!
Hello Anne! It’s nice to meet you. I’m happy you like the recipe and are finding some recipes on the internet that will help you support your husband. Finding recipes for the food you like to eat is key. Thanks for introducing yourself and taking the time to comment. Have a great weekend. -Kim
I love this cake!! I used the Pamela’s baking and pancake mix which is almond meal bc it was on hand. I found it very dry, so I bumped the water amount to 1 tbsp. Go figure. Now I can have fluffy chocolate cake whenever!! So happy with this recipe, Thank you!
Hi Alex. I’m glad you like the cake. I’m surprised you found it to be dry, I think it was either the mix or perhaps your microwave is much stronger than mine? In any case, I’m glad you were able to troubleshoot for your mix. Have a wonderful weekend! -Kim
When I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now whenever a commment
is added I reciege four emails with the exact same comment.
There has to be a way you aare able to remove me from that service?
Thanks a lot!
I’ll look for it and delete your email, Volcano. Maybe that will do the trick. Let me know if you continue to receive them. -Kim
Did you comment under another name and email? I can’t seem to find any more comments by you. If you would prefer, you can email me and I will delete your email from the original comment. Let me know. -Kim
Made this for my wife so she could enjoy her birthday while everybody else enjoyed her birthday cake.
She LOVED it! I also made a small amount of keto whipped cream to put on top. She was really, really happy!
Thanks for a great cake recipe.
Fantastic, Randy. I’m so happy she enjoyed it! Please wish her a belated Happy Birthday for me. Enjoy your day. -Kim
Loved this recipe for a quick treat. Also my littles thought it was delish as well!
Thank the heavens! Finally a yummy keto mug cake. I kissed a lot of frog mug cakes before landing here. Great recipe! Thank you.
Lol! Thanks, Julia. -Kim
This hit the spot and was truly delicious! Thank you!
This just saved me…you have no idea! Love it!
I made this on my birthday as a quick treat for myself l. I wanted to stay keto and not cheat but still have something chocolate. This was perfect. The texture was great and still very moist. I added 2 frozen strawberries before microwaving and topped with whipped cream.
Happy Belated Birthday, Amber! I’m glad you could celebrate with cake and love that you added strawberries to it. Sounds super! -Kim
I can’t believe I just ate chocolate cake while on keto and my carbs for the day are at 18g! There are really no words to describe this cake, you’ll just have to make it and see for yourself. Yum
This is tasty!! I added a dollop of sour cream to the recipe just to experiment and it came out great!!! It actually taste like cake!! I made a little chocolate rum icing to add on top, and what a treat!! This gives me my “bread” fix!!!
This recipe was excellent! I didn’t get to make it with full-fat mayo so mine came out a teensy bit dry but I know it’ll be perfect next time when I can do it right. I want to try sprinkling a bit of espresso powder in too and adding a dollop of whipped cream on top. Can’t wait to make this again!
Could I make this using Splenda? Thank you.. Can’t wait to try this!
Yes, you can Splenda, Marie. I just want to caution you about Splenda, though. There is an erythritol based Splenda now which is a good one to use. The Splenda for Baking (the original formula) is not good to use. It is mostly maltodextrin which has a higher glycemic index than table sugar (85-105 and 68, respectively). Usually food with a high glycemic index spikes blood sugar. A Splenda packet would be better to use than Splenda for Baking as it has less maltodextrin. If you have any questions, please ask. Enjoy the cake. -Kim
This was so good! I’m trying to convince my friend that keto has great options and this helps tremendously! So easy to make and tasted like a traditional chocolate cake.
This mug cake is beyond awesome! Soooo moist! It has become my go to mug cake when craving a little something sweet or just in the mood for something fast and easy to go with my coffee. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe….makes keto that much easier.
I just tried this recipe and the flavor was amazing!! It came out a little on the dry side and I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m at high altitude. I will play with the flour to water ratio to see if that helps. (I also had to use wheat flour as I didn’t have almond flour on hand. Do you think coconut flour would produce the same results as the almond flour?) Thank you for sharing. I will definitely keep trying to perfect this one!! :)
Hi Erica, I’m glad you like the recipe. It might have been dry because you used wheat flour. Almond flour is very moist. I suggest making it as written before playing with it. I have not made an all coconut flour mug cake yet, but have it on my list. Lol. Since I am at 1000 feet above sea level, I have no experience with high altitude cooking and would love to hear if you have any suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Enjoy your week. -Kim
Hi Erica, I just made this with coconut flour and it was pretty good, though a bit dry, but I suspect I let it microwave just a tad too long.
Your recipe looks like a 10-star winner to me, but there is some confusion with how part of it is written.
Question: The Recipe Notes say, in order to quadruple the recipe, to “Use 1/4 cup with 1 egg yolk and 1 tbsp of mayo to make each cake.” This is REALLY confusing. Use 1/4 cup of “what”. And then to use 1 egg yolk for the entire quadruple recipe? When I use the recipe converfter on the recipe itself, it quadruples everything in the recipe! So, which version would be correct?
Also, when typing this question, your website forces us to use an extremely light gray color for the VERY TEENY font that is literally nearly invisible to me, and even though I have a computer with a 27″ screen, I have to really strain to see what I am currently trying to type into this site’s comment window. Many of us readers, of various ages, have low vision due to various causes. This very light gray, very teeny font size, may be fine for you and others with near-perfect or perfect sight, but it is definitely EXTREMELY difficult to read and type for the rest of us.
The type you use for your entire site, as near as I’ve seen so far, is a medium gray, in larger type, and is easier to read, Black fonts, or darker gray fonts with just a little bit more-substantial letters, would help considerably. Could you kindly change these issues to make it SO MUCH easier for ALL of us to read your wonderful recipes? It shouldn’t bother your fans who are lucky enough to have great vision; plus, I am certain that those of us with low vision issues would all be SO grateful!! :)
Hi Cheryl. I love this kind and helpful comment. I have tried to make the instructions regarding keeping the mix on hand a little more clear. I hope it reads better.
Regarding the font and color of the comment section. I see what you mean. I used to be able to change things like this, but I see my theme no longer lets me do this. I will see if I can get a professional hard code this for me. I absolutely agree that it is too small and too hard to read. I hope you have a wonderful week. -Kim
Tried this tonight after seeing the recipe earlier today. Definitely worth trying if you just have a hankering for some cake. I am more of a lazy keto guy. I typically just eat 0 carb meats, eggs, and a little cheese. Very little vegetables. This has more carbs than I am really comfortable with, but it did satisfy my sweet tooth desire, and I will definitely do it again.
My absolute favorite keto dessert! I love how quick it is to make and you can’t over eat since it is only 1 serving.
Thanks, Lori! I’m glad you like the recipe. Enjoy your week. -Kim
Thank you for sharing this was great!
I’m looking to fulfill my sweet treats with my coffee in the morning, I work in an office and the are donuts almost daily and I miss that with my coffee! Anyways, there isn’t really a wonderful area at work to mix these ingredients there, but I’d be so curious to know what you thought if I mixed the ingredients a couple hours in advanced and kept it in the fridge. Would 50 seconds still be the right time?
Two things, Abby. First, I make up 6-8 small jars of the cake mix at a time in small jam jars and keep them in the cupboard. I guess you could add the egg yolk and mayonnaise to the mix before you bring it to work and mix before you cook it. You could also cook it before work and just gently reheat before eating. I don’t know what would happen if it sat for a long time before baking. I remember reading old cook books introducing calumet baking powder which said that cakes could be mixed hours in advance before baking, so you may be alright? You may need to experiment which idea works best for you. Enjoy the cake. -Kim
I’m getting 21 total carbs for this recipe. How are you keeping it down to 7 total?
Hi Marsha. It sounds like your program is counting the sugar alcohols as carbs. I used fatsecret.com and I do not count the erythritol since it is zero calorie, zero carb and is not absorbed by the body. Also, be careful which mayonnaise you choose. Some of them have added sugar so choose one that has zero carbs. -Kim
I use the Swerve Erythritol and it has 3 carbs per tsp which would make it 9 carbs! I use fatsecret.com also and it counted all those little carbs. What Erythritol do you use?
Hi Jodi. Erythritol has no effectual carbs. It is not digested in the body and is therefore a zero calorie and zero carb product. Don’t count the sugar alcohols in erythritol. Convention on low carb/keto blogs is to not include the numbers for erythritol. -Kim
This is the BEST keto mug cake! Tastes just like real cake. Really hit the spot. I’ve had recipes that call for both almond and coconut flour and it was too dry!
Gonna try this – but I am not a baker lol. What would a whole egg & mayo result be?
Hi Marie. You will have a tall, tough, and eggy cake. That is why I used just the egg yolk. This recipe took me many, many times to get just like a regular cake. I did make the recipe with just 1 egg white and the mayo and it was also good, not as perfect as the yolk version, but very good and much better than using a whole egg. I hope this helps. -Kim
thanks for the recipe, did it this morning in the microwave, it was very good ! Tried again tonight and baked it in the oven and it was delicious !
Very good.
This is really great. I’d tried the mug cake previously with a whole egg and it was just so eggy. This is great, and a nice use of any extra egg yolks you might get in other recipes. Used this for birthday cake and we all enjoyed it. A great ni guilt treat.
Thank you,
What would be a good substitute for mayonnaise? My husband hates it and can taste it even if there’s just a tiny bit.
Hi Dinah. I’ve been thinking about this and trying to come up with something that would be just as easy, but have failed. I bet some mashed avocado and subbing the water with oil would work. You could also try just 1 tbsp of oil for the mayo and keep the water. I haven’t tested this version, but it may work. Simply using the yolk instead of the whole egg was a big improvement. Please let me know if either of these two suggestions work and I’ll add it to the recipe notes. Have a wonderful Sunday. -Kim
Try replacing 1 T of almond flour with 1T of THM or Lifesource oat fiber to lower the carbs even more.
Yes, Holly, oat fiber is just under 1 gram of carbs and just under 1 gram of fiber per tablespoon (4 tbsp = 3g carbs/3g fiber). I suggest adding 1 tsp of oil along with the 1 tsp water because it’s just a touch drier when subbing 1 tbsp of oat fiber for 1 tbsp of almond flour – I just tried it. Thank you for your suggestion. -Kim
Of course I had to discover this during a bout of insomnia at 3am. Will have to try for breakfast!
Lol! Doesn’t that figure? Enjoy the recipe. -Kim
How can I make this yummy cake without microwaving. I do not own one and never will but please tell me it’s still possible to make my cake and eat it too.
It should be possible, Charlene. I would bake at 350 until done. I can’t give you a time because I haven’t tried it yet. You might use a toaster oven. If you do, then put the heat at 325. Good luck. -Kim
Can this also be baked in a toaster oven rather than using the microwave? Loving your website, thank you!
I would think so, Audrey, but I haven’t tried. I would set the heat at 325 and bake until done. I don’t know if it would take 15 minutes or more? -Kim
This looks delicious… Planning to make it later. You mentioned adding the egg white tocream cheese clouds, But I don’t see a recipe for that. Can you help me? Thank you so much
Hi Sheryl. Cream cheese clouds are just sweetened equal amounts of whipped cream cheese and whipped cream folded together then frozen. If you aren’t afraid of raw whites, you could also fold the egg white into the “cloud”. -Kim
Thank you, I will make this delightful recipe this morning!
Kim, so glad to have a recipe to use all the egg yolks left after making your psyllium flax bread! Now I have the best of both worlds….perfect use for both the whites AND now the yolks.. Can’t wait to try this as I have always thought the mugs cakes that did not use something like peanut butter were too dry. This sounds like a great fix. Will be on the menu tonight for sure.
Great, Deborah. I’ll have to add some egg yolk ideas to the bread post for those folks who use whole eggs instead of store bought egg whites. I hope you enjoy the cake. -Kim
This really is the best mug cake I have ever tried! The texture is so light and airy you’d never guess it was a microwave mug cake. I devoured the first one while it was still warm. And then I made two more. Served them with whipped cream, sugar free chocolate sauce and chopped roasted almonds. Hubby loved it!
And he didn’t bat an eyelid when I told him there was mayo in the batter. I guess he was too busy stuffing his face.
BTW, I also tried it with defatted peanut flour (12% fat) instead of almond flour and it was equally good. Rose a bit higher and was even lighter.
Thank you for an amazing recipe!
Thanks for bringing this comment over from Facebook, Morgen. I’m so glad you and your husband like it, too. I did two very similar mug cake recipes for Sukrin USA, one of them with peanut flour, and you are right – the texture is so nice with it! Thanks again for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe. I really appreciate it. Have a wonderful day. -Kim