My 5-ingredient Gluten Free Mug Cake is the perfect single sized treat. Make this when you’re craving dessert, but don’t want to take time to bake a full cake. This simple recipe calls for almond flour, cacao powder, egg, maple syrup, and baking soda, and will satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way!
We love mug cake! It’s so cute that I had to make my own gluten-free Paleo Mug Cake so that we could indulge in this fun trend. Many mug cakes are baked in a microwave. I don’t like to microwave my food, let alone my body, so I bake this cake in the oven. Yes, finally a no microwave mug cake!
I think it’s funny that so many of the same people who wouldn’t ever heat their food in a microwave, hold a phone (which uses the same technology) to their head all day. For more on how I’m reducing my exposure to microwave radiation, also known as radio frequency radiation (RFR), you’ll want to see my write up on Simple Steps to Reduce EMF’s.
But back to fun stuff, like this Gluten Free Mug Cake! I used a 10 ounce mug to make this healthy little cake and bought these cute cat mugs online. If you use a mug that is bigger, it will seem like your cake did not rise enough. Really though, the issue with using an oversize mug, larger than the one I recommend, is that the batter will not fill it.
Gluten Free Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- In a
mug, combine almond flour, cacao powder, and baking soda - Mix in maple syrup and egg until thoroughly combined
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 min
- Serve
Equipment
Since this is an almond flour mug cake it is the moistest you will ever have. My Gluten Free Mug Cake is not dry like all of the other mug cakes out there. I worked on this recipe for over a year to get it just right for you.
Serve my Gluten Free Mug Cake with these amazing toppings!
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Lorraine says
Hi!
Thanks for the recipe, this looks great! I’m just wondering if there’s something I can substitute for the maple syrup. Is the syrup used just as a sweetener? If I used powdered stevia instead, would that affect the texture of the cake?
Thanks!!!
Elana says
Lorraine, thanks for your comment. I haven’t tried that so not sure, if you do experiment please let us know how it goes :-)
Davishi says
Can we use a coconut floor instead of almond floor?
Elana says
Davishi, unfortunately that won’t work. For more information on the difference between almond flour and coconut flour go here:
https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-baking-almond-flour-vs-coconut-flour/
Enjoy!
Elana
donna says
Thanks so much for an oven cooked mug cake. I have removed the “nuker” from my life but love the convenience of these mug cakes. You are wonderful!
Elana says
Donna, you’re welcome!
Joanna says
This was delicious! I actually made it with 1 tbsp of PB2 peanut butter powder in place of the cocoe powder because I was in a peanut butter mood. I also mixed in a square of chopped dark chocolate. I microwaved it for 50 seconds and it was like a creamy peanut butter souffle!! Definitely a keeper and will be making this again! Thank you for the very easy recipe, Elana!
Elana says
Joanna, thanks for letting me know this recipe is very easy, delicious, and a keeper!
Gillian says
Just made this in under 2 minutes in the microwave (including prep time) and it was wonderful! Just the sweet fix I was needing after lunch, I will definitely be making it again, and maybe one for my husband next time lol.
Elana says
Gillian, I’m so happy to hear that this was wonderful!
Anna says
Super easy and delicious … I prefer the oven too!
This is perfect for just my husband and me — fresh and hot from the oven whenever we want it.
Also — we live in the mountains at 9k feet … no altitude issues. :)
Elana says
Anna, I’m so happy to hear this was super easy and delicious!
Brina Silverman says
I found it dry and tasteless. I realize I am the only one. Just telling my truth.
Elana says
Thanks for your comment Brina! I’d be happy to help you troubleshoot this so that you can get perfect results like everyone else :-)
Rene Cawley says
I found your recipe and I didn’t realize this was for the oven and not the microwave. I didn’t want to chance putting my mug in the oven. I popped this in the microwave until it raised up and looked done. Very easy and delicious. I will be pinning this so I can try it again. Maybe next time in the oven. :)
Elana says
Rene, I’m so happy to hear this was easy and delicious!
Marcia says
Tried this for the first time tonight – it was fantastic!!!
Elana says
Marica, thanks so much! I’m glad to hear this was fantastic!
marci says
I’m so bummed – I made this but it was dry, kinda salty and not at all what I expected (I was thinking brownie-like deliciousness) . I poured a bit of bourbon on :) it and ate it anyway with some whipped cream. I don’t know what I did wrong- the recipe is simple. Perhaps my Trader Joe’s ingredients aren’t the best for this :( But will that stop me? I will try again!
Elana says
Marci, so funny that this was salty since there is no salt in the recipe. If you follow the recipe and use the ingredients and brands that I use it will turn out perfectly :-)
Beba says
Hi Elana,
Thanks for this recipe for oven baked mug cakes! I felt genuinely excited when I read the article. I used to make them in the microwave – even bought this gorgeous mug cake book the previous year which I’ll have to get rid of? not sure of yet – I’ll see if I can just bake them in the oven instead. I’ve really missed my mug cakes from last winter. I used to put a few chopped dates in my mine, the texture it gave was just YUM. It never occured to me to try baking them in the oven (after I decided to flick the mircrowave oven last year while I reading an article from Dr Mercola about how bad microwaves are on food and your digestion – just glad I never really used the microwave that much). There was something child like about eating a cake out of mug that always way put a smile on my face – the adult in me thinks it was because I could mix and cook in the same dish which also appeals to me, less to wash. WIN WIN in my opinion. Just have to wait for summer’s heatwave to finish here in Sydney before I’m brave enough to turn on the oven. It’s Autumn next Wednesday so I won’t have wait long!! Thanks for giving me a bit more joy with my diet. Take care.
Regards,
Beba
Elana says
Beba, thanks for your wonderfully thoughtful comment!
Beba says
Hi Elana,
Just made your recipe for mug cakes today and it worked wonderfully! I used a large mug so the cake looked small – I’ll just add an extra 1/2 of all the ingredients to reach the top of the mug when its baked……more to eat : )) mmmmmm. I cooked mine at 160 C which is lower than your temp. Thanks again, winter wont feel so bleak now that I can have my mug cakes again!
Take care,
Beba
Elana says
Thanks Beba! So glad you enjoyed the cake :-)