My 5-ingredient Paleo 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 Paleo 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.
Paleo 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 Paleo 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 Paleo Mug Cake with these amazing toppings!
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Rosamond says
Excellent recipe! I used ramekins instead of mugs. I also added just a pinch of sea salt. One of the great charms of mug cake is everything mixes in the mug, so there’s little clean up. That said, I chose to whisk the maple syrup and egg together till frothy, then added them to the dry ingredients. It made it a smidge easier to incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry. So I had one small metallic mixing bowl and one balloon whisk to wash. NBD.
Elana says
Rosamond, thanks for letting me know this was excellent!
Karen says
Oh my, Elana, this mug cake is to die for. I have tried a few gf mug chocolate cakes recipes, none come close to this one. The texture is so light it almost melts in my mouth. The only substitute I made was xylitol for the honey. This recipe is simple, easy and delicious. As you other recipe, it uses simple, on hand ingredients. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Elana says
Karen, I’m so happy this mug cake was to die for and that none come close to it :-)
Elizabeth says
To make one little cup to BAKE in an oven, especially during the summer months, is over kill. I have learned to use the microwave for all my one-mug cooking. Usually takes 1 to 5 mins max for most items, even a small meat loaf. Cooking in a two-cup mug helps to control intake! So, I would think that if the micro has a “cook” button, then this should cook in 1 minute, at the most 15 secs more. If no “cook” button, I turn the power down to about 5 & then cook. There may be a little moisture on the top but not much. Also, I have a small bowl for mixing, including a small whip beater and a small scraper & I coat the mug with coconut oil – spray version – before I pour in the batter. Use a straight-wall mug. This allows me to slice the cake, or meat loaf or bread into nice round pieces and to control my calories. If all I had was my microwave & electric pressure cooker, I can do just fine with food! As for maple syrup, I discovered s brand of no-calorie items & I use their no-calorie chocolate syrup, works great, especially when making chocolate mousse with an avocado!
Elana says
Thanks so much Elizabeth! I appreciate your perspective :-)
Naomi says
Can you info about the no-calorie chocolate syrup?
Li says
Can this be made with coconut flour as I am allergic to almonds? Thank you.
Elana says
Li, thanks for your comment. I haven’t tried that so not sure. Here’s a link to my Nut-Free Recipes page for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/nut-free/
Enjoy!
Elana
Bianca says
Almond flour (not almond meal). ?????
In Australia we only have almond meal and blanched almond meal (without skins)
Elana says
Bianca, thanks for your comment! For more on that please go here:
https://elanaspantry.com/ingredients/almond-flour/
Enjoy!
Elana
Sarah says
Yummy, fast, easy treat. I added a pinch of salt, just because I always do with baked things. Other than that, the only thing I will do differently next time is butter my mug. My cake stuck pretty well, and a good scraping was necessary to get the cup clean! This is a fun thing to be able to throw together after the kids go to bed :)
Elana says
Sarah, I’m so happy to hear this was fast, easy, and yummy!
Rosita Thibodeaux says
Elana thank you for this yummy little chocolate fix. I made this last night and it was just perfect for a quick easy snack. I will make it today, add dark chocolate chips and double it so I can bake it in a little stone casserole dish ?. I just ❤️ the the ease and brilliance of your recipes and I appreciate you sharing them with us.
Elana says
Rosita, you’re welcome! I’m so happy to hear it was just perfect!
Claudia says
This would work as a steamed cake, too! I’m going to try it tomorrow.
Elana says
Claudia, thanks for your comment. Please let us know if your experiment works :-)
Jayne Schoonover says
I too tried your mug cake. Loved the consistency. When I make it again I will add a pinch of sea salt. Great easy and quick treat. Thank you.
Elana says
Jayne, I’m so glad you loved this!
Joe says
Hi Elana. Regarding the type of mug you used, you reference using the mug in the picture. Could you be more specific? Is it a regular ceramic mug? Knowing the type of mug to use will be helpful. Can’t wait to try this.
Joe
Elana says
Hi Joe, if you click the green text that says “mug” in the instructions portion of the recipe you will be given that info :-)
Joe says
Ahhhhh, ok thank you.
Elana says
You’re welcome Joe! Happy to help :-)
Marlynn Chetkof says
I am a potter. Mugs are fired in a kiln at very high temperatures…higher than 350 degrees. You would be safe using any type of mug for this.
Elana says
Thanks Marlynn!
Barb Peer says
I made this last night it was great. Is there a substitute for the chocolate as I bake for my grandson and he cannot have chocolate or carob….I tried it without the choc. and it was not good…
Elana says
Barb, I haven’t tried that so not sure. I’m so glad to hear this was great :-)
Ayelet says
Hey Barb Peer, do you put the ceramic mug in the oven when it’s hot, or do you need to put it in a cold oven, and let it warm with the oven? I’ve once put a handmade casserole in a hot oven, and it cracked… Thanks
Kim Hassur says
Thank you for the recipe. I’ve been making various muffin in a cup recipes for a few years now but typically with ground flax instead of almond flour and baking powder instead of soda. I look forward to giving this one a try:).
Elana says
Thanks Kim!