Keto Birthday Mug Cake

By
Ariane Resnick
headshot for ariane resnick
Ariane Resnick
Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author who takes great joy in shattering the image of what, and how, nutritionists eat.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/13/23
Keto Mug Birthday Cake

Natalya Mamaeva / Getty Images

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 1 mins
Total: 6 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 mug cake
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
345 Calories
30g Fat
11g Carbs
11g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 345
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 38%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 234mg 78%
Sodium 679mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 247mg 19%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 246mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Most days of the year aren't your birthday, but that doesn't mean you don't deserve a mini birthday cake regardless. Mug cakes are one of the easiest and quickest ways to enjoy a festive dessert treat. They're individually sized cakes that are mixed without much equipment, then baked in a microwave. From start to finish, a mug cake is ready to eat just a few minutes, making it the ideal treat to satisfy hangry cravings.

Typically wheat flour and sugar are the base for mug cakes, but we've swapped the wheat flour for a blend of almond and coconut, and the sugar for a noncaloric granular sweetener to make this keto friendly.

While this vanilla cake is perfect on its own and has a fun birthday vanilla feel, adding sprinkles will enhance its party vibe. There are numerous brands of sugar-free, keto-diet friendly sprinkles available online.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons almond flour

  • 1 tablespoon coconut flour

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon keto granulated sweetener

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream

  • 1 tablespoon keto sprinkles, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather all the ingredients.

  2. Mix all of the dry ingredients in a small microwavable mug or bowl. Add the wet ingredients and stir well to combine. Gently stir in the sprinkles, if using.

  3. Microwave the cake on high for 1 minute. Let cool slightly before eating. Serve on its own or topped with a keto-friendly whipped cream or frosting.

Recipe TIps

  • The most common issue for mug cake is overcooking, making the cake dry. To make sure your cake is moist, begin by microwaving the cake for 45 seconds instead of 1 minute. Add 5 second increments after that, in case a full 60 seconds is too long.
  • Because the vanilla is the main flavor of this cake, it's helpful to use a high-quality extract. Choose real vanilla over an artificial vanilla flavor if possible. Additionally, an alcohol-based extract will have a more true vanilla taste than a glycerin-based vanilla flavoring.

Mix It Up!

You can stir in a variety of goodies and mix-ins to the batter before microwaving. Items that work well and keep this keto friendly include:

  • 1 tablespoon sugar-free white chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon sugar-free dark chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon crushed nuts, such as pecans or walnuts
  • 1/2 teaspoon small seeds, such as sesame or poppy seed

Top It Off!

  • If you'd like to frost this cake, let it cool for at least five minutes before doing so.
  • The quickest option that would work well for frosting is heavy cream whipped with a powdered keto sweetener.
  • If you'd like to take the time to make frosting, try one of these (note that you will have at least two servings extra on hand for future mug cakes):
  • Sugar-Free Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Keto Chocolate Mousse