Kristen Fleming holds a Master of Science in Nutrition. Over her 8 years of experience in dietetics, she has made significant contributions in clinical, community, and editorial settings. With 2 years as a clinical dietitian in an inpatient setting, 2 years in community health education, and 4 years of editorial experience focusing on nutrition and health-related content, Kristen's expertise is multifaceted.
Craving something sweet but don’t want to blow your diet? Mug cakes to the rescue! These simple, single-serving cakes can be made in just a few minutes and are the perfect way to enjoy a little bit of dessert without going overboard. But how many calories does a mug cake have? It depends. A regular chocolate chip mug cake recipe has about 350 calories, but by using low-fat ingredients and cutting back on the sugar, you can easily reduce that number. If you’re looking for an even lower calorie option, check out these 10 recipes for low calorie mug cakes. These mug cakes are all under 250 calories, and some are even under 200!
At only 106.9 calories per serving, this healthy mug cake is perfect for anyone watching their weight. It’s made with unsweetened almond milk, all-purpose flour, and unsweetened cocoa powder as the main ingredients, so it’s relatively low in sugar as well.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
2 tablespoons Unsweetened Almond Milk – or milk of choice
1 ½ tablespoon Granulated Sweetener (sugar free erythritol)
1 tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1 teaspoon Melted Coconut Oil
¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 tablespoon Sugar-Free Dark Chocolate Chips
Instructions:
In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips.
Pour the mixture into a greased mug or ramekin.
Top with the chocolate chips.
Microwave on high for 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds, or until you see the cake start to pull away from the sides of the mug.
This skinny 3-2-1 mug cake is inspired by the diet angel food cake mix. It’s a super simple and low calorie option that only requires 3 steps (hence the name) and a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
To make this skinny mug cake, you’ll add 3 level tablespoons of dry cake mix, 2 level tablespoons of water and microwave the mixture for 1 minute.
To make your own cake 3-2-1 cake mix, start by mixing 16 ounces of angel food cake mix with a similar quantity of ordinary cake mix. Store this in an airtight container and use 3 tablespoons of the mixture per mug when you’re ready to make your cake.
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons 3-2-1 cake mix
2 tablespoons water
Instructions:
Coat the inside of a coffee mug with nonstick cooking spray. Add the cake mix and water to the mug and stir until well blended.
Microwave on high for 1 minute or until the center is set. Let stand in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes until slightly cooled before serving.
Serve plain or top with a dollop of light whipped topping and/or fresh berries, if desired.
At 170 calories per serving, this very vanilla delight is one of the heavier entries on our list. But it’s still a far cry from the 350 calories in a regular chocolate chip mug cake. This recipe uses fat-free vanilla yogurt and cake mix to create a moist and flavorful cake.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt
1/4 cup Vanilla Cake Mix
Instructions:
In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt and cake mix until well blended.
Pour the mixture into a greased mug or ramekin.
Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until you see the cake start to pull away from the sides of the mug.
Let the cake cool for 1 minute before eating.
Top with a dollop of light whipped topping and/or fresh berries, if desired.
Deliciously moist and only 159 calories, this banana pudding cocoa mug cake is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. It’s made with ripe bananas, eggs, Truvia baking blend, and unsweetened cocoa powder as the main ingredients.
This chocolate and peanut butter mug cake is a gooey and delicious treat that’s perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. It’s made with just a few simple ingredients including applesauce instead of oil to help keep it moist and low calorie.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons PB2 powder
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon applesauce (unsweetened)
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons granulated Splenda
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon mini chocolate chips
Instructions:
In a coffee mug, whisk together the PB2 powder and water until smooth.
Stir in the applesauce, egg yolk, Splenda, flour and baking powder until well blended.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Spray the top of the mug cake with nonstick cooking spray.
Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until the cake is firm to the touch and pulls away from the sides of the mug.
Let the cake cool for 1 minute before eating.
Top with a sugar-free chocolate syrup or a dollop of light whipped topping, if desired.
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With just 3 ingredients and 135 calories, this microwave mug pineapple cake is a quick and easy way to enjoy a sweet treat. It’s made with crushed pineapple, yellow cake mix, and egg white.
Rice Krispies are a childhood favorite and this mug cake is inspired by those classic crispy rice bars. It’s made to satisfy your cravings without all the sugar and calories. At just 104 calories, it’s a great way to enjoy a sweet treat.
Ingredients:
18 mini marshmallows
1-½ teaspoons light butter
½ cup Crispy Rice Cereal
Instructions:
Spray a microwave-safe coffee mug with nonstick cooking spray.
In the mug, microwave the marshmallows and butter on high for 30 to 45 seconds, or until the marshmallows are melted and can be stirred into a smooth mixture.
Stir in the crushed cereal until well blended.
Microwave on high for 15 to 20 seconds or until the cereal is crispy.
Filling, hearty and satisfying, this oatmeal mug muffin is a great way to start your day. It’s made with quick-cooking oats that are rich in fiber and protein to help keep you feeling full.
The raisins add a touch of sweetness and the muffin can be easily customized with your favorite mix-ins. At 186 calories per serving, this mug cake is slightly higher in calories than the others in this article, but still lower than a traditional muffin.
Just 3 ingredients and 1 minute is all you need to make this rich and decadent flourless chocolate cake. It’s dense and fudgy with a deep chocolate flavor. At 100 calories, this naturally paleo, gluten-free, and sugar-free mug cake is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth. It can also be made vegan if desired.
Ingredients:
1 small extra ripe banana almost brown is perfect
1 small egg for the vegan option, use 1 flax egg
1-3 tablespoon dark cocoa powder (I like a rich taste and usually go 3 T)
1-2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice (optional)
1/4 cup dairy free milk (optional)
Optional ingredients:
1/4 cup mixed berries
1-2 tablespoon maple syrup or agave nectar
Chocolate chips to top
Instructions:
Spray a coffee mug with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a small bowl, stir the chocolate chips and milk together until well blended.
Add the cocoa powder, sweetener and egg and stir until well blended.
Microwave on high for 1 minute or until cooked through. The cake will be very moist so be careful not to overcook it.
Note – you may use a high speed blender or food processor to blend the ingredients together until smooth. However, for the vegan/flax egg option, I’d recommend using the fork and whisk method as opposed to a blender.
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This super-fluffy, chocolate mug cake is made without eggs and has a rich chocolate flavor. It’s low in carbs and calories, making it a great choice for those following a ketogenic diet. This can also be made vegan if desired.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon coconut flour
1 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon almond butter
3 tablespoon unsweetened applesauce (can use pumpkin puree)
1-2 tablespoon milk of choice (I used coconut milk)
1 tablespoon chocolate chips of choice (Optional)
Instructions:
In a coffee mug, whisk the cocoa powder, coconut flour, sweetener and baking powder together until well blended.
Add the almond butter and applesauce and stir until well blended.
Stir in the milk until desired consistency is reached. The batter should be thick but pourable. If it’s too thick, add a little more milk.
Microwave on high for 1 to 1½ minutes or until the cake is cooked through. The cake will be very moist so be careful not to overcook it.
Let cool for 1 to 2 minutes before eating.
The Bottom Line
Mug cakes are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without overindulging. They’re quick and easy to make, and can be customized to fit your dietary needs. Whether you’re keto, gluten-free, or just looking for a lower calorie treat, there’s a mug cake recipe out there for you.
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