Satisfy your sweet tooth with a chocolate protein mug cake! The tasty dessert combines protein powder, healthy ingredients, and natural sweeteners for a convenient, single-serve mug cake. Try more grab-and-go snacks like protein overnight oats, high protein chocolate mousse, or Kodiak Cakes pumpkin muffins.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
- The protein mug cake comes together in minutes, a perfect on-the-go treat for a busy lifestyle.
- Prepare the treat any time of the day, dessert, breakfast, or even as a post-workout snack.
- The chocolate mug cake is moist, gooey, and packed with protein (27 grams), depending on the protein powder you choose.
- Plus, it’s sugar-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Coconut Oil: Use coconut oil to prevent the cake from sticking to the mug.
- Egg: Eggs provide structure and bind the ingredients together.
- Almond Milk: Include milk in the batter since almond flour doesn’t absorb like traditional flour. You can use almond milk as I do or other milk choices, like dairy, oat, soy, or coconut milk.
- Almond Flour: For best results, use blanched almond flour, made from almonds with the skins removed; I like them for baking because they produce a lighter batter.
- Chocolate Protein Powder: Flavor the cake with chocolate protein powder. Truvani Plant Protein Powder is the one I use since it is dairy-free, but use what you have.
- Cocoa Powder: Add color and rich, decadent flavor using cocoa powder.
- Monk Fruit: I use monk fruit for a few reasons. I always have it in my pantry, and it doesn’t leave a strange aftertaste.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder adds lift to the batter, giving it a fluffy, cake-like texture.
- Chocolate Chips: Mix delicious dark chocolate chips into the cake and use them as a topping.
Additions and Substitutions
Customize your chocolate mug cake with protein powder and other ingredients to meet your macros and dietary preferences.
- Protein: I use this plant-based protein powder because of allergies, but use what you have. And you can change the flavor of the cake depending on the protein powder you use.
- Sweetener: Naturally sweeten the cake with banana, or use brown sugar, stevia, coconut sugar, or allulose.
- Eggs: Make the recipe vegan using apple sauce, banana, or nut butter instead of eggs.
How to Make Protein Mug Cake
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Warm coconut oil in a mug or ramekin until it’s melted (but don’t let it get hot) for 20-30 seconds.
Step 2: Stir the egg and almond milk into the mug.
Step 3: Then, add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
Step 4: Top the cake with a few more chocolate chips and microwave for 60-80 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.
Expert Tips
- Use a large microwave-safe mug since the batter will expand in the microwave, or divide the batter into two ramekins for sharing.
- Stir the ingredients until the batter is smooth.
- Microwave in intervals for 60-80 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.
- Use a toothpick or a fork to check the doneness of the mug cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
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Serving Suggestions
Elevate your dessert game with this protein mug cake recipe. I top mine with chocolate chips, but the mix-ins and toppings are half the fun. Toppings like whipped cream, chocolate sauce, or nut butter are delicious. You can add in ingredients like chopped nuts for crunch and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is protein mug cake healthy?
Protein mug cake is a tasty alternative to traditional cakes that combines ingredients like protein powder, almond flour, almond milk, and natural sweeteners. Include the quick and easy dessert as a part of a well-balanced diet since protein mug cakes provide a high-protein, portion-controlled snack to meet your macros and satisfy your sweet tooth.
Can I make this recipe in the air fryer?
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (176°C) and cook it for 10-15 minutes. I suggest preparing the protein mug cake in two ramekins if you decide to using the air fryer.
How many calories are in a mug cake?
The calories depend on the ingredients you include, but one serving of this protein mug cake recipe is 488 calories with 27 grams of protein.
More Mug Cake Recipes:
Protein Mug Cake
- Coffee Mug or Ramekins
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons almond milk, unsweetened
- 3 tablespoons almond flour, blanched
- 2 tablespoons chocolate protein powder
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon Monk Fruit sweetener
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons Lily's Chocolate Chips sugar-free, plus more for garnish.
- Warm coconut oil in a mug or ramekin until it's melted (but don't let it get hot) for 20-30 seconds.
- Stir the egg and almond milk into the mug. Then, add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
- Top the cake with a few more chocolate chips and microwave for 60-80 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.
- Use a large microwave-safe mug since the batter will expand in the microwave, or divide the batter into two ramekins for sharing.
- Stir the ingredients until the batter is smooth.
- Microwave in intervals for 60-80 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.
- Use a toothpick or a fork to check the doneness of the mug cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.
Alex
Friday 26th of May 2023
Highly recommended! Great for your gym goals.
Tressa Jamil
Saturday 27th of May 2023
That's what we use it for too. Wishing you will on your health journey!
Emily Thompson
Friday 26th of May 2023
This protein mug cake is a guilt-free treat. The protein powder and natural sweeteners make it a healthier alternative, and the single-serving size is perfect.
Tressa Jamil
Saturday 27th of May 2023
I am happy this recipe worked out for you, enjoy!
Rick
Monday 13th of February 2023
This was an easy and delicious way to prepare a pre-workout breakfast. Thank you.
Tressa Jamil
Monday 13th of February 2023
Never tried it as a pre-workout breakfast; may have you try it.