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. Want more like this? Try high-protein chocolate mousse or whip up some Kodiak Cakes pumpkin muffins.
Key Ingredients
The chocolate mug cake is moist, gooey, and packed with 27 grams per serving, depending on your protein powder. Here’s what you need to get started.
- Coconut Oil: Prepare the mug or ramekin with melted coconut oil to prevent the cake from sticking.
- Egg: Eggs provide structure and bind the ingredients together.
- Milk: Include milk or water in the batter since almond flour absorbs differently than all-purpose flour and other flour. Experiment with regular milk, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk to find what you like.
- Almond Flour: Use blanched almond flour, made from almonds with the skins removed, for the best results. I prefer blanched almond flour for baking because it produces a lighter batter, making the mug cake less dense.
- Protein Powder: Flavor the mug cake with your favorite chocolate protein powder. The best type of protein powder depends on your budget, diet, and personal preferences, but here are a few suggestions. I use chocolate Truvani protein powder, whereas my husband makes his with chocolate Optimum Nutrition protein powder.
- Cocoa Powder: Add color and decadent flavor with Dutch-process cocoa powder.
- Monk Fruit: Sweeten the high-protein snack with a sugar-free option like monk fruit or replace it with bananas, honey, agave syrup, maple syrup, or light brown sugar.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder lifts the batter, giving the cake a fluffy texture.
- Chocolate Chips: Mix dark chocolate chips into the batter and use them as a topping.
Additions and Substitutions
Customize your chocolate mug cake with protein powder and other mix-ins. The flavor of the protein powder you use changes the taste of the cake, so feel free to experiment and find a flavor and brand you love.
How to Make Protein Mug Cake
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Warm the coconut oil in a mug or ramekin until melted (but not boiling) for 20-30 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.
Step 2: Add the egg and almond milk and stir to combine.
Step 3: Then, mix in the remaining ingredients until smooth and free of clumps.
Step 4: Top the cake with a few more chocolate chips and microwave for 60-80 seconds.
Expert Tips
- Give the cake extra room. Use a large microwave-safe mug or divide the batter into two ramekins since the batter will expand in the microwave.
- Microwave in increments. I recommend cooking the cake a little at a time to understand how your microwave cooks. I usually microwave 60-80-second seconds at a time until the cake is cooked.
- Test the cake. Insert a toothpick or a fork into the mug cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
If you enjoy chocolatey protein mug cake, try more dessert recipes!
Protein Mug Cake
- Coffee Mug or Ramekins
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons milk or water
- 3 tablespoons blanched almond flour
- 2 tablespoons chocolate protein powder
- 1 teaspoon Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon golden monk fruit
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar-free chocolate chips
- Warm the coconut oil in a mug or ramekin until melted (but not boiling) for 20-30 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.
- Then, mix in the remaining ingredients until smooth and free of clumps.
- Top the cake with a few more chocolate chips and microwave for 60-80 seconds.
- Give the cake extra room. Use a large microwave-safe mug or divide the batter into two ramekins since the batter will expand in the microwave.
- Microwave in increments. I recommend cooking the cake a little at a time to understand how your microwave cooks. I usually microwave 60-80-second seconds at a time until the cake is cooked.
- Test the cake. Insert a toothpick or a fork into the mug cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready.
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.