Easy Low-Sugar Chocolate Mug Cake
Sometimes you want chocolate cake. You just don’t want an entire chocolate cake sitting on the counter afterward.
That is exactly why I love a mug cake.
This one is rich, chocolatey and fudgy, takes only a few minutes from start to finish, and makes exactly one serving. The applesauce keeps it moist without needing oil or butter, and a few sugar-free chocolate chips on top make it feel like a real dessert instead of a “diet” substitute.
Best of all, there is almost nothing to clean up.
Fudgy Chocolate Mug Cake
Makes: 1 serving
Prep time: About 2 minutes
Cook time: 50–70 seconds
Ingredients
- 2½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1–2 tablespoons granulated sugar-free sweetener, to taste
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoons nonfat milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon sugar-free chocolate chips
Directions
In a microwave-safe mug, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar-free sweetener, baking powder and salt.
Add the applesauce, nonfat milk and vanilla. Stir until the batter is smooth and there are no dry pockets remaining.
Sprinkle the sugar-free chocolate chips over the top.
Microwave for 50–70 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.
Mine is perfect at 60 seconds.
The center should be cooked but still soft and fudgy. Be careful not to overcook it — another 15 or 20 seconds can make a big difference with a mug cake.
Let it sit for a minute before digging in. The mug and cake will both be hot.
Approximate Nutrition
For one entire mug cake, using nonfat milk and a zero-calorie granulated sweetener:
Calories: about 140
Protein: about 5 g
Carbohydrates: about 27 g
Fat: about 3 g
Fiber: about 5 g
The exact carbohydrate and calorie count will vary depending on the sugar-free sweetener and chocolate chips you use. Sugar alcohols and fiber in sugar-free chocolate chips can also affect the total-carb versus net-carb number.
A Few Easy Variations
For an even richer chocolate flavor, add a tiny pinch of instant espresso powder.
Want something on top? A small spoonful of whipped topping, a few berries or a little sugar-free vanilla ice cream turns it into a surprisingly decadent dessert.
You could also stir the chocolate chips into the batter instead of leaving them on top — although I like getting those little melted pockets of chocolate on the surface.
Why I Keep This Recipe Around
I like recipes that solve an actual everyday problem.
This one answers the very specific question: What do I do when I want chocolate cake tonight but don’t need eight servings of chocolate cake?
One mug. One serving. About a minute in the microwave.
Problem solved.
