You are going to love this moist keto chocolate mug cake made with coconut flour. Enjoy it straight out of the mug or transfer onto a plate and smother it with sugar free chocolate sauce! Low carb and gluten free.
After making this rather delicious sugar free lemon mug cake, I decided I needed a chocolate counterpart. Firstly, because mug cakes are my new passion, and secondly, because chocolate is one of my oldest, dearest friends.
I used the recipe for the lemon mug cake as a starting point and began to experiment, swapping out lemon juice with cream and almond flour with coconut flour. A bit of vanilla extract here, another teaspoonful of cacao powder there – and after five attempts this chocolatey beauty was born!
How to make the best ever keto chocolate mug cake:
1.) In a bowl, combine your dry ingredients – coconut flour, baking powder, cacao powder, sweetener. Make sure there are no lumps.
2.) Add your wet ingredients – the egg, cream and vanilla extract. Mix well.
3.) Stir in the chocolate chips and let the batter rest for a minute.
4.) Melt 1/2 tsp butter each in 2 mugs or 6 oz ramekins (30 seconds) and grease the insides. This is an important step if you want to turn your mug cakes out onto a plate. Divide the batter between the mugs/ramekins.
Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Don’t microwave any longer or your cakes will become dry.
5. Enjoy straight out of the ramekin or wait until the cake has cooled a bit before you turn it out onto a plate.
6.) For an optional chocolate sauce, melt 2 tbsp sugar free chocolate chips and 1 tbsp butter.
I like to start the chocolate chips off in the microwave (30 seconds, no more) and then put them in a water bath (place a small bowl with the chocolate chips into a larger bowl filled with boiling water).
Stir until liquid and add 2-3 tbsp cream or milk and stir until smooth and pourable.
Tips and tricks
The cake looks a bit soft when straight out of the microwave. Resist the urge to blitz it for another 30 seconds. It dries out easily!
If you want to turn it out onto a plate, wait until it has cooled a little so it does not fall apart.
Make sure you level your tablespoons of coconut flour to use the correct amount. Coconut flour is terribly absorbent, that’s why it took me so many tries to get the ratio right.
Stir your dry ingredients really well, to ensure there are no lumps. I couldn’t find a sieve, so simply pressed it with my fingers, which was kind of fun.
The Chocolate
I like to use cacao powder instead of cocoa powder. Cacao powder is unprocessed, which means it retains important nutrients and antioxidants. If you are using cocoa powder, which is stronger in taste and darker in colour, you may have to reduce the amount stated in the recipe.
You can either use ready-made sugar free chips like Lily’s or simply break 90% chocolate such as Lindt into small pieces.
Alternatively, make your own sugar free chocolate chips! As you can see in the post I linked to, it’s really simple and they taste absolutely delicious 🙂
Toppings and variations
If you don’t like the idea of a chocolate sauce, you could eat this keto chocolate mug cake with sugar free ice cream or some whipped cream and berries.
As a flavour variation, try 1 tbsp of peanut or almond butter dunked in the batter before microwaving.
Don’t like coconut flour? Use 3 tbsp of extra fine almond flour instead! (If you’re using ground almonds or coarse almond flour, use 4 tbsp).
Use coconut cream instead of double / heavy cream for dairy free!
Can you make this recipe in the oven?
Yes! Try 180 Celsius / 356 Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, try out my sugar free chocolate cupcakes, they’ve got rave reviews 🙂
Try my other mug cakes:
- Keto Peanut Butter Mug Cake
- Cinnamon Swirl Coconut Flour Mug Cake
- Low Carb Chocolate Pumpkin Mug Cake
- Keto Carrot Cake For Two (Sugar Free)
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Keto Triple Chocolate Mug Cake
Equipment
- 2 ramekins (3.5 inch, 6 ounce capacity)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp cacao powder
- 2 tbsp powdered sweetener
- 1 egg medium
- 5 tbsp double/heavy cream
- 2 tbsp sugar free chocolate chips
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract optional
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine your dry ingredients - coconut flour, baking powder, cacao powder, sweetener. Make sure there are no lumps.
- Add your wet ingredients - the egg, cream and vanilla extract. Mix well.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and let the batter rest for a minute.
- Melt 1/2 tsp butter each in 2 mugs or ramekins (30 seconds) and grease the insides. This is an important step if you want to turn your mug cakes out onto a plate. Divide the batter between the mugs/ramekins.
- Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Don't microwave any longer or your cakes will become dry.
- Enjoy straight out of the ramekin or turn out onto a plate. See post and notes for an optional chocolate sauce!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was first published in 2018. It was updated in January 2020 with new images and recipe tips.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and purchase a product as a result, I may make a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This money helps with the running costs of my website. Thank you for supporting Sugar Free Londoner.
Lucy says
It’s my birthday tomorrow and I’ve just restarted keto (didn’t want to fail at the first hurdle!)
This cake is delicious! Thank you for perfecting this!
Katrin says
Happy birthday Lucy! Have a wonderful day 🙂
Olivia says
Deliscious! I sprinkled some sukrin gold on top and torched it which gave it a delicious crunchy sugar topping.
Katrin says
That’s an AMAZING idea!!!
Lauren Vavala | Delicious Little Bites says
I had been making a mug cake with almond flour that I really like but I ran out. So I found this one to use up some coconut flour. This one is more cake like whereas the other one is more brownie like. I added a big dollop of peanut butter to the top before cooking. It sunk inside and got all melt-y. Yum! Great recipe and cured my sweet craving!
Katrin says
Glad you like it!!!
karen says
Havent done this yet but LOVE mug cakes – just for me. at the risk of putting anyone’s nose outta joint- are you aware of Gemma’s Bigger Bolder Baking site. her site is just about baking/desserts and the ‘basics” which are great. I love all of her mug cakes but cant eat them anynore because of the keto diet. She is trying to add in more keto baking and I think you two should collaborate. have yet to be disappointed by any of your recipes. keep it up. Gracias.
Katrin says
Hi Karen, of course I know Gemma’s website, she is an accomplished baker! I’m glad my recipes are working out for you, and thank you for the thumbs up 🙂
Kristie says
Just made this but had no cacao powder or cocoa so I blended a heaping Tbs of cacao nibs in the Nutribullet. They didn’t blend to a fine powder but it worked & gave the cake a nutty texture. Also the color was nowhere near as dark as yours. For the sauce I used two ghiradelli 86% squares stirred into a TBS of melted butter with a dash of truvia and a splash of heavy cream. It tasted sweet & salty (maybe from the baking powder?) & delicious!
Katrin says
Great idea to blend the cacao nibs!
Chuck says
Dear Katrin, I have tried several grain-free recipes for desserts before and they were too dry! But it looks like you have solved that problem with the cream! I plan to try it soon!
Chuck
Katrin says
Let me know how you get on Chuck!
Nicole M. Foster says
This is fabulous! I used a mix of stevia and swerve (my tummy can’t handle too much swerve) and poured some chocolate sauce on it. I felt like I was eating regular chocolate cake. Next time, I’m going to try subbing coffee for one of the tbs of cream. Thank you for a great recipe!
Katrin says
I bet a bit of coffee in it would be great! i’d make it a strong espresso shot
Onelia says
I love this cake and my family too. I put orange essence instead of vanilla as i love chocolate orange mix. Please in the macros has the fiber already been subtracted? What is the net carb for each serving?
Katrin says
Using orange essence sounds like a great idea! You have to subtract the fibre from the total carbs to get the net carbs 🙂
Ana says
Absolutely the best keto chocolate mug cake recipe out there! Thank you so much. Please keep creating! xoxo
Katrin says
That’s great to hear!!
Deb says
Wondering about adding mayonnaise?
Katrin says
Maybe you could use mayonnaise in place of the heavy cream? I’ve never tried this, but it’s a similar consistency.
Jennifer says
I’m not seeing the recipe for the chocolate sauce. Where do you have it posted, please?
Katrin says
Hi Jennifer, it’s in the recipe notes – I’ve copied it here for you: For an optional chocolate sauce, melt 2 tbsp sugar free chocolate chips and 1 tbsp butter. I like to start them off in the microwave (30 seconds, no more) and then put them in a water bath (place a small bowl with the chocolate chips into a larger bowl filled with boiling water). Stir until liquid. Add 2-3 tbsp cream or milk and stir until smooth and pourable.
Deborah says
I have not been a huge fan of coconut flour desserts in the past…always seemed a bit too “cotton-y” and lacked richness.
You have made me “eat my words” (right after I finished every crumb of this great little cake).
These chocolate mug cakes were simply terrific. Non low carb-ers would be hard pressed to tell the difference between these and a traditional chocolate cake. Wow. Really loved them. Fluffy, moist and decadent all at the same time with a reasonable calorie count. I had planned on just adding a bit of whipped cream but when I stole a tiny bite waiting for them to cool….had to switch to the chocolate sauce as they were just too fabulous warm to wait to cool to be able to do the whipped cream without it just melting.
Huge thumbs up on this one…..well done!
Kimmee V. says
I had another recipe for chocolate mug cake, but it was bland and didn’t suit a craving for chocolate. So, I hunted around and found this one. I love it! It has a strong chocolate flavor with a perfect amount of sweetness. I made a cream cheese frosting and dabbled it on top and then sprinkled it with salted pecans. Truth be told, I never ate this well prior to being on low carb!!!
I guess the chips sunk to the bottom of the ramekin while it was resting because when I flipped it over, some of the chips stuck to the bowl. Any suggestions? Other than that, it was perfection. Thanks for all your hard work. I appreciate it.
Katrin says
Glad you like the recipe! Not sure about the chocolate chips – maybe next time stir them in only at the top?
Gina M. says
I just want to say, wow! I made this, for the first time today…it tastes amazing!!! Even my husband, who isn’t Keto, really liked this recipe. I did not have the heavy cream and substituted 2T of unsweetened vanilla almond milk and 2T of olive oil. Thank you for sharing this. I had been eating the chocolate Quest cookies when I had a craving…but this is better and no processing!!! LOVE!!!
Katrin says
So glad you all liked it Gina! I like your substitution of olive oil!
Jaime says
OH MY GOSH! I swapped two of the tbsp of heavy cream for SOUR CREAM instead and it not only did not dry out when I cooked it for 1.75 minutes, but it is so moist and delicious! I also whipped up heavy cream with warmed cream cheese, liquid stevia, and peanut butter to make a sauce! So good!
Katrin says
I like the sound of your substitutions and that peanut flavoured sauce!! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Maricar says
I was sceptical at first, until it was cooked! It turned out so Yummy , Fluffy & Moist! Will definitely make it again & Jazz it Up with a Peanut Butter Sauce. Otherwise it’s so good on its own! Great Keto Chicolate Cake In A Mug!
Katrin says
I’m happy you like it 🙂
Laith says
This mug cake is the best!! Moist and soft! Will definitely be making this a regular treat! ❤️
Katrin says
Brilliant! I”m glad it hit the spot 🙂
Bruce says
This recipe turned out perfectly on the first try! The batter was really thin and was afraid it wouldn’t raise correctly but that wasn’t the case. I cut down the cocoa to 1.5 TBS as you recommended since I didn’t have the cacao. I fallowed the rest of the ingredients as listed. Perfect little cakes the batter transformed into!
The chocolate sauce is truly the icing on the cake! I didn’t need the water bath and simply placed the chocolate chips into a small glass custard cup (6 oz size) and placed the butter on top. I zapped it a few seconds and the chips and butter blended smoothly with a fork. Adding the cream firmed it up to almost frosting like consistency. After the cakes cooled down a bit I reheated the sauce to loosen it up and drizzled over the cakes. Can’t believe how delicious your recipe is! Truly a winner 🙂 Thanks again for a decadent dessert 🙂
Katrin says
How wonderful! I’m happy you enjoyed the cake; Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed comment and for including your adaptations!
Trish says
This was just perfect. The best keto mug cake ever. Moist and perfect
Katrin says
Great news!! I’m happy the recipe worked well for you
Barbara says
I make this cake today i frosted it with a peanut butter frosting made with peanut butter and swerve confectioners sweetener. Oh my goodness it was so good i was not hungry for 6 hours. Lol
Katrin says
Haha, coconut flour recipes are filling!!! Your frosting sound delicious. Glad you enjoyed the cake!!
Divleen Kaur says
OMG, I love this recipe. It’s my mum’s birthday today, so thanks for this amazing recipe to be able to celebrate and eat a delicious cake keto style 🙂 I didn’t have cream, so I substituted with 2 tbsp each of olive oil and skim milk. I also only added 1.25 tbsp of sweetener and 1 tsp of 85% coco powder. It was so light and fluffy and delicious with fresh blueberries and raspberries. Yum!
Katrin says
Happy birthday to your mum!! I’m glad you like the cake and thank you for letting us know your alterations
Divleen Kaur says
Thanks Katrin, it was really good that I could have some cake for my mum’s birthday. Is it possible to increase the ingredients to make a bigger cake? SHould I increase by 4 times or 5? And how can I bake it in the oven? Thanks for your help
Katrin says
Hi Divleen, I’ve never tried making a cake with this recipe – but around 5 times the ingredients sounds about right. I’m not sure how it would behave in larger amounts and whether it would cave in… try to make it not too tall, but rather like a tart maybe. I have another coconut flour and chocolate recipe which might also work as a cake – these chocolate feast muffins I’d put it in at 170 Celsius for ca 30-35 minutes. It might even take 40 minutes. You’d have to keep on checking in on it 🙂
Divleen Kaur says
Thanks Katrin, I made a cake in a greased square pan with 5 times the recipe at 170 Celsius for about 35 minutes. It was great and a hit at work. I warmed the slices up in microwave before serving.
Katrin says
Wonderful! Good to know it works!!
Deanna says
Thanks for the tip! I didn’t have cream, either so i subbed olive oil and coconut milk. It was amazing! Thanks Katrin for the recipe and Divleen for the subbing tip!
Katrin says
YOu’re welcome Deanna! Glad you like the recipe 🙂
Guylaine F says
OMG! This cake is delicious! It certainly took care of my craving and more :))) Thank you for this great recipe. It’s a keeper!
Katrin says
So glad you like it
Klaudie says
Absolutely delicious! The best recipe.. 🙂
Katrin says
Brilliant! Glad it was a success 🙂
Jenny says
What is the diameter of the ramekins that you used? Thanks.
Katrin says
Hi! Diameter at the bottom is 7 cm, at the top 8.5 cm. 🙂
S Levy Riley says
Omg! Just tried this. Amazing. Added a serving of double cream to eat
Katrin says
Awesome! And a dollop of double cream always helps 🙂
Alfie M. says
My son is on keto. It’s been difficult finding a chocolate dessert he enjoys. BUT THIS…this was delicious. Even I enjoyed it and I’m not on keto. I sifted all dry ingredients and used a large egg. I substituted unsweetened cocoa powder for the cacao….same measurements. Topped it with a dusting of confectulioner’s sugar. Delish! What I love the most is the serving size and how quick it is to make. Thanks!
Katrin says
That’s so good to hear! Thank you for taking the time to comment. The cocoa powder has a stronger chocolate taste than the cacao, so I’m sure that tasted great.
Zeenat says
May I suggest you add the oven cooking option in the recipe?
It would be useful for people, like me, who do not use/have a microwave.
I only saw your recommendations regarding cooking in the oven while scrolling through the comments…
Katrin says
Sure, I’ll do that – good idea. Thank you for your comment
Donna J Shepherd says
This will curb my chocolate addiction with little sugar – a win-win. Thanks!
Katrin says
You’re welcome, 🙂
Kathy says
This has been our desert for the last 3 nights! Reminds me of Carnival Cruise Lines cholocate lava cake! Yummy
Katrin says
Once you find a favourite, it’s difficult to stop!! I know what you mean…. 🙂
Char says
If I only have large eggs do I need to adjust anything in the recipe?
Katrin says
That’s a good question – probably not. I’d pick the smallest of the bunch and just make the recipe as is. If you feel the dough is incredibly liquid (like pancake batter) though you could add an extra pinch of coconut flour. Let the dough sit for a minute or so before you decide to do that though to give the coconut flour time to absorb liquid.
carol valerio says
can it be done in the oven cause i don’t have microwave what’s the timing and temperature thanks.
Katrin says
Hi Carol, I’d try it at 180 Celsius / 356 Fahrenheit for around 12 minutes. Test the inside to see if it’s done!
MontySwiss says
I made this as per the recipe and served it with mascarpone. Absolutely delicious! Thank you!
Katrin says
What a great idea to have it with mascarpone! Sounds yum. I make a cinnamon flavoured mascarpone which I’ll try out with this cake next time
Lorna says
This is a delicious recipe, really moist and soft. I didn’t make a chocolate sauce this time because I did not have enough chocolate chips, but will definitely add it next time. Nevertheless, it’s great without too. One thing – do follow the advice to mix the batter well, maybe even sift it. I had a few coconut flour crumbles inside my cake.
Katrin says
Thank you for your comment and your input Lorna! I’m glad you like the cake.
JanineL says
I have made this cake three times in a row now. It’s so good! I used 1 large tbsp cocoa instead of the cacao and it worked a treat.
Katrin says
Hi Janine, that’s interesting, now we know which amount of cocoa works. Thank you for trying the recipe – happy you’re enjoying it!
Britta says
This looks so good. I have coconut flour in the house, so I’ll try it out tonight!
Katrin says
Hi Britta, I’d love to hear what you think of them once you’ve made them!
Naomi says
I recently tried your lemon mug cake and absolutely loved it. It’s so moist and tasty, just the best. Definitely making this recipe soon. If I wanted to make it with almond flour, how many tbsp would you use?
Katrin says
Oh, I’m happy you like the lemon cake. Regarding the amount of flour, I’d say probably 4 tbsp almond flour, maybe even a tiny more depending how coarse your flour is (an extra tsp?) because this recipe uses more dry ingredients (the cacao powder).
Jayme Daugherty says
This is a great recipe! I actually made mine with 1 T almond meal and 1 T of the coconut flour and amazing flavor. I also substituted the cream for a blend of coconut & almond cream to be dairy free too! The sweetener I used was half monk fruit and half stevia…super tasty and fewer chemicals to contend with! Thanks for the start!