This keto microwave cookie is perfect for those moments when you feel like a quick sugar free treat. It tastes delicious and is super easy to make! There are plenty of variation ideas in the post.
I regularly make mug cakes in the microwave, like this keto chocolate mug cake or my vanilla keto mug cake. Which made me think - how about a keto mug cookie? Can you make cookies in the microwave?
The answer is yes!
After a bit of experimenting, I have come up with a recipe that is super easy and actually very delicious.
You only need 4 essential ingredients. From there, you can add optional add-ins to create countless variations.
As you can see in the image above, I tested 4 different variations:
- Chocolate Chip: Add ½ tablespoon sugar free chocolate chips (top left)
- Nutella Thumbprint: Press down the middle and add 1 teaspoon of sugar free Nutella (top right)
- Double Chocolate: Add 1 teaspoon cocoa powder and ½ tablespoon chocolate chips (bottom left)
- Gingerbread: Add ¼ teaspoon ginger, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg and ⅛ teaspoon allspice (bottom right)
Jump to:
Ingredients
Here is what you need:
- Almond flour - I use ground almonds, which is equivalent to regular almond flour. Super-fine almond flour should also work well here.
- Butter - Unsalted, room temperature butter. For a dairy free keto cookie, replace the butter with coconut oil.
- Sweetener - My go-to sugar alternative for cookies is an erythritol monk fruit sweetener blend, because it makes crunchy cookies. I used Lakanto Gold. I like it for that brown sugar flavour, but a regular (white) sweetener works well too. Xylitol or allulose since it will result in a soft cookie.
- Xanthan gum or gelatin - Both help with giving the cookie a stronger structure. I used a pinch of xanthan gum, about ⅛ teaspoon. If you prefer to use gelatin, use ¼ teaspoon. Another option could be ground chia seeds. I would also recommend using ¼ teaspoon.
Optional add-ins:
- Cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt - I think cinnamon and vanilla extract make every cookie taste better! I also added a tiny pinch of salt.
- Sugar free chocolate chips - Lily's is a popular choice in the US, or make your own sugar free chocolate chips with my easy kitchen hack. When I don't have any to hand, I use the 90% dark chocolate by Lindt.
Instructions
Here's how to make a keto mug cookie. For the detailed method with ingredient amounts and nutrition details, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
STEP 1
Mix together all ingredients with a fork and form a ball.
STEP 2
Flatten the cookie onto a plate lined with parchment paper and cook on high until it's done!
Katrin's Top Tip
Your single serve cookie will be VERY soft and fragile straight after baking. Don't even think about touching it for at least 5 minutes. It will firm up once it cools.
Microwave Timings
Microwaves cook at different strengths, so cooking times will vary.
My microwave cooks at 900 Watts. I found that 1 minute was the perfect length. When I tested cooking a cookie for 90 seconds, the inside ended up burned.
Yes, microwaves will cook your food from the inside out!
For 1200 Watt microwaves 45 seconds is probably sufficient.
Oven and Air Fryer Option
It's possible to make this recipe in the oven. I toasted a cookie in the oven under the grill (broiler) in about 5 minutes. This worked well, although you should keep it on a lower rack and watch it closely because almond flour burns quickly.
You could also air fry the cookie for about 5 minutes at 180 C / 350 F or bake it in a conventional oven at 180 C / 160 Fan (350 Fahrenheit) for about 8-10 minutes.
Add-Ins
There are many ways to jazz up the basic keto mug cookie recipe if you don't want to use sugar free chocolate chips. Here are a few ideas:
- a squeeze of lemon juice and grated lemon zest
- orange extract and orange zest
- almond extract
- pumpkin spice
- ginger, cardamom, mace, nutmeg and allspice
- sugar free dried cranberries or freeze-dried berries
- crushed nuts (pecans, walnuts, slivered almonds etc)
Recipe FAQs
Your biggest clue is that the cookie dough will start to dry and crack open. The cookie will also take on a slightly golden colour. This means you can remove it from the microwave and start the cooling process!
For a nut free keto microwave cookie, replace the almond flour with an equal amount of sesame seed flour and sunflower seed flour. Or use 1 tablespoon sesame seed flour, 1 tablespoon sunflower seed flour and 1 teaspoon coconut flour.
Use 2 tablespoons almond flour and 1 teaspoon ground flax. This makes a more rustic cookie that tastes a little more like a digestive biscuit.
You can easily scale up the recipe and make more than one cookie. I would recommend microwaving them one at a time. It's also possible separate the dough and make two smaller cookies.
Related Recipes
Feel like a larger batch of cookies? Try these sugar free cookie recipes (and check out my Keto Cookies e-cookbook):
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Single Serve Keto Microwave Cookie
Video
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon almond flour
- ¾ tbsp butter room temperature (11g)
- ½ tbsp golden erythritol or more, to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon xanthan gum or ¼ teaspoon gelatin
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon optional
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- tiny pinch salt optional
- ½ tablespoon sugar free chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients with a fork, then form a ball.
- Put on a plate lined with parchment paper and press into a thick cookie.
- Microwave on high for 45-60 seconds. My microwave cooks at 900W and 1 minute was perfect.
- Let cool fully before eating. Cookie will firm up as it cools. To speed up the cooling process, place in the freezer.
Donna
Thank you for your recipes! They look so good and I can't wait to try more. I have just moved so as my old auntie used to say, I'm still at 'sixes and sevens'.
I did make Avocado chicken salad last night. Delicious and very quick and easy.Leftover chicken so I'll have it again tonight.
I went on a Keto diet a few years ago and did very well. Not sure why I ever stopped but I'm sure with your recipes and advise I'll get up and running again.
Thank you again, best wishes to you and your family.
Donna
Katrin Nürnberger
Glad you enjoyed the chicken salad - let me know when you make this cookie recipe. Would love to know how you would like it!
J
I have a 1000 watt microwave. I set it for 45 seconds. It was burned (black) in the middle. I tried a second one at 30 seconds, and also made a hole in the middle -which probably was a bad idea. It was beginning to over brown in the middle. I will wait to make another, but just use a lower power setting, as someone else suggested. The edible edges were very tasty. If I get it down to the perfect timing, I may make up a multiple batch of the dry powders, to keep on hand for an even quicker cookie. Thank you for another tasty recipe!
Katrin Nürnberger
Keep us posted about your progress! A lower power level will be easier to manage. Just keep a close eye on eye on it. The thickness of the cookies also matters.
CiCi
Finally an egg free keto dessert
I doubled the quantity to make 2. I used 8 grams of coconut oil instead of butter with a teaspoon of water and cacoa nibs instead of chocolate chips. Absolutely delicious. Thank you for a delicious recipe.
melissa
Great recipe and I love the variations. I have a higher watt microwave so I just use a lower power setting. Great for a last minute dessert or snack. Thank you so much.
Abbeydove
I had to make some substitutions, so I was surprised how well these came out! We used gelatin and sunflower seed meal (we have the deadly nut allergies). I don't use erythritol because I'm nervous about it after the association with stroke, so I used 1 tsp allulose with a squirt of Whole Earth stevia and monk fruit liquid sweetener. My microwave is only 800 watts, but a minute was a bit too long--I might have made them flatter, maybe? I was worried they wouldn't release from the plate, but if you let it cool a minute and use a sparula, it works great! The next time I make these I'll probably use my toaster oven/air fryer instead. I really appreciate single serve recipes like this. If I have a dozen or more cookies around, I'm going to be so tempted to eat waaaaaay more than is a good idea. But one or two cookies? That's PERFECT!
Janet
Made these twice now, I'm not keto, but I do like single serve treats, so I used brown sugar and psyllium husk instead of sweetener and xanthan gum. You are correct they burn in an instant from the inside out The not burnt bits tasted good so worth another go, second one was very good, definitely a keeper recipe
Ria
Just made this using about half a tbsp allulose (maple) and a chunk of 90% Lindt chocolate in the top. SO good! Have printed the recipe and it’s going straight into my binder in the kitchen! Thank you!!