This almond chocolate mug cake is so easy to make and is gluten free, grain free and dairy free. A healthier chocolate cake that goes from zero to completely done in around five minutes? Microwave friendly, it doesn’t get much quicker than this. Yes please!

Published November 2017 | Updated September 2022

This is the speedy, no fuss cake that you need RIGHT NOW. A single serve chocolate delight. I hate to use this descriptive word but these healthy chocolate mug cakes are moist and just the right amount of fluffy and crumbly.

For those concerned about allergens, these cakes are gluten free, dairy free and soy free.

What you will love about this healthy chocolate mug cake

• Microwaveable. Yep, you cook this cake in the microwave, and it’s done in 90 seconds. 90 SECONDS! Seriously; this almond chocolate mug cake is the quickest, easiest little chocolate cake I have ever made.

• Allergy friendly. The base recipe for this mug cake is gluten free, dairy free and soy free. It is made with almond flour. The recipe is suitable for coeliacs. If you’re adding something like chocolate chips, just make sure any such additional ingredients are also gluten, dairy and soy free.

• Healthier dessert option. Fellow chocolate cake lovers, while I am all for the real thing and having indulgent chocolate cakes too, it’s nice to have this single-serve healthier option sometimes. It is lower in sugar, higher in fibre and uses much healthier fats than your typical chocolate cake.

Ingredients to make Chocolate Mug Cake

All that’s required to get yourself an almond chocolate mug cake are 7 key ingredients (plus a dash of vanilla if you have it), a fork and a good mug.

For this recipe you will need:

• Almond meal – also known as ground almonds or sometimes called almond flour. You can either use natural almond meal (where the almonds still have their skin on) or you can use blanched almond meal (skins removed)
• Cacao powder – you can also use cocoa powder, both will work in this recipe
• Baking powder – please make sure to choose a gluten free baking powder if you need to keep this allergen free
• Salt
• Egg
• Maple syrup or honey
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Vanilla extract – optional but lovely, how good does vanilla smell when you’re cooking!

If you like making them more pretty, you can make them in a bowl and then pour into microwave-safe ramekins, like I did for the photos. I think they look awesome! Sprinkle over some toppings and I think they can pass for decadent chocolate cakes that you spent an age slaving over.

Can I make a mug cake recipe egg-free (vegan)?

Yes, as this recipe only uses one egg, you could substitute a ‘flax egg’ or try using half of a large banana, mashed thoroughly. The cake may not rise as well using the egg-free options but it should still cook well.

A ‘flax egg’ is one tablespoon of flaxmeal (ground flaxseed) whisked with three tablespoons of water. Whisk and allow to sit for 15 minutes until an ‘eggy’ gel forms.

Can I make this mug cake recipe nut-free?

I’m sorry, I haven’t made this recipe without almond meal as it is one of the core ingredients. You could try to use plain flour but you will likely need to add more moisture to the base recipe. It’s probably easier to find an alternate recipe.

What’s on the top of the cakes in your photos?

Greek yoghurt, flaked almonds and dried rose petals. Just a bit fancy, of course you don’t need to do this every time! p.s. you can use coconut yoghurt instead for a dairy free option.

If you make this cake take a snap and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!

Need more speedy no-fuss treats:

• Blueberry Vanilla Mug Cake

• Peanut Butter Date Energy Balls

• No Food Processor Protein Balls

• Cashew Butter Freezer Fudge

Healthy Almond Chocolate Mug Cake

This gorgeous almond chocolate mug cake comes together in MINUTES! Easily made in the microwave, it’s gluten free, grain free, dairy free and paleo friendly. 

4.94 from 44 votes

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Course: Desserts and Sweets

Cuisine: chocolate, dairy free, gluten free, grain free, paleo, vegetarian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes minutes

Servings: 1 cake

Calories: 348kcal

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp almond meal a.k.a. ground almonds or almond flour
• 1 and 1/2 tbsp cacao powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder (gluten free)
• 1 small pinch salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract – OPTIONAL but lovely for flavour

Instructions

• To start – you can make this cake in the mug you’ll cook it in, or you can make it in a small bowl and then pour it into a mug or ramekin to cook it.
• Place the dry ingredients (almond meal, cacao, baking powder) into a small bowl/mug. Stir a little to combine.
• Add the egg, maple syrup, olive oil and vanilla to the mixture. Whisk with a fork until you have a smooth cake batter. 
• Pour batter into the mug or ramekin you’re going to cook it in (if it’s not in there already). Make sure the mug/ramekin isn’t filled to the brim – you’ll need at least 2cm left at the top so it doesn’t spill over.
• Place mug/ramekin in microwave. Cook for 60 seconds – it will puff up a lot while cooking and then settle. Check on the cake. It will probably still be a little undercooked. Cook for a further 15-30 seconds until done to your liking (microwave ovens can vary a lot).
• Serve immediately while it’s nice a warm. Add toppings if you like!

Notes

*If the cake batter seems far too thick – say, more like a pudding than a batter – you can add 1-3 teaspoons of any kind of milk e.g. almond milk to thin out the batter a little. 

*You can substitute another liquid sweetener in to this recipe e.g. coconut syrup, date syrup or rice malt syrup. Rice malt syrup isn’t as sweet-tasting, so you may need to increase the quantity slightly if you’re not satisfied with the result. 

*This is also really yummy with a pinch of cinnamon and/or some chocolate chips stirred through as well! 

Have you made this recipe?I love seeing your creations! Take a photo and then tag me @nourish.everyday on Instagram!

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcal (17%) | Carbohydrates: 23g (8%) | Protein: 13g (26%) | Fat: 25g (38%) | Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) | Cholesterol: 211mg (70%) | Sodium: 229mg (10%) | Potassium: 238mg (7%) | Fiber: 5g (21%) | Sugar: 13g (14%) | Vitamin A: 306IU (6%) | Calcium: 156mg (16%) | Iron: 3mg (17%)