This Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake is a delicious keto version of your favorite breakfast roll, packed with cinnamon, drizzled with cream cheese glaze.
When you’re craving something sweet and familiar, like a cinnamon roll, this recipe will definitely hit the spot. The cake is full of cinnamon flavor, and the cream cheese glaze is so good.
» Check out this Keto Blueberry Mug Cake, Keto Lemon Mug Cake, Low-Carb Carrot Mug Cake or these other great Keto Mug Cakes!
When you’ve been on a keto or low-carb diet for a while, it’s easy to almost forget about your cravings for sweets, but once in a while it hits you and you just need to satisfy the craving so you can move on. This keto mug cake does that for me.
It’s super easy to make – taking just 1 minute in the microwave. In a total of just 6 minutes, you can have a beautiful dessert that’s just one serving. No need to have leftover cake hanging around.
» Here are a few more keto desserts to try.
How Many Carbs Are in Keto Mug Cake?
If you’re wondering about the carbs, you’ll be happy to hear that 1 cinnamon mug cake is just 4 net grams of carbs.
That means you can eat the whole thing and not feel guilty about it. You only have to save a little room in your daily carb count for this treat.
I actually find that I’m not able to eat the whole cake in one sitting. It’s pretty rich! So I save half for later. For just 2 net carbs, that’s a win/win.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake
To make a mug cake, you’ll need a microwave-safe mug that’s at least 10 oz. I use my regular coffee mug and it has plenty of space for the cake to expand. You can also use a 10 oz or larger ramekin.
Spray the inside of the mug with cooking spray or rub a little coconut oil inside the mug to prevent sticking.
Mix together the flour and baking powder, then add it to the mug.
You can use coconut flour instead of almond flour, but the batter might turn out dry, so you may need to add up to 1 tbsp of almond or coconut milk to the batter to smooth it out.
I personally prefer almond flour for this cake. Coconut flour changes the taste of the cake and makes it a little too coconuty for me.
Mix in the melted (but not hot) butter, egg, and vanilla. Stir it all up. It should be the consistency of regular cake batter. Not too dry, not too runny.
Next, mix the granulated sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle it on top of the cake.
I use Xylitol as a sugar substitute, because I don’t like the cooling effect of most sugar substitutes. You can use Swerve or Lakanto Monkfruit in the same ratios. If you use Erythritol, it’s less sweet so will require a small amount more for the same sweetness level.
It seems like a lot, but it needs to mix into the cake batter. I do this with a chopstick, because it’s thin enough to swirl without mixing. You can also use a knife.
Just swirl in the sugar, push the chopstick from top to bottom a few times. Don’t stir it up, though.
Put the mug in the microwave for 60 seconds. I use an 800 watt microwave and 60 seconds is perfect.
I’ve never had one come out not fully cooked, but if yours doesn’t seem springy and fully cooked, or if it still has a wet top (you can still see raw batter), put it back in for another 10 seconds. A lower wattage microwave might cook the cake slower.
Alternately, a higher wattage microwave could over cook the mug cake, so if this cake overcooks in 60 seconds, you’ll need to cut the time down or cook at a lower power next time.
While it’s cooking, mix up the glaze. It’s just softened cream cheese, powdered sweetener (like Erythritol or Swerve), and melted butter. Mix it up until smooth. You can heat it for about 10 seconds in the microwave.
When the cake is done, you can eat it directly from the mug, or turn it out onto a plate and drizzle with the glaze.
If you are looking for other sweet options try our keto pumpkin bread with walnut crumble or keto pumpkin cookies.
Keto Mug Cake FAQs
If you’ve never made mug cake before, you might have a few questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I receive about this recipe.
Mug cakes are so easy to make that it gets you wondering how it works, especially since it takes so long to bake a cake in the oven. The magic of a mug cake is in the leavening agents, which are the egg and baking powder.
When heated, the baking powder reacts with the other ingredeints and forms bubbles that help the cake rise, while the rest of the ingredients cook.
You’ll need the ingredients (obviously), but then the only other things you need are a microwave and a microwave-safe mug. I just use my regular tea/coffee mugs. You could also use a ramekin. You just need a mug or ramekin that’s larger than the cake ingredients, because it does rise a couple of inches in the mug.
I cook my mug cake at full power in a 900-watt microwave. If you have a more powerful microwave, you may need to cook the cake for 70 or 80 seconds instead of 90. Once you’ve cooked one mug cake, you’ll know for next time.
In my opinion, it’s better to under cook then over cook, so if this is your first mug cake cook it for 80 seconds on full power. If it’s still wet in the middle, cook for 10 seconds longer. If it’s a bit tough or dry, you can reduce by 10 seconds next time you make it.
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Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp almond flour or 1 tbsp coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp butter melted
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tbsp granulated sweetener can be Xylitol, Swerve, Monkfruit, (or use 3/4 tbsp if using Erythritol)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
For the glaze
- 1/2 tbsp cream cheese softened
- 1/2 tbsp powdered sweetener like powdered Erythritol
- 1 tsp butter melted
Instructions
- Spray or rub the inside of a microwave-safe mug with cooking oil.
- Mix the almond flour and baking powder in a small bowl. Add butter, egg, and vanilla. Stir with a fork to combine and form a batter. (*See note if using coconut flour and the mixture is thick)
- Pour the batter into the mug.
- Combine the granulated sweetener and cinnamon in a bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the batter in the mug. Use a knife or chopstick to swirl the topping into the batter, without stirring it up.
- Microwave for 60 seconds. Cake should be spongy and cooked through. If not, microwave for another 10 seconds.
- To make the glaze, mix the softened cream cheese with the butter and powdered sweetener until smooth. Microwave for 10 seconds to heat it. Pour over the mug cake and serve.
Notes
- 1 mug cake = 4 net carbs
- * You can use coconut flour instead of almond flour, but the batter might be dry, so you may need to add up to 1 tbsp of almond or coconut milk to the batter to smooth it out. It should be the consistency of regular cake batter. Wet, not chunky.
- I use Xylitol as a sugar substitute, but you can use Swerve or Lakanto Monkfruit in the same ratios. Erythritol is less sweet so will require a small amount more for the same sweetness.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Laura is an avid home cook and recipe creator. She shares her favorite low-carb recipes here that are both easy to make and full of flavor, so you don’t even miss the carbs.
Definitely trying this! Love that it takes only one minute and is keto too! Love cinnamon rolls.
This keto cinnamon roll mug cake is amazing such a genius idea! SO good and less than ONE minute to make!! Amazing!
Seriously SO delicious and it came together so quickly! Love this.
You blew my mind with this! Cakes, brownies, sure! But a cinnamon roll?! YES!!
I love that too!
Wow such a delicious way to start the day! I can’t believe how easy it is to make!!
Best part about mug cakes. So simple.
I have been making this on repeat..love your recipe..thank you
I have gestational diabetes and have been craving cinnamon rolls so bad. I found this recipe and decided to try it. It DEFINITELY satisfied that craving! So yummy!
I’m a diabetic and was craving something sweet. This was amazingly good! It was very moist and delicious! I’ll definitely make it again!
Glad you liked it, Toney!
Awesome 👏 so delish!
Huge fan of mug cakes, and I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a recipe for a cinnamon roll in a mug before! Definitely need to try this one out!
Wat a treat!! I just love this keto dessert.
My kids love making mug cakes. Love how easy and quick they are!
I need this cinnamon roll mug cake in my life! This looks so easy to make and perfect for the holidays!
Yes! Everyone needs this mug cake. It’s so tasty.
This looks so delicious and perfect for my daughter! I can’t wait to give this a try!
Awesome. So good, I had to double the batch & share with my wife. This is great for breakfast or an after dinner dessert. The cake comes out moist & the icing gives it just enough sweetness, without over-load. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Glad you liked it, Bryce! I agree, it’s perfect for breakfast.
What a delicious mug cake. I love cinnamon rolls and now I can have a sweet treat without the guilt, thanks for sharing.
What a fun treat! I love the minimal prep and how easily this mug cake comes together. Looks amazing!
These are like three of my favorites= things: keto, cinnamon roll and mug cakes! Thanks so much for sharing!
Most mug cakes are dense and flat but this looks amazing. I am making this right now!!!
OMG! Just made this and it is amazing! So moist and easy to make, hit the spot for my sweet tooth. Thank you for sharing 👍🏻
Glad you liked it, Ashley!
Did not work will not try again
I’m sorry to hear that it didn’t work for you, Emily. If you let me know in what way it didn’t work, I could help figure out why.
Been on keto for a month now,and needed something sweet,I made this in just a couple minutes and was absolutely delicious , satisfied my sweet craving,I will definitely be making this again
Glad you liked it Lori. It’s definitely my go-to for sweet cravings.
This was amazing. Thanks for the recipe.
Loved it…. came out pretty decent… first success at any kind of mug cake. the topping i added a little orange extract….. was great for my sweet tooth craving that kicked in at night. Thank you .
I made this for my husband. He has a big sweet tooth and he is working on his keto. This was his fill day. He loves cinnamon rolls. So thank you so much. This was his favorite. This is a keeper.