This Keto Lemon Mug Cake is a delicious keto dessert or breakfast that you can make in just 1 minute in the microwave.
When you’re craving something sweet and familiar, like a lemon poppy seed muffin, but you don’t have time to mix up all the ingredients and wait for them to bake, this recipe will definitely hit the spot.
This lemon mug cake is light and fluffy, without all the carbs and it’s just one serving, so you won’t have tempting left overs.
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 (I actually eat this for breakfast!) that’s just one serving.
Lisa says: Wonderful! I did a little butter, lemon juice and monkfruit glaze for the top. Incredible.
» Here are a few more keto desserts to try.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Coconut flour – I personally prefer to use coconut flour for this cake. Almond flour works just as well but I like the slight coconut flavor that gets added to the cake when you use coconut flour.
- Baking powder
- Sugar substitute – I use allulose as a sugar substitute. You can use Swerve, monkfruit, erythritol or xylitol. It’s really up to you which sweetener you use. The reason I use allulose is because it doesn’t have the cooling effect you get with erythritol. Choose whatever sugar free substitute you like.
- Butter
- Egg
- Lemon juice and zest – Fresh lemon juice and zest add so much flavor to this mug cake recipe. Be sure to use a fresh juice for the best flavor.
- Vanilla extract
Tips for Lemon Mug Cakes
- Use a microwave-safe mug: Make sure the mug you use is microwave-safe and can handle high temperatures. A standard coffee mug should work fine. I use the same one for all my mug cakes.
- Mix ingredients well: Be sure to mix the ingredients together thoroughly to ensure the cake cooks evenly. A fork or small whisk works well for this.
- Don’t overfill the mug: Only fill the mug about halfway with batter to prevent it from overflowing during cooking.
How to Make a Lemon Mug Cake
Step 1: Prepare the Mug
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.
I personally prefer to use coconut flour for this cake. Almond flour works just as well but I like the slight coconut flavor that gets added to the cake when you use coconut flour.
If you choose to use almond flour, use 3 tablespoons.
Step 2: Mix ingredients together
Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl – that’s the coconut flour, baking powder, and sugar substitute.
I use allulose as a sugar substitute. You can use Swerve, monkfruit, erythritol or xylitol. It’s really up to you which sweetener you use. The reason I use allulose is because it doesn’t have the cooling effect you get with erythritol. You can buy it through Wholesome Yum. I think you’ll really like it, especially if you’re not into the cooling effect either.
Learn more about low-carb sweeteners and conversion here.
Then mix in the melted (but not hot) butter, egg, lemon juice and zest, and vanilla. Stir it all up. It should be the consistency of regular cake batter. Not too dry, not too runny.
Pour the batter into your prepared mug.
Step 3: Microwave
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.
Mug cakes are a quick and easy way to make this no bake trifle with whip cream and berries.
You can add a glaze or frosting to this cake, but I don’t think it’s needed. It has the perfect amount of sweetness. It’s such a light and spongy cake. It’s great for a light dessert, but I mostly eat it as a breakfast treat.
If you are looking for other sweet options try our keto pumpkin bread with walnut crumble or keto butter cookies.
How Many Carbs Are in Keto Mug Cake?
If you’re wondering about the carbs, you’ll be happy to hear that this lemon mug cake has 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. Whether you’re on a low carb or a ketogenic diet, this lemon cake can fit into your daily totals.
What to Know
- If you wish to use almond flour instead of coconut, use 3 tbsp.
- Some microwaves are more or less powerful. I cook mine for 60 seconds on full power in an 800watt microwave. You may need to adjust the cooking type based on the wattage of your microwave.
- The top should be spongy and not wet.
- Use fresh lemon whenever possible.
- This lemon cake is gluten free, but not dairy free. You can easily make it sugar free by using any sugar substitute you prefer.
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.
How do mug cakes work?
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 ingredients and forms bubbles that help the cake rise, while the rest of the ingredients cook.
What do I need to make a mug cake?
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.
What wattage do I cook this on?
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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Keto Lemon Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons erythritol or other sugar substitute
- 1 tablespoon butter melted but not hot
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest reserve some for the top
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Spray or rub the inside of a microwave-safe mug with cooking oil or butter.
- Mix the coconut flour, baking powder, and sugar substitute in a small bowl. Stir in the butter, egg and vanilla extract and lemon juice and half the zest.
- Pour the batter into the mug.
- Cook in the microwave on high for 60 seconds (may require longer depending on your microwave).
- Garnish with the remaining lemon zest.
Notes
- If you wish to use almond flour instead of coconut, use 3 tbsp.
- Some microwaves are more or less powerful. I cook mine for 60 seconds on full power in an 800watt microwave. You may need to adjust the cooking type based on the wattage of your microwave. The top should be spongy and not wet.
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.
Other Keto Mug Cake Recipes To Try
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Laura is dedicated to a low-carb lifestyle after losing 52 pounds on the keto diet. As many of us do, she struggles with her weight and has found that one of the only diet lifestyles that allows her to maintain a healthy weight is a low-carb diet. 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.
This looks amazing! Thanks for the yummy recipe.
So easy! Thank you for the recipe – I love lemon desserts!
Yum! This Keto Lemon Mug Cake is making me drool!
Wow this is my new breakfast favourite recipe! Thank u!
The perfect dessert! Yummy!
Mug cakes are my favorite, and this lemon version is perfection!
A one minute dessert, sign me up!
I’m a fan of a mug cake and this recipe is a keeper! It’s keto-friendly and easy to make – who doesn’t love it?
I agree!
I’ll just swap butter for coconut oil and give this a try this afternoon. Lovely dessert. Thanks!
I’ve tried swapping those in other recipes, but not this one. Do let us know if it doesn’t work as well with the coconut oil.
I dressed this up with an icing drizzle made from vanilla protein powder, swerve, water, lemon juice and zest. Garnished with fresh berries. Delicious!
Cindy, your icing sounds wonderful!
Wonderful! I did a little butter, lemon juice and monkfruit glaze for the top. Incredible.
Sounds great. So glad you liked it.
Hi, can Carbalose flour be subbed for the Almond or Coconut flour?