This Protein Mug Cake is a low-calorie, high-protein single-serving cake ready in 5 minutes using only 4 wholesome ingredients. It doesn’t require protein powder or fancy ingredients, but it has the most decadent, fudgy, muddy chocolate cake texture to fix your chocolate cravings.
While the whole recipe is just below, don’t miss all my tips further down, including process shots, ingredient swaps, tips, and more!
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Optional for extra sweeteness
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In a coffee mug, use a fork to whisk the egg and yogurt.
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Whisk in the cocoa powder and sweetener until the batter is consistent and smooth.
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Stir in half the chocolate chips if desired.
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Microwave on high (800W) for 90 seconds or until the top is dry. Make sure you check the microwave power. If yours is higher (1000W), you may have to microwave the mug cake for only 60-70 seconds to get the same texture.
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Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on the hot mug cake and cool for 60 seconds in the mug before eating.
Note 2: You can also use sugar, brown sugar, or erythritol.
Storage: It must be eaten immediately. Mug cake won’t store well and turns chewy and gummy. What you can do, however, is prepare the dry ingredients in a mug beforehand.
Serving: 1 mug cakeCalories: 146.4 kcal (7%)Carbohydrates: 31.5 g (11%)Fiber: 5.5 g (23%)Net Carbs: 26 gProtein: 16.1 g (32%)Fat: 7.1 g (11%)Saturated Fat: 2.9 g (18%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 2.5 gTrans Fat: 0.02 gCholesterol: 189.3 mg (63%)Sodium: 98.2 mg (4%)Potassium: 391 mg (11%)Sugar: 2.6 g (3%)Vitamin A: 272.7 IU (5%)Vitamin B12: 0.9 µg (15%)Vitamin D: 1 µg (7%)Calcium: 121.2 mg (12%)Iron: 3 mg (17%)Magnesium: 88.2 mg (22%)Zinc: 2 mg (13%)
Ingredients and Substitutions
You only need 4 ingredients to make this delicious recipe.
- Egg – This binds the ingredients together and contributes to the cake’s structure and moisture.
- Greek Yogurt – It adds moisture and protein to the mug cake, creating a fudgy texture. You can also use full-fat or low-fat plain Greek yogurt.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – This provides the rich chocolate flavor that satisfies your cravings.
- Allulose – This sweetens the mug cake with minimal impact on blood sugar. You can also use sugar, brown sugar, or erythritol if you prefer a non-low-carb option.
- Chocolate Chips – These add pockets of melty chocolate and enhance the overall chocolate taste.
How to Make Protein Mug Cake
This recipe is really easy to whip up. Here’s how in a few pictures.
Whisk the egg before adding the rest of the mug cake ingredients and stir until well combined.
Microwave on high (800W) for 90 seconds or until the top is dry.
Carine’s Tips
Let me share a few more tips for a perfect mug cake:
- Boost Chocolate Flavor – Stir a few extra chocolate chips directly into the batter for an even richer taste.
- Enhance with Salt – A tiny pinch of salt sprinkled on top can really bring out the intensity of the chocolate.
- Protein Power-Up – Serve your mug cake with an extra dollop of Greek yogurt for an added boost of protein.
- Mix Dry Ingredients Ahead – For a super quick treat, measure and combine the cocoa powder and allulose in a mug beforehand. Then, when you’re ready, just whisk in the egg and yogurt.
- Microwave Timing is Key – Keep a close eye on the mug cake while it’s microwaving, as cooking times can vary depending on your microwave’s wattage. You want the top to look mostly dry but still slightly soft.
More Mug Cake Recipes
About The Author
Carine Claudepierre
Hi, I’m Carine, the food blogger, author, recipe developer, published author of a cookbook, and founder of Sweet As Honey.
I have an Accredited Certificate in Nutrition and Wellness obtained in 2014 from Well College Global (formerly Cadence Health). I’m passionate about sharing all my easy and tasty recipes that are both delicious and healthy. My expertise in the field comes from my background in chemistry and years of following a keto low-carb diet. But I’m also well versed in vegetarian and vegan cooking since my husband is vegan.
I now eat a more balanced diet where I alternate between keto and a Mediterranean Diet
Cooking and Baking is my true passion. In fact, I only share a small portion of my recipes on Sweet As Honey. Most of them are eaten by my husband and my two kids before I have time to take any pictures!
All my recipes are at least triple tested to make sure they work and I take pride in keeping them as accurate as possible.
Browse all my recipes with my Recipe Index.
I hope that you too find the recipes you love on Sweet As Honey!