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Satisfy your chocolate cravings and meet your protein goals with this chocolate Protein Mug Cake Recipe. It creates 2 cakes that contain 34 grams of protein and no flour or added sugar.
Quick Summary: Protein Mug Cake Recipe
- Why Make This Recipe: A high-protein mug cake recipe packed with chocolate protein powder that cooks in less than 5 minutes in the microwave for a healthy and easy dessert.
- Nutrition: 320 calories, 35 grams of protein
- Diet: High-Protein, Low-Calorie, Gluten-Free
- Time: 10 Minutes
- Method: Microwave
- Best for: Dessert, Snack, Make Ahead
- Tip: It’s best to undercook a mug cake rather than accidentally overcook it.
Whip up this flourless protein mug cake recipe and enjoy a 10-minute chocolate cake for dessert two nights in a row! The cakes are naturally gluten-free, low-sugar, and low-calorie, with 35 grams of protein. Make your cakes after dinner or as an afternoon sweet treat when chocolate cravings strike.
If you like microwave dessert recipes, you will love this healthier banana mug cake and single serve protein cookie!
Why This Recipe Works
- Egg Whites for Structure: Since this mug cake recipe is flourless, it relies on egg whites to give it structure and lift.
- No Added Sugar: There’s no added sugar in these cakes, just the natural sugar from the applesauce, protein powder and cocoa powder.
- Applesauce Instead of Oil: These little cakes use applesauce to add moisture to the batter rather than calorie-dense oil.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Egg Whites: The whites of eggs are packed with protein without the fat from the yolk. They also help the mug cake with its structure.
- Chocolate Protein Powder: Plant-based protein powder is best for this recipe because it holds moisture better than other powdered proteins. If you use whey protein, be sure to add an additional tablespoon of applesauce because whey protein tends to make the cakes dry. Here are protein powders to make a mug cake recipe.
- Applesauce: Sweeten cakes while also adding moisture with unsweetened applesauce rather than oil or milk.
- Peanut Butter: These cakes use a combination of powdered peanut butter and creamy peanut butter. The powdered peanut butter is mixed into the batter, and the creamy peanut butter is drizzled over the top. Powdered peanut butter adds more protein without excess fat.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations & Dietary Modifications
- Go Nut-Free: Make a nut-free mug cake by substituting the powdered peanut butter with more protein powder and drizzle sunflower butter over the top instead.
- Add Toppings: Finish your protein mug cake with sprinkles, nuts, whipped cream, or fruit to customize your dessert to match your cravings.
- Mix-ins: Mix chocolate chips or nuts directly into your cake batter. I’ve even made mug cakes with beets in my red velvet protein brownies!
- Mocha Protein Mug Cake:Stir 1/2 teaspoon of instant espresso powder into the dry ingredients before you add the egg whites. The espresso powder makes chocolate taste more like chocolate.
How to Make This Protein Mug Cake Recipe
A high-protein mug cake recipe is a great way to satisfy your chocolate cravings without sacrificing your health goals. You don’t need any special equipment to make it either, just a whisk and a microwave.
- Step 1: Mix the Cake Batter. Whisk together the egg whites, cocoa powder, applesauce, protein powder, and powdered peanut butter in a mixing bowl until it’s creamy and smooth.
- Step 2: Fill Ramekins. Divide the batter into two 6-ounce ramekins (or 4 if you’re making a double batch) and microwave them for 60-90 seconds.
- Step 3: Add Toppings. Top each mug cake with a drizzle of warm peanut butter and any additional toppings.
Expert Tips
- Undercook Slightly: It’s very easy to overcook a microwave mug cake, so it’s best to undercook it. After 30 seconds, keep an eye on the cake and remove it from the microwave when the top looks set. It will keep cooking in the hot ramekin when you remove it.
- Thick, Brownie-Like Batter: The batter for this mug cake is more like a brownie batter. It should be thick but spoonable. You can add a splash of milk or a bit more applesauce if it’s too thick.
- Storage Directions: These chocolate single-serve cakes are best enjoyed fresh; however, you can keep them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can store the batter for up to 24 hours in the fridge, so you can enjoy one cake immediately and one tomorrow.
Serving Suggestions
This protein mug cake recipe satisfies your sweet tooth but is low-calorie and packed with protein. Both cakes are only 320 calories and have 35 grams of protein, so they are perfect for an afternoon sweet treat or after-dinner dessert. You enjoy dessert without the sugar crash and while meeting your protein goals!
- Pack in another 22 grams of protein with a banana yogurt smoothie because who doesn’t love banana and chocolate?
- I love a rich, chocolatey dessert after a flavorful meal. These mug cakes are the perfect sweet treat after eating high protein chicken enchiladas.
- Get a serving of fruit, plus a little creaminess to enjoy with your cake and make a Greek yogurt fruit salad.
Protein Mug Cake Recipe FAQs
You can absolutely make these ramekin cakes in the oven. Use oven-safe ramekins and preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the cakes in deep pan with a small layer of water on the bottom for about 10 minutes.
The most likely reason for a dry and rubbery cake is overcooking it. After 30 seconds, try microwaving it in 10-second bursts until the top is set to avoid that problem. Also, whey protein makes these cakes drier, so add a bit more applesauce to the batter if you use whey protein powder.
You can use one whole egg instead of egg whites; just keep in mind that it changes the nutrition and the cake will taste richer.
More Delicious Protein Dessert Recipes
If you tried this Protein Mug Cake recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below.
Protein Mug Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Egg Whites
- ½ cup Chocolate Protein Powder
- ¼ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- 3 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- ½ cup Powdered Peanut Butter
- 4 teaspoons Peanut Butter
optional:
- Chocolate Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg whites, cocoa powder, applesauce, protein powder and powdered peanut butter until creamy and smooth.
- Divide into two 6-ounce ramekins and microwave 1 to 1:30 minutes, or until brownie is set.
- Top each with a teaspoon of peanut butter and any additional toppings.
Video
Notes
- Microwave cakes can overcook quickly, so it’s best to slightly undercook them. It will continue to cook after you remove it from the microwave.
- The batter should be thick, like a brownie batter rather than a thin cake batter.
- You can store the batter for 24 hours, so you can make it once and have dessert for two days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I feel like I’m missing something here, because my macros a higher than what you have logged for 4 servings.
Depends on the specific brands you use. They can be slightly off due to that or sometimes the apps themselves may not be accurate as much of the data in them is input by users and not always validated.
Has anyone tried making these in an oven? They sound delicious but we don’t have a microwave.
This was surprisingly delicious! I was skeptical, but it surprised me how good it was.
I just made these brownies, dough wAs a bit dry so I added more applesauce and a bit of vanilla which helped , very fudgy! Really satisfied the chocolate craving ! Thx
Hi! Love your recipes!! I think the nutrition may be off though especially if it makes just one serving. Am I missing something by any chance?? Sorry to bother you!
Hi Kyla! The recipe makes 4 servings and the nutrition data is accurate for 1 serving. Thanks so much for following!
How many grams is one serving though ?
I do not measure my recipes in grams per serving. But you can certainly make the recipe and use a food scale to measure what the total grams are then divide by 4 to get the grams per serving.
This looks like a fun treat, I love peanut butter and chocolate together.
You can never go wrong with that combo!
Chocolate and me have been having a love affair since October, I think I’m going to give it up for Lent lol Maybe I should test this healthy treat first!
You better get on it! Lent is coming soon.
It’s brownie-style MEAL PREP! 🙂 I can get behind this kind of meal planning! Looks delicious.
Meal prep! I love that Blair!