BEST Easy Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake (Gluten Free, Oil Free)

This is the BEST vegan chocolate mug cake around! So easy, naturally gluten free, oil free, eggless, and ready in just 90 seconds. This vegan mug cake is like a decadent chocolate cake in a mug, and secretly healthier! 

What is a mug cake?

If you’ve never made a mug cake before, then you’re in for a treat. Mug cake recipes are one of my favorite quick and easy desserts. They’re just so simple in ingredients, single serving (so I don’t have to share 😉 ) and everything is ready in under 5 minutes- perfect for when the chocolate craving hits and you need something quick.

Instead of making a whole vegan chocolate cake, we’re making a single serving yet still decadent (and secretly healthier!) vegan chocolate mug cake. 

Typically, a mug cake is like a cake, but baked (or rather- microwaved!) in a mug. I’ve always made my mug cakes for myself in the microwave, but I have tested them in the oven- works just as well! We have a Funfetti mug cake, chocolate chip cookie mug cake, and Nutella mug cake that all work wonderfully in both an oven and a microwave!

The coolest part about a mug cake? If you’re going for the microwave version, then your mug cake is ready in as little as 90 seconds. Yep, just three 30-second intervals in the microwave, and you have the perfect tiny cake in a mug! It’s quite literally the easiest vegan cake recipe in the world. 

Why you’ll love this easy vegan chocolate mug cake

This is THE vegan chocolate mug cake to make for a few reasons. First, it’s downright heavenly. Super gooey, rich, and fudgy, it’s like the best chocolate cake ever.

Much like my vegan chocolate chip cookie mug cake (adapted from my vegan chocolate chip cookies!) and my vegan Funfetti mug cake (adapted from my vegan Funfetti cake!), this vegan mug cake recipe also happens to be undetectably healthier. We’re talking eggless, dairy free, refined sugar free (with a sugar free option!), gluten free, oil free (no need for canola oil or coconut oil! Or even vegan butter!), and nut free. And I really do mean undetectably. Absolutely no one will know this vegan chocolate mug cake is healthy- even the vegan skeptics!

Oh, and this healthy chocolate mug cake is ready in just 90 seconds. I mean, how phenomenal is that?! Enjoy your decadent yet healthy chocolate mug cake all to yourself with a little dollop of coconut whipped cream or homemade ice cream, and you’re set!

Ingredients & Substitutions:

What makes this vegan chocolate mug cake different from other chocolate mug cakes is that it’s entirely vegan, so you won’t see eggs or dairy in the ingredients list.

To make these vegan chocolate mug cakes, you’ll need:

• Oat flour: store bought or homemade is totally fine. You can also use all-purpose flour or gluten free 1:1 baking flour. I recommend a gluten-free flour such as Bob’s Red Mill in the blue bag. The red bag will not work!
• Cocoa powder: I used a super rich cocoa powder by Anima Mundi- it’s my absolute favorite! You can also use Dutch process cocoa powder or all natural cocoa powder. 
• Coconut sugar: for a sugar free version, use stevia. You can also swap in granulated sugar or maple syrup; another option is to use two dates, softened in hot water and blended to a paste.
• Leavening agents:baking powder and baking soda is to help the mug cake rise.
• Unsweetened applesauce: this is what replaces the oil in our chocolate mug cake, and also helps act as an egg would in a regular chocolate mug cake!
• Ground flaxseed: we’re combining flaxseed with water to create a flax “egg.” It takes all of 1 minute, and is so easy!
• Dairy free milk: you can use any non-dairy milk that you’d like here! I used almond milk, but you can use soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. 
• Vegan chocolate chips: I recommend Pascha, Enjoy Life, Lily’s Sweets, or Hu chocolate gems.

How to make the easiest vegan chocolate mug cake in 90 seconds

This recipe is so simple, you’re going to laugh. All you’ll need for “baking” equipment are a microwave safe mug and a fork for mixing.

Making a mug cake can be broken down into three main steps:

1. You’ll first start by mixing together the dry ingredients. This is the flour, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, and leavening agents.
2. Add in the wet ingredients (flaxseed “egg,” dairy free milk, and applesauce) and mix everything together until it’s well combined. Then stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Pop into the microwave, following the directions in the recipe card below, and then serve!

Chocolate mug cake fillings:

I like to fill mine with extra chocolate chips. However, here are a few other options! You’ll only need 1 tablespoon of any of the following:

• Peanut butter
• Cashew butter
• Homemade vegan Nutella
• Raspberry or Strawberry jam
• Biscoff cookie butter spread
• Vegan ganache 
• Vegan marshmallow

Which mug should I use for a mug cake?

The most important factor is that your mug is microwave-safe. Most retailers will specify this, and it can sometimes be found on the bottom of your mug.

In terms of shape, I’ve found the Goldilocks complex holds very true. Tall and skinny mugs don’t seem to allow the mug cake to cook evenly in my experience. Short and wide mugs, and even ramekins, can offer a better bake, but you risk the mug cake overflowing onto the microwave. Not fun to clean up.

Your best bet is using a medium sized mug that’s not too wide and not too skinny (like the mug in the photo!). This will ensure that the mug cake doesn’t overflow but also bakes all the way through without drying out the cake.

My mug specifically is 10 ounces here- you can use a slightly smaller one, but no smaller than 8 ounces, or your vegan chocolate mug cake will spill over the edges and overflow. 

Eggless Mug Cake Tips & Tricks

There are a few tips and tricks I have for ensuring that your vegan mug cakes come out perfectly.

• Microwave your mug cake in 30 second intervals: this will help ensure that your mug cake doesn’t overflow into the microwave. Depending on how strong your microwave is, you might need to microwave it for up to 2 minutes, but between three and four 30-second intervals, your vegan chocolate mug cake will be done!
• How to make a mug cake in the oven: if you’d prefer to bake your mug cake rather than microwave, it’s so easy. Simply preheat the oven to 350F. Once the oven is preheated, make the mug cake batter. Bake the mug cake in an oven-safe ramekin and bake for 10-12 minutes.
• You can just use a fork to whisk the ingredients: No need to try to fit a whole whisk into your mug, or mix the flour in a separate bowl. Just whisk everything together in the mug right then and there!
• Make sure to mix the ingredients well! You don’t want any dry ingredients still at the bottom of your mug, not integrated into the wet. Use a spoon to make sure that flour is fully mixed in. Be careful not to over mix, but it’s also important to make sure that all of the ingredients are mixed in!
• If you don’t need oil free: you can swap in an equal amount of melted vegan butter, coconut oil, or vegetable oil for the applesauce.
• If you don’t like applesauce: You really don’t taste the flavor; however, some people are sensitive to applesauce. In which case, you can use an equal amount of dairy free yogurt (your favorite unsweetened flavor), mashed banana, or pumpkin puree (which tends to be very neutral in taste once incorporated into a cake). 

Are mug cakes safe?

This is a big question usually, because unlike regular cakes, mug cakes are made primarily in the microwave. The main concern with microwaving a cake is whether or not the egg is cooked all the way through. The great part about this vegan chocolate mug cake is that it’s entirely eggless, so you don’t need to worry about an egg being cooked through!

The other concern if you’re not making a gluten free chocolate mug cake and instead using all purpose flour is whether the flour is cooked enough. It’s not a good idea to ever eat raw flour. The good news is that flour can be heat-treated in the microwave!

How to serve a mug cake

Personally, I don’t like eating mug cakes just as is. Instead, I love to top them and make them extra special! Some vegan topping ideas include:

• Homemade coconut whipped cream
• Leftover vegan chocolate buttercream
• Homemade cashew butter
• Vegan ice cream

You are just going to absolutely LOVE this vegan chocolate mug cake! It’s so fudgy, rich, and decadent, and perfect for a quick healthy dessert! If you make this mug cake, be sure to please leave a comment down below, as well as a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This helps others find the recipe!

As always, I love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there!

Happy mug cake making!

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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!

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