Super easy decadent and fudgy vegan chocolate mug cake ready in just 90 seconds!! You won’t believe how simple this chocolate mug cake is to make, and it’s undetectably eggless, dairy free, low sugar, gluten free, and oil free! The BEST mug cake for a quick and easy healthy dessert!
What is a mug cake?
If you’ve never made a mug cake before, then you’re in for a treat. Mug cakes 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 ha!) and everything is ready in under 5 minutes. I mean, talk about a perfect treat!
Typically, a mug cake is like a cake, but baked (microwaved!) in a mug! They’re so easy to make, require just a few ingredients, and are typically both oven and microwave friendly. I’ve always made my mug cakes for myself in the microwave, but I have tested them in the oven- works just as well!
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!
Why you’ll love this easy vegan chocolate mug cake
This is THE 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.
This chocolate mug cake also happens to be undetectably healthier. We’re talking eggless, dairy free, refined sugar free (with a sugar free option!), gluten free, oil free, 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!
Easy chocolate mug cake ingredients:
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, such as Bob’s Red Mill in the blue bag.
- Cacao powder: I used a super rich cocoa powder by Anima Mundi- it’s my absolute favorite!
- Coconut sugar: for a sugar free version, use stevia!
- Leavening agents: this 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 2 minutes, and is so easy!
- Dairy free milk: you can use any dairy-free milk that you’d like here!
- 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:
- You’ll first start by mixing together the dry ingredients. This is the flour, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, and leavening agents.
- 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.
- Pop into the microwave, following the directions in the recipe card below, and then serve!
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.
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.
- 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. 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!
Are mug cakes safe to eat?
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!
Can you reheat a mug cake?
Absolutely! You don’t need to heat it for as long as you’ve cooked it before though.
I’ve found that a quick 15 second-20 second stint in the microwave does the trick to bring it back to its gooeyness if you’ve decided to refrigerate your chocolate mug cake.
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
I hope you love this vegan chocolate mug cake as much as I do! If you make it, be sure to let me know how it goes in the comments section below!
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!
More Healthy Vegan Mug Cakes
Vegan GF Chocolate Chip Cookie Mug Cake
Easy Funfetti Mug Cake (Vegan + GF)
Want to save this recipe for later? Add it to your favorite recipe board on Pinterest!
BEST Easy Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake (Oil Free + GF)
- Prep Time: 2
- Cook Time: 2
- Total Time: 4 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Microwave
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Super easy decadent and fudgy vegan chocolate mug cake ready in just 90 seconds!! You won’t believe how simple this chocolate mug cake is to make, and it’s undetectably eggless, dairy free, low sugar, gluten free, and oil free! The BEST mug cake for a quick and easy healthy dessert!
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp (40 grams) ground oat flour, all-purpose flour, or gluten-free 1:1 baking flour
- 1 tbsp (6 grams) cacao powder
- 2 tbsp (20 grams) coconut sugar or 1 tsp stevia
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3 tbsp (45 grams) dairy-free milk
- 2 tbsp (40 grams) unsweetened applesauce*
- 1 tbsp (15 grams) ground flaxseed mixed with 2 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a large microwave safe mug, whisk together the flour, cacao powder, coconut sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Add in the remaining ingredients except for the chocolate chips, and stir to combine.
- Then stir in the chocolate chips.
- Place the mug into the microwave and heat for 30 seconds to start. Let the mug cake rest for 10 seconds, then microwave for at least two more 30-second intervals. If your microwave is on the weaker side, you may need a fourth.
- Allow the cake to rest for 1 minute. Serve with ice cream or coconut whipped cream.
Notes
Other flour options: If you don’t have oat flour, you can also use gluten free 1:1 flour, all-purpose flour
Applesauce-free option: if you don’t need an oil-free vegan chocolate mug cake, you can swap in an equal amount of coconut oil, melted vegan butter, or vegetable oil.
Keywords: vegan chocolate mug cake, healthy chocolate mug cake, chocolate mug cake, gluten free chocolate mug cake, sugar free chocolate mug cake
What can you use instead of applesauce? I cannot have apples.
Thanks and love your recipes, just amazing!
Oh not a problem! You can swap in the same amount in dairy-free yogurt or dairy-free cream (such as full fat coconut cream!)! Enjoy and thank you so much for making these recipes! 🙂
Can i use almond or coconut flour instead of the oat flour? If yes, how much should i use? Thank you 🙂
Hi Ashley! I actually haven’t tested this with almond or coconut flour, and don’t regular work with almond flour so I can’t speak to the results! I know that almond flour requires more of a binder and can be 1:1 then so if it were me experimenting, I would do the same amount of almond flour, but add an extra tbsp of ground flaxseed!