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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Easy 3 Ingredient Mug Cake (no flour)

    Modified: May 12, 2025 • Published: Jan 21, 2023 by Dr. Erin Carter • This post may contain affiliate links • 2 Comments

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    This 3 ingredient mug cake is the best! It's rich, fudgy and chocolatey and ready to enjoy in less than 5 minutes. This healthy single serving dessert is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar free too!

    A chocolate mug cake topped with vanilla ice cream.

    Easy desserts like vanilla protein mug cake, the best chocolate covered pecans and peanut butter chocolate bliss balls are some of my all time favourite foods to make, which is why I am so excited to share another easy mug cake recipe with you today.

    Table of Contents
    • Why you will love this mug cake:
    • Ingredients and substitutions:
    • Recipe variations and add ins:
    • How to make 3 ingredient mug cake:
    • Top tips:
    • How to serve:
    • 3 ingredient mug cake FAQs:
    • Other dessert recipes you will love:
    • Recipe

    Why you will love this mug cake:

    • This chocolate mug cake is so quick and easy and takes less than 5 minutes to make.
    • This flourless mug cake has the best flavour - it's chocolatey, fudgy and so rich.
    • This healthy mug cake is gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free and paleo. It's also made without banana, without Nutella, and without flour.
    • This mug cake is cooked in a microwave which means you don't need to heat up your house by turning on the oven so it's a great summer dessert.

    If you love mug cakes you will also love my chocolate caramel mug cake, chocolate almond flour mug cake recipe and gluten-free chocolate mug cake.

    Ingredients and substitutions:

    For the full ingredient list and exact measurements refer to the recipe card later in this post.

    Jump to the Recipe Card.
    The ingredients needed to make a mug cake separated into bowls including cacao powder, an egg and maple syrup.
    • Cacao powder - this is what gives this mug cake that delicious, dark chocolate flavour. You can use cocoa powder instead.
    • Egg - one egg is used to bind the ingredients in this cake together and help it rise when it cooks in the microwave.
    • Maple syrup - is used to naturally sweeten this delicious chocolate cake and keep it refined sugar free. 

    Recipe variations and add ins:

    • You can add some chocolate chips to make this into a double chocolate mug cake. 
    • You could add some nuts such as chopped pecans or walnuts to give this mug cake even more texture.
    • You could add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to give this cake even more flavour. 
    • Feel free to add a bit of flaky sea salt to the top of this chocolate cake. Salty chocolate is my favourite!

    How to make 3 ingredient mug cake:

    A mug filled with cocoa powder.

    Step 1

    First, put all the ingredients into a large, microwave-safe mug. 

    A mug with chocolate cake batter in it with a spoon in the batter.

    Step 2

    Now whisk together the ingredients until you have a smooth batter and there are no clumps remaining.

    A mug filled with chocolate cake with a piece out of it.

    Step 3

    Place the mug in the microwave and heat it on high heat for approximately 60-70 seconds. Let the cake cool for a few minutes, then enjoy! 

    Top tips:

    • Use a large mug to make this cake. If you use a short mug it might overflow when you cook it.
    • Be sure to use a microwave-safe mug. Otherwise the mug might break or explode in the microwave.
    • Don't cover the mug when you heat it in the microwave. If you do the cake ends up with more of a slimy texture or rubbery texture rather than a cakey texture. 
    • Let the cake cool for a couple minutes before enjoying. This helps give the cake the perfect cake-like texture and makes it less slimy.
    • Don't overcook this cake - if you cook it too long it will turn out more dry and crumbly rather than moist and fudgy.
    • Cooking times may vary depending on the type of microwave you have.
    • Storage: this 3 ingredient chocolate mug cake is best served right away but you could cover it and store it in the fridge overnight.

    How to serve:

    This mug cake is delicious served as is, but you could also top it with vanilla ice cream, coconut whipped cream, fresh berries, vanilla yogurt, chocolate sauce, or even chocolate chips.

    A 3 ingredient chocolate mug cake topped with vanilla ice cream.

    3 ingredient mug cake FAQs:

    Why is my mug cake so spongy?

    If you add too many liquids or too many eggs to mug cake it will turn out more spongy rather than cake like.

    Is this a vegan mug cake?

    No, this is not a vegan mug cake recipe as it contains pan egg.

    Can I replace the egg in this mug cake recipe?

    I have not tried making this mug cake without the egg and I do not recommend trying to omit it or replace it.

    Can I make this mug cake in an air fryer?

    I have not tried making this recipe in an air fryer so I am not sure if it would work out.

    Is this mug cake keto?

    No it is not.

    Can I freeze mug cake?

    I don't recommend trying to freeze mug cake. 

    Other dessert recipes you will love:

    • A batch of coffee cookies on a baking sheet with chocolate chips around them.
      The Best Coffee Cookies (soft & chewy)
    • A stack of three pieces of vegan orange chocolate fudge.
      The Best Orange Chocolate Fudge (dairy-free & vegan)
    • Cut up peanut butter chocolate pretzel bars with a pretzel on top.
      No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars (only 5 ingredients!)
    • One large piece of a dairy free brownie with caramel drizzled on it.
      The Best Dairy-Free Brownies with Caramel (gluten-free & paleo)

    Since you made it this far we are basically best friends so be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook where I share even more recipes and healthy living tips! And don’t forget to leave this recipe a star review before you go!

    Recipe

    A mug filled a chocolate mug cake topped with vanilla ice cream.

    3 Ingredient Mug Cake

    This is the best 3 ingredient chocolate mug cake! It's so easy to make and is ready to enjoy in less than 5 minutes. It's also gluten free, dairy free, and refined sugar free.
    5 from 19 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 minute minute
    Total Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 248kcal
    Author: Dr. Erin Carter

    Equipment

    • Large microwave safe mug

    Ingredients

    • 1 large egg
    • 3 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 2 tablespoon cacao powder (or cocoa powder)

    Instructions

    • In a mug, whisk together the ingredients until they are smooth and there are no clumps remaining.
    • Cover the mug and heat it on high heat in the microwave for approximately 60-70 seconds (until it puffs up and has a cake-like consistency).
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    1. Be sure to use a microwave safe mug to make this cake. 
    2. Stir or whisk the ingredients well so there aren't any clumps remaining in the batter.
    3. Don't cover the mug when you heat it in the microwave. 
    4. Nutritional values are an estimate and will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 348mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @pureandsimpleno or tag #pureandsimpleno!

    DISCLAIMERS: The statements made on this website have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. You assume full responsibility for how you use this information. Always consult with your physician or other health professionals before making any diet or lifestyle changes. This post may contain affiliate links whereby if you purchase these products I receive a small percentage of the sale price. This allows me to keep the blog running and I thank you for allowing me to do that!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ruth

      April 01, 2025 at 7:28 pm

      I needed a chocolate fix after dinner tonight. I did a quick internet search and found this recipe. I jumped up and made it in 2 minutes. This will be a weekly dessert. It's delicious.

      Reply
      • Dr. Erin Carter

        April 10, 2025 at 9:11 am

        I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply

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    My name is Dr. Erin Carter and I am so thrilled you are here. I am a physician with specialties in both internal medicine and rheumatology, and I believe that food and healthy living are forms of medicine. In my spare time I share health information and delicious, healthy recipes here on Pure and Simple Nourishment.

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