Lemon mug cake

A single lemon almond cake made in a mug in the microwave in under 2 minutes.

  • Lazy AF
  • Vegetarian
  • Gluten-free
  • American
  • Dessert
  • Keto
  • Low carb
Hands-on
5 min
Total time
8 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 4 min
  • Cook 2 min
  • Clean up 2 min
Pans
0
Ingredients
8
Cost/serving
$2.11

Per serving

Calories
341
Protein
15 g
Fiber
3 g
Net carbs
5.3 g
Fat
28 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Vitamin E 50%, Riboflavin (B2) 40%, Selenium 35%, Vitamin B12 29%, Calcium 20%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already vegetarian, gluten-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 1

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 4 tbsp almond flour, blanched (28 g)

    Same amount as: 60 mL.

  • 1 large egg (50 g)

    Same amount as: about 1 medium, about 1 jumbo.

  • 1½ tbsp allulose (18 g)

    Same amount as: 20 mL.

  • 2 tsp butter (9.4 g)

    Same amount as: 10 mL, about ⅛ stick.

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice (15 g)

    Same amount as: 15 mL, ¼ lemon squeezed from fresh lemons.

  • ½ tsp baking powder (2.3 g)

    Same amount as: 2 mL.

  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract (1.1 g)

    Same amount as: 1 mL.

  • 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt, 2% (30 g), to serve

    Same amount as: 30 mL.

  • salt, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Healthier swaps

Optional. Nutrition and cost update as you choose; the recipe was written with the original.

  • butter
    • olive oil: Much less saturated fat. Uses a little less, since oil is all fat. Best for cooking, not baking.

Quantities are for 1 serving. One mug per serving. Microwave them one at a time.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (154 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories341
Total fat28 g36%
Saturated fat7.7 g39%
Cholesterol209 mg70%
Sodium541 mg24%
Total carbohydrate26 g10%
Dietary fiber3 g11%
Total sugars2.8 g
Net carbs†5.3 g
Protein15 g31%
Vitamin D1.1 mcg6%
Calcium265 mg20%
Iron2.1 mg12%
Potassium321 mg7%
Vitamin A148 mcg16%
Vitamin C5.8 mg6%
Vitamin E7.4 mg50%
Vitamin K0.87 mcg1%
Thiamin (B1)0.06 mg5%
Riboflavin (B2)0.51 mg40%
Niacin (B3)1.1 mg7%
Vitamin B60.14 mg9%
Folate40 mcg10%
Vitamin B120.69 mcg29%
Magnesium81 mg19%
Zinc1.6 mg15%
Selenium19 mcg35%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. Melt the butter in a large microwave-safe mug, about 350 ml (12 oz), for 20 seconds.

  2. Add the egg, allulose, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat with a fork until frothy.

  3. Add the almond flour, baking powder and salt. Beat until no dry flour shows.

    Done looks like: A thick, smooth batter, about a third of the way up the mug.
  4. Microwave 70–90 seconds.

    Done looks like: Risen and springy. The top is set, not wet or shiny, when you touch it.
  5. Let it stand 1 minute. Top with the yogurt and eat from the mug.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Rubbery and toughMicrowaved too long.Start at 70 seconds and add 10 seconds at a time until the top is set.
Tastes eggyEgg not beaten enough, or too little lemon and sweetener.Beat the egg until frothy before adding the flour. A little extra lemon helps.

Versions

VersionChangesPer serving
OriginalAs written. Hands-on 5 min, total 8 min.341 kcal
15 g protein
3 g fiber
5.3 g net carbs
28 g fat
Dairy-freeCoconut oil instead of butter, no yogurt. Hands-on 5 min, total 8 min.332 kcal
12 g protein
3 g fiber
4.1 g net carbs
29 g fat

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.

Pregnancy: Microwave until the top is set and the egg is fully cooked.