Keto Pumpkin Mug Cake (with Streusel Topping!)
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A delicious, low carb pumpkin mug cake for two that you can make in just a few minutes! This cake is the perfect warm and buttery keto dessert that won’t ruin your low carb eating plan.
I’m a firm believer in always being prepared for a craving. And I don’t know about you, but when fall arrives I’m ready for pumpkin everything!
And when I want a quick pumpkin dessert, this keto pumpkin mug cake recipe is just the right thing. Just imagine all the dreamy flavors of pumpkin spice filling in a warm mug cake.
This cute little pumpkin cake is made with coconut flour, so if you’re like me and can’t do almond flour you’re going to love this recipe.
What’s a mug cake?
A mug cake is literally a one or two serving mini cake baked in a mug!
Usually mug cakes are microwaved, which makes them the perfect super fast dessert when you have a sweet craving. But they can also be baked in the oven if you don’t happen to have a microwave (more on that down below!)
Of course keto mug cakes are a fantastic choice if you’re the only person eating keto in your house.
Or maybe you have a hard time moderating sweet treats, even keto ones. Low carb and sugar-free mug cakes like this one are the perfect keto dessert solution.
Ok, so how can I make a mug cake from scratch in the microwave?
Mug cakes are so easy to make because they’re quick and they don’t dirty a lot of large bowls and pans. Make sure to follow the full recipe in my recipe card below, but most of my mug cakes follow the same basic steps:
- Mix together the wet ingredients in a microwave safe mug.
- Mix in the dry ingredients.
- Microwave your mini cake, usually for 60-120 seconds, depending on the recipe and your microwave’s wattage.
And voila! You’ve got an adorable keto pumpkin mug cake to devour.
But do mug cakes work?
This is usually the first question I get from someone who’s never made a mug cake before, and let’s be honest, it’s a completely reasonable one.
After all, why should anyone expect to get a moist, tasty cake from the appliance that’s best relegated to melting butter.
And my answer is that mug cakes DO work, but you’ll want to pay close attention to my tips for success below to help you avoid common problems.
Keto Pumpkin Mug Cake Tips
Have you ever made a mug cake that just didn’t turn out quite how you expected?
Or maybe this is your first time making a mug cake and you’re skeptical about using a microwave to cook anything. I got you!
Here are my five tips to help you achieve the best results:
#1: CHECK YOUR MICROWAVE WATTAGE
Unlike regular cake recipes baked in a regular oven, you can’t set your microwave to 350°, of course.
This mug cake was developed using my microwave in the Bake It Keto kitchen, which just happens to be 1200 watts.
Every microwave will be a different wattage, and that will affect how fast your mug cake cooks. I recommend checking yours (usually on a label somewhere on the side).
Using a lower power microwave? That means you’ll likely need a longer cooking time.
Also keep in mind that a mug cake cooked in the microwave won’t brown like it would in the oven, making it a bit harder to judge when it’s ready.
Cooking a mug cake in the microwave is definitely a balance – overcook your mug cake and it will be rubbery, or even hard. Most folks prefer their mug cake slightly underdone so that it’s soft and moist.
It’s totally ok to pause cooking and check the middle for doneness with a toothpick or knife, in fact I recommend it!
#2: CHOOSE THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS
Using the right ingredients is SO important in low carb and keto baking.
For example, different brands of coconut flour have different absorbency. With low carb and keto baking, you’ll always get better results by using the brands that the recipe was tested with.
Want help picking out the right ingredients? Click here to go to my Recommended Ingredients page. That’s where you’ll find links to the exact items I buy.
#3: USE A LARGE MUG
I really love cooking mug cakes in the largest mugs I can find (18 oz is my favorite size!). Large mugs give your cake plenty of extra room to rise without making a mess in your microwave.
Not only that, mug cakes tend to cook more evenly in large, wide mugs than in narrow tall ones.
Don’t own any large mugs? I’ve cooked mug cakes in everything from a small cereal bowl to a Pyrex measuring cup.
Just make sure whatever you use is microwave safe, of course!
#4: HOW TO MIX YOUR MUG CAKE
I usually mix my mug cakes right in the mug because I like to keep things simple and avoid extra dishes whenever possible.
But you could certainly mix your mug cake in a separate bowl and then scrape the batter into a mug for cooking if you want.
Most of the time I just stir the batter with a fork! If you make mug cakes often, you may want to buy a tiny whisk like these (totally optional, but also useful and adorable!).
HOW TO COOK YOUR PUMPKIN MUG CAKE IN THE OVEN
Some folks don’t have a microwave, and I’m often asked how to cook a mug cake in the oven.
Most mug cakes can be baked at 350° F for 15-20 minutes, or until done.
Of course, always make sure you’re using an oven-safe mug or dish.
All of my regular household dishes are Fiestaware. Not only are Fiestaware dishes super durable — they also happen to be oven safe!
What to put on a pumpkin mug cake
Ok, so now that you’ve successfully made your perfect keto pumpkin mug cake, let’s fancy it up even more!
The #1 thing I love to top my pumpkin spice mug cake with is homemade sugar free whipped cream.
I like to use a whipped cream dispenser like this one on Amazon. For perfect keto whipped cream, I add 2 Tbsp allulose and 1 tsp of vanilla extract to every cup of heavy cream.
The next keto pumpkin mug cake topping I recommend is keto friendly chocolate chips or white chocolate chips.
I like Lakanto Sugar Free Chocolate Chips, Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips, or Bake Believe White Chocolate Chips.
Other keto pumpkin recipes to try:
Ultimate Keto Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Favorite Keto Pumpkin Cookies With Cream Cheese Cookies
Keto Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies
Keto Pumpkin Spice Latte Cinnamon Rolls
Keto Pumpkin Mug Cake with Streusel Topping
Ingredients
For The Pumpkin Spice Cake Batter
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 2 Tbsp Pumpkin Puree
- 2 Tbsp Half and Half
- 2 Tbsp Allulose (or 1 1/2 Tbsp Granulated Swerve)
- 1 Large Egg Yolk
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Tbsp Coconut Flour
- 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/8 tsp Pumpkin Spice
For The Streusel
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 2 tsp Coconut Flour
- 1 Tbsp Brown Swerve
- 1 Pinch Cinnamon
Instructions
To Make The Pumpkin Spice Cake Batter
- In a large microwave safe mug, melt the butter.
- Add the pumpkin puree, half and half, allulose, egg yolk, and vanilla to the mug and mix with a fork or small whisk to combine.
- Add the coconut flour, baking powder, pumpkin spice, and salt to the mug and mix to combine.
- Set the mug cake batter aside while you make the streusel topping.
To Make The Streusel Topping
- Ina separate mug, melt the butter for the streusel.
- Add the coconut flour, brown Swerve, and cinnamon to the melted butter and mix to combine. As the coconut flour absorbs the liquid, the streusel will become thicker and sandy.
- Sprinkle pieces of the streusel mixture over the top of the pumpkin mug cake batter.
- Microwave for approximately 90 seconds to 2 minutes, or until cooked through.
Nutrition facts have been calculated using Cronometer, with the carbs from all erythritol and allulose sweeteners subtracted because I do not personally have to bolus insulin for Swerve, erythritol, or allulose as a Type 1 (autoimmune) Diabetic. All Bake It Keto recipes have been tried and used successfully, but results may vary from person to person. All information provided regarding nutrition on the Website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. I am not a nutritionist. Consult your medical professional before using any recipe if you have concerns about how you may individually react to the use of any particular recipe or ingredient. By voluntarily creating and using any recipe provided here, you assume the risk of any potential injury that may result. Please see my full disclosures at https://www.bakeitketo.com/disclosures-privacy-policy/.
How To Make Keto Pumpkin Mug Cake
