This quick and easy chocolate banana mug cake is gluten-free and super tasty! It's a cross between breakfast and dessert, and can be enjoyed for either!
The other night, Matt turned to me and said he had a craving for chocolate cake. Since he doesn't crave desserts very often ā and I crave it all the time ā I immediately decided I needed to make him one. But here's the thing: it was 9 pm and I didn't feel like baking a whole cake.
That's where the idea for a chocolate banana mug cake was born!
I actually first started by following the recipe for a paleo chocolate mug cake, but decided I wanted my own version that was a little less sweet and used the flours I had on hand. So I made that for him and the next day I made another version, but with my own twist!
Ingredients You'll Need for Chocolate Banana Mug Cake
Mug cakes are usually pretty straightforward. You need an egg, some flour, some chocolate, and some sweetener. Since I wanted to make this as healthy as possible, while still making it taste like dessert, I went for a blend of some of my go-to baking ingredients.
Here's what we're using inside this chocolate mug cake:
- Egg: this will help give you cake some rise, that cake-like texture, and also help the other ingredients bind together.
- Banana: acting as a sweetener, but also a replacement for another egg
- Almond milk: to give the cake a little moisture!
- Quinoa flour: my fave gluten-free flour! high in protein, fiber and so great for cake recipes like this!
- Oat flour: another great flour option if you're looking for a cakey texture; it's light and spongy
- Maple syrup: for the sweetness that all chocolate cakes need
- Cacao powder: my alternative to cocoa powder, but that will work as well!
And then we just add in some baking powder, a pinch of sea salt and some chocolate chips.
How to Make a Mug Cake
If you've never made a mug cake before, you're in for a treat. They're about the easiest thing you can make on the planet!
You start by making your batter. In this case, we're mashing our banana and then mixing in the rest of the wet ingredients. From there, you'll stir in your dry ingredients, fold in your chocolate chips, and that will be your batter.
Next step is your mugs. Make sure you choose microwave-safe or oven-safe mugs (ramekins also work). Grease the mugs with non-stick cooking spray and divide the batter between the two mugs.
Finally, bake them up! This is where the fun really is: pop these cakes in the microwave and in about 60 – 90 seconds you'll have a warm, slightly gooey, chocolate banana mug cake.
It's honestly, that easy!
What is a Mug Cake, Anyway?
By now I'm sure you've gathered what a mug cake is, but in case you're still a little confused about this whole concept, let me explain. A mug cake is simply a cake that is “baked” inside a mug. It's usually single-serve and made in the microwave, but it can also be baked. The whole idea is speed and being able to make a single portion. They're pretty genius if you ask me!
Are Mug Cakes Healthy?
Mug cakes can totally be healthy! But they can also not be healthy. It's all about the ingredients you pick. Look for a recipe like this one that uses wholesome, real ingredients and isn't loaded with butter and sugar. My goal for this cake was for you to be able to eat it for breakfast and also dessert!
Ways to Serve this Chocolate Banana Mug Cake
Since this is a cake and all, let's talk about ways you can serve it! If you're making it for breakfast, I'd actually go with my first suggestion, but if you're enjoying it for dessert, feel free to jazz it up a bit more!
- Coconut yogurt
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream (will taste like a brownie sundae!)
- Melted chocolate chips (Matt's preferred topping)
- A dusting of cocoa powder and sliced banana
Or basically any other way that you might traditionally serve a cake! I hope you enjoy this recipe ā it's shockingly easy and absolutely delicious. And now anytime that chocolate cake craving hits, you've got a quick, easy recipe to turn to!
More Chocolate Dessert Recipes to try:
- Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse
- Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
- Vegan Chocolate Tart with Pecan Crust
- Vegan Chocolate Orange Truffles
- Chocolate Peppermint Vegan Macaroons
Chocolate Banana Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons almond milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 cup quinoa flour
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- 2 tablespoons cacao powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mash the banana in a bowl. Add the egg, milk, and syrup and mix to combine. Add the dry ingredients and stir to form a batter. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Grease two microwave-safe mugs and add half the batter into each mug.
- Microwave for 60 seconds, check and if it's still a little soggy, add 15 - 20 more seconds.
- Enjoy in the mug or turn them out onto a plate and serve them like a mini cake!
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