This very tasty pumpkin mug cake is keto and gluten-free. Without the frosting, it makes a great breakfast. With the frosting, a yummy dessert.
It's ready in about 15 minutes, making it the perfect answer for those occasions when you crave something sweet!
I adore mug cakes! They are fast and easy, and they give you wonderful built-in portion control. No temptation lurking in the fridge after you've had a serving!
I'm especially enjoying this pumpkin mug cake. It's the perfect fall dessert (or breakfast!). Made with coconut flour and sweetened with a sugar-free sweetener, this cake is keto and gluten-free.
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Ingredients
Here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need to make this tasty cake. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
Unsalted butter: I love using creamy European butter, but any butter will be great.
Canned pumpkin: Make sure you buy pure pumpkin puree and not sweetened pumpkin pie filling.
Sweetener: I use stevia glycerite. You can use a granulated sweetener instead.
Vanilla extract: Try to use the real thing - pure vanilla extract - and not the artificially flavored stuff.
Cinnamon: You can also use pumpkin pie spice in this recipe.
Egg: I use large eggs in almost all of my recipes, this one included.
Coconut flour: Since it's so extremely absorbent, it's best to measure it by weight and not by volume. Every gram counts!
Baking powder: Make sure it's fresh. And if needed, also make sure it's gluten-free.
For the frosting: Cream cheese, canned pumpkin, sweetener, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Instructions
This delicious pumpkin mug cake "bakes" in the microwave for just 90 seconds. In fact, I got the idea for this cake from this 90-second bread recipe.
What would happen, I wondered, if I added pumpkin, a sweetener, and cinnamon? I increased the amount of coconut flour just a little - it is so absorbent that too much means a very dry cake - and loved the result!
The frosting is lovely, and just as easy to make as the cake. I simply mix the ingredients by hand. The cake is nice without frosting, but it's REALLY good with it.
The detailed instructions for making this cake are listed in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:
Your first step is to mix the frosting ingredients by hand, then set it aside.
Next, in a ramekin, mix the cake ingredients thoroughly, in the order listed.
Microwave the cake for 90 seconds.
Allow the cake to slightly cool, then remove it from the ramekin, slice it crosswise, and frost it, as shown in the video below.
Expert tip
Since this recipe requires a small amount of pumpkin puree, to prevent waste, it is a good recipe to make when you have leftover pumpkin puree from another recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The amount of stevia I use in the cake batter equals about 2 tablespoons of sugar. So you can use a granulated sweetener to equal 2 tablespoons of sugar, or use sugar if you don't mind the carbs.
No, unfortunately, you can't. Coconut flour is very unique in how it behaves in baked goods. It is not interchangeable with other flours.
You probably can, if the ramekin you use is oven-safe, but I haven't actually tried that. I would start with 10 minutes in a 350°F oven and see if that does it. When ready, the cake should be puffed and fragrant and a toothpick inserted in its center should come out clean.
Variations
The main variation I sometimes make is to use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon. It's a nice variation and it certainly gives the cake a bolder flavor.
Serving suggestions
This is a big cake, and when it's frosted, it makes two generous, filling servings. When I make it without the frosting, I have all of it for my breakfast. But when I frost it, I either share it with my husband or I save half of it for later.
Storing leftovers
You can keep this cake in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before enjoying it. If unfrosted, you can also freeze this cake in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
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Recipe card
Pumpkin Mug Cake
INGREDIENTS
Optional frosting:
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon canned pure pumpkin puree
- ¼ teaspoon stevia glycerite (equals 1 tablespoon powdered sugar)*
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cake:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- ½ teaspoon stevia glycerite (equals 2 tablespoons sugar)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 large egg
- 1.5 tablespoons coconut flour (11 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder (gluten-free if needed)
INSTRUCTIONS
- If making frosting: Soften the cream cheese in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Mix in the remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
- Place the butter in a ¾-cup, 3-inch-wide ramekin. Melt it in the microwave.
- Whisk in the pumpkin, stevia, vanilla, and cinnamon. Add the egg and whisk to incorporate.
- Add the coconut flour and baking powder. Whisk until smooth, scraping the sides and bottom and making sure the batter is completely smooth, well incorporated, and free of lumps. Especially check the bottom of the ramekin to make sure there are no unmixed areas there.
- Microwave the cake for about 90 seconds, just until a toothpick inserted in its center comes out clean.
- Carefully remove the ramekin from the microwave. Use oven mitts - it will be hot. Place it on a heatproof cutting board.
- Gently remove the cake from the ramekin. Run a knife around the edges and slide a small rubber spatula under the bottom if needed. Turn the cake upside down to allow the bottom to air out and prevent sogginess. Allow it to slightly cool.
- Enjoy the cake as is, or frost it: slice in half crosswise. Frost the center, then the top. If you have enough frosting, you can frost the sides as well, as shown in the video.
- Cut the cake into two servings and enjoy!
WATCH THE VIDEO:
NOTES
ADD YOUR OWN NOTES
NUTRITION PER SERVING
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 