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    Food » Protein Mug Cake

    Protein Mug Cake

    Posted: 12/10/2021 | Last updated: 12/11/2021 by Erin 1 Comment
    Post may contain affiliate links via Amazon Associates or other programs. (Disclosure)

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    This delicious vanilla protein mug cake is a great dessert alternative for those who want to meet high protein daily nutrition goals. The addition of a chocolate chip protein cookie adds extra flavor and even more protein. Ready in 2 minutes from start to finish!

    This post contains sponsored content in collab with Naked Nutrition. Any opinions expressed about any products are my own and not influenced by this collab.

    An overhead view of a protein mug cake, broken up and mixed with a Naked Nutrition chocolate chip protein cookie.
    30 grams of protein per mug!

    How Is This Different From Other Mug Cakes?

    Mug cakes are a dessert lovers dream. When you want cake and you want it now, whipping up a 2-minute mug cake is kind of amazing. While most mug cakes use smaller proportions of typical cake ingredients, this protein mug cake incorporates the use of protein powder in place of some of the flour to add additional protein and lower the carbs a little bit.

    What is the Texture Like?

    Most mug cakes get a bad rap for being tough and spongy. And honestly, it's understandable. Making a cake requires many steps with special care required to keep the finished cake light and fluffy instead of dense and tough. When throwing together a 2-minute mug cake that's cooked in the microwave, you have to make some concessions as far as texture.

    What I've done to help combat the texture problem is use less egg. Most mug cakes call for an entire egg to be added to the mug. When you think about it, some cake or cookie recipes use only a couple of eggs for the entire recipe, so one whole egg for one little mug is a lot!

    Instead, I added the egg to the mug, whisked it up, and then scooped out half of it to allow the cake to be a little fluffier. It really does help.

    A protein mug cake with a Naked Nutrition chocolate chip protein cookie.
    Mix in a protein cookie for extra flavor, extra protein!

    Ingredient Substitutions

    There's several ingredient substitutions you can use in this protein mug cake in case you don't have the listed ingredients in your pantry. Just be aware that any substitution you use will change the listed nutrition facts estimates shown in the recipe card below

    • Milk - I used unsweetened almond milk, but any type of milk, dairy or non dairy, will work in this mug cake.
    • Brown Sugar - depending on your nutritional needs, you can use real brown sugar or any brown sugar (or regular sugar) substitute. You just need to add a bit of sweetness to the cake, so just about anything will work here.
    • Oil - I used canola oil because that's what I had on hand, but you can use coconut oil, vegetable oil, or melted butter.
    • Protein Powder - Use any flavor you want! I referenced a "scoop" of protein powder in the recipe, which is about 2.5 tablespoons. Or you can use a food scale to measure out 30 grams.
    • Topping - instead of the chocolate chip protein cookie you can use half of a crumbled protein bar, some nuts, a spoon of natural peanut butter, or some dark chocolate chips.
    Overhead view of two packages of Naked Cookie chocolate chip protein cookies.
    Naked Nutrition protein cookies are sooo tasty!

    Naked Nutrition Naked Cookies

    I had a chance to try these new protein cookies by Naked Nutrition and incorporate them as a topping into this protein mug cake. These cookies are fantastic! They're super thick, soft, and of course quite tasty. Each cookie has 200 calories, 10 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar, and 8 grams of net carbs. They are also gluten free, for those requiring such a diet, being made from defatted almond flour instead of traditional wheat. 

    The cookies come in three flavors currently - chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and sugar cookie. You can use any of the three flavors to crumble into your protein mug cake. I used chocolate chip! You can purchase the cookies from Amazon if you want to try them for yourself!

    A protein mug cake mixed with a chocolate chip protein cookie with a bite being spooned out.
    The cookie softens up when mixed into the warm mug cake.

    Other Mug Cake Toppings

    This is a great base recipe for protein mug cake that you can use to flavor up with any number of tasty toppings!

    • Naked Cookie - I used a chocolate chip Naked Cookie, but they also have oatmeal raisin and sugar cookie flavors too.
    • Protein Bar - crumble up half of your favorite flavor of protein bar.
    • Chocolate Chips - Toss in a couple tablespoons of dark chocolate chips.
    • Nut Butter - Add a scoop of your favorite natural nut butters.
    • Nuts - Add some crunch with chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, or peanuts.
    • Ice Cream - Use your favorite high protein/low sugar ice cream and scoop it on while the cake is still warm - yum!
    • Whipped Cream - A squirt of fresh, lightly sweetened whipped cream is the perfect finish.
    Print
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    Protein Mug Cake


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Erin
    • Total Time: 2 mins
    • Yield: 1 mug cake 1x
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Ready in two minutes, this vanilla mug cake is topped with a crumbled chocolate chip protein cookie and is a great high protein dessert or snack.  Customizable to fit your tastes!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 large egg
    • 3 TBS unsweetened almond milk
    • 1 tsp canola oil
    • ½ tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 scoop (31g) vanilla protein powder
    • 1 TBS all-purpose flour
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • 1 tiny pinch of salt
    • 1 TBS Swerve Brown sugar substitute (or you can use regular brown sugar)
    • ½ chocolate chip protein cookie or protein bar, crumbled.

    Instructions

    1. In a large mug, add the egg and whisk.  Scoop out 1 TBS + 1 tsp of the egg and discard.
    2. Add the milk, oil, and vanilla extract.  Mix well.
    3. Add the protein powder, flour, baking powder, salt, and brown sugar substitute and mix gently until just combined - do not overmix.
    4. Microwave on high for 50-60 seconds until just set, being careful not to overheat as this will cause a tough cake.  The cake will rise above the mug as it bakes but it will settle down once you take it out of the microwave.  The cake will NOT brown, so don't use color as a test of doneness.  Touch the top of the cake with your fingers.  If it's not doughy and is slightly springy, it is done.
    5. Use a fork to break apart the top of the cake and add the crumbled cookie (or other desired toppings) while still warm.  Enjoy.

    Notes

    Half of the egg is removed from the batter to help with the spongy texture that is notorious in most mug cakes.  If you think about it, sometimes entire cake or cookie recipes use only a couple of eggs, so using an entire egg in one little mug cake is quite a lot!  I know it's a fussy step, but it will improve your cake.

    Take care to be gentle when mixing the batter, as overmixing will cause a tougher cake.  Also, be sure to remove the cake from the microwave as soon as it's done to avoid overbaking.

    Please see the contents of the blog post for substitutions, flavor variations, and other tips!

    NUTRITION FACTS NOTE:  The nutritional estimates listed below are for the mug cake only BEFORE any toppings (protein cookie, nut butters, chocolate chips, etc) are added.  I did it this way so that you can change up your toppings and add the info to your nutritional facts for your own logs.

    • Prep Time: 1 min
    • Cook Time: 1 min
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Microwave

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 mug
    • Calories: 240
    • Sugar: 2.4g
    • Sodium: 301mg
    • Fat: 9.9g
    • Saturated Fat: 2.5g
    • Carbohydrates: 25g
    • Fiber: 0.4g
    • Protein: 25g
    • Cholesterol: 164mg

    Keywords: high protein, lower carb, mug cake, dessert for one

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    Overhead photo of a protein mug cake with pieces of vanilla mug cake mixed with a protein chocolate chip cookie.
    Pin for Later!

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    About Erin

    Erin is a mom of two human babies and two fur-covered babies. She loves comfy clothes, eats too much peanut butter, and watches excessive amounts of Netflix. Make her day and toss her a like on Facebook or follow her on Instagram. Post may contain affiliate links including those via the Amazon Associates program

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brittani

      January 19, 2022 at 4:45 pm

      I was craving something sweet last night and this was quick and easy and healthier than "real" cake. Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Erin! I love food and I bet you do, too! I cook for my family and share the recipes that we love. We also like to camp, so there will be a fair bit about that around here, too.

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