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close up of chocolate lava mug cake with a molten center
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4.67 from 6 votes

Chocolate Lava Mug Cake

Chocolate Lava Mug Cake is rich, moist, and fudgy, with a warm molten center. Cooked in the microwave for 1 minute, this quick and easy dessert is perfect for chocolate lovers or those on a keto diet! It is as yummy as this chocolate fudge cake in a mug and peanut butter mug cake.
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:American
Keywords:chocolate lava mug cake, mug cake recipes, quick
Prep Time 4 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 person
Calories378 kcal
Cost $ 1.00 per person

Equipment

  • 1 small whisk
  • 1 8-ouce coffee mug or ramekin

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted (or vegetable oil or coconut oil)
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream or plant-based milk
  • 1 large egg at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
  • 2 ½ tablespoon powdered erythritol or sugar if not on a keto diet. Do NOT use granulated erythritol
  • 2-3 sugar-free semisweet or dark chocolate squares 1 inch by 1 inch (or chocolate of choice or 2 tablespoon Nutella or nut butter)

Instructions

  • To make this ooey-gooey lava cake, add melted butter and heavy cream to an 8-ounce microwave-safe mug or ramekin. whisk until fully combined. Make sure the mixture is liquid but not too hot before adding the egg!
  • Add egg and whisk well until batter is smooth and there are no more egg white streaks.
  • Add half of the cocoa powder. Whisk until it is fully combined and no lumps remain. Whisk in the sweetener and the remaining cocoa powder until the batter is smooth. The batter will be thick but it is still liquid.
  • Place chocolate squares onto the center of the batter and gently push in until they are just covered. Make sure to NOT push too far because they will sink when the cake cooks.
  • You can add peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, or chocolate chunks on top but this may cause the top of the cake to deform a little because of the weight of those toppings.
  • Cook the mug cake in the microwave at full power for about 50-55 seconds and take a look at it before it cooks for a few seconds more. The cake is ready when the edges are set and pulled away from the mug and also the middle puffs up a little yet it is still soft.
  • Serve this decadent chocolate dessert right away while warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, a sift of cocoa powder, or powdered sugar. Enjoy cake while still warm.

Recipe Notes

Tips for making Chocolate Lava Mug Cake
  • Make sure the butter is melted but not too warm when whisking the egg; otherwise it’ll cause the egg protein to coagulate and your cake to be dry.
  • You can replace chocolate for the center with creamy peanut butter, caramel, Nutella, or fruit jams.
  • Dust the top of the warm cake with powdered sugar or cocoa powder, or serve it with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
  • Make sure to NEVER overcook this chocolate lava mug cake! That will result in a drier, more crumbly cake with a not so gooey, molten center that you are looking for.
  • The cooking time will vary according to your microwave potency. Mine is 1200 Watts and cooked in 50-55 seconds for a runnier center. Check your cake after 50 seconds. It will be ready when the edges are set and pulled away from the mug but the center is still soft.
  • This molten lava mug cake will not rise too high so an 8-oz coffee mug or ramekin should be large enough to cook the ingredients in without the batter spilling over.
  • Use whatever type of chocolate you prefer such as milk chocolate. But dark or bittersweet chocolate will make a richer mug cake and you can always add more sugar or sugar substitute to make it sweet.
  • Make sure to use powdered erythritol and not granular because the latter won’t have enough time to melt fully with the short cooking time. If you don't have any powdered erythritol at home, you can grind up the granular in a food processor to make it powdered. Powdered Swerve will also work.
  • To avoid a lot of lumps of cocoa powder, you can sift it before adding to the batter.
  • Make sure to melted butter is not as warm when adding the cream in order to not curdle.
  • This is a flourless mug cake (gluten-free)! There is neither whole wheat flour nor all-purpose flour!
  • You can add 2-3 (one-inch) squares of chocolate depending on how much melted chocolate you prefer for a molten chocolate center or even 2 tablespoon of Nutella or nut butter.
How long will this microwave molten lava cake last?
This chocolate lava mug cake is best eaten right away when it is still warm from the microwave.
However, if you want to save it for later or have leftovers, cover, and chill in the fridge for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, warm in the microwave for a few seconds and enjoy!
What to serve with molten lava cake in a mug?
There are several options. You can dust wither cocoa powder or powdered sugar, or serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 214mg | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 228mg | Fiber: 5g | Vitamin A: 808IU | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 4mg

** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

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