Sometimes, lazy mornings call for a low carb, paleo mug cake. So do busy, I-have-five-minutes-to-make-breakfast mornings. And let’s not leave out random afternoons when you want dessert more than an apple. Or your next breath. You’re among friends here; we get it. Really, there’s no bad time for an easy vanilla mug cake and this particular keto vanilla mug cake is better than most. Any time you’re hungry, need a treat and want to keep it keto, this easy vanilla mug cake is your BFF. Some might tell you that you’re asking for too much to expect fast, delicious, and healthy from one little keto mug cake recipe, but you’re not. You can have your cake and eat it, too, when it’s a keto vanilla mug cake! Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Considerations for Paleo Vanilla Cake in a Mug
What makes this paleo mug cake stand out from all the other healthy mug cake recipes floating around out there? Well, first it’s an ultra moist low carb almond flour mug cake with a delicate crumb and burst of vanilla flavor. Add a dollop of whipped cream (coconut cream for paleo!) and you’ve positively crossed into heaven. Mmmm. It has all the rich flavor of a decadent dessert like sugar-free vanilla pudding, all in cake form. But the best part about this keto vanilla mug cake? It’s without a doubt the little specks of vanilla bean seeds! Blueberry pancakes are just better with ’em. Really, life is better with vanilla bean seeds. Or at least vanilla cake in a mug recipes are. But you can’t use just any ‘ol vanilla bean seeds in this gluten-free vanilla mug cake. You need to choose quality, grade-A vanilla beans. That’s what puts this keto vanilla mug cake recipe at the top of the list! Grade A vanilla beans have more moisture, aroma, and seeds. If you’re selecting vanilla beans at the store, choose ones that are plump, shiny, and smooth. Avoid those that are dried out if you want the best flavor available. Here is a great place to get quality vanilla beans if you don’t have any yet. Or if you’ll be using them a lot, you may want to stock up on these. I’ve personally kept them in an airtight container for months, and they are still excellent! That works out well because it’s nice to have them on hand any time you get the craving for an easy vanilla mug cake. Which may or may not happen rather often. Ahem. Now, you can just use vanilla extract if you’d prefer, but it won’t have the same rich flavor. You’d have to use a full teaspoon of the extract to achieve the same depth of flavor, but the alcohol would leave an aftertaste so at most you should use half that amount. However, if you don’t have quality vanilla beans on hand and you do have a hankering for a vanilla microwave mug cake, go ahead and use that extract! You deserve a treat!
Sweeteners for Paleo or Keto Vanilla Mug Cake
There are many low carb sweetener options available to you that will make this sugar-free mug cake still taste sweetly decadent. If you’re not worried about making this a particularly low carb vanilla mug cake, you can use coconut sugar. If you do want to minimize your carbs, your best bet is to use either erythritol or monk fruit sweetener. Sticking with granulated or crystallized options keeps the consistency as cake-like as possible. If you’re still learning low carb, paleo, keto sweeteners…no worries. I’ve got you covered with a comprehensive sweetener conversion chart.
How To Make a Vanilla Mug Cake – No Milk
Not only is this easy vanilla mug cake sugar-free and gluten-free, but it’s also dairy free. And with a super easy tweak, this keto vanilla mug cake also becomes a paleo mug cake. How cool is that?! Are you ready to see how easy this is? Hold on to your hats, friends, because this is going to change your world. Or at least your breakfast time. And your mid-afternoon snacks. And maybe your midnight cravings. You start by melting your coconut oil in your mug or ramekin. Then you add in your scraped vanilla bean seeds and milk. The key to making this moist vanilla mug cake dairy-free and low carb is using unsweetened almond milk which you can buy at the store or make homemade almond yourself (so easy!). No real dairy milk in this recipe! Next, add all your dry ingredients and the egg. Mix thoroughly and smooth the top. Now, if you’re wanting to make this a paleo mug cake, simply use this homemade baking powder recipe for the paleo version. You’re going to microwave this easy vanilla mug cake for 1 ½ to 2 minutes until firm (but not too dry!). Then, serve it up with whipped cream or your favorite frosting. Of course, to keep it a paleo mug cake you’ll use whipped coconut cream and not dairy. And just in case you don’t already have a favorite frosting, this keto cream cheese frosting is delish. I mean, lick the bowl yummy. You’re going to love it. Psst… now that you know how easy it is to make a paleo mug cake, you might want a few other recipes that are just as simple. Here are a few favorites at Wholesome Yum: my classic keto chocolate mug cake, cinnamon swirl mug muffin (sweet!) and two-minute low carb English muffin (savory and awesome for a sandwich!). For a fall seasonal twist, try pumpkin spice mug cake — you can replace the GF flour with almond flour and the sugar with Besti sweetener, for a low carb version.
Can You Make Paleo Mug Cake In Advance?
I get it. You’re busy and have places to go, things to do, and cake to eat. I feel you. So here’s what I suggest. You can’t mix up the batter in advance and let it sit, because the baking soda will react. But, you can get a jump-start for those days when you’re running late (or the cravings are crazy for cake!). Simply mix all of the dry ingredients into a mason jar you want to cook it in, ahead of time. Then, just add the wet ingredients right before cooking. Ramekins with lids work great, too, but divide the batter into 2 of they are small, so they won’t overflow. This is such an easy way to indulge your cravings for cake already, but if you want to make it even easier to enjoy this easy vanilla mug cake, that’s your best bet! Enjoy!
Coffee Mugs – This set of mugs would be perfect for making this delicious dessert recipe. Measuring Spoons – These are my absolute favorite measuring spoons. They nest together for storage.
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram, or in our Facebook support group, too - I’d love to see it! Serving size: 1 mug cake (entire recipe)
