Hate zesting lemons to get that lovely lemon flavor? Great – me too! This delicious Keto Lemon Mug Cake doesn’t use a single lemon and most certainly will not disappoint!
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclaimer.
Keto Lemon Mug Cake
I went to Natural Groceries to look for caramel extract. I don’t shop there too often, but it was on my way home and I didn’t feel like driving out of my way to Whole Foods. I had keto mug cakes on the brain!
They did not have caramel extract, but they DID have a few fun other flavors. I chose lemon and peppermint and I might even go back for the orange!
I hate zesting lemons, but I wanted to try a lemon dessert and make a low carb mug cake. It is a segway into a more elaborate lemon dessert, but I decided to start small and see if I could get a tasty mug cake recipe with the lemon flavor.
For starters, I had no idea how much to use, so I based it on experience and, well, how strong the smell was! I went with 1/4 teaspoon in the mug cake and 1/8 teaspoon in the drizzle. Turned out perfect.
RELATED – How to Start the Keto Diet (AGAIN)
CLICK to Sign up for FREE Keto Recipes Direct to Your INBOX!
How to Make Lemon Mug Cakes
This is such a simple mug cake recipe, you will just all in love! I mean, who doesn’t love a dessert in a mug?
To start with, I learned a long time ago that if you coat your mug cups with melted butter that they will easily flip out of the mug once cooked (if that is a goal).
I just melt butter in a separate bowl, pour it in my mug cups and swish it around until a nice thick layer remains.
And besides, butter always boosts flavor, right? You can choose to make one larger mug cake or 2 smaller ones.
I chose 2 smaller ones so I could split it with my 5-year-old! We could have shared one obviously, but if you have kids, you know they like “their own”.
Mug cakes are so easy to make! You literally just combine all the ingredients into a bowl, mix them up good, then add the batter to your prepared ramekins.
Microwave for about 90 seconds and boom – you are done!
I like to flip them once they come out so that you get a beautiful, even top! I know it is just aesthetics, but I like things to look pretty!
Doesn’t that look pretty, even on its own? Light and fluffy for sure! Not weighted down with flours. Definitely not “eggy”.
Honestly, my plan was to just make the mug cake without anything else. But when I looked at this beauty, it just looked…. naked. Like it needed something else.
So I whipped up a lemon glaze and threw some almonds on top and a beautiful dessert was born!
The Keto Lemon Mug Cake Glaze
You can make the glaze thick or thin! The above picture shows the thick glaze where you just drizzle it on.
For a thicker glaze, you want to use less almond milk. For a thinner glaze, you want to use more.
Notice below the glaze is much thinner and coats the entire cake. It is up to you which one you prefer!
Kitchen Essentials
You don’t need much to make this quick and easy keto lemon mug cake. But you WILL need something to cook it in. I like the small, white ramekins like ramekins on Amazon!
RELATED – Keto on a budget
Sweetener
I chose to use erythritol. But you can certainly use Lakanto Monkfruit as well. I use these pretty much interchangeably.
When I use either of these, however, I always use liquid stevia as both together temper the aftertaste of the other.
Flavor
I chose to use Frontier Co-Op Organic and Non-GMO lemon flavor. You can order it on Amazon or, as I said above, I got it at Natural Grocers.
I imagine Whole Foods or New Seasons would have it as well. It is so much easier than zesting or squeezing a lemon!
How to make powdered erythritol
Don’t waste money buying powdered sweeteners, make your own! Watch this quick 1-minute video to learn how!
Other Fun Desserts You Might Like
No Bake Coconut Cream Pie Cups
CLICK to Sign up for FREE Keto Recipes Direct to Your INBOX!
Keto Lemon Mug Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Mug Cake
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon low carb granular sweetener
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract flavor
- 3 drops liquid stevia
- 1 egg beaten
- 1-2 tablespoons butter melted
Topping
- 4 tablespoons low carb powdered sweetener
- 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
- 1/8 teaspoon lemon extract flavor
- sliced almonds optional
Instructions
Mug Cake
- Use melted butter to coat mug cups (I used 2 small cups)
- In a small bowl, mix all ingredients well.
- Add to mug cup(s).
- Make sure it doesn't fill much more than 1/2 the cup because it will rise
- Microwave for 90 seconds.
- Remove from microwave and let cool for 2-3 minutes.
- Flip upside down onto plate. It should EASILY come out due to the butter coating.
- Let cool for a few moments.
Topping
- Meanwhile, mix topping ingredients in a small bowl and combine well.
- Topping should be thick but pourable.
- Drizzle just a small amount on the mug cake(s). You may have extra.
- Top with almond slivers (optional)
Nutrition
Trina Krug is a Holistic Nutritionist, Integrative Health Coach and host of the Carbless Conversations Podcast. With a Master’s Degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, her single mission in life is to facilitate self-healing in herself and those around her through awareness, lifestyle shifts and low-carb eating. As a current Doctor of Science student, she continues her studies in functional nutrition.
