This keto brownie in a mug is gooey and decadent, and serves just one person. It’s the perfect single-serve dessert when you need chocolatey goodness but you don’t want the leftovers.
Add a scoop of keto ice cream for the ultimate indulgence.
Don’t say I never do anything nice for you. Because not only do I give you the recipe for this delicious keto mug brownie, but I also provide you with three different ways to bake it!
I show you how to bake this same recipe in an oven, in an air fryer, and in a microwave. So no matter what equipment you’ve got on hand, you can enjoy a delicious keto dessert.
How’s that for a full service keto food blog?
Single Serve Keto Brownie
Usually when I make keto brownies, it’s the “whole pan to feed a crowd” type of recipe. My family can put a pretty good dent in a pan of brownies before you can bat an eye.
But sometimes I need a treat that is just mine, and mine alone.
I developed this keto mug brownie almost 6 years ago now, but I decided it needed an update. My goal was to reduce the carbs but make it just as gooey and rich as it always was.
I also experimented with the cooking method, to see if I could get the same results in an air fryer and a microwave.
And it worked perfectly every way I tried it. Now we all have more options and you can’t beat that!
Ingredients
This keto brownie takes basic low carb ingredients that you can find in almost any grocery store. You will need:
- Butter
- Keto sweetener: I recommend using a powdered sweetener like Swerve Confectioners so it blends in better.
- Egg: You just need two teaspoons and carton eggs or egg whites work well.
- Vanilla extract
- Almond flour: Use finely ground, blanched almond flour for best results.
- Cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Water or cold coffee
- Chopped nuts or sugar-free chocolate chips (optional)
How to make keto brownie in a mug
This recipe is ridiculously easy to make, and you have three different ways to bake it. Here are my best tips for getting it right:
The brownie batter
- Melt the butter: Use a microwave safe bowl and cook on high until just melted but not too hot.
- Whisk in the sweetener: I recommend a powdered sweetener so that it dissolves well.
- Add the egg and vanilla: You need such a small amount of egg but it’s important to measure it out carefully. You can whisk a whole egg, or use eggs from a carton.
- Stir in the dry ingredients: Make sure everything is well combined and break up any clumps in the almond flour and cocoa powder.
- Add a little liquid: At this point, the batter will be quite thick. Add 1 tablespoon of water or cold coffee to thin it out.
- Sprinkle with some toppings: I really like some finely chopped pecans, for crunch. But a few keto-friendly chocolate chips work too.
Oven method
You can use a regular oven or a smaller countertop oven. Bake it at 325ºF for 10 to 15 minutes – the less you bake it, the more gooey it will be.
Air fryer method
This may be my favorite method, as I think it produced the best results. It was like a cross between a brownie and a chocolate lava cake!
Bake it at 325ºF for 7 to 9 minutes. Again, the less you bake it, the gooier it will be.
Microwave method
In a hurry to enjoy this keto mug brownie? You can cook it in less than 1 minute in your microwave! It does end up a little more spongy, as microwave cakes usually do. But it’s still delicious.
I found that starting and stopping the microwave in 15 second increments helped keep the brownie from spilling over the ramekin. Check on it frequently so you know when it’s the right consistency for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coconut flour won’t work in this recipe but you can use sunflower seed flour. It is a 1:1 replacement with almond flour.
Absolutely! Use coconut oil or another dairy-free alternative to butter. If it’s a liquid oil like avocado, there is no need to melt it first.
Yes but do keep in mind that sweeteners such as allulose can affect the consistency. I find that baked goods end up more puffy and cake-like when I use allulose as the main sweetener.
Absolutely! Just double or triple the recipe and divide the batter among more ramekins. Cook as desired.
Keto Mug Brownie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 ¼ tablespoon powdered Swerve Sweetener
- 2 teaspoon whisked egg (can use carton eggs or egg whites)
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon almond flour
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon water or cold coffee
- 2 teaspoon chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- In a small microwave safe bowl, melt the butter in the microwave. Stir in the powdered sweetener until well combined, then stir in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Add the almond flour, cocoa powder and baking powder, then add water and stir until the mixture is smooth.
- Transfer the batter to a small (4-ounce) ramekin and sprinkle with chopped nuts, if desired.
To bake in the oven (or toaster oven)
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF and bake the brownie 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how gooey you want it to be.
To bake in an air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 325ºF and bake the brownie 7 to 9 minutes, depending on how gooey you want it to be.
To bake in a microwave
- Microwave on high in 15 to 30 second increments, stopping the microwave in between so that it doesn't spill over. A total of 45 to 60 seconds should be enough.
Shelley says
Thank you!
Rhiannon Villa says
OMG! This was so good and a perfect sized little dessert. I added a tiny amount of peanut butter powder. Yum!!! Thank you 😋
Cindy says
I don’t have any ramekins. What size would you recommend I get? Can I just make this in a coffee mug until I get some ramekins?
Carolyn says
Yes as long as it’s microwave or oven safe! My ramekins are 1/2 cup capacity.
Annabelle says
Do you think I could use egg white powder? Or, do I need the liquid from the egg? Thank you.
Carolyn says
You can use the egg white powder, but you need to add liquid to basically turn it into egg white. I am not sure how much but your package should tell you how to make it equivalent to one egg white. Then you can scale down.
Anita says
Fabulous and easy
Maggie says
I made this just as the recipe states and it was delicious! I want to make it dairy free version for my dear friend. You stated to use oil as a substitute for the butter. What do I use to substitute for the egg? More oil?
Michelle says
Tried for the first time tonight because I wanted some CHOCOLATE! Very good. Next time I’m going to replace the 1T of water with the same amount of coffee infused bourbon and see what that’s like.
Carol says
Made in air fryer. So good. Thanks for this one.
Carolyn says
Would adding a little gelatin to this recipe make it fudgier, like the brownie recipe in your book ?. If so, how much would you add. I’ll be microwaving this probably as I don’t have an airfryer Thankyou.
Carolyn says
You can certainly try. I wouldn’t add more than 1 teaspoon, since this is such a small brownie.
Debbie says
To use a whole egg (6 servings) what size dish would you recommend? I don’t have 6 ramekins.
Carolyn says
Good question! I am really not sure. Each of those ramekins is 1/2 cup capacity so something that is 3 cup capacity…
Debbie says
Thanks, I’ll see if I can figure it out, and will probably bake it because of its larger size.
Cynthia P says
This is a great recipe! I have a question … if I wanted to use espresso powder instead of cold coffee, how much would you suggest?
Carolyn says
You need the liquid… so I would probably whisk some of the espresso powder into some warm water.
Cynthia P says
Thank you, Carolyn.
NaTasha says
Delicious! This definitely met my chocolate craving. I added some Lily’s chocolate and topped with keto butter pecan ice cream. Thank you for sharing your recipes and helping me stay on track even when I have a sweet tooth.
Bonnie says
I just made three of these today for a little dessert after our lunch. My husband, son and I loved them! Your recipes are the best around, truly.
Sharon says
This is the best chocolate keto recipe that I have found—very delicious. Thank you so much!
Marine says
This is too bitter for my taste buds.
I had to drench it in whipped cream.
Carolyn says
I suspect you used another sweetener?
Natasha says
These keto mug brownies are so fudgy and stay moist for days. I love that it’s not overly sweet too, it’s just perfect for our taste!
Janelle says
If I just wanted to increase the recipe so I used a whole egg, approximately how much is a whole egg? Like somewhere between 2-3 tbsp and so I can start measuring the beaten egg with a tbsp to get my exact number for multiplying the other ingredients? Or do you think it will only be like 3-4 tsp? Thanks!!
Carolyn says
A large egg is 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) approximately. Since each tablespoon has 3 teaspoons, that would be 12 teaspoons. so you’d be making 6 brownies.
Lisa Duggin says
I have now made this two times. First time always just like it says. Second time added a small amount of SF choc chips. Both ways great! Thank you so much for all your hard work in perfecting this recipes for all of us. Bless you, Lisa
Kristyn says
The most delicious, chocolate-y, individual dessert!! Love that it’s keto-friendly, too!
Matt says
This keto mug brownie is so awesome, super quick and easy to make, and super tasty. Such a great keto dessert!