Low-Carb Red Velvet Mug Cake

4.1 stars, average of 82 ratings

By Martina Slajerova, updated March 22 202028

This 2-minute mug cake is a real treat for Valentine's day! It's moist, rich in flavour and the frosting takes it a step closer to real red velvet cake. The beetroot powder that I used in this recipe gives the mug cakes a pink tint. If you want to achieve a deep red colour, you will have to use a few drops of red food colouring. The products I found in the UK either contained unwanted additives or sugar so I avoided using any food colouring. For more Valentine's day treats, check out more of my ketogenic recipes.

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Hands-on 10 minutes Overall 10 minutes

Nutritional values (per serving)

Net carbs8.4 grams

Protein14.8 grams

Fat53.8 grams

Calories571 kcal

Calories from carbs 6%, protein 10%, fat 84%

Total carbs12.7 gramsFiber4.3 gramsSugars6.5 gramsSaturated fat30 gramsSodium332 mg(14% RDA)Magnesium79 mg(20% RDA)Potassium402 mg(20% EMR)

Ingredients (makes 2 servings)

Mug Cakes:

¹/₃ cup almond flour (35 g/ 1.2 oz)
1 heaping tbsp coconut flour (12 g/ 0.4 oz)
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (5 g/ 0.2 oz)
1 tbsp beetroot powder (6 g/ 0.2 oz) - will give the mug cakes a pink tint
¹/₄ tsp baking soda
¹/₄ tsp vanilla powder or 1 tsp unsweetened vanilla extract
3 tbsp Erythritol or Swerve, or other healthy low-carb sweetener from this list (30 g / 1.1 oz)
2 large eggs
¹/₄ cup sour cream (60 g/ 2.1 oz)
2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil or butter, melted (28 g/ 1 oz)
Optional: few drops of natural red food colouring

Frosting:

2 tbsp butter, room temperature (28 g/ 1 oz)
¹/₄ cup cream cheese (60 g/ 2.1 oz)
¹/₄ tsp vanilla powder or 1 tsp unsweetened vanilla extract
1 tbsp powdered Erythritol or Swerve (10 g/ 0.3 oz)
Optional: 3-5 drops liquid Stevia extract

Instructions

Place the almond flour, coconut flour, cacao powder, beetroot powder, baking soda, Erythritol and vanilla powder in a bowl and combine well.
Add the eggs, melted coconut oil and sour cream and mix until well combined.
Divide the mixture between two mugs. Microwave each mug cake on high for 70-90 seconds. Meanwhile, prepare the frosting by mixing the butter, remaining Erythritol, cream cheese and vanilla. For a smooth texture, use a blender. Instead of the frosting, you can use whipped cream or creamed coconut milk with a dash of vanilla.
Tips for cooking in the oven: If you don't have a microwave, I suggest you make 4-8 servings at once. Preheat the oven to 175 °C/ 350 °F and cook for about 12-15 minutes or until cooked in the centre.
Let the mug cakes cool down. Place the frosting in a piping bag or simply spoon it on top of each mug cake. Enjoy!

Ingredient nutritional breakdown (per serving)

Net carbs	Protein	Fat	Calories
Almond flour (blanched ground almonds, almond meal)
1.5 g	3.6 g	8.8 g	98 kcal
Coconut flour, organic
0.6 g	1 g	0.9 g	22 kcal
Cocoa powder, raw (cacao)
0.6 g	0.5 g	0.4 g	6 kcal
Beetroot powder, dehydrated beetroot
2 g	0.4 g	0 g	12 kcal
Baking soda, raising agent (bicarbonate of soda)
0 g	0 g	0 g	0 kcal
Vanilla extract, powder (vanilla bean)
0.1 g	0 g	0 g	3 kcal
Erythritol (natural low-carb sweetener)
1 g	0 g	0 g	4 kcal
Eggs, free-range or organic
0.4 g	6.3 g	4.8 g	72 kcal
Coconut oil, extra virgin
0 g	0 g	13.5 g	121 kcal
Cream, sour
1.3 g	0.7 g	5.6 g	57 kcal
Butter, unsalted, grass-fed
0 g	0.1 g	11.5 g	102 kcal
Cream cheese, soft (full-fat)
1 g	2.1 g	8.4 g	74 kcal
Total per serving
8.4 g	14.8 g	53.8 g	571 kcal

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Pat 7 months ago #

Hi, is it important to use the beetroot powder? Can I just use the red food coloring? Can’t wait to make it 😋

Martina @ KetoDiet 7 months ago #

Absolutely! You can use food colouring instead. I'd just use a teaspoon or two more coconut flour to keep the texture the same.

Pat Morgan 7 months ago #

Thank you! I already went out and bought the beetroot powder😋

I'm sorry I just found the comment. I hope you like it! If you're not sure about what to do with it, I use it just like food colouring. It's really beautiful in white treats like cheesecake truffles because the colour really pops and you don't need a lot of it.

Lisa Sebelle 11 months ago #

I made this and it was really good. I would like to adapt it to make a birthday cake. Do you know if tripling the recipe would make a 9 " cake? Also, are there any substitutions to cocnut flour? Oat fiber or whey protein? Thanks!

Martina @ KetoDiet 11 months ago #

Thank you Lisa, you can definitely do that and tripling should be enough for a 9 inch cake. Or you could follow this recipe: Low-Carb Red Velvet Cake
When it comes to the coconut-free option, instead of coconut flour you can use more almond flour. In this recipe I'd use 1/4 to 1/3 cup almond flour instead of the 1 heaped tablespoon of coconut flour (1 heaped tablespoon is the same as 1.5 level tablespoons). Or you could use flax meal (same amount as coconut flour). I hope this helps!

catnip one year ago #

Do you think fat free greek yogurt could substitute for the sour cream? I always have that on hand. Cannot wait to try!

Martina @ KetoDiet one year ago #

Absolutely! Full-fat yogurt will work just fine 😊

Val G. one year ago #

I just have to say, WOW. Awesome recipe! Moist and doesn't collapse and I actually can take the cake and make 2-3 servings out of each of them (4-6 small but satisfying servings). Chocolaty goodness!!!! (I also used some xanthan gum 1/4 tsp)

Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed! ❤

deadbang one year ago #

i see you changed the recipe a bit but still one of the best!

Thank you! Most of the mug cakes use the same dry mix but this one needed some fine tuning to make it more like red velvet cake (eg additional sour cream and a bit more almond flour) 😊

Aana camp one year ago #

How can I make mug cake without a microwave?

See step 3 for tips 😊

Jada one year ago #

This was soooo delicious and just what the doctor ordered. I’m thinking of removing the cocoa powder and sweetener for a bread base... I loved the texture of this cake. Thank you

Thank you Jada, I'm glad you enjoyed!

Iloveketo 2 years ago #

I just made this and it was delicious but too much just for me? Could you send me a recipe just for one servicing please? Because I would love to make it regularly if it was just one serving.

Thank you! You could halve the recipe? 😊

Deema Nuseir 2 years ago #

Hi Martina, I can't find beetroot powder. Do you have any idea if Acai or Maqui berry powder have the same color effect? Thanks

Martina @ KetoDiet 2 years ago #

I think they will be rather purple but it depends on the effect you want to achieve. Having said that, freeze-dried raspberry powder would be a great alternative!

Sonia Mehrotra 2 years ago #

Hi...these look yum....is it possible to get nutritional value without the frosting?Thanks

Sure! 10.9 g total carbs, 6.8 g net carbs, 12.4 g protein, 34.1 g fat, 387 kcal. All of my recipes can be viewed in our fully featured app (integrated blog), added to the Planner, and they can also be modified. 😊

Noreva 4 years ago #

Cakes and decorating has been a recent craft of mine which I've put on hold while I get adapted to my new nutrition plan... I didn't think I could have such a tasty treat as this recipe was! Love the cream cheese icing too! Thanks so much!!
Only 1 month in... Down 10 lbs and I can have cake!! Yay! 😬

Martina @ KetoDiet 4 years ago #

Well done! And thank you! 😊

Teej 4 years ago #

Love this, excited to try, you come up with THE BEST RECIPES!!!!!! Thx!!!!! ;-D

Thank you so much!

Margaret 4 years ago #

OMG these are soooo good!! The perfect texture and taste. Thank you will be making this again!

Thank you Margaret! I used the same base as in most of my keto mug cakes 😊

Low-Carb Red Velvet Mug Cake

Hands-on 10 minutes Overall 10 minutes

Nutritional values (per serving)

Ingredients (makes 2 servings)

Mug Cakes:

Frosting:

Instructions

Ingredient nutritional breakdown (per serving)

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