By You only need 5 minutes to make this 3-ingredient chocolate banana mug cake for a quick and better-for-you treat. With such simple ingredients (we've tested this sooo many times to determine the optimal combination), it's easy to make and perfect for kids! Dan and I have eaten this mug cake no less than 10 times in the last month.
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Ok, I don't mean to hate on mug cakes, but most of them require so much work. It's the same amount of work as putting together a normal cake just to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Yet, mug cakes are impromptu; they are something you make on a whim when it's late at night, and you have no time, energy, or ingredients to make a full cake. And that's where this recipe shines! This 3 ingredient mug cake with cocoa powder is so simple, can be made higher in protein with hemp seeds or collagen, and is naturally gluten-free with the most fudgey, delicious texture.
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use a whisk
Hot chocolate mix can clump up easily, so I've had the best luck whisking it (a whisk is best or a fork at a minimum) with the other ingredients. This way, you can avoid random bites of just hot cocoa powder.
key ingredients & swaps
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Banana: The more dotted with brown spots, the sweeter, and thus the better! If you have extra ripe bananas try our high-protein banana bread recipe or banana baked oats.
- Egg: This helps bind the cake and add moisture. When testing with just egg whites, this resulted in too much fluff.
- Hot cocoa mix: Feel free to use your favorite mix, but make sure it's sweet enough. Our preference is Ghirardelli. We tried this cake with Starbucks dark cocoa mix, and it wasn't sweet enough.
- Optional protein: You can add 1 scoop of unflavored collagen to this mug cake for an easy protein boost. You can also swap out half of the hot chocolate mix with chocolate protein powder.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
make it high protein
There are a couple of options here:
- Add one scoop of collagen peptides
- Top it with Greek yogurt or peanut butter
- Try replacing the hot chocolate with chocolate protein powder (but the texture may be a bit gummy)
how to nail this 3 ingredient mug cake every time
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full chocolate mug cake recipe!
- Pick the right mug! The cake can climb up the sides very quickly, so make sure to pick one that's at least the diameter of a baseball.
- Grease your mug if you like easier clean up. Along with this, it's best to mix the ingredients in another bowl first, then pour into the greased mug so it can rise and not get stuck on the mug's sidewalls.
- Add a topping like this protein brownie batter for a fudgy frosting! Or ice cream and high protein dunkaroo dip for a more classic take.
quick recipe video
banana not ripe yet?
Not to worry! You can speed up the ripening process by microwaving the banana (skin and all) for 1-2 minutes. It should get nice and soft and mushy, which is perfect for the mug cake!
can I make this recipe in the oven?
Yes, you can make this mini cake in the oven as long as you use small pans like an oven-safe ramekin. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. If you're looking for a bigger cake, check out our protein banana cake recipe!
easy variations
- 4 Ingredient banana mug cake: If you're feeling a little wild, try mixing in chocolate chips or chocolate chunks for a 4 Ingredient chocolate cake. Honestly, this is the best part of this single-serving cake is the ability to add in other things like more chocolate if you've got an extra chocolate craving.
- Make it dairy-free: This cake is dairy-free, depending on what hot chocolate mix you use. Both Trader Joe's sipping chocolate and Starbucks's hot cocoa mix are dairy-free. But neither is as sweet, so I'd recommend adding some maple syrup or topping with frosting.
recipe testing notes
This recipe was tested a lot - possibly more than any other recipe on our site. Here's what we learned.
Baking powder doesn't work: Using baking powder with cocoa powder and banana just resulted in a gummy and dense mug cake that lacked sweetness.
Trying cocoa powder: I tried cocoa powder in place of hot chocolate mix, and it worked, but it wasn't nearly as good. If you do make it with cocoa powder, you will also need to mix in 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar.
more 5-minute desserts
Did you try this chocolate banana mug cake and love it? If so, please leave us a ⭐️ rating. We would love to hear from you!
Recipe
3-Ingredient Chocolate Banana Mug Cake (a 5 minute recipe)
Equipment
- 1 bowl
- 2 wide mugs
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana (speckeled with brown spots)
- 6 tablespoon hot cocoa mix (see notes for using cocoa powder and to make this dairy free)
- 1 egg (medium)
Optional
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
- 1 scoop collagen peptides (for protein)
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mash the banana. Mix in the other two ingredients until combined.
- Grease two mugs (see notes for using 1 mug) using butter, vegetable oil, or coconut oil. Be sure to grease the bottom, the coners, and the side walls.
- Seperate the batter evenly into each mug. Cook int he microwave for 75 seconds for each mug. Let cool 2-3 miutes before eating.See notes for cooking in the oven.
Video
Notes
- Grease your mugs with oil or butter. This makes it easier for the cake to rise and easier for you to clean the mug.
- Mix everything in a bowl first and then transfer to the mugs.
- Use wide mugs and not something that barely fits the cake batter. This gives the cake room to grow.
- Use a ripe banana for optimal sweetness. The banana should be speckled with brown spots all over. If your banana isn't that ripe, you may want to add 2 tablespoon of maple syrup or mix in chocolate chips.
- Trying cocoa powder: I tried cocoa powder in place of hot chocolate mix, and it worked, but it wasn't nearly as good. If you make it with cocoa powder, you will need to mix in 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar.
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
Hi!
I can’t find the note you reference, about substituting chocolate milk drink powder with cocoa. Is it possible to post that here?
Thank you so much!
NJ
Hey there! It was included in the recipe post. I just added it to the recipe card notes as well.
Hi. I just made this and it was delicious. I used 5 tblspns cocoa and 1 tblspn maple syrup. I used small ramekins and they needed 105 seconds. Perhaps due to the maple syrup. Thank you for a great recipe.
That's great to hear!
Really delicious! Used a large banana, 1/2 cocoa powder and 1/2 hot chocolate powder, 1 T conf sugar, and added a couple tablespoons peanut butter. Made 2-3 good-sized servings. Fudgy and decadent!
Thats awesome to hear!!