Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Mug Cake

Name: Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Mug Cake
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 medium overly ripe banana; 1 large egg OR 1/4 cup of greek yogurt OR apple sauce; 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil; 1 tablespoon of honey; 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract; 1/4 cup of all purpose flour; 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon of salt; 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (or up to 1 teaspoon of chai spice mix); a handful of chocolate chips; 2 tablespoons of nuts, chopped (optional)

August 21, 2023

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I try not to keep desserts in the house too often. A big chocolate cake sitting on my counter top has the gravitational pull of a black hole, but sometimes you need a little something sweet and this banana nut chocolate chip mug cake is perfect for such occasions…

There are actually quite a few things to love about this mug cake. It is ready in 5 minutes, which is a reasonable amount of time to wait even when you are having particularly strong cravings. It is a great use for bananas who have survived past their prime and can be made with your choice of an egg, greek yogurt or even apple sauce making them a great egg free and vegan option.

These little cakes also contain over 14 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber and have no added sugar. The more I talk about them, they better they sound, right?

Let’s get them started…

Begin by choosing how you want to flavor your mug cakes, because yet another great thing about this sweet treat is that the flavors are yours to decide, so let’s talk about some options…

- - Spices: I love chai spices, so I am adding ground cinnamon, ginger, all spice, cloves and cardamom, but you can add what you like. I recommend a minimum of ground cinnamon, but if you happen to be a non-cinnamon appreciator then feel free to leave it out. You can also add apple pie spice, pumpkin spice or nutmeg.
  - Sweetener: This recipe requires no sugar to be added, but I do add a tablespoon of honey, maple syrup or agave to nudge the flavors into the dessert category. Feel free to add a sugar free or low carb substitute instead.
  - Extracts: I am adding vanilla extract, because it is a classic, but almond and maple extract work great here too.
  - Chocolate: There are chocolate chips in this mug cake… a generous amount of chocolate chips to be specific, but you can really alter the sweetness level by folding in the right type of chocolate. Milk and white chocolate will add the most sweetness, but if you prefer your sweetness level to be more balanced then I would suggest adding semi-sweet or dark chocolate. If you are vegan, use your favorite vegan chocolate chips.
  - Nuts: I usually add walnuts into this batter, but pecans work as well as macadamia nuts or even almonds. If you do not like nuts, feel free to leave them out!
  - Salt: Be sure to add a 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Salt helps to bring out the flavors in this and so many other dishes.

Start by peeling an overly ripe banana and breaking it up into a large microwave safe coffee mug. Use a stiff fork to mash the banana until it is pretty smooth and then add your egg, yogurt or apple sauce….

- - A large egg will give you the most protein and will make the cake a little more fluffy.
  - 1/4 cup of greek yogurt will also add protein, but will make the cake more moist.
  - 1/4 cup of apple sauce will keep the cake vegan and gives the cake a lovely texture.

All three options result in a delicious mug cake, so follow your diet or use what you have on hand!

In addition to your egg, yogurt or apple sauce, add a tablespoon of vegetable oil, a tablespoon of honey (or your favorite sweetener) and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Mix everything together until smooth and then add your dry ingredients. You’ll need 1/4 cup of all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. If you are adding more spices, try to keep it to a maximum of a teaspoon of dried spices.

Note: My favorite mix is 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of dried ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon of all spice, 1/8 teaspoon of cloves and a pinch of cardamom and if you enjoy chai spices, I would love for you to give this version a try!

Mix everything until completely smooth and then fold in a handful of chocolate chips and a half handful of chopped nuts.

Microwave on high for 2 minutes to 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Would you just take a look at this mug? It’s amazing what you can create in just 5 minutes, right? This banana nut chocolate chip mug cake is moist, fluffy and perfectly sweet.

I am just amazed at what a few simple ingredients and just a tablespoon of honey can become in just a few minutes. Microwave mug cakes are meant to be easy, but they are often not quite there when it comes to the flavor and texture… this one is different. It is actually delicious and something that my husband requests often.

If you are looking for a healthy sweet treat alternative then you should definitely give this banana nut chocolate chip mug cake a try…

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