Warm, sweet, and ready in just two minutes, this high-protein Apple Mug Cake is everything you want in a cozy treat. Made with real apple chunks, creamy coconut milk, and plant-based protein powder, it’s a single-serve, egg-free dessert that tastes like apple pie and fuels like a snack.
"SO easy to make and tastes like fall in a cup. I love that it has that extra protein bump and so fun that I can make a quick single serving whenever I want to indulge." - Sarah
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 2 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 1
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 316 kcals and 15 grams of protein
- 📋 Main Ingredients: Almond flour, coconut flour, vegan protein powder, maple syrup, apples.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free, and vegan.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: It's sweet, soft, and perfectly spiced to create a warm treat you can feel good about any time of day.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Use up those wrinkly apples on the counter and treat yourself to this apple cinnamon mug cake. It’s cozy, quick, and has just enough protein to keep you full. I started making it during my third pregnancy when cravings hit hard, but I still wanted to fuel my body (this apple pie baked oatmeal saved me too).
With 15 grams of protein, this apple protein mug cake is perfect for those chilly nights when you want a sweet fix without the sugar crash. Top it with coconut whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for movie night, or pair it with a pumpkin spice protein latte for extra fall vibes. Want more quick, crave-worthy options? Check out the Strong & Sweet Protein Guide for more recipes like this and my favorite pumpkin protein muffins.
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💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
High in protein: This healthy apple mug cake has 15 grams of plant-based protein to keep you fueled.
Allergy-friendly: Naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
Cozy flavor: With a classic fall taste like this pumpkin protein mug cake, the warm, sweet cinnamon taste is hard not to succumb to.
Quick to make: The best part about mug cake recipes is that you can enjoy your treat in just 2 minutes!
Ingredients You Need
Skip the brown sugar and salted butter and use up the gluten-free pantry staples you have on hand with this delicious apple mug cake recipe (and these other protein mug cake recipes)!
- Almond flour: Make sure to use almond flour and not ground almonds (learn the difference between almond flour and almond meal).
- Vegan vanilla protein powder: The kind of protein powder you choose can and will impact both the texture and the flavor of the apple mug cake. For best results, opt for Naked Nutrition Pea Protein. Learn more about how to choose a protein powder.
- Apple: You can peel the apple ahead of time if you don’t want the texture. Or, leave the peel on when you grate it. Both options work. Use any leftovers to make old-fashioned apple cider.
- Coconut milk: Make sure to use full-fat coconut milk from a can (learn more about types of coconut milk). Just drain the water and use the thick white, cream part. This is what makes the apple cake super rich tasting.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
Below are a few ways I've found you can vary the taste of the mug cake to suit your cravings that day.
Toppings: The majority of the time, I just pop on some coconut whipped cream but dairy-free caramel sauce with coconut milk or chopped, toasted pecans are delicious too.
Spices: The easiest way to vary this recipe is to make use of new flavors like extra cinnamon, vanilla extract, or ground cloves.
Chocolate chips: My middle daughter beieves everything is better with chocolate chips and I agree. Adding regular or dairy-free white chocolate chips adds some gooey flavor.
Expert Tips To Make It
You do need a vegan protein powder for this protein mug cake recipe to work. Vegan protein powder absorbs more liquid than whey protein- that's what makes this mug cake and recipe like a single serving protein cookie work.
This recipe was made with a pea protein powder blend. If you’re using a fermented pea protein, you’ll want to add 1 tablespoon of almond milk (more liquid) to the recipe.
If you like texture, grate the apple normally. If you want it to blend better, finely grate the apple and make sure to peel is first. Use up an extra you have by making paleo apple muffins
This apple pie mug cake isn’t a fluffy-cake type recipe. Because it’s paleo, it’s much more like an apple crisp. However, it’s extremely rich, sweet, and cozy.
How To Make the Apple Mug Cake
Step 1: Mix together the coconut milk and maple syrup until smooth.
Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients.
Step 3: Mix the cake batter really well to ensure all the flours are combined and no dry chunks remain.
Step 4: Microwave for 75 seconds and let it cool slightly before eating.
Choosing A Protein Powder
These mug cake was made specifically with Naked Nutrition's Vanilla Pea Protein Powder.
This protein powder is amazing for anyone who is looking for pure, simple, protein. Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you want to amp it up!
You can also make the recipe with a fermented vegan protein powder but will need to add more liquid,
If you want to switch to a beef-based protein powder, you'll need to add a flour or at the very least some arrowroot powder as a stabilizer. Otherwise, it will be funky texture wise. Learn more about awesome benefits of beef protein.
Apple Mug Cake FAQs
Making a protein mug cake is super simple. All you need to do is whisk together the ingredients in a microwave-safe mug and heat for 60-90 seconds until cooked through.
An apple mug cake tastes best when freshly made. Since it only takes 75 seconds to whip up, wait until you plan in eating it before making it. It doesn't store well.
Mug cakes do rise but depending on your baking powder ratios, they may rise and deflate slightly. Because there is no flour in this apple pie mug cake, the baking powder helps the apple mug cake rise and stay at that height.
The best apple to use for a mug cake are apples you already enjoy. Some apples like honey crisp will bring a sweeter flavor to the mu cake whereas others like Granny Smith will give a tarter taste. Use apples you already love.
Other High Protein Mug Cake Recipes
If you tried this Apple Mug Cake Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Healthy Apple Cinnamon Mug Cake
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbs almond flour
- 0.5 tbs coconut flour
- 2.5 tbs vegan vanilla protein powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ Apple grated ⅓ cup
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tbs maple syrup
- 1.5 tbs full fat coconut milk
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a microwave-safe mug.
- Mix the cake batter really well to ensure the powders are combined.
- Microwave for 75 seconds and let cool slightly before eating.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Sarah says
SO easy to make and tastes like fall in a cup. I love that it has that extra protein bump and so fun that I can make a quick single serving whenever I want to indulge.
fitasamamabear says
Fall in a cup- so accurate!
Allie says
My husband has the biggest sweet tooth and I made one of these for each of us earlier this week and it was so good!! I had some vanilla ice cream I put on top too. He loveeeddd it!! Def will make this more this fall.
fitasamamabear says
Mmm vanilla ice cream on it would be amazing!
Sharon says
This was the answer for my sweet tooth today. I added a few toasted pecans to the apple mug cake as you suggested - yum! Easy and healthy.
fitasamamabear says
Mmm toasted pecans make everything better
Jade says
Made this in less than 5 minutes with ingredients already in my pantry. So good and easy!
fitasamamabear says
That's the best!!
Katrin says
I absolutely loved the flavours of this mug cake and really enjoyed the texture. I used a sugar-free syrup instead of the maple and it worked well. I'll be making this again soon!
fitasamamabear says
Glad you enjoyed it! It's such an easy craving buster!