Healthy Single Serving Microwave Banana Bread in a Mug

This healthy single serving banana bread in a mug is gluten-free and high in protein, AND it only takes 90 seconds in the microwave.  A yummy microwave banana bread mug cake…what are you waiting for?!

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Summer is halfway over and it is still so hot here.  I am not a summer person.  I am much more chipper on a cold, snowy day that I am on a steamy beach day.  On steamy beach days you can find me inside, somewhere that has good air conditioning.

Even though it’s crazy hot that doesn’t stop my love of baking, so I felt a baking urge come on during one of the most sweltering days here. 

Our small window air conditioner was whirring away doing the best it could and I knew I couldn’t tax it anymore or it just might give up and stop working.

This is when I’m so grateful for the microwave!

Did you know you can make bread in the microwave? Try this 90-second Keto mug bread! It’s high protein, low carb, and most importantly super yummy!

Banana bread mug cake

Summer is the perfect time to make a single-serve microwave treat.  In 90 seconds you can have a banana bread mug cake which you can enjoy in your air conditioned comfort.

I’ve got a treat that’s perfect for those moments when you crave something sweet, comforting, and totally delicious: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread in a Mug.

A single-serving, microwaveable version of everyone’s favorite banana bread, loaded with gooey chocolate chips for that extra indulgence factor.

Whether you’re in need of a quick breakfast fix, a cozy dessert after a long day, or just a sweet treat to enjoy any time, this mug cake has got you covered.

Plus, it’s a great way to use up those ripe bananas sitting on your counter, making it a win-win in my book.

Other mug cake recipes:

• Keto coffee mug cake
• Healthy chocolate mug cake recipe
• Paleo pumpkin mug cake
• Blueberry mug cake!
• Lemon mug cake that tastes like sunshine

I like homemade goodies way more than buying them, and this is faster than going to the closest store and buying something.  Way healthier too.  This microwave banana bread in a mug is gluten-free and high in protein!

Easy banana bread in a mug

In terms of easy banana bread recipes, you can’t get easier than this one.

You only need 3 or 4 ingredients, depending on if you use the chocolate chips.

I love this easy banana bread with the chocolate chips (because…chocolate), but sometimes I make it plain for my daughter since what 4-year-old really needs that extra energy boost from chocolate. Mine certainly doesn’t (“mama run!!!”, “mama run faster!!!”).

You need one bowl and a fork, and a couple of minutes in the microwave to make this easy banana bread.

Perfect for first thing in the morning when you can barely think, a quick healthy snack after dinner, when it’s too hot to turn your oven on to make a full loaf of banana bread, and when you just want something that’s single serving without all those tempting leftovers around.

Another of my favorite mug cakes that you might want to try is this gluten-free raspberry mug cake and this new orange mug cake.

Related post: Best Mug Cakes: 42 Single-Serving Cakes You Need to Try

Microwave banana bread ingredients

You only need 4 ingredients to make this super quick microwave banana bread!

• a banana (preettty essential for banana bread)
• an egg (I like free range)
• almond flour (or almond meal)
• chocolate chips (any kind you like)

Cakes with no flour

You’ll notice in the above ingredient list, that there is no flour in this easy banana bread recipe.

We use almond flour or almond meal instead of regular all-purpose flour. This makes this microwave banana bread recipe gluten-free and paleo as well.

Even though it’s called almond “flour”, it is not a grain-based flour at all. Almond flour or almond meal is just ground almonds! Using ground almonds gives this banana mug cake a delicious, sweet taste, and adds a ton of protein too since there is more protein in ground almonds than regular wheat flour.

So, using almond flour makes this a banana cake with no flour!

Tips on making this microwave banana bread

This banana bread mug cake couldn’t be any easier.  Four ingredients and 90 seconds in the microwave.  I made this three times in one week and Miss O loved hers too.  I gave myself more chocolate chips than I gave her, don’t tell.

If you omit the chocolate chips, this recipe has only whole food ingredients and no added sugar – just sweetened with banana.  We ate this for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or an evening treat. 

The gluten-free-ness comes from using almond flour.  I love using almond flour in baking so much – it is ground almonds and that’s it.  It is full of protein and keeps your blood sugar more stable – no crashing like after a regular microwave muffin recipe.  It will work with any almond flour.

If you love almond flour recipes, try this keto almond flour mug cake – it’s SO good and healthy too.

This recipe can make one thicker banana bread but I like the texture better when it’s put into two dishes and cooked that way.  That way you can share one too!  If you’re just making one, increase the microwave time by 30-60 seconds.  Still super fast!

Microwave banana cake

If you’re looking to fancy up this microwave banana bread recipe, you could add some fixins to make this easy banana bread more decadent.

I’m thinking chocolate frosting, cream cheese frosting, peanut butter chips (if you love peanut butter, try this peanut butter mug cake), a melted chocolate drizzle…

Probably not all at once.

(Probably.)

We’re full-on in dessert territory here.

These additions would turn this recipe into a microwave banana cake recipe and would make an awesome smash cake for a baby’s first birthday!

I made something similar to this for Miss Os first birthday, with unsweetened real whipped cream on top – she loved it (and was surprisingly dainty about the “smash” part of smash cake).

For another yummy banana bread mug cake, try this nut-free 3-ingredient one!

And here is a cinnamon banana mug cake that is paleo and gf too!

Substitutions in this microwave banana bread recipe

A lot of people have tried this banana bread mug cake recipe (thank you guys!) and there have been different questions about substituting ingredients.

I wanted to add some info on subs for those who have asked.

I haven’t tried subbing the almond flour with coconut flour. Coconut flour acts completely different in baking than almond flour so you can’t replace it 1:1.

Some readers have told me that they replaced the 3 tablespoons of almond flour with 2 tablespoons of coconut flour and that it turned out great.

You CAN sub the almond flour 1:1 with regular white flour. It will have a different texture, will have less protein and fewer calories than the original banana mug cake recipe.

You can sub the almond flour with a gluten-free flour mix. If you use white flour or a gluten-free baking mix, the microwave time might be a little different. Just keep an eye on it while it’s baking into deliciousness in the microwave.

For the chocolate chips, you can sub dairy-free chocolate chips, vegan chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chocolate chips, etc.

If you want a lower carb version (the almond flour and egg are already low carb), you can use stevia-sweetened chocolate chips, monk fruit chocolate chips, or (gasp) leave them out completely.

I have tried to make a vegan version of this microwave banana bread but so far it hasn’t turned out super delicious so I haven’t shared it yet.

Update: I finally made a vegan banana bread mug cake that I love!!! Check out the banana bread in a mug HERE! It’s paleo and gluten-free too!

Now, let’s make this healthy microwave banana bread mug cake!

Hey mug cake lover! Try out our new funfetti mug cake and have a party in your mouth!

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You must try this single serving banana bread…it is SO good!!!  Let me know if you make this microwave banana bread…