This orange mug cake is so light and refreshing. I want to say it’s like sunshine in a mug, but really what it is is a damn good orange cake in a mug. It’s made with almond flour so is naturally gluten-free. There’s an option to make it a keto orange cake aaaand there is a chocolate orange mug cake version that reminds me of a Terry’s chocolate orange. Let’s make this!
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Related recipe: Peach mug cake in 2 minutes.
How to Make Orange Cake in Microwave?
Follow this simple orange mug cake recipe! It makes a single serving orange cake that is gluten-free, high protein, and you can make a microwave chocolate orange cake too!
To make the tastiest orange cake, you want to use both orange zest and orange juice. Fresh orange juice is definitely your best option, so pick up a juicy orange for this recipe. It’s worth it.
To make the zest, get this microplane zester. It is only a few bucks and is totally worth it. It grates oranges, lemons, limes, and you can even use it on ginger too.
Because it grates so finely, you don’t get any of the bitter white part of citrus zest like you can if you’re using a regular cheese grater.
For the most delicious lemon mug cake, check out this recipe.
Orange Cake in a Mug Ingredients
almond flour
melted butter or coconut oil
granulated sugar (plain white sugar, coconut sugar, or keto-friendly sugar like this)
orange juice
an egg
½ tsp baking powder
Orange zest
Since we’re using almond flour for this mug cake recipe, it is naturally gluten-free and high protein. It’s also flourless.
For more almond flour mug cake recipes, go here.
This citrus mug cake tastes the most delicious when you use fresh squeezed orange juice.
But in a pinch you could use any orange juice you have.
Part of the yummy orange flavor comes from the orange zest, so that’s why it’s best to use a fresh orange and zest and juice that baby.
Chocolate Orange Mug Cake
Whaaaack!
What’s that sound?
It’s a Terry’s Chocolate Orange being whacked on a table to break it up into those yummy chocolate orange slices.
This is a classic chocolate that’s around at Christmas time. Oddly enough I have also found it in random months at the dollar store.
To make the chocolate orange version, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate.
You could even chop up a slice of Terry’s Chocolate Orange and add that to the batter before microwaving it.
I tried making an orange chocolate version of this with cocoa powder too and I found the double chocolate overwhelmed the orange.
I think this mug cake tastes best with just the addition of the chocolate chips.
For another easy sweet treat, try my new honey mug cake!
Keto Orange Mug Cake
To make this a keto orange cake, use a keto-friendly sugar like monk fruit or erythritol.
You can take out the fresh orange juice if you want and add in ¼ tsp orange extract.
But since most of the orange flavor comes from the orange zest, you could just use zest and call it a day.
Follow the rest of the recipe as it is.
If you love keto recipes, you can also try this keto mug bread – it reminds me of a keto English muffin!
For other fruit mug cake recipes, try these:
Orange Mug Cake
This orange mug cake is sweet and sunshiney, and happens to be gluten-free and high in protein too. It takes less than 5 minutes to make, and is a delicious quick healthy snack or dessert. Keto option too!
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp almond flour
- 1 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil
- 1-2 tbsp granulated sugar (white sugar, erythritol, etc.) (see note below)
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp baking powder
- Zest of half an orange
Instructions
- Beat the egg in your chosen mug.
- Stir in orange juice..
- Add melted butter or coconut oil, sugar, and baking powder; stir to combine.
- Add almond flour and stir in orange zest.
- Cook it in the microwave for 60 seconds in high powder, then check it.
- The orange mug cake should be cooked but not overcooked as it could end up not being soft enough.
- If it is too wet, cook it for another 15 seconds (this is what I need to do, but microwaves are different, and the mug could impact the cooking itself).
- Enjoy immediately; mug cakes are best fresh!
- Keep any leftovers in the fridge inside an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
You can use either 1 or 2 tablespoons of sugar for this recipe. Most people will prefer 2 tablespoons, but if you like your sweet treats not very sweet, use 1 tablespoon.
If you love fruit mug cakes, this 2-minute gluten-free blueberry mug cake is really popular (and for good reason)!
Pin this mug cake recipe to save it:
What an awesome mug recipe. Pinned it.
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