Sometimes, you want a cupcake. They might seem like a great idea because they are portion controlled and smaller than a regular slice of cake. However, the average homemade cupcake with icing has 324 calories and 52 grams of carbs. That’s too much for many of us watching our carbs.
Moreover, the amount of effort it takes to bake and ice cupcakes may not be worth the pay off if we only want one or a couple of servings. And, if you have a "helper," it can be a large task to clean up after using that amount of flour. While cooking with kids is fun, the mess of cleaning flour off the counter and floor can be arduous depending on how enthusiastic the child is. That’s when the mug cake becomes very appealing.
When mug cakes came into vogue a few years ago, and started appearing on grocery store shelves in mix form, they seemed like just a gimmick. However, baking for one is excellent. Mug cakes are cooked in batches of only one or two mugs, are ready in mere minutes and are easy to clean up.
Looking at mug cake recipes, you see cakes that are as calorific, or even higher than, cupcakes. The warm creations can be decadent. While searching for recipes for you, we had three rules: under 150 calories, no more than 15 grams of carbs and absolutely delicious sounding. We found four that we feel will hit the spot for whatever flavor you’re craving!
The sharp flavor of lemon is always welcome in a sweet cake. This recipe from Sugar-Free Mom has only 119 calories and five grams of carbs! That’s a steal for a cake! An addition of whipped cream may add a few extra calories, but few things are better on warm cake than a little cream! Get the recipe here.
Everyone loves a cinnamon roll, but they can be brutally high in calories. Moreover, making cinnamon rolls at home, without using the Pillsbury can, means making and rolling dough. That is time-consuming. This cake version from The Big Man’s World takes under a minute! It’s also keto and gluten-free. With 132 calories and six grams of carbs, it’s enough to make reviewers on the site consider cake for breakfast! Get the recipe here.
The creator of this recipe, Amy of Amy’s Healthy Baking, invented this cake to stop herself from buying Girl Scout cookies every time she passed them. With Girl Scout cookie season being in full swing, this recipe might help you fight the temptation as well. Each cake has 106 calories and 15 grams of carbs; that’s way better than Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties! A two-cookie serving of Tagalongs has 140 calories. It only has 13 grams of carbs, but has anyone ever actually just eaten two Girl Scout cookies? Get the recipe here.
It’s impossible to have a list of cakes and not include a chocolate one! The recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie uses chocolate chips and nuts to make the texture excellent. With 195 calories and just under ten grams of carbs, this recipe might not be something for everyday consumption, depending on your diet. But it certainly is a special treat! Get the recipe here.
We hope you enjoy these warm cakes even more than a cool cupcake in these chilly days!
