If you miss carrot cake while on a low-carb diet, you are in for a treat. This low-carb carrot mug cake is truly delicious. This is a quick carrot cake in a mug recipe to save for those days when you crave an extra tasty dessert on the keto diet.
Ready in about 5 minutes, this microwave carrot cake recipe will squash your carrot cake cravings without all the sugar in traditional recipes. Carrots are okay on the keto diet in small servings, so enjoying them in a mug cake for one is ideal.
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Low-Carb Carrot Cake in a Mug
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting brings back a flood of memories for me. The flavor of the cake and frosting combined is one of my childhood favorites, so I’m thrilled to make this possible in moderation while living a ketogenic lifestyle.
At 7.9g net carbs and 650 calories, this carrot cake mug cake is quite indulgent. If you’re on the keto diet to lose weight, definitely be mindful of the macros. Save it for a special occasion or share it with a buddy!
Keto Carrot Cake Ingredients
(Exact measurements are in the recipe card below)
Carrot Mug Cake
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Brown sugar Swerve
- Cinnamon
- Baking powder
- Melted butter
- Non-dairy milk
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Finely shredded carrots
- Chopped pecans
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream cheese
- Powdered erythritol
- Non-dairy milk
Carrot Cake in a Mug Directions
In a microwave-safe mug, mix the almond flour, coconut flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder until will incorporated.
Be warned that the brown sugar is sticky and a little challenging to mix in.
Add the melted butter, macadamia milk (or your choice of low-carb milk substitute), egg, and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Do not over mix.
Gently fold in some finely shredded carrots and chopped pecans, reserving a bit for the topping. You can fold in all the carrots and pecans, but the added crunch on top is delicious.
Microwave for one minute and thirty seconds or until the top is opaque and cooked through.
Make the cream cheese frosting by combining the cream cheese, powdered erythritol, and milk.
Top the mug cake with the cream cheese frosting, leftover carrots, and additional pecans.
Recipes Notes and FAQ
Making the mug cake batter.
Do not let the mug cake batter sit for too long. Coconut flour absorbs moisture and will keep doing so as it sits.
Can I use granular erythritol instead of brown sugar?
Yes, if you do not have a brown sugar alternative, you may use a regular granular keto sweetener. However, the brown sugar adds a nice, deep flavor, so it is preferred.
Can I use bagged shredded carrots?
Bagged carrots are too thick for this microwave carrot cake recipe because it’s cooked so quickly. Be sure to use finely shredded carrots. The second smallest setting on a regular grinder should work perfectly.
Can I eat carrots on keto?
Carrots have sugar and should only be eaten in small amounts on the keto diet. That’s why a perfectly-portioned mug cake for one is ideal for a carrot cake.
Do calories count on keto?
If you’re trying to lose weight on the keto diet, you do still have to watch calories. As mentioned above, desserts on keto should still be treated like a treat and enjoyed in moderation.
Keto Carrot Mug Cake
Microwave carrot cake mug cake for one. Enjoy carrot cake on keto with this 5-minute mug cake recipe!
Ingredients
Mug Cake
- 3 Tablespoons almond flour
- 1 Tablespoon coconut flour
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar Swerve
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 Tablespoons melted butter
- 3 Tablespoons non-dairy milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 Tablespoons finely shredded carrots
- 2 Tablespoons chopped pecans
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 Tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon powdered erythritol
- 1/2 teaspoon low-carb milk
Instructions
- In an 8 ounce, microwave-safe mug, mix the almond flour, coconut flour, brown sugar Swerve, cinnamon, and baking powder until well incorporated.
- Add the melted butter, milk, egg, and vanilla. Stir until smooth.
- Gently fold in the 1 1/2 Tablespoons carrots and 1 Tablespoon of the pecans.
- Cook in the microwave for one minute and thirty seconds or until the top is opaque and cooked through.
- Meanwhile, make the cream cheese frosting by combining the cream cheese, erythritol, and milk.
- Top the mug cake with the cream cheese frosting, leftover carrots, and additional pecans.
Notes
Granular erythritol may be used in place of brown sugar, but brown sugar gives a deep flavor that's preferred.
Use finely shredded carrots only -- bagged carrots are too thick due to the short cooking time.
Nutrition facts calculated using Carb Manager and are not guaranteed to be 100% accurate.
Main nutrition facts include the total of all ingredients listed. Unsweetened Milkadamia is the milk used.
Net carbs in cake: 6.3g
Net carbs in frosting: 1.6g
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1 mug cakeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 651.8Total Fat: 61.1gCholesterol: 276.8mgCarbohydrates: 30.7gNet Carbohydrates: 7.9gFiber: 7.7gSugar: 4.7gSugar Alcohols: 15gProtein: 15.5g
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Please let me know what you think of this keto carrot cake in a mug!
Derek
Friday 10th of January 2025
I've made dozens of different versions of mug cakes, many carrot, or spice and nut etc. This was the best. The ratio of almond to coconut flour was perfect. I did add 1/4 tsp Xanthan gum because I've learned I like the texture better in the past. I have a Keto dessert as a treat on Friday night, and as I type this I've just eaten my broccoli quiche and had carrot cake for dessert with some tea. My tummy is very happy. This will be a staple. Thank you so much!
Jen Soltys
Tuesday 14th of January 2025
So happy to hear that, Derek! Good idea to add Xanathan gum, I'll have to give that a try. Thanks for commenting. It's really appreciated! :)
Karen
Monday 1st of March 2021
This is a perfect snack cake for a small family! Thanks for sharing.