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What Great Grandma Ate / Recipes / Healthy Pumpkin Mug Cake Recipe (Paleo & Gluten Free)

Healthy Pumpkin Mug Cake Recipe (Paleo & Gluten Free)

Last Updated on September 24, 2024 by Jean Choi 6 Comments

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Quick, easy, and delicious pumpkin mug cake that takes less than 5 minutes to make! The perfect dessert for pumpkin lovers, plus it’s moist and fluffy. You really can eat the entire cake! 

pumpkin mug cake topped with whipped coconut cream, pecans, and pumpkin pie spice

Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Mug Cake 

I love a quick and easy single-serving dessert. That’s why I love mug cakes! You don’t end up overindulging and there’s way less commitment than a whole pie or an entire batch of cookies. This is why I make mug desserts so often, and this paleo pumpkin mug cake is the perfect Fall dessert!

If you are looking for a relatively healthy mug cake, this is it! It’s paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and grain-free, and made without refined sugars. In fact, it only requires 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar in the recipe and it’s the perfect amount to make the pumpkin flavor shine. 

It’s also nut-free for anyone with nut allergies and I love that it comes together in less than 5 minutes. The texture is just so perfect: moist, fluffy, and difficult to dry out because the pumpkin puree has so much moisture to it. All you need are a handful of ingredients and a microwave-safe mug.  

More “mug cake” recipes: Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug, Carrot Mug Cake, and Flourless Brownie in a Mug.

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy dessert, you’ll need the following simple ingredients. If you are all about all things pumpkin, you are going to love this. 

Microwaved dessert with a can of pumpkin and a gold spoon
  • pumpkin puree: I used canned but you can use fresh pumpkin as well! This is a great way to use leftover pumpkin puree from another recipe too. 
  • coconut oil: Ghee or other cooking oil will also work.
  • egg
  • coconut flour
  • coconut sugar
  • pumpkin pie spice
  • vanilla extract
  • baking powder
  • sea salt

To jazz up this recipe, you can add a variety of toppings once it’s finished cooking, like chopped nuts, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and/or more pumpkin spice.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Combine all wet ingredients and dry ingredients for the cake batter in the bottom of the mug or a ramekin and stir until combined.
  2. Microwave for 1½-2 minutes depending on the strength of your microwave.
  3. Add your toppings, if you like, and enjoy!
close up a spoonful of cake, pecans, and whipped coconut cream

Expert Tips

  • If you’re not paleo, feel free to substitute the ghee or oil for regular butter and brown sugar instead of the coconut sugar. Just keep in mind that these swaps will change the nutritional information for the recipe. 
  • I haven’t tested this recipe with a flax egg, but if you want to try and make a vegan pumpkin mug cake, substitute a flax egg (or another egg replacement) instead of the regular egg, and let me know how it turns out! 
pumpkin mug cake in a mug with a spoonful removed

Recipe FAQs

Is there a substitute for coconut flour in this recipe?

Coconut flour works differently than almond flour, all-purpose flour, or a gluten-free flour blend. I do not recommend substituting it with any other flour. The result will be too wet and the cake won’t form.

Can I make this in the oven?

If you don’t have a microwave, you can definitely make this in the oven. Just preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then bake for 10-12 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

How do I store the leftovers?

This is intended to be a single serving, but you can store leftovers for up to 3 days in the fridge. Keep it covered during storage.

More Pumpkin Recipes

  • Grain Free & Paleo Blender Pumpkin Bread
  • Paleo Pumpkin Swirl Brownies
  • Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
  • Pumpkin Pecan Pie
  • Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bars
  • Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies

If you make this recipe, please leave me a star rating and comment below! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Follow me on social media Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for even more delicious recipes!

paleo pumpkin mug cake

Healthy Pumpkin Mug Cake Recipe (Paleo & Gluten Free)

Quick, easy, and delicious pumpkin mug cake that takes less than 5 minutes to make! The perfect dessert for pumpkin lovers, plus it's moist and fluffy. You really can eat the entire cake! 
4 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 large serving
Calories: 315kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil or ghee
  • 2 tbsp coconut flour
  • 1 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of sea salt

Optional Toppings

  • Nuts like walnuts or pecans
  • Coconut whipped cream
  • Vanilla ice cream
  • Chocolate chips
  • Pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients for the cake in a mug and stir until combined.
  • Microwave for 1½-2 minutes depending on the strength of your microwave. The cake will rise a bit.
  • Add your toppings, if you like, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Healthy Pumpkin Mug Cake Recipe (Paleo & Gluten Free)
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 315 Calories from Fat 180
% Daily Value*
Fat 20g31%
Saturated Fat 16g100%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 164mg55%
Sodium 121mg5%
Potassium 297mg8%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 9773IU195%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 91mg9%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Expert Tips

    • If you’re not paleo, feel free to substitute the ghee or oil for regular butter and brown sugar instead of the coconut sugar. Just keep in mind that these swaps will change the nutritional information for the recipe. 
    • I haven’t tested this recipe with a flax egg, but if you want to try and make this vegan, substitute a flax egg (or another egg replacement) instead of the regular egg, and let me know how it turns out! 
    • You can store leftovers for up to 3 days in the fridge. Keep it covered during storage.
What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.

326 shares
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By Jean Choi | September 16, 2021

Comments

  1. yosh says

    September 16, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    hi, the first ingredient in the recipe is not complete: 1/4 cup of what? (pumpkin puree?)

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      September 20, 2021 at 9:12 pm

      I’m not sure why it’s showing up for you. It does say pumpkin puree.

      Reply
  2. Debbie L says

    September 26, 2021 at 6:06 pm

    This looks like the perfect fall treat!! I don’t own a microwave, so do you think that this can be made in the oven? And if so, can you make a guess for temp ans time?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jean Choi says

      September 27, 2021 at 9:47 am

      Yes! Preheat oven to 350 degrees, then bake for 10-12 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Hope it works out!

      Reply
  3. Erika says

    October 10, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    5 stars
    My mom loves pumpkin recipes and mug cakes, so I passed this recipe on to her and she loved it! I made one for myself this evening and covered the top with chocolate chips …that melted…mmm yummy.

    Reply
  4. Morgan says

    July 9, 2022 at 1:52 pm

    3 stars
    It is definitely better with chocolate chips and nuts but not my favorite dessert.

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Jean!

headshot of Jean Choi - blogger of What Great Grandma Ate

I’m a food lover and recipe developer living in Southern California. I love to share simple and approachable gluten-free recipes that are healthy but never sacrifice on flavor. I hope I can help you feel confident in the kitchen and inspire you to try out some new-to-you dishes!

More About Jean

Recipe Key

  • 3030 Min or Less
  • AIPAIP
  • EFEgg Free
  • LCLow Carb
  • NFNut Free
  • PPaleo
  • VVegan
  • W3Whole 30

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