Low Carb Red Velvet Mug Cake Recipe
![stack of keto red velvet waffles topped with cream cheese frosting on the breakfast table]()
Red velvet cake has been around for centuries and for good reason. It is a spongy cake with a hint of tang and chocolate. It is usually topped with cream cheese frosting.
If you miss red velvet cake, try this mug cake version of a keto red velvet cake. It is easy to make and won’t destroy your kitchen! Top with a dollup of keto white chocolate cream cheese frosting for an extra special dessert!
What is in a Red Velvet Cake?
Red velvet is a type of cake flavor that is red, red-brown or scarlet colored. It contains buttermilk and chocolate. This cake got its name because the acidic buttermilk allows for the red anthocyanin in the cocoa powder to pop through. However, in this keto red velvet cake, we add a few drops of red food coloring just to give it a darker, vibrant red color.
Buttermilk is an essential ingredient in this keto mug cake. It helps to make the cake rise and provides a slightly tangy flavor to the cake.
What is a Mug Cake?
It’s a cake that is made in a mug, of course! They are single serving cakes that are mixed together in a mug and baked in the same mug. Often they are cooked in the microwave but mug cakes are meant to be a simple, fast fix to a sweet tooth craving. And no one wants to bother with an oven when they have a crazy chocolate craving!
Cooking Cake in a Mug vs Ramekin
![stack of white ramekins]()
If you really want to get technically, a mug cake should be baked in a mug. It’s called a mug cake because it’s meant to be a single serve cake where all the ingredients are mixed together in a mug and then baked in the same mug in the microwave for a minute or two.
However, I find that cooking mug cakes in a mug yields uneven cakes and inconsistant baking times. I like to transfer my mug cake to a ramekin. Ramekins are level and are meant to hold batters for baking.
Whether you are using a mug or a ramekin, either way, make sure you grease the inside so your cake doesn’t stick to the edges.
Oven Instructions
Whether you don’t believe in microwaves or don’t own one, I got you covered. You can still enjoy a keto red velvet mug cake. Just bake it in the oven! Only, you may want to bake it in the ramekin instead of a mug. Some coffee mugs are not oven safe, so check your baking dish before popping your beautiful red cake in the oven.
Bake your keto mug cake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cake rises and it set in the middle.
Is Buttermilk Allowed on the Keto Diet?
Buttermilk is okay to have on the keto diet in moderation. It does have a higher carb count; however, it doesn’t add up to a lot of carbs in this recipe. For this mug cake, which is 2 servings, we use one tablespoon of buttermilk. That contributes to 0.4 carbs per serving.
Keto White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
![keto mug cake topped with creamy frosting]()
Red velvet cakes are usually topped with cream cheese frosting. This keto mug cake red velvet version is no different. Except we are adding a little white chocolate to the cream cheese frosting. This sugar free frosting uses powdered erythritol for the sweetener.
To get the white chocolate flavor, sugar free keto white baking chips are added. These chocolate chips melt like a dream and are poured into the low carb frosting to give it a tangy chocolaty flavor.