Healthy Mug Brownie Recipe (Paleo & Vegan)
Posted Jan 19, 2017, Updated Jul 13, 2024
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This healthy mug brownie recipe is ready in under 5 minutes! Irresistibly chocolatey, insanely fudgy, and made with nutritious ingredients! This microwave brownie is paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan & refined sugar free!
This single-serve healthy Mug Brownie is a recipe that took me a year to perfect. It’s not a mug cake – it is a gooey, fudgy paleo brownie that is ready in under 5 minutes and totally healthy!
Now when the chocolate craving hits and you don’t have time to bake brownies, you can make this healthy mug brownie, top it with your favorite paleo vanilla ice cream and have a delicious dessert in no time.
A slightly underbaked gooey ramekin of chocolate brownie can be yours whenever you want it. Plus, this mug brownie is vegan, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar free!
Paleo Mug Brownie: Ingredients & Substitutions
As always I recommend that you make the recipe exactly as written. I went through so many trials and errors to get this healthy mug brownie just right…that I know it’s best when the recipe is followed to a T. However, I know y’all will want to know what you can substitute, so here we go:
- Almond butter: you can use any nut/seed butter. I have had the best results with almond butter, cashew butter and peanut butter (not paleo).
- Coconut oil: Grass-fed butter or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil.
- Almond Milk: Any dairy or non-dairy milk, cream or even creamer will work as a substitution for almond milk.
- Coconut sugar: Any granulated sugar can be used without affecting the results. Honey or maple syrup are also a possible substitution, however I find that it makes this even more gooey and it tastes less like an actual brownie and more like brownie pudding if you use a liquid sweetener.
- Almond flour: The only substitutions that could potentially work here are: another nut flour, a gluten-free flour blend, or oat flour. Do not use coconut flour, it is not a 1:1 substitute for almond flour (or any flour).
Paleo Chocolate Chips & Bars
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out which chocolate chips are Paleo, so I’ll discuss some of my favorite healthier chocolate options!
- Hu Kitchen Chocolate Gems. This is my favorite paleo chocolate. These gems are delicious and easy to toss into cookies (no bar chopping required).
- Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Bars. You can also buy dark chocolate bars and chop them up to toss into these paleo chocolate chip cookies.
- Lily’s Dark Chocolate. They make chips and bars that are stevia sweetened, low carb, keto, etc.
- Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Chips are a good option that are vegan, dairy-free but not fully paleo.
How to Make a Healthy Mug Brownie
Let’s walk through this recipe step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
To begin, melt together the coconut oil and almond butter.
Next, add the rest of the wet ingredients and whisk to combine. Then add the try ingredients.
Stir until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps. Then, add chocolate chips and put the mixture into a greased ramekin or mug.
Microwave the mug brownie for 1 minute, then remove it and let sit until slightly cooled (it really needs to cool or you will destroy your mouth).
Note: If you look at the picture below, you will see that this little healthy treat is not the prettiest. Since it’s not a cake I had to sacrifice the perfect, puffy top in order to make it irresistibly fudgy and gooey (so worth it). Top it with ice cream and you won’t be able to tell!
Serve
I suggest serving this healthy mug brownie with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of almond butter. Here are some of my favorite ice cream recipes:
- The best paleo vanilla ice cream – you’ll love it.
- Paleo chocolate ice cream with sea salt is so good.
- Want something different? Try this matcha ice cream (paleo).
- This paleo cookie dough ice cream is so yummy!
- My favorite dairy free ice cream is this dairy-free chocolate peanut butter ice cream.
Healthy Mug Brownie Recipe FAQs
No! A mug works great, but as you can see I used a small ramekin (5.5 oz capacity, 3.5″ diameter, 2″ tall).
Use a small mug that can hold about 6 oz.
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
Healthy Mug Brownie (Paleo & Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon creamy almond butter
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1 TBS almond milk
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon coconut sugar
- ½ Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ Tablespoon almond flour
- ¹⁄₁₆ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 Tablespoon mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Grease a small ramekin (5.5 oz capacity) or mug, set aside.
- In a small glass measuring cup, melt together the almond butter and coconut oil, stir until smooth.
- Add almond milk and vanilla extract and stir until combined.
- Add coconut sugar, cocoa powder, almond flour, sea salt and baking powder, stir until completely combined and there are no lumps.
- Mix in the mini chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into prepared ramekin or mug. Place in microwave and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove and let sit until slightly cooled.
- Serve with paleo ice cream, and extra dollop of almond butter, or eat it plain!
Video
Notes
- Almond butter: you can use any nut/seed butter. I have had the best results with almond butter, cashew butter and peanut butter (not paleo).
- Coconut oil: Grass-fed butter or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil.
- Almond Milk: Any dairy or non-dairy milk, cream or even creamer will work as a substitution for almond milk.
- Coconut sugar: Any granulated sugar can be used without affecting the results. Honey or maple syrup are also a possible substitution, however I find that it makes this even more gooey and it tastes less like an actual brownie and more like brownie pudding if you use a liquid sweetener.
- Almond flour: The only substitutions that could potentially work here are: another nut flour, a gluten-free flour blend, or oat flour. Do not use coconut flour, it is not a 1:1 substitute for almond flour (or any flour).
- Hu Kitchen Chocolate Gems. This is my favorite paleo chocolate. These gems are delicious and easy to toss into cookies (no bar chopping required).
- Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Bars. You can also buy dark chocolate bars and chop them up to toss into these paleo chocolate chip cookies.
- Lily’s Dark Chocolate. They make chips and bars that are stevia sweetened, low carb, keto, etc.
- Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Chips are a good option that are vegan, dairy-free but not fully paleo.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Isn’t it awesome how God uses the difficult seasons in our lives to produce fruit! He has really used Joy Food Sunshine for His Glory! So thankful for you and your blog, you continue to inspire us daily, Happy Blogiversary <3
Thank you Rachel! YES! Sometime’s it’s hard to see when you’re in the thick of it. But every trial, every loss, every hard season has brought me closer to God! <3
Happy Anniversary – that is so exciting! So glad you have carved out your little corner of the world where you can find your own joy and sunshine, I love the name and reference. I also can’t wait to try this Mug Cake, I’ve been hearing about them for quite some time and need to finally give it a try!
Thank you Emily! 🙂
This is perfect for satisfying my sweet tooth! So quick and easy! I always have these ingredients on hand too so I can make one of these at a moment’s notice when that sweet craving hits me!
YES! It’s the best when you need a brownie NOW! 😉
This looks beyond amazing!! I love that it’s a single serve too – portion control to the max!! Will definitely be trying this one out!!
This is the perfect treat for when you need something sweet extra fast! Looks so yummy!
It’s fast and yummy for sure!
This looks so good and is perfect for my girls to make quick for themselves! My oldest comes home from soccer hungry and always asking for a dessert and usually makes a smoothie but in the winter she’s wanting something a little different sometimes. She can easily make these for herself for a quick treat!
It’s the perfect double whammy….dessert AND great post soccer fuel! 😉
YAY we have the ingredients for this, and I’m so so thankful that this blog became a creative outlet for you Laura; it’s blossomed in incredible ways in one year. 🙂 Your food photography and food skills are goals for me.
Thank you so much! 🙂 <3
Happy birthday/anniversary, JoyFoodSunshine! I enjoy reading your posts, Laura. 🙂
Thank you sweet friend! Miss you guys mucho!
You speak my language!!! i don’t always want to make a big dessert because well then I just eat it all, so a single serving option is so perfect and I love how decadent it feels but remains a great healthy option!
YES! I have very little self-control when dessert is involved! This recipe has built-in portion control! 😉
This looks delicious! Love mug cakes!
Congrats on one year!! You are doing so fabulous!!! Cheers to much more success!
Thank you so much Rebecca!