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 my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I 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.
I LOVE this mug cake! When my doctor encouraged me to go paleo for health reasons, my only reservation was directly related to my mild chocolate addiction. I need a fix about once a week. This hot, gooey treat does the trick and can be made in just a few minutes. I usually double the recipe (mild addiction) and zap it for twice as long. On occasion I pour a little extra milk of choice over it after it cooks and let it sit for a minute to get even more gooey. 🤤🤤🤤
Thanks for posting!!
This recipe is easy and delicious, and uses ingredients that I always have on hand (except for chocolate chips…those are a luxury in my house haha)! Loved this recipe!
This really is fantastic! Although great as a brownie, I find myself not making it to the microwave more often than not. It is even more delicious as brownie batter! Thank you for making my life so much better!
Tried this last night and it was delicious! At first I thought I messed it up because after pull it from the microwave it looked a little funky and was more of a thick warm pudding, but it tasted amazing! Will definitely make this again!
LOL yeah I sacrificed a pretty top for delicious taste! 😉 I’m so glad you liked it!
Can you bake this in the oven or toaster oven? Have you tried that? I just try not to use the microwave unless I have to, and it’s acting up anyway.
Hey Sheree! I honestly have not tried to bake it in the oven, but I do not see any reason it can’t be done! If you try it, pretty please report back and let me know how it went! The next time I make it, I will try baking and see what happens!
Just tried out the recipe and it turned out sooo delicious! I have a feeling I’ll be coming back to it often. 🙂
I’ve eaten a lot of mug cakes and brownies (I’m not sure I should be so proud of that?) and this one is BY FAR, the ABSOLUTE BEST that I’ve ever had. Seriously. Amazing. NOM!
Jennifer I am SO SO SO glad you love it! I seriously spent a year trying to get it just right so it makes me super excited that you tried it and enjoyed it!
SO in love with the fact that this is a vegan AND paleo chocolate CAKE! Running to the kitchen right now to make this!!!
LOL YES! I hope you love it!
Paleo dishes that look this good are a must make! I love that you make it in the microwave! I am excited to try this out!
Easy and chocolatey is my kind of combination! 😉
Congrats on 1 year Laura!! I cannot believe you’ve only been blogging for 12 months— your stuff is so incredible! And this brownie. Oh my goodness I need this immediately!
Thank you Liz! It’s been so much fun! <3
Yum! This looks like quite the bittersweet treat! And chocolate chips within and on top are a definite must!
Yes! there’s always room for extra chocolate chips!