This PB&J Protein Mug Cake is the perfect, easy, protein-packed dessert you need after a long day. It requires just a few ingredients and takes less than two minutes to make.
Have you ever made a mug cake?
The last time I made one was in college when I would completely and utterly fail. I would follow these heinous recipes from various fitness “experts” that I would follow on social media. I would try to make the mug cake, it would over flow in the microwave, and the texture would come out nothing like cake and everything like gelatin. Vom.
I was basically convinced that mug cakes sucked and weren’t a real thing and everyone was lying to me.
Until now.
I’ve made my protein mug cake and I can eat it, too.
Back when I was in college and transitioning to a “healthier lifestyle” after gaining the “freshman fifteen”, I would try the most unconventional recipes. Every single thing I made HAD to be “healthier” and “low-calorie” and “gluten-free” and “high-protein”. Have you ever seen someone use so many quotes in one paragraph? I don’t think so (don’t I win a Guinness World Record for that, or something?)
This was back when I wouldn’t allow myself certain foods, so every single thing I put in my body had to fit into my diet in a particular way, usually numerically if ya ‘namsayinnn (former calorie counter in the hizzouse). I was following way too many fitness “professionals” (there we go with the quotes), aka bikini competitors that I’d viewed as professionals, which ended up having a negative influence on me.
After having gone through that, I now happily enjoy all of the food I consume, and I allow myself to eat whatever I feel like eating. However, I do like to challenge myself at times to see which recipes I can add more protein to, or make into a vegan concoction (although, I am the furthest from vegan), or extract gluten from, or use healthy fats instead of unhealthy fats with. One big factor inspiring me to do this is you guys! I know there is such a wide range of diets out there, so having TBB has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and made me experiment with so many different styles of eating (if that makes sense).
So, now that we’ve taken a little trip down memory lane, you know why I’m excited about this mug cake. It’s not so “healthy” that it tastes like cardboard – it’s got real cake ingredients (I am trying SO hard not to use quotations) plus some added protein to keep you full and strong.
[Tweet “This PB&J Protein Mug Cake is the perfect dessert for a lazy night”]
This mug cake requires just six ingredients, is super moist and dense, and combines the best marriage of flavors in the entire world: peanut butter and jelly. I have legitimately thought of naming my future children peanut butter and jelly. No I haven’t.
Quick tips for mug cake making:
Try to use a larger rimmed mug so that your cake doesn’t overflow in a smaller one (think wide versus tall and thin).
You can either stir your ingredients outside of the mug and pour the batter in, or simply stir in the mug. To keep it in the mug (and not spill all over because you’re trying to stir in a tiny concoction) start with tiny whisking movements in the mug and then, as the batter begins to form, stir normally with larger movements.
Start cooking your cake at one minute. Check doneness with a fork or a toothpick – if it comes out clean, you’re done. If it comes out covered with batter, continue cooking with 15-second increments.
[Tweet “This cake takes two minutes to make. FOR REALS.”]
- 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp jelly
- Combine protein powder, baking powder, and flour in your mug. Stir with a fork until well-combined.
- Add in peanut butter, almond milk, and sugar.
- Stir until smooth batter is formed.
- Place in the microwave for 1 minute. If not yet cooked, continue cooking in 15-minute increments until a fork/toothpick comes out clean.
- Top with jelly of choice (I used apricot) and drizzle with melted peanut butter.
Join the conversation:
Have you ever fallen into a diet fad and tried foods that aren’t normal for you?
What’s your favorite sweet snack to eat after a long day?
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I went through the phase of trying the bullet proof coffee craze…I didn’t like it and I like to eat my fat calories in the form on nut butters. I love a good protein mug cake, but honestly I haven’t made one in a while. I have been on a protein pancake TEAR! 😉
I never tried that!! I had a few friends that loved it but I just couldn’t get past the idea of butter and coffee.
Ooh, this looks yummy! But I think you might mean “15-second increments” rather than “15-minute increments”
GAH!! No matter how much I re-read, there’s always something lol thank you!!
Hahaha, no worries
It’s the kind of thing you never notice in your own writing, because you know full well what you meant to say, but then you read something someone else wrote and notice the slip immediately.
EXACTLY!!
Yum! I love a good mug cake.
Especially when the late-night studying hunger kicks in and I neeeeeed me some sugar! I’m very much a dark chocolate girl, but sometimes I need something a little bit more substantial to satisfy.
Yumm love dark chocolate. I need to try some chocolate mug cakes, too. Hmm maybe another recipe 😀
Did you say, ‘moist’? That’s the one thing that I have struggled with with my mug cakes. This is SO simple. I wish I could say I was a former calorie counter too; but I still kind of sub consciously do it in my head…
However, it’s inspiring to think that you’ve conquered it, and I know it’s possible for me too. 
Yes it is Emily!!! It’s so refreshing to just let it go, I know you will get there <3
It’s SO good Christina! And I’m so thankful for your encouragement. <3
That PB drizzle shot gave me the FEEELS. I used to eat mug cakes ALL the time in college; really need to work them into my breakfast rotation again. Plus, PB&J in personalized cake form is just too good to pass up.
Seriously why have I not eaten them for breakfast!! WHY!
My love for mug cake runs deep. And you really can’t go wrong with PB and J.
I used to be the queen of fad diets, but thankfully that time in my life is over. I do agree that it is fun to use new and different ingredients though!
I’m on the whatever-the-F-I-want diet and it’s great
There is nothing better than a moist and dense cake that you can make in less than 2 minutes, it’s like a dream come true. The fact that this is PB&J too makes me swoon
Exactly!! It’s for people like me who need cake and need it now lol thanks Rachel!
for some reason, i cant get on board with mug cakes…i have not been very successful with it
your version sounds wonderful as it comes my fav things in a mug.
Oh no!! Well I was the same, this one totally changed my mind. Thanks Dixya!
I tried a protein cake once and it was an epic fail and tasted terrible, but I am totally willing to give this one a try since you had a similar experience. I too love finding ways to add a little extra protein to my diet.
You’ve gotta try it!! Your mind will totally change
thanks Patricia!
This looks so goooood! It’s been ages since I’ve made a mugcake too.
And I agree with liking to experiment! I don’t truly restrict much from my diet or eat one particular way, but overall I like to be able to offer a variety and eat a variety of things. #balanceyall :-p <3
Totally. I try to keep things in line with what I eat in my own life, but even in my personal time I like to experiment with different diet-focused recipes!
So funny because I thought the exact same thing about mug cakes. The first time I tried it, I made one that had real sugar and flour etc but they said to use an egg and my mug cake just ended up like chocolate-flavoured scrambled eggs (bleugh.)
However, my flatmates are obsessed with mug cakes so they encouraged me to give it another shot. And now I can’t stop.
YUCK lol! Totally, a major fail at first and now I want to eat them everyday!! <3
Loved the message in this post!!
I’ve never made a mug cake and I can’t believe it!! This looks heavenly!
I’ve tried way too popular” (there’s the quotes again) mug cakes that have failed and tasted nasty. This one looks like the perfect texture and i LOVE the drippy PB!
Say hi to a fellow former calorie counter! Haha! I was pretty obsessed with counting calories too, and everything else you put in quotation marks. That was for a week before I got tired of stressing out about how many calories this one meal would add up to and whether or not I could afford to eat a snack in the afternoon, I gave up. So much healthier to listen to your body and eat according to what it needs.
And by the way, I can’t resist anything with peanut butter in it. These rock! Gotta go make them right now.
Mug cakes are my new favorite thing and the addition of PB is out of this world! Thanks for putting this together