Chocolate Coffee Mug Muffin Recipe
Late night cravings or the hankering for a sweet snack midday when working from home? Mug cakes and muffins are quickly becoming an internet sensation, and who can deny the thrill of being able to whip up a single serving snack in under 5 minutes?
If you are someone who will demolish an entire tray of muffins or more cake than you really need (but really want at the same time), these little gems are a perfect way to satisfy your craving quickly and healthily, with minimal effort and time.
There is a plethora of recipes floating around the internet and social media, but we have a simple and nutritious take on the muffin, using whole foods and no added sugar, so you can feel good when you devour your creation.
The Magic of the Mug Muffin
These devilish little treats have minimal ingredients, but each ingredient serves a role in nourishing your magical body and mind. You don’t need to be a baker or chef either to nail this recipe, you can easily create it with just the mug, a fork, and of course a microwave!
Muffins are the ideal bite for anyone who is on the go, particularly snackish (but not keen enough to run to the shops), or as an easy breakfast alternative.
Once you start the journey down the mug-muffin train, you can explore the endless possibilities that microwave can provide.
The Obsession with Oats:
Carbohydrates may have had a bad reputation in the past, but carbs are a key factor for the body to be able to perform optimally.
Oats have a rounded amino acid profile thanks to the protein they contain, which can help you build and maintain muscle.
They also have a high fiber count due to the beta-glucan (a soluble fiber), which keeps the gut working like a well-oiled machine, and assists in keeping you satisfied for longer than foods lacking in fiber.
Beta-glucan fiber can also assist in keeping blood sugar levels from spiking, which is important for anyone who has diabetes.
Bountiful Bananas:
Bananas are an easy on the go snack, but just as equally a delectable inclusion to baking recipes. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium, which is an essential and valuable electrolyte for the body, making it a perfect food for before or after exercise. The soluble fibre in bananas (pectin) supports a healthy gut because of the prebiotics it contains, which means it helps your gut bacteria to create and maintain the short chain fatty acids we need to thrive. These yellow gems also increase satiety after eating and contain tryptophan, the amino acid that causes a release of the chemical serotonin in the brain, which makes us feel happy and on top of the world.
Delightful Dates:
Dates are delectable little treats, that are naturally sweet and therefore a perfect alternative for sugar in baking, or as a scrumptious snack. The high sugar content of dates make it an excellent preworkout source of energy, that is easily digestible and ready to be used before exercise. These small bundles of joy have a rounded phytochemical range, so you can have the added sweetness with the added comfort of knowing you are also ingesting nutrients to help maintain and improve your health. Just be careful not to overdo it on the dates, as they are very high in sugar, so moderation is key!
Eggcellent Eggs:
Eggs are a protein powerhouse that have an optimal nutritional profile, full of protein, low in fat, and filled with essential nutrients such as selenium. A large egg typically contains 78 calories, 6.5 gram of protein and 5.5 grams of fat, along with essential nutrients like riboflavin, vitamin B12, folate, to name a few.
The egg white itself has barely any fat (0.1 grams!), and 3.5 grams of protein, but the majority of the nutrients are stored in the egg yolk itself. If you are looking for low calorie, but a protein rich food, egg whites are optimal, or you can mix a whole egg in with some egg whites to reap the benefits of the yolk, while keeping the fat and calorie intake low.
Mug Muffin Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (30g) of microwave variety Quick oats
- 1 medium sized and ripe banana, mashed
- 1 shot of coffee
- 1/4 tsp cocoa powder
- 1 Egg
- 2 Fresh dates, pitted and chopped
- ¼ cup (30g) of fresh strawberries, sliced for the garnish
Method
In a microwave safe mug, place the oats, mashed banana, coffee, cocoa powder, egg and chopped dates. Using a fork, mix the ingredients until well combined. Microwave the batter uncovered for 90 seconds on high, or until the top of the muffin is cooked and firm. Garnish the muffin with the freshly sliced strawberries.
Alternate Ingredients
+ Top the muffin with some yogurt, dairy or a non-dairy alternative for a creamy addition.
+ Use some powdered stevia or powdered mok fruit for a low-calorie and sweet garnish.
+ If you are looking for a more decadent berry topping, make a berry compote to pour over the finished product. You can easily make this with sugar, berries, and a little water!
+ Pour a tablespoon (or more) or pure maple syrup, or the sugar free maple syrup if you are keto or on a low sugar diet.
+ Add a tablespoon of finely chopped nuts to the mixture if you like a nutty-crunch in your muffin. Walnuts, pecans or almonds work wonders!
+ Chocolate fiend? Add in a tablespoon of chopped chocolate of your preference, or a little bit of chocolate chips if you have this on hand.
I hope you enjoy this marvellous snack, and have fun playing with the ingredients! You can mix up the recipe to your liking by adding in a hint of different flavours, spices, nuts or fruit.
