Black Forest Mug Cake (gluten-free, dairy-free)

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This black forest mug cake is an easy, mini black forest cake with all the cherry, chocolatey goodness of the traditional version. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo-friendly.

This black forest mug cake is an easy, mini black forest cake with all the cherry, chocolatey goodness of the traditional version.

I’ve been in my new place for a couple of weeks now and I’m still not settled. For someone who didn’t have furniture, I sure do seem to have a lot of stuff – it’s crazy. Especially as I’m somewhat of a purger who moves every few years so I always ask myself – “do I really need this?”

Now, in my defense, most of my boxes have been kitchen items (which I’m blaming on the blog). Even so, I’ve still been purging and making many trips to Goodwill as I reduce the clutter. It’s freeing for sure.

But imagine my surprise when I realized yesterday, oh, it’s Valentine’s Day next week. Ooops (says the food blogger who’s not really good about holiday prep). Didn’t we just have Christmas? Yep. That’s what happens when you’re head down focused on the task at hand – weeks just fly by.

(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo) This black forest mug cake is a mini black forest cake that takes less than 15 minutes to make!

(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo) This black forest mug cake is a mini black forest cake that takes less than 15 minutes to make!

(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo) This black forest mug cake is a mini black forest cake that takes less than 15 minutes to make!

I debated whipping up a big, layered cake or something dramatic with lots of red fruit. But here’s what I got to thinking. Valentine’s is really about you plus that special someone. Or, for all the single ladies out there, your lovely self. So who needs a dessert that feeds 12? It’s like, all anyone really needs is a mug cake. And that’s the lightbulb moment which led to today’s recipe.

My chocolate mug cake recipe has been a runaway hit and if you’d like to keep things really simple, you could absolutely just stick to that for Valentine’s day. Or, you could add a couple of minutes (literally, like 10) and create this gorgeous black forest mug cake. It’s a black forest cake. From a mug. And really boozy. You’re welcome.

Surprisingly, it’s got all the delicious cherry, chocolatey flavors of a traditional German black forest cake, but in a gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly, single-serving little package. The best part, this mini black forest cake takes no more than 15 minutes, start to finish – as long as you remember to chill your can of coconut milk (for the coconut whipped cream) the night before.

(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo) This black forest mug cake is a mini black forest cake that takes less than 15 minutes to make!

(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo) This black forest mug cake is a mini black forest cake that takes less than 15 minutes to make!

(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo) This black forest mug cake is a mini black forest cake that takes less than 15 minutes to make!

On Valentine’s day, here’s what you do. Pit and slice 8-10 cherries and let them soak in a couple tablespoons of kirsch or kirschwasser (cherry brandy). Next, make my chocolate mug cake recipe. While your mug cake cools, whip up a batch of coconut whipped cream. Then, all that’s left is assembly.

Remove the mug cake by inverting it onto a plate. Trim the top to create a flat surface and slice the mug cake in half. Use a spoon to drizzle some of the kirsch from your soaked cherries onto the bottom layer. Top it with a dollop of whipped cream and several cherry halves. Add your next layer and repeat, with some whole cherries on top and chocolate shavings. Voila. A single-serving black forest cake perfect for Valentine’s day dessert (or really, any dessert).

Enjoy!

(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo) This black forest mug cake is a mini black forest cake that takes less than 15 minutes to make!

(gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo) This black forest mug cake is a mini black forest cake that takes less than 15 minutes to make!

Black Forest Mug Cake

4.50 from 2 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

This black forest mug cake is an easy, mini black forest cake with all the cherry, chocolatey goodness of the traditional version. It's also gluten-free, dairy-free and paleo-friendly.  

Ingredients 
 

Garnish

  • 4 whole cherries
  • 2 tbsp chocolate shavings

Instructions 

  • Place the pitted and halved cherries in a small bowl with the kirsch. Stir and set aside. 
  • Make the chocolate mug cake recipe. 
  • While the mug cake cools, make the coconut whipped cream. 
  • Invert the cooled cake onto a plate. Use a knife to flatten the cake top and cut the cake in half. 
  • To assemble the cake, drizzle a little bit of the kirsch from the soaked cherries onto the bottom cake layer. Top with coconut whipped cream and several cherry halves. Add the top cake layer, drizzle more kirsch, dollop more coconut whipped cream and top with whole cherries and chocolate shavings. 

Nutrition

Calories: 391kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 36mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 5.9mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1.2mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: German
Keyword: Black Forest Cake, Black Forest Mug Cake, Mug Cake, Mug Cake Recipe
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Other recipes you might like:

Chocolate Avocado Pudding with Hazelnuts and Sea Salt (dairy-free, paleo)

Molten Chocolate Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream and Pistachios (gluten-free, dairy-free)

Raspberry Souffle 

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

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23 Comments

  1. Curious if you’ve ever tried making this for a crowd? Not quite sure how it would translate to an 8×8.

  2. This looks absolutely delicious. Can’t wait to try it. Even though it would take longer, is it possible to bake in toaster or regular oven rather than microwave?
    Thank you for sharing these recipes4 stars

  3. It’s toooo Awesome!!! thanks for sharing this palatable article… very beneficiery tips, You are given…

    1. Absolutely. Always feel free to modify. You could leave it off entirely, or use cherry juice/syrup to get that flavor. :) x

  4. I know my friends would go crazy for your cute looking mug cake. I wouldn’t mind a sour cherry on top, love sour cherries with sweet cakes.
    I just moved again too, but from one continent to another. I always take time getting into the blogging swing after moving, it’s quite stressful. Well, another reason to de-stress with your pint sized black forest cake.

    1. Thanks Helene! Moving continents is definitely way more work (I only had to move a few hours *this time*). I feel for you! But you’re right, it’s all about de-stress techniques, self-care…and maybe a little chocolate cake. ;) x

  5. I have to avoid dairy and gluten right now and although I love mug cakes, they almost all contain both these things. So happy I found your recipe! Black forest is one of my favourite cake flavours of all time so I’ve definitely got to make this.

    1. That’s exactly why I created my original mug cake recipe – I actually couldn’t find one without dairy and gluten. And yes, this Black Forest cake flavor is so so (so) good! Thanks goodness I have the leftover one from these pics to eat today! ;) x

  6. What a lovely looking mug cake… Totally feel your pain on the ‘stuff’ thing, we moved countries 8 years ago and only unpacked our last box around 18 months ago lol :D

    1. Oh, good – so I’ve still got 7 years or so to unpack! Haha. ;) Thanks Brian – and glad you like the cake!

  7. Oh my goodness, the Black Forest Mug Cake is divine! Perfect Valentine’s Day treat (or any occasion treat – I’m partial to cherries in any dessert, haha). I hope you’re able to get fully settled soon, so you can relax and enjoy your new fabulous space! But don’t stress yourself out – you work hard enough already. Hang in there! And I agree – it feels like Christmas was yesterday (and based on all the snow here, it looks like it too).

    1. Chocolate and cherries are made for each other, aren’t they? (and the cherry brandy doesn’t hurt either). ;) Oh wow, I’m sure you’re covered in snow – I’ve been watching all the snow storms on TV – yikes! Hang in there! Hopefully you’ll be able to defrost soon enough! xo