Start-to-finish, this Asian-inspired black sesame mug cake can be made and cooked in your microwave in less than five minutes! Plus, it makes a spooky single serve gluten-free sponge cake for Halloween!

A closeup of a black sesame mug cake in a black mug on a two black plates. The black cake is covered with candy eyeballs. The red banner on the bottom says it is paleo, gluten free, and dairy-free.

A spooky Halloween mug cake!

Yes, I’ve definitely jumped on the mug cake craze. After coming up with pumpkin, apple, matcha, vanilla, and chocolate mug cake recipes, I decided to tackle a black sesame cake for Halloween—both for the ominous color and the fantastic taste. The resulting black crumb and texture remind me of the springy chiffon cakes my mom loves to bake—but this single serve cake can be whipped up in a fraction of the time!

Someone revealing the interior of a black sesame mug cake.

What is Japanese black sesame paste?

The key ingredient in this black sesame mug cake is Japanese black sesame paste, also known as kuro neri goma.  It’s typically made by roasting unhulled black sesame seeds and then grinding them multiple times through a ceramic grinder to form a smooth and silky black sauce. Flavor-wise, Japanese black sesame paste is deeply nutty and earthy, with only a subtle bitterness.

Where do you buy Japanese black sesame paste?

You can buy black sesame paste online or at your local Japanese market. It normally comes packed in small glass jars or in upright plastic bags with pouring spouts—you can find them stocked near the sesame seeds at the store. Read the label to make sure the only ingredient listed is black sesame seeds.

Before you use black sesame paste, you’ll need to stir it well because the oil can separate, just like other natural seed and nut butters. After opening the jar, keep it in the fridge for up to a month.

Someone stirring a jar of Japanese black sesame paste and an overhead shot of someone spooning it out. It looks glossy black and runny.

What if you can’t find black sesame paste?

If you can’t find Japanese black sesame paste, you can substitute black tahini but the flavor won’t be quite the same. Black tahini has a less pronounced nutty flavor because the seeds aren’t roasted (or only mildly roasted); as a result, it may taste more bitter. On the upside, black tahini is quite a bit cheaper! Also, you can make your own black sesame paste at home but it may not turn out as smooth unless you have a powerful blender or food processor.

Can you make this mug cake in the oven?

Yes, but the resulting cake will taste eggier and the crumb won’t be as springy. (Plus, it’ll take a lot longer!) With that in mind, here are the instructions: Pour the batter into an oven-safe 6-ounce ramekin and bake it in a 350°F oven or toaster oven for 18-20 minutes or a 325°F air fryer for 13-15 minutes. The tiny single serve cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. (If you’re worried about cooking food in the microwave, here’s an article from Harvard Medical School that addresses microwave cooking and nutrition.)

Can you make an egg-free or vegan mug cake?

Unfortunately, I tried making this recipe with a couple of different egg substitutes—Bob’s Red Mill egg replacer and a flax egg—and both produced a dense, gooey cake rather than a light and fluffy one. I really don’t think this recipe works well without an actual egg because it’s essential for the structure of the mug cake.

Other Ingredient Substitutions?

As I mentioned in my Matcha Mug Cake recipe, baking is a science that requires precise measurements, so if I haven’t specifically mentioned a potential substitution, it’s because I don’t know if it will work. If you make a substitution and find success, please share your results in the comments so others can benefit from your knowledge!

Ingredients

  • Blanched almond flour: I love using blanched almond flour in place of all purpose flour because it is low carb, naturally gluten free, and tastes delicious!
  • Japanese black sesame paste
  • Egg
  • Maple syrup or honey
  • Avocado oil or melted coconut oil: To keep the cake dairy free, I use avocado oil or coconut oil in place of butter.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Baking soda
  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • Candy eyeballs (optional and they’re definitely not paleo!)

How to make a black sesame mug cake

In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, add the almond flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk the dry ingredient mixture until uniform.

A hand is adding salt and baking soda to a liquid measuring cup filled with almond flour.

Add the black sesame paste, maple syrup, avocado oil, vanilla extract, and egg. Whisk the cake batter until smooth.

Adding the wet ingredients for black sesame mug cake to the liquid measuring cup and whisking it well.

If you want the mug cake to look pretty, scrape the batter with a silicone spatula into a microwave-safe mug (6- to 8-ounce size is optimal). However, you can totally microwave the cake in the glass liquid measuring cup if you want to cut down on dishes to wash.

Pouring the black sesame mug cake batter into a black tea cup.

Place the mug in the center of your microwave (it will rise more evenly in that spot), and cook on high power for 1-2 minutes.

A brunette woman with glasses placing a black tea cup into a microwave.

The black sesame mug cake is finished cooking when it puffs up and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Don’t worry if your cake looks lopsided or collapses—it will still taste great!

Looking in a microwave at a black tea cup filled with black sesame cake that's puffed up and ready to eat.

I have a 900 watt microwave and my mug cakes are done in 90 seconds. Adjust the cooking time depending on the strength of your microwave—decrease the time if you have a higher wattage microwave and increase it if you have a less powerful microwave.

Two hand holding a black tea cup filled with a puffed up gluten free and paleo black sesame mug cake.

Let the cake cool for a few minutes and top with candied eyeballs, if desired.

An overhead shot of a black sesame mug cake being topped with lots of candy eyeballs.

It’s a perfectly splendid way to teat yourself and your loved ones to a quick, sweet and spooky dessert!

A black mug on a two black plates is filled with a black sesame cake topped with candy eyeballs.

Craving more spooky Halloween treats?

I got you covered! Here are some of my faves:


Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2022).


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Black Sesame Mug Cake (Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

5 from 11 votes
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time3 minutes
Servings 1
This Asian-inspired black sesame mug cake can be assembled and cooked in your microwave in less than five minutes! Plus, it makes a spooky single serve sponge cake for Halloween!

Ingredients 
 

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Instructions 

  • In a liquid measuring cup, add the almond flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until uniform.
  • Add the black sesame paste, maple syrup, avocado oil, vanilla extract, and egg. Whisk the batter until smooth.
  • If you want the mug cake to look pretty, pour the batter into a microwave-safe mug (6- to 8-ounce size is optimal). However, you can totally microwave the cake in the glass liquid measuring cup if you want to cut down on dishes to wash.
  • Place the mug in the center of your microwave (it will rise more evenly in that spot), and cook on high power for 1-2 minutes. I have a 900 watt microwave and my mug cakes are done in 90 seconds. Adjust the cooking time depending on the strength of your microwave—decrease the time if you have a higher wattage microwave and increase it if you have a less powerful microwave.
  • The black sesame mug cake is finished cooking when it puffs up and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Don’t worry if your cake looks lopsided or collapses—it will still taste great!
  • Let the cake cool for a few minutes and top with candied eyeballs, if desired.

Video

Notes

Oven and air fryer instructions:
Pour the batter into an oven-safe 6-ounce ramekin and bake it in a 350°F oven or toaster oven for 18-20 minutes or a 325°F air fryer for 13-15 minutes. The tiny single serve cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Nutrition

Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 30g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Michelle Tam

Hello! My name is Michelle Tam, and I love to eat. I think about food all the time. It borders on obsession. I’ve always loved the sights and smells of the kitchen. My mother was (and is) an excellent cook, and as a kid, I was her little shadow as she prepared supper each night. From her, I gained a deep, abiding love for magically transforming pantry items into mouth-watering family meals.

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Recipe Rating




14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Looks delicious, have you tried steaming it in your instant pot? I haven’t tried it yet, I haven’t found many recipes with the details on how long to steam it

  2. Hello, Michelle Tam, i am your big fan and now i am your biggest fan after making a black cup cake for me using your recipe. It was amazing and my kids love it. Thanks.

  3. 5 stars
    Great texture and flavor! The decoration ideas are endless… Day of the Dead, RBG lace collar, snowflakes and more 🙂 Thanks for the great introduction to black sesame paste and its great flavor!

    1. You can use it in sweet or savory dishes—basically any place you would use a nut butter, you can probably use black sesame paste.

    1. I haven’t tried decreasing or omitting maple syrup. It might be too dry if you cut the amount of maple syrup.