Guilt-Free Snickerdoodle Mug Cake

This Guilt-Free Snickerdoodle Mug Cake is a comforting, low calorie, perfectly portioned for one microwave dessert!

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Pure Via®, but all my opinions are my own.

As I mentioned to you all in yesterday's recipe post, I am tackling the holiday sweets monster head-on now.  I figure a head start will give me somewhat of an advantage and hopefully help me keep the annual holiday weight gain in check.  

I do still plan to bake lots of the holiday goodies that my family loves, but I will also be keeping a few lower calorie, low fat dessert recipes in my arsenal to keep me from devouring half a pumpkin pie or a half dozen of frosted sugar cookies. 

I am a firm believer in not trying to dodge my sweet tooth cravings. That will eventually lead to a sugar and butter induced binge for me.

But what I can do is trick my sweet tooth into thinking that it is indulging in a sweet treat... ;)

On a recent shopping trip to my local Walmart, I picked up a box of Pure Via 40 Count Packets and knew right away that these would become a very important weapon in my arsenal against the holiday weight gain. Pure Via is made from the pure, sweet extract of the stevia leaf. That means no artificial processing or preservatives, folks. It is all natural, non-GMO, and the best part? ZERO calories! :)

Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake

Mug cakes have become our go-to quick fix when there are no sweets in the house.  The obsession started when I discovered Budget Byte's recipe for a "The One" Chocolate Mug Cake.  We experimented with the add-ins for it, starting with just simple chocolate chips, and then a wine jelly, and then a dollop of peanut butter plopped right into the center before "baking".

The gears started churning the other night.  What other flavors of mug cake could I make besides chocolate?  I had made a batch of pumpkin biscotti drizzled with white chocolate for some foodie swap gifts and had leftover pumpkin puree in my fridge.    I thought why not a pumpkin mug cake??  ;)

Mug cakes are easy and quick- a dash of this, a little of that, a splash of this, a spoonful of that, and then a quick minute in the microwave... and voila!  A fresh baked, perfectly portioned, 100% customizable little cake in a coffee mug! :)

What you will need to make one Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake:

2 tbsp of flour

3 1/2 tsp sugar

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tbsp of canola oil

1 tbsp of milk

1 1/2 tbsp canned pumpkin

a drop of vanilla extract

a few white chocolate chips (optional)

In a mug, mix together the flour through the baking powder.  Add the oil, milk, pumpkin, and vanilla and mix well.  Drop in a few white chocolate chips, if you feel so inclined. (You could also pop a handful of pecans or walnuts in there. ;) )  Mix to cover the chips or nuts.  Microwave for 1 minute.

And that's it!  Can it get any easier??  This cake was perfectly spiced and moist.  The great thing about mug cakes is that everyone gets there own, and they are crazy easy to customize for each person.  This would also be delicious topped with a dollop of whipped topping.  (Just like pumpkin pie!)

What will you put in your Pumpkin Spice Mug Cake? ;)