Craving something sweet? Make this delicious Vanilla Mug Cake in a matter of minutes. With just a few ingredients and a microwave, you can make this mug cake recipe for dessert. Top it with your favorite frosting and dig in!
Jump to:
I don't know about you, but sometimes I just want a piece of cake, but I don't want a full funfetti cake sitting on my counter tempting me all week. That's when a mug cake is the perfect solution.
Recently, I tried multiple mug cake recipes that I found online. I ended up being so disappointed because most of them turned out spongy or rubbery.
So, I took my baking knowledge and tweaked a few things to come up with the best mug cake. It was light, fluffy, and satisfied my sweet tooth.
What is a Mug Cake?
It is a single serving cake that you bake in the microwave. These little cakes are easy to make with a few ingredients and cook in just 1-2 minutes. It's the perfect treat when you want something sweet.
Why Make Cake in a Cup
When your sweet tooth gets the best of you, you can make this vanilla mug cake in just a few minutes.
The cake for 1 is soft and fluffy and tastes amazing by itself. Want a fancy dessert? Add vanilla frosting or a scoop of strawberry ice cream for an awesome little treat.
- Dessert for One - Enjoy a single serving of cake that is ready to eat in just 5 minutes.
- Easy to Make - The no egg mug cake can be made quickly with only a few ingredients.
- Sweet Flavor - The sweet vanilla taste and rainbow sprinkles make it a fun and delicious dessert.
- Great to Customize - Feel free to change up the sprinkles based on the time of year. You can also add chocolate chips, nuts, or chopped up cookies.
Key Ingredients
This vanilla mug cake recipe is made with a few simple ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen right now. Grab a microwave-safe mug and let's make this mug cake recipe together.
- Flour - Using all purpose flour thickens the batter and gives it structure. You could also use cake flour for a softer texture.
- Granulated Sugar - Adds just the right amount of sweetness to this mug cake.
- Baking Powder - Helps the batter to rise as it cooks.
- Oil - Adds moisture and makes the cake soft and fluffy. You can use melted butter, if you prefer. But we thought the cake in a cup made with oil was better.
- Milk - Provides more moisture and helps to active the leavened so the cake bakes up light and not dense.
- Vanilla Extract - Gives the mini cake a great vanilla flavor. Make sure you choose pure vanilla instead of a flavoring. Vanilla bean paste is another great option.
- Sprinkles - These are totally optional, but they really make the cake so much more fun. You can also add mini chocolate chips or nuts, if you like.
How to Make a Cake in a Mug
Making a cake in a cup is so easy to do. In just 4 simple steps, your mug cake can be ready to enjoy.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients. Spoon the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder into a bowl. Use a small whisk to incorporate everything together. This will help your cake be lump free.
- Add wet ingredients. Pour in the milk, oil, and vanilla and stir just until combined. Do not over mix the batter, or the cake can end up tough and dense.
- Add mix-ins. Stir in the rainbow sprinkles gently.
- Bake the cake. Pour the cake batter into a large greased mug and microwave on high for 1 ½-2 minutes. Ours was perfectly cooked closer to 2 minutes. Let it cool in the microwave for 1 minute before opening the door.
Storage Recommendations
Since this is just a single serving of cake, it is best enjoyed right after making it.
You could make it ahead of time, let it cool, then cover it with plastic wrap and keep it at room temperature for 1-2 days.
Tips and Tricks
- Choose a large enough mug, so it doesn't overflow. As long as your cup can hold 10 ounces, it will be fine.
- Do not use a mug that has any gold or metallic paint on it, unless you want to see sparks and fireworks in your microwave.
- Too much mixing can cause your cake to become dense. Do not over mix the ingredients once you add the liquids.
- All microwaves are different, so baking times will vary. Start with 90 seconds, wait 1 minute, then check to see if it is set. Microwave longer if needed.
- Stop the microwave earlier than you think. Mug cakes will continue to cook during the 1 minute rest period.
- Do not open the microwave door right away. Let the cake rest for a full minute after the timer goes off.
- Enjoy your easy vanilla mug cake with marshmallow frosting, a scoop of cookies and cream ice cream, a swirl of whipped cream, or just a dusting of powdered sugar.
BruCrew Tip: Turn this easy mug cake into a cute gift. Place all the dry ingredients + sprinkles in a bag. Tie it with a string and add a tag with cooking instructions. Place the cake mix in a cute mug and give it away.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, feel free to substitute the milk for your favorite dairy free milk such as almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk for great results.
Yes, these cakes taste great for 1-2 days after baking them. Make sure to cover the mug with plastic wrap after it cools.
You can also make the batter ahead of time, and keep the covered mugs in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours until you are ready to cook the cakes.
You will want to choose a mug that can hold at least 10 ounces. This will give the cake room to rise as it cooks. You also want to make sure the mug can be safely used in the microwave.
Other Single Serving Desserts
Do you love a recipe you tried from Inside BruCrew Life?
Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating and a review in the comments section below.
Recipe
Vanilla Mug Cake
In minutes you can make a single-serving Vanilla Mug Cake in a large coffee mug using ingredients from your pantry. Enjoy this small treat whenever you want something sweet but don’t want leftovers.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour*
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch salt
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons oil
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon jimmies
Instructions
- Spray a large mug (10 oz or larger) with nonstick baking spray. Use a paper towel to wipe out any excess.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
- Add milk, oil, and vanilla extract and stir just until combined. Stir in sprinkles gently.
- Pour batter into a large mug and microwave 1 ½ – 2 minutes. Let rest in microwave 1 minute before removing.
- Let cool. Top with frosting or ice cream, if desired.
Notes
- *Spoon & Sweep method: Use a spoon to fill measuring cup with flour until required amount is obtained. Scooping measuring cup directly into flour bag will firmly pack flour resulting in too much flour required for recipe.
- All microwaves are different, so you will have to adjust baking times according to your oven. Start with 90 seconds, wait 1 minutes and see if it is set. (It should be set but not shiny). Add 15-30 seconds, if needed. Let rest another minute in microwave.
- Mug cakes finish cooking as they cool, so stop cooking it a little earlier than you think.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 588Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 277mgCarbohydrates: 68gFiber: 1gSugar: 34gProtein: 6g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Johanna
I think you need to adjust your "total time" calculation. But this looks great!
Jocelyn
Thanks for the heads up. There was a glitch in that recipe card and it wasn't adding all the times together. It should be fixed now!