This easy Vanilla Mug Cake is the perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth. A single serve cake that's made in the microwave with 5 ingredients (and no egg)...ready in about 2 minutes!
If you haven't discovered the magic that is a mug cake, I've got a treat for you.
Ever have one of those times when you get a sweet tooth and there's absolutely nothing in the house to satisfy it? I think we all do. Mug cakes are the perfect dessert for those cravings.
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
- When you want a dessert, this is just about as easy as it gets. Simply stir a few things in a mug and microwave for a minute.
- It's warm, rich, gooey, it's super comforting. This is like eating your favorite piece of vanilla cake...just without the work!
- Clean-up is even simple. You'll mix everything in the mug, so literally all you have to wash is a mug and a spoon!
What's a Mug Cake?
Microwave mug cakes are single-serve homemade treats that are so easy to make. The idea is simple: mix a tiny amount of a few of the traditional cake ingredients in a mug. Coffee cups are perfect (as long as they're microwave-safe), but a small ramekin works too.
Once the ingredients are mixed, microwave for about a minute. You're left with a single serving of warm cake. These are so perfect topped with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!
Ingredients for Basic Vanilla Mug Cake
Guys, recipes (especially baking recipes) don't get much simpler than this.
- 2 tablespoon butter - Make sure to use real butter, not margarine or oil. This will give the cake its creamy, rich finish.
- ¼ cup sugar - I use white granulated sugar, but powdered sugar will also work.
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 tablespoon milk - I prefer whole milk.
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Mug Cake Formula
The trick to making a mug cake is just a basic formula. Just use 2 tablespoon butter, ¼ cup sugar, ¼ cup flour, and 2 tablespoon milk. That's the basis for a mug cake. From there, you can really add in anything you'd like!
Variations & Additions
I intentionally started this series with the most basic mug cake recipe. This is kind of the foundation for all of my mug cakes. There are a million ways to change this recipe up!
How do I make different mug cake flavors?
Using that basic mug cake recipe, you can make it just about any flavor under the sun.
- Chocolate: add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- Strawberry: add ½ tablespoon strawberry gelatin mix
- Peanut Butter: add 1 tablespoon peanut butter to the mix. Once the batter is mixed, add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter in the middle of the batter for a lava cake (yum!)
- Nutella: same idea as peanut butter; 1 tablespoon added into the mix and 1 tablespoon in the middle of the batter
- Coffee: add 1 tablespoon coffee
- Pumpkin: add 2 tablespoons pureed pumpkin
You get the idea. Just add about 1 tablespoon (dry ingredients) or 2 tablespoon (wet ingredients) to the cake to make it any flavor you'd like!
See my other mug cake posts: Easy Oreo Mug Cake and Chocolate Chip Cookie in a mug.
Topping Ideas
Once you make the mug cake, adding toppings really amps up the richness and flavor. Some of my favorite toppers...
- Ice Cream
- Whipped Cream
- Chopped Nuts
- Sprinkles (included in today's recipe...gives it a very "birthday cake" feel)
- Frosting
- Chocolate Chips
- Fresh Berries
- Coconut
- Chocolate, Strawberry, or Caramel Syrup
You can even mix some of these toppings (like sprinkles, nuts, or chocolate chips) into the batter before microwaving.
You Can Even Make it Healthier!
It's pretty obvious from the ingredient list that this recipe isn't exactly healthy. However, there are some swaps you can make to reduce sugar and fat content.
- Swap butter for 2 tablespoon applesauce
- Swap 1 tablespoon of butter for skim milk
- Change sugar to stevia or honey (equal amounts as sugar)
- Make it dairy-free by substituting coconut oil for butter
- Swap to buckwheat or rice flour to make it gluten-free
How to Make Vanilla Mug Cake
- Melt 2 tablespoon of butter in a microwave-safe mug or ramekin.
- Add the dry ingredients (¼ cup flour, ¼ cup sugar) to the butter in the mug and stir well. Add vanilla/milk and give it one more stir.
- If you want to add anything (like sprinkles), add it before microwaving.
- Microwave for 60 seconds. Allow to cool for a minute or two before serving.
Video: How to Make 3 Different Mug Cakes
Other Helpful Tips and Tricks
- The microwave time on this recipe might vary depending on your model. The perfect bake time for a mug cake in mine is 60 seconds. If, after 60 seconds, your cake is still liquid at all, pop it back in for another 15 seconds. Or don't - you can serve it a little on the gooey side as long as it's been microwaved at least 45-50 seconds!
- This cake is best served immediately. It tends to get a chewy texture if left uneaten for longer than 20-30 minutes.
- If making more than one, you still need to microwave them individually. I've tried to make more than one at once, and it always throws off the microwave cooking time.
- If you don't have a microwave, this can be made in an oven or air fryer by baking at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Make sure your mug is safe for baking at that temperature!
Vanilla Mug Cake FAQs
I can't wait to see what you think of this simple sweet treat! Leave a comment 💭 or rating ⭐️ on the recipe card below. Or, tag me on social media (@lambertslately) with your mug cake pictures!
(Get this recipe card for my meal planning spreadsheets by clicking here. New to my site? Check out the full details of my meal-planning system!)
Vanilla Mug Cake
Affiliate links used.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter melted
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon milk
- sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Melt 2 tablespoon of butter in a microwave-safe mug or ramekin.
- Add the dry ingredients (¼ cup flour, ¼ cup sugar) to the butter in the mug and stir well. Add vanilla/milk and give it one more stir.
- Microwave for 60 seconds. Allow to cool for a minute or two before serving.
- Top with ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles, nuts, syrup or fresh fruit.
Notes
- The microwave time on this might vary depending on your model. The perfect bake time for a mug cake in mine is 60 seconds. If, after 60 seconds, your cake it still liquid at all, pop it back in for another 15 seconds. Or don't - it's perfectly safe to eat the batter in this recipe a little undercooked, as long as it has been microwaved for at least 45-50 seconds.
- This cake is best served immediately. It tends to get a little chewy if left uneaten for longer than 30-45 minutes.
- If making more than one mug cake, still microwave them individually. I've tried to make more than one at once, and it always throws off the microwave cooking time.
- This can be made in an oven or air fryer by baking at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Make sure your mug is safe for baking at that temperature!
- Make different flavors by adding the following...
- Chocolate: add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- Peanut Butter: add 1 tablespoon peanut butter to the mix; once mixed, add 1 tablespoon peanut butter in the middle for a lava cake (yum!)
- Nutella: same idea as peanut butter; 1 tablespoon in mix and 1 tablespoon in the middle
- Coffee: add 1 tablespoon coffee
- Pumpkin: add 2 tablespoon pureed pumpkin
- Strawberry: add ½ tablespoon strawberry gelatin mix
Why does the recipe call for 1/4 cup of the flour and sugar (which would be 4TBS of each) but in the directions it says to use 2TBS or each?
Sorry about that, editing mistake! I just fixed it, thanks for letting me know.
I'm confused. The recipe says "1/4 c sugar" and "1/4 c flour", but the directions list two tablespoons sugar, two tablespoons flour. Which is it? In your comments you say you edited it, but it's still there. Is it two tablespoons, or four?
Sorry about that, missed one mention on the recipe card! Both flour and sugar are 1/4 cup.
There is no leavening in this one, most mug cakes have it, like baking soda or powder. How is the texture result?
It ends up being a little denser, rather than fluffy - almost like the texture of a brownie. It's really yummy!
very good cake. added ice cream, chocolate syrup, and a chopped-up hershey bar. tasted great. thanks for the good recipe 🙂
didn’t have regular milk so i used almond this was amazing! i didn’t use vanilla and it still tasted great! thank you for the awesome recipe