Vanilla Cake in a mug

What is vanilla mug cake?

A mug cake, as it is mentioned, is a cake baked in a mug. Vanilla mug cake is a mug cake flavored with Vanilla. Vanilla mug cake is so awesome because it is mixed in the same bowl which we are using to bake.

This vanilla mug cake recipe makes cake just for 1. You can have cake anytime of the day. In fact, this is my favorite dessert to satisfy my midnight cravings 😊. You do not need any preparations, no weighing the ingredients. You will just need couple of measuring spoons, a fork, microwave safe cup and a microwave. This is just amazing.

This vanilla mug cake recipe is so easy and versatile. Change or replace couple of ingredients here and there and you are done, that’s it. It is that simple.

I have given different variations for low calorie, sugar free and vegan vanilla mug cake below.

Let’s not wait anymore and make the delicious and eggless vanilla mug cake with my step-by-step instructions.

Let’s dive straight into the recipe!

Why this is the best vanilla mug cake

1. No oven
2. No preheating
3. So fast
4. Very versatile / customizable

List of ingredients and importance of each ingredient

Regular vanilla mug cake ingredients:

• All- purpose flour

Use regular plain all-purpose flour. If you replace it with self-rising flour, make sure to skip leavening agent – Baking Powder. Please refer my detail guide for different types of flour and their substitutes / replacements.

• Sugar

Use regular white sugar. Granulated or caster sugar, both are fine. I would not recommend to use brown sugar as it will change the flavor and color.

• Baking Powder

This works as a leavening agent. This will help to rise our cake. If you use self-rising flour, then skip this ingredient.

• Butter

Use regular unsalted butter. If you do not have it handy, you can use salted butter. Just skip the salt. I prefer to use unsalted butter because I will have more control over percentage of salt.

• Milk

Use whole milk (3.25% fat percentage). Whole milk has highest amount of fat so this will make our mug cake moist.

• Vanilla Extract

Use pure vanilla extract for best results. You can use vanilla beans or vanilla paste as a substitute. It will boost the vanilla flavors and have nice black dots all over, which looks nice. If you do not have any of these handy, you can use imitation. Use whichever is available and affordable to you.

• Salt

Just a pinch of salt, that’s it.

Sugar free vanilla mug cake ingredients:

All above ingredients except Sugar

• Sugar Free / Truvia / Splenda

Replace sugar with any of the sugar free option.

PS: There will be slight change in taste.

Vegan vanilla mug cake ingredients:

All above ingredients except regular milk

• Almond Milk

Replace regular milk with almond milk. You can also use any non-dairy milk such as soy milk, oats milk.

PS: There will be slight change in taste.

Gluten free vanilla mug cake ingredients:

All above ingredients except regular milk

• Gluten Free Flour

Replace regular flour with gluten free flour. PS: There will be slight change in taste

Tools required

1. Measuring spoon
2. Mug
3. Fork

Overview: How to make vanilla cake in a mug?

I have mentioned step by step recipe with images below and also mentioned all the details in recipe card but let’s quickly understand the basic steps before you start.

1. Take dry ingredients in a mug
2. Mix in wet ingredients
3. Microwave it for 45 seconds to minute

Step by step preparation photos to make vanilla Cake in a mug from scratch

1. Take microwave safe bowl. Add all dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder and salt) to the mug.
2. Mix all of them together using a whisk.

3. It is the time for wet ingredients now :). Add all of them (milk, vanilla extract, melted butter) to the mug.
4. Whisk until smooth and combined properly.

5. Microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute.
6. Take it out of microwave and keep it for 3-4 minutes.

7. Decorate with your favorite frosting. I am using whipped cream here.
8. Enjoy!

Few things to consider when baking in microwave

• Power of Microwave

Each and every microwave is different. So, I would highly recommend to know your microwave before baking. I am making this at 800w. Now there can be two possibilities:

• Power of microwave is high

If high, reduce microwave power and bake OR

Reduce your baking time by 20 seconds, check its doneness. Keep baking by 15-20 seconds intervals until you reach required consistency and texture.

• Power of microwave is less

If less, then you will require little more time for baking. Keep baking by 10-15 seconds intervals until you reach desired consistency and texture.

Mug size

I am using regular coffee mug with diameter of 8cm (3 inches) and a minimum height of 5 cm (1.9 inches). If you were using a wider microwave-safe ramekin, you would have to decrease the baking time. Otherwise, the mug cake would come out dry.

Baking time

The correct baking time when making this vanilla mug cake is 55 seconds in an 800W (will have to check this) microwave power. Check above instructions based on microwave power.

Vanilla mug cake icing/ toppings:

This cake is so light and fluffy that you can enjoy it as it is or you can try combining with some of my favorite’s options:

• Big Scoop Of Vanilla Ice Cream

Just serve it with big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Warm vanilla mug will taste simply delicious with cold ice cream. Match made in heaven, Trust Me! You can also add a spoon or two of chocolate sauce on top of ice cream.

• Dollop of whipped cream on top

You can just put store-bought whipped cream on top and you are good to go. You can also make your own whipped cream at home.

• Chocolate Frosting

Chocolate buttercream frosting goes really well with this vanilla mug cake.

Vanilla mug cake variations

• Banana bread mug cake – replace the oil with 1 tablespoon of mashed banana and add a few banana extract drops. This will also be a great option to make an oil-free vegan mug cake.
• Chocolate vegan microwave cake – add 2 teaspoons of cacao powder or cocoa powder and a splash more non-dairy milk into the batter. This option will fix any chocolate cake cravings!
• Chocolate chip mug cake– add 1 tablespoon of vegan chocolate chips!
• Lemon mug cake – swap 2 tablespoons of almond milk with lemon juice.
• Cinnamon roll – add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
• Peanut butter mug cake – replace oil with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter for less saturated fat. Also, increase non-dairy milk by 1 tablespoon!
• Protein mug cake – add 2 teaspoons of protein powder and increase the milk by 2 tablespoons. However, depending on the protein powder brand, this may dry the mug cake batter. Always add more non-dairy milk to achieve a cake batter that looks like regular cake batter, not too dense!

My secret tips to make best vanilla cake in a mug recipe

• Use Microwave safe cups

Please sure you are using cups which are microwave safe.

• How to check if your cup is microwave safe?

Fill a mug ¾ full with water.

Microwave it on full power (HIGH) for 1 minute.

If mug is cool (i.e. you can easily touch the mug) but water is hot, it is microwave safe.

• Each microwave power is different

Each microwave is different so it’s power. I am making this at 800W for 45 seconds to one minute. Adjust our baking time according to the power of your microwave.

• Do not over mix

This is same for all the cakes you make. If you over mix the batter, gluten will form and it will result into rubbery, dense and chewy.

• Do not over-microwave

Study your microwave before using. If you microwave it too long, moisture will go away and cake will become dry.

• Eat Fresh

I would highly recommend to eat this cake the day you are making. If you keep it longer, it will dry out and will not taste good. You can still refrigerate or freeze and reheat the vanilla mug cake.

Vanilla cake in a mug video tutorial

Vanilla mug cake – FAQ’s

• What are vanilla mug cake calories?

Please refer my recipe card to know the details about calorie and nutritional information.

• Why is my mug cake chewy?

Main culprits for this particular issue are:

Too much oil in the cake

Over-mixing the batter

Microwaving the cake for too long.

• What to do to avoid this?

Simple, follow the recipe exactly as stated and you will never have rubbery, chewy cake.

• Can you reheat a mug cake?

Yes, definitely. Reheat for half amount of time needed for baking.

• Why is my vanilla mug cake dense?

Major reason behind this is over-mixing the cake batter. Follow my step-by-step instructions and mix it until just combined.

• Can you make / How to make vanilla mug cake without egg?

Yes. Infact this vanilla mug cake recipe is completely eggless.

• Can I make this with self-rising flour?

Yes, you can make this vanilla mug cake recipe by using self-rising flour. Just omit the leavening agent – baking powder in the recipe.

• How to serve vanilla mug cake?

This can be eaten as it is but if you want to take it to next level, I have given few of my favorite options above. Try it out and let me know which one did you like.

• How to store vanilla mug cake?

You can store in refrigerator or freezer.

In Refrigerator          up to 2-3 days             cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in microwave.

In Freezer                    up to 2-3 weeks          cover it with plastic wrap

followed by aluminum wrap and you

are good to go.

• Can I freeze this mug cake recipe?

Yes, please refer instructions given above

Request

Please let me know how this recipe turns out for you in the comments! I really love hearing from you, and your feedback is very much important to me.

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Recipe Card.