Vanilla Mug Cake: A super EASY microwavable mug cake recipe without egg and a few other simple ingredients ready in just 7 minutes.
Cake recipes are a favorite easy dessert around here, and after making this multiple times and perfecting it, we’ve decided this is the BEST vanilla mug cake recipe that there is!
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What is a Mug Cake?
A mug cake is a single-serving cake that you can make in a pinch when you have a craving for a sweet treat! With a few ingredients, you can microwave a cake in a microwave-safe mug, cup, or small bowl, for a perfect dessert just for you!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Dessert for one: When you’re on the hunt for single-serving desserts, this one tops the cake! (No pun intended… well, maybe a little.) Mug recipes may just become your new favorite thing!
- Microwaved: The best part is that this vanilla mug cake recipe is mixed in and microwaved in the mug so you don’t have to dirty any dishes except your measuring cups and spoons.
- Kid-friendly: It’s the perfect treat if your kiddos have a sweet tooth and they want to try and make something on their own!
- Texture: I was so pleasantly surprised by the texture of this mug cake. I was expecting weird and chewy and spongy but instead, it was light and fluffy. A key to keeping the texture super light and fluffy is mixing it just until it comes together. Any extra stirring could make it tough or gummy.
How do you make a vanilla mug cake from scratch?
It is made with common ingredients that you’ll probably already have in your pantry and refrigerator, and you’ll only need a large mug to cook it in! You simply mix the ingredients (lightly) and then microwave them and it’s ready to eat.
Ingredient List
This only takes a few simple ingredients! Make sure to see the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and instructions.
Wet Ingredients:
- melted butter
- vanilla extract
- milk
What kind of milk to use for mug cake? I used 2% milk when testing the recipe but you can use whatever milk you have on hand whether it’s whole, skim, coconut, or almond milk.
Dry Ingredients:
- white granulated sugar
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
Step by Step Directions
- Add butter to your mug and microwave until melted.
- Stir vanilla extract, milk, and sugar into the butter.
- Add flour, baking powder, and salt and stir until just combined.
- Microwave mug cake for 1-½ to 2 minutes. Be careful removing the mug from the microwave as it may be hot.
FAQs
You can! If you don’t eat it all the first round, cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to one day. To reheat, simply remove cover and reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until heated through.
Sure! If you don’t prefer to reheat it, you can eat it cold!
If you’re making a mug cake in the microwave, be sure to use a microwave-safe mug as it could be really hot to the touch when finished cooking!
Absolutely! It’s a great way to enjoy a quick sweet treat when the craving hits! Plus, with this recipe, you can add in your favorite toppings if desired!
Vanilla Cake Topping Ideas
This vanilla mug cake is so great on its own but if you want to top this vanilla mug cake, here are my favorite ideas:
- A scoop of Vanilla Ice cream
- Mint Buttercream Frosting or Chocolate Buttercream
- Strawberries and Whipped Cream
- Fresh fruit
- Sliced bananas
- Peanut Butter
- A dollop of whipped cream
- Chocolate chips
- Nuts
- Brown Sugar
- A drizzle of chocolate sauce
- Salted caramel drizzle
More Cake Recipes You’ll Love
If you love easy dessert recipes like this vanilla mug cake, you’ll also love these top fan favorites! This Milky Way Cake is increasingly popular, as well as this Easy Carrot Cake, this 7Up Pound Cake, and this Easy Pound Cake.
Thank you to Meg’s Everyday Indulgence for sharing another easy dessert recipe with us!
Did you make this? I’d be so grateful if you left a “star” rating below to let me know what you thought! Then, the next time you need a quick and easy recipe, come back to Fantabulosity to browse all of my easy recipes!
Recipe
Vanilla Mug Cake
Video
Equipment
- Microwave safe mug
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup milk any type will work
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add butter to your mug. Microwave until melted. Stir vanilla extract, milk and sugar into the butter. Add flour, baking powder and salt and stir until just combined – do not overmix so it becomes light and fluffy.
- Microwave mug cake 1.5 to 2 minutes. Be careful removing the mug from the microwave as it may be hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Jen says
This is a great recipe for a quick snack with a cup of coffee:) II’ve cut the sugar down to 1 Tbsp and added a few mini choc chips. I’ve also made it with a little coconut extract and a sprinkle of shredded coconut mixed in. So good!
My husband and I have it at least once a week, sitting on the deck sipping coffee. Mmmmm
Jessica says
Thank you so much for sharing, Jen! I love knowing that you added coconut to this. I may have to try that too!
Carol says
This recipe is a keeper! I served the cake with sliced strawberries and homemade whipped cream. The family loved the taste and the novelty of strawberry shortcake in a mug. I’ll definitely make it again.
Jessica says
Yay! So thrilled that you liked this mug cake, Carol! Thank you for sharing!
Kundo says
I’ve had a number of bad mug cakes, but this one was nearly perfect. A great fit for cravings without using much time at all. The texture was absolutely wonderful. Best mug cake recipe, ever.
Jessica says
Ahh!! That makes me so happy! I love this one too, and I’m thrilled that you think this is the best mug cake too!
AshTheRecipeTrier says
I topped it with strawberry jam and cream cheese and man was it delicious 😋
Jessica says
That sounds incredible to put on this mug cake! Thank you so much for sharing!
Behara Beganovic says
I used the amount of salt recommended and it was extremely salty to me
Jessica says
Oh really??? That’s so interesting! Did you happen to use salted butter too? That could really make it saltier than it could be.
Melissa says
The consistency is lovely. Soft but not mushy, delicate yet satisfying. I accidentally used 1/3 c milk so I compensated using 1/3 c flour too. (1/4 c flour looked too runny so added enough to match the milk). At first it was lumpy with a fork, but a wisk that barely fit in the mug spun around a few times did the trick. It rose nicely without rising past the top of my 16 oz mug. Vanilla flavor was maybe too powerful for my palette so I’ll play around with that, but overall great. If yours doesn’t rise, check your baking powder. You may need a new one.
Jessica says
Thank you so much for sharing this Melissa! I love hearing what you did with the mug cake!
Kali says
This mug cake was flavourless, I made it and I thought I had covid I couldn’t taste any flavour.
Jessica says
You can add more vanilla/sugar if you feel it needs more! I like to add syrups, strawberries, and whipped cream to mine!
Anonym says
The recipe didnt work my cake was not eatable
Jessica says
Sorry it didn’t work out for you! We’ve made it quite a few times and it always works out for us, so I’m not sure what may have happened!
Nkaleni says
Tried this several times. It’s the fastest yummy treat. Very adaptable as well.
Jessica says
I’m so happy that you like this mug cake recipe too! Thank you so much for sharing!
Tanja Krikke says
It is insanely delicious! Light, fluffy & moist…perfect cake in a cup!
Jessica says
That’s so great, and I’m so glad that you liked this mug cake Tanja, thank you!
Isabella says
Definitely the best mug cake recipe I’ve tried. It’s already pretty good but replacing the butter for the same amount of oil and the sugar for the same amount of brown sugar really elevates it. Highly recommend trying it
Jessica says
Oh this is so fun to know about doing this for a mug cake. Thank you so much for sharing!
Shirley says
I made this today! I made a few adjustments for my diet… replaced the milk and sugar for 1/4 cup of a vanilla protein shake and replaced the flour with finely ground oats. It was delicious! Adding this one to my recipe boos TODAY!