Peanut Butter Mug Cake

Name: Peanut Butter Mug Cake
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons peanut butter; 3 tablespoons milk; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted); 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; 3 1/2 tablespoons flour; 1/4 teaspoon baking powder; pinch salt; 3 tablespoons granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

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There is nothing better than a foolproof no-bake dessert and this peanut butter mug cake is the best of them all. Jam packed full of peanut butter and irresistibly moist, you will want this mug cake recipe every night of the week!

Overhead peanut butter mug cake in large white mug with silver spoon

Why you'll love it

There isn't anything better than being able to hang out and relax with a bit of cake at any time a craving strikes. Mug cake recipes like this vanilla mug cake and my lemon mug cake are life savers because you can have a bit of cake in your favorite coffee mug in just a few minutes.

This peanut butter mug cake is exceptionally good for those particular moments you need a healthy dose of peanut butter.... and maybe some chocolate chips thrown in for good measure. Or even topped with vanilla ice cream.

Ingredient Overview

There are only a few simple ingredients needed to make this delicious peanut butter mug cake. You can find the whole list with the exact measurements in the recipe card below

Peanut butter - For the best cake, I highly recommend high-quality creamy peanut butter. While natural peanut butter will work, I do not recommend it. Brands like Jif work the best.
Butter - For the best results use unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt in the cake. This is especially important since this is a single serving of cake and peanut butter also has its own saltiness.
Milk - Any type of milk works. The higher the fat content, the most indulgent the cake will end up. Heavy cream works especially well. You can also use dairy alternatives like soy milk, cashew milk and almond milk.
Flour - All-purpose flour works the best here for a texture that isn't too tender or dense. White whole wheat flour also works. If you want a gluten-free mug cake, use your favorite gluten-free baking mix. Some bakers have had success with self-rising flour. If you attempt to use it, skip the baking powder.
Baking powder - A touch of baking powder helps the cake rise and prevents the cake from becoming too dense.
Sugar - The calls for granulated sugar, but it also works very well with brown sugar. A mix of both also works wonderfully in this mug cake.

Variations

There are so many ways to change up your pb mug cake.

If you want to adjust this for specialty diets, try using almond butter or sunflower butter instead
Stir in dark chocolate chips mixed in or shaved chocolate on top is a classic pairing for peanut butter.
Enhance that delicious peanut butter flavor with peanut butter chips
Get indulgent with adding in chopped Reese's peanut butter cups
Add a dollop in the center or swirl in your favorite jam for an unforgettable pb&j cake

close up peanut butter mug cake in large mug milk in background

How to make

The best part about making this peanut butter mug cake is how quick and easy it is to put together. It only takes a few basic steps.

Add the peanut butter, milk, butter, and vanilla to your mug. Stir well.
Mix the remaining dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
Heat in the microwave for up to 90 seconds. The center may look slightly underdone, but will continue to cook with the residual heat from the mug.
Let the cake cool and enjoy!

Expert tips

You can add the wet ingredients together including the butter before you melt it and heat it until the butter is mostly melted and stir until it fully melts.

The recipe doubles well for large mugs or making cakes for multiple people. You can mix everything in a small bowl and divide them into your mugs in this case.

Mug cakes typically rise significantly and then slowly deflate as it cools, this is normal. You will want to pay close attention to the mug size you use, at least 10 ounces and on the taller size is best.

The centers will look underbaked, but you will know it is finished baking when the cake pulls away from the sides of the mug. The heat will continue to cook the cake.

mug filled with peanut butter cake with spoonful of cake

Recipe FAQs

Is Peanut Butter Mug Cake Eggless?

Yes! Since the cake is so small, you don't need much to add to the structure or moisture of the cake. This peanut butter mug cake is naturally eggless.

Can You Make Mug Cake with Other Nut Butters?

Yes, you can substitute the peanut butter for any type of nut butter you like! Just know that the different nut butters will affect the final flavor of the cake. I have never tried it with anything outside of peanut butter and don't guarantee you will like it.

You can also experiment with using things like cookie butter. Please note that you will need to cut down, or even eliminate the sugar in the cake recipe altogether to keep it from being cloyingly sweet.

Can You Make Mug Cake Without Baking Powder?

The baking powder gives the peanut butter mug cake lift and makes it nice and fluffy. Saying that, since the mug cake is so small, you can probably get away with not using the baking powder if you don't have any. Just be aware that your cake might be a little more dense than if you did use it.

Can You Make Mug Cake in a Bowl?

Yes, if your bowl is microwave-safe and can fit at least 12 ounces, you should be more than fine to use a bowl. In a pinch, you can use pretty much any microwave-safe container that is big enough to keep the batter from overflowing.

Can You Make Mug Cakes in the Oven?

Yes, you can make your peanut butter mug cake in the oven. If your mug is microwave-safe, it may be oven-safe too. Just double check before you use it! Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and start checking the mug cake after about 10 - 13 minutes. It should be ready when a toothpick comes out with only a couple of crumbs sticking to it.

Spoonful of peanut butter mug cake with chocolate

Recipe Card