Vanilla Mug Cake

Why You'll Love It

Vanilla mug cakes are the answer to those cravings for a freshly baked slice of cake without the commitment of having a whole cake around to tempt you. And it is ready in five minutes so you can satisfy your sweet tooth immediately. The reasons you will fall in love with this single-serving cake:

• A solid, easy vanilla mug cake recipe with simple ingredients and has tons of flavor
• All the ingredients are things you probably already have in the kitchen. Bonus: no eggs required!
• You can multiply the recipe easily for a bigger mug, or to make for a friend 
• It's the perfect recipe to customize to fit your mood

Pro tip: keep some vanilla frosting around. We always have some in the fridge and in the freezer for emergencies like this. 

What is it?

Believe it or not, but you can make a single serving of cake in a regular microwave-safe coffee or tea mug. The ingredients get mixed in the mug, then microwaved until cooked through. It means you can have cake done in minutes.

The best part is that since you aren't frosting it like a layer cake you can eat the vanilla mug cake while it is still warm. I love adding frosting, whipped cream, or ice cream on my warm vanilla cake in a mug so it melts and covers all the cake. 

​What you'll need

You only need a few ingredients, a mug, and a microwave.

The ingredients are pantry staples like butter, milk, sugar, flour, and vanilla. We also use some baking powder for fluffiness, plus if you want, you can add some cornstarch to give the cake an even better texture. 

Almost any microwave-safe mug that is at least 10 ounces will work. Anything smaller might leave you with cake all over your microwave. I use a large mug from the Hearth and Hand Magnolia collection at Target. It can hold double the recipe without spilling over, making it perfect for bigger appetites! If you are looking for something really cute, I adore these mugs. 

How to Make

You only need a few steps to make the best vanilla mug cake recipe ever

1. Melt your butter in the microwave. 
2. Stir the milk, vanilla, and sugar into the melted butter. 
3. Mix in the flour, cornstarch (if using), baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients
4. Cook in the microwave for 60 - 90 seconds, or until the sides are set at the top looks slightly moist. 
5. Remove and allow to rest for a minute. Add a swirl of vanilla buttercream frosting and sprinkles to the top of the cake or use any of your favorite toppings. 

Tip: Check the cake after 45 seconds. You know the cake is done when the sides start to pull away from the sides. The top will look slightly underdone and this is normal. It will continue to cook and set using the residual heat from the mug.  

Amanda's expert tips

• Do not overmix the cake batter. I recommend stirring with a fork. It will be tempting and easy to keep stirring until the batter is completely smooth, but with a single-serving cake like this, it is easy to overmix and end up with a tough cake. 
• Do not overcook. This can be easy to do, especially if you are new to making microwave mug cakes. If you overcook, you can end up with a rubbery and tough cake. This is why you should check the cake sooner and then add additional time as needed. 
• Double and triple check that your coffee mug is microwave-safe. If it does not say it is safe for the microwave, err on the side of caution and opt for a different mug. 
• Skip worrying about making a small serving of frosting or keeping some around by opting for a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top instead. 

Substitutions

• Butter: You can substitute the butter in this easy mug cake recipe with a neutral oil (canola oil or vegetable oil), butter-flavored Crisco, or margarine. If you use margarine, and it is on the saltier side, omit the salt in the recipe. 
• Baking Powder: You can replace the baking powder with baking soda using a 1:1 ratio. You can also omit the baking powder completely, but the cake will be more dense. 
• Eggs: You're in luck! This recipe does not need eggs!
• Milk: You can use a lactose-free or non-dairy milk like cashew milk or almond milk. You can also get creative and use heavy cream, coffee creamer, or thinning out a bit of yogurt or sour cream with a touch of water. 
• Flour: You can use a gluten-free baking mix if you want to make a gluten-free mug cake. If substitute all of the dry ingredients except for the sugar, you can try a complete pancake mix (the kind that only needs you to add water). Please note, I've never tried it using the pancake mix method personally, but I know people who have. 

This is the perfect dessert to customize. 

• Stir in crushed Oreos to the batter and frosting to make the best Oreo mug cake
• Add cinnamon and substitute half the sugar with maple syrup for a French toast-inspired cake
• Top or fold in fresh fruit to the cake batter
• Add in a handful of chocolate chips
• Include a small pinch of cream of tartar and cinnamon for a snickerdoodle mug cake

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