This vanilla mug cake is a decadent treat that you can whip up with only a few ingredients and cook in under two minutes! Everyone will love this quick dessert – the cake cooks in the microwave for about a minute, but it’ll taste just as delicious as a cake from a bakery.
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Easy 90-Second Microwave Dessert
Mug cakes are the easiest way to get your sweet fix quickly! Whether making a late-night dessert for yourself or cooking up several for a sleepover, my vanilla mug cake recipe makes it a breeze!
My vanilla mug cake uses simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen, so it’s the easiest dessert recipe you’ll ever make!
Kids will adore these mug cakes, too! You can add their favorite toppings or a scoop of ice cream to make it delicious.
🥘 Ingredients
My sweet, perfectly soft vanilla mug cake is the easiest and most delicious quick dessert you’ll ever have! I use vanilla extract in this recipe, but you can use some vanilla bean paste for a more intense vanilla flavor!
- All-Purpose Flour – ⅓ cup of your favorite AP flour brand here! You can also use self-rising flour if you have it – but skip the baking powder and salt.
- Sugar – 2 ½ tablespoons of granulated white sugar is perfect for this recipe! You can also substitute it with whatever sugar you happen to have on hand, though note it may affect the flavor a bit.
- Baking Powder – Since this recipe doesn’t call for an egg, ¼ teaspoon of baking powder is necessary here to help leaven the cake and make it rise.
- Salt – Just a pinch, so any kind of salt will do!
- Butter – You’ll want 2 tablespoons of butter melted for this recipe. I prefer salted butter for this recipe because it gives the best flavor. (See Tips & Recipe Notes)
- Milk – 3 tablespoons of milk. Whole milk has the highest fat content and will give the most moisture, but you can use any milk you have on hand!
- Vanilla Extract – Use ½ a teaspoon of 100% pure vanilla extract for the best results! You can also use a little bit of a scraped vanilla bean or vanilla paste if you have either of those.
- Sprinkles or Funfetti (optional) – These are optional but will add a fun, vibrant color and extra sweet flavor to your mug cake! Kids (and adults) will love it!
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make A Vanilla Mug Cake
My vanilla mug cake has just three steps! You will need measuring utensils, a microwave-safe coffee mug or bowl, and a spoon for stirring.
This recipe is for a single mug cake, but you can easily make several mug cakes to feed the whole family!
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a microwave-safe coffee mug or a small bowl, add the dry ingredients, including ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour, 2 ½ tablespoons of granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon of baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine.
- Add the wet ingredients. Add all the wet ingredients, including 2 tablespoons of melted, salted butter, 3 tablespoons of milk, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. Stir until smooth, and make sure you’re scraping the bottom of the mug or bowl to moisten all the flour. Stir in sprinkles, funfetti, or any other add-ins if desired.
- Cook and enjoy! Heat in the microwave on high power for 70 to 90 seconds or until the top is just set to the touch and still slightly shiny. Leave the cooked mug cake in the microwave to rest for 1 minute before serving. Top with any desired toppings and serve!
This single-serving vanilla cake is the perfect way to cure your sweet tooth. Be sure to give all of my favorite mug cake flavors a try. Enjoy!
🍒 What To Serve On A Vanilla Mug Cake
My quick and decadent vanilla mug cake is incredible when served on its own but also excellent with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a little whipped cream or vanilla frosting!
You can also top it with more sprinkles, chocolate chips, drizzle strawberry coulis, or even roasted berries. The best part of this mug cake is that you can customize it to make a dessert that’s truly your own! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Select Quality Butter: Opt for salted European butter to enhance your mug cake with its superior quality and rich flavor. The salt in the butter won't make your cake salty but will add a depth of flavor that unsalted butter lacks.
- Microwave Timing: Understand that microwaves vary, and so will your cake's cooking time. Aim for a slightly underdone texture rather than overcooking. Start with 70 seconds, then check the cake's doneness. If necessary, continue cooking in small 15-20 second increments until just set.
- Choose the Right Mug: Use a microwave-safe mug or bowl that's large enough to accommodate the cake's expansion as it cooks. A 12-ounce mug or larger is ideal to prevent overflowing and ensure even cooking.
- Make Ahead Tip: For those who love planning ahead, you can prepare multiple mug cakes by measuring the dry ingredients into individual mugs. Cover each with plastic wrap and store them either on your countertop or in the fridge. When the craving hits, simply add the wet ingredients to your prepped mug, stir, microwave, and enjoy instantly!
🥡 Storing
With leftover mug cake, wrap it at room temperature with plastic wrap. It's best consumed within 1 day to maintain its freshness and texture. If stored in the refrigerator it should last 3 days.
❓ Recipe FAQs
If your mug cakes have turned out rubbery in the past, I have a few tips!
Don’t over-mix the batter (just stir until all the flour is incorporated), as that can make the cake a bit tough.
Also, try not to overcook the mug cake. You want to use short intervals of microwave time, and when the cake is ready, it’ll be set but should be shiny on top and slightly sticky to the touch.
Mug cakes that are done will also have a slight give to the touch, but your finger should not leave an imprint. If your mug cake doesn't have any 'give' to it, chances are it's overcooked.
Yes! To make this recipe vegan, simply substitute vegan butter for the salted butter and your favorite milk alternative for the milk. To make it gluten-free, simply use a gluten-free 1:1 flour that includes xanthan gum, so the cake has the right texture. (*Anytime substitutions are made, there may be slight differences in color and/or texture in the mug cakes.)
Since this recipe is for a single serving, a whole egg is a bit much for the recipe and can create an unpleasant texture. The baking powder in the recipe helps the mug cake to bake up soft and fluffy without the need for eggs!
🎂 More Easy Mug Cakes
- Nutella Mug Cake - A chocolatey hazelnut mug cake without any cocoa powder!
- Snickerdoodle Mug Cake - A fluffy vanilla mug cake loaded with sweet cinnamon sugar.
- Chocolate Mug Cake - This mug cake is for chocolate lovers, and there are no eggs needed!
- Chocolate Chip Mug Cake - If you love chocolate chip cookies, you will love this mug cake!
- Oreo Mug Cake - This 2-ingredient mug cake can be made with just Oreos and milk!
- Peanut Butter Mug Cake - A moist peanut butter cake you can whip up in minutes.
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📖 Recipe Card
Vanilla Mug Cake
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tablespoon butter (salted, melted)
- 3 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
- sprinkles or funfetti (optional)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Add the dry ingredients in a microwave-safe coffee mug or small bowl, including ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 2 ½ tablespoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, and 1 pinch salt. Stir to combine.
- Add the wet ingredients, including melted 2 tablespoon butter, 3 tablespoon milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir until smooth, and make sure that you are scraping the bottom of the bowl or mug to moisten all of the flour mixture. Stir in sprinkles or funfetti if desired.
- Heat in the microwave on high power for 70-90 seconds until the top is set to the touch and still slightly shiny. Leave the cooked mug cake in the microwave to rest for 1 minute before serving.
Notes
- I recommend using salted European butter for the best quality and flavor. Don’t worry – the salted butter won’t make it salty! But it does help give a depth of flavor that unsalted butter wouldn’t be able to replicate.
- Every microwave is slightly different, and results may vary! A slightly underdone mug cake is better than a slightly overdone cake, but I suggest starting with 70 seconds and then checking to see if the top is set. You can add small 15-20 second increments to finish cooking the mug cake if needed. (*In the case of my own microwave, my vanilla mug cakes are usually close to 90 seconds when done.)
- Make sure to use a microwave-safe mug that has enough space for the cake to expand. I recommend using a mug that’s at least 12 ounces or even a small bowl to be sure the batter doesn’t overflow out of the mug.
Karen says
I made this to see if my elderly dad would eat it. It was really good! And easy!
Anonymous says
it was really good kind of tasted like a waffle but still really good!!
Melanie says
Best mug cake recipe ever and I’ve tried a few! We add mini chocolate chips to the Vanilla Mug Cake and it comes out perfect every time.
Caitlin Brown says
Made this with coconut oil, a little extra vanilla and I actually mixed the melted oil, sugar, and vanilla before mixing in the flour and baking powder, then the milk because I nearly forgot it. Ended up being so perfectly moist and the coconut flavour was perfectly subtle. 10/10!
Vicky says
Made this recipe - I even subbed half whole wheat flour and avocado oil instead of butter to make it a little healthier - and it was great. So nice to satisfy a sweet tooth without baking a whole cake.
I think the size of the mug is important - use a standard 12oz coffee mug, don't use extra large or small ones as the cooking times will change drastically. Also as suggested start with 70 seconds, mine was completely done at 70 seconds and perfect.
Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Eric says
Excellent mug cake, this was a winner!
Susan Johnson says
Wow, this is perfect for that omg I need a sugar fix. Thank you!!