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This classic Easy Vanilla Mug Cake recipe is easy to make, full of vanilla flavor, and is great served warm with whipped cream or ice cream over the top.
It’s no secret, I love a good vanilla cake. It’s often my request as a birthday cake.
As a kid, I preferred Oreo mug cake, chocolate mug cake or Nutella mug cake but as I’ve gotten older I’ve grown more fond of plain vanilla.
You really can’t beat a moist cake with tons of vanilla flavor. I love to pair it with fresh fruit. And it’s even better when the cake is warm and served in a mug.
Have you ever had a mug cake before? Better yet, have you ever made a mug cake before?
It’s probably the easiest cake to make. One that you can produce in a matter of seconds as soon as you get a craving for something sweet.
I think you’re really going to love this vanilla cake in a mug!
Vanilla mug cake ingredients
As with any basic vanilla cake recipe, the ingredient list is simple. To make this single serving Easy Vanilla Mug Cake recipe, you will need:
- Butter – Will add a rich buttery flavor to the cake
- All-purpose flour – I’ve only tested this recipe using this flour. It may work with cake flour also, I’m not sure.
- Salt – To mellow the sweetness and tie the other ingredients together.
- Eggs – To provide leavening, color, and flavor.
- Sugar – Add a touch of sweetness because this is dessert!
- Milk – I used whole milk but you may be able to replace it with a dairy-free alternative.
- Baking powder – Helps the batter bake up into a fluffy little mug cake.
- Vanilla – Use a high-quality pure vanilla extract so you get the best flavor. A vanilla paste will also work!
Can you make a mug cake without eggs?
My recipe requires eggs! This cake will not work without the eggs. I’m sure you can find an eggless recipe by doing a Google search.
How to make vanilla mug cake?
I promise this will be the easiest cake you’ve ever made. There are just a couple steps to sweet yellow mug cake heaven…
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Whisk the wet ingredients together in a separate bowl.
- Combine the two and whisk until smooth.
- Pour batter into a 10-ounce microwave-safe mug.
- Microwave on high power for 90 seconds then let the cake sit for 2 minutes before serving.
How to serve vanilla mug cake
This mug cake recipe is great on its own but to make it the best mug cake, top it with vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips, homemade whipped cream, raspberry frosting, coconut frosting, or chocolate frosting.
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Easy Vanilla Mug Cake
This classic Easy Vanilla Mug Cake recipe is easy to make, full of vanilla flavor, and is great served warm with whipped cream or ice cream over the top.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (43 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- homemade whipped cream
- fresh berries
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
- In a 2 cup measuring cup, whisk the sugar, butter, milk, egg, and vanilla together until well combined.
- Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture and whisk until the batter is smooth.
- Pour batter into a 10-ounce coffee mug.
- Microwave, one at a time, on high for 90 seconds. (Every microwave is different. If the cake hasn't set, microwave in 10-second intervals until cooked through.) Let the cakes stand for 2 minutes.
- Top with whipped cream and berries or other desired topping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Because this cake is "baked" in the microwave, you're not going to get exactly the same results as a cake baked in the oven. This mug cake is slightly spongy.
This recipe was updated with a small change to the "baking" instructions to solve the issue of the cake not cooking through all the way.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 275Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 233mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 7g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the values shown are just an estimate.
Adapted from Land O’ Lakes
Love this recipe super ? cool
can i bake it in the oven instead
I suppose you could but could be challenging to not overbake such a small quantity. I suggest making my vanilla cupcakes instead. Once they’ve cooled, you can freeze them for when a craving hits.
Get your sink or dishwasher ready because you are going to be using a lot of measuring utensils and some dishes.
But forget that.. The cake tastes soooo good its worth it ??
I love this. i put the wet ingredients (i had buttermilk so I used it instead of regular) in the mug except the butter, then the dry ingredients with the baking powder in the middle of the flour and salt. I mix it up and then mix in the butter. I put in some strawberry jam in the middle and bake it. My microwave took 2 minutes. I’m lazy and don’t want to wash any more things than i have to. Super good. I’m so happy with your mug recipes because i’m a glutton and would eat half a cake if I made it. This way I’m limited and satisfied.
I made the chocolate the other day. I used only 1 T chocolate and 1 T sugar because like a little lighter chocolate. Made it in the mug I cooked it in. Added strawberry jam in the middle. Also super good.
Jen you’re a genius. Thanks.
I love that you added strawberry jam! I’ll have to try that sometime.
This looks so delicious, it rised a lot and its just right!!!
That’s wonderful to hear, Emery!
This was the easiest cake ever! It tastes best if you use a high quality pure vanilla.
Sorry, but it’s a no for me. It tasted meh at best, and the consistency was less like a cake and more like an egg.
I felt the same way too
This vanilla mug cake will definitely happen when I have a late night sweet craving!