A Yummy Mug Cake to Give You Those Cozy Fall Vibes
A simple microwave mug cake recipe with a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping.
Serves1
Prep7 minutes
Cook3 minutes to 3 minutes 30 seconds
Few things in life are better than freshly baked coffee cake. The trio of light and airy cake, crunchy cinnamon streusel topping, and sweet glaze is simply unbeatable. But if you live by yourself — or want to satisfy a craving ASAP — making an entire cake isn’t exactly practical.
Enter: this microwave mug cake, a single-serve version of the beloved cake that comes together in just 10 minutes. It’s sweet, it’s spiced, and it’s even finished with that signature glaze. Here’s everything you need to know.
What’s the Best, Safest Mug for Mug Cake?
This recipe is best made in a 12-ounce or larger microwave-safe mug. Mugs that aren’t microwave-safe tend to get very hot when heated, and have the potential to crack. You’ll still want to use precaution and handle your microwave-safe mug with a hot pad or oven mitt when removing it from the microwave.
If you don’t have a microwave-safe mug on hand, you can use any of the following, as long as they are labeled microwave-safe:
- Small glazed, porcelain ramekins
- Most small ceramic bowls
- Most small glass prep or mise bowls
How Do I Make a Tender (Not Hard!) Mug Cake?
Perfectly cooked mug cakes are soft and tender — just like oven-baked cakes! If your cake turns out tough or rubbery, especially around the edges, chances are you overcooked it.
To prevent this, start by cooking your cake for the lower end of the time range. After 2 minutes, take it out and touch it: it should feel springy and soft on top. If it’s still raw, give it another 30 seconds and check again. Remember: Microwaves vary greatly in strength, so it may take a few rounds to nail down the best timing.
How Do You Remove a Mug Cake from the Mug?
The great thing about mug cakes is that you can eat them directly from the mug! There’s no need to remove it.
If you do want to flip it out, spray your mug with nonstick cooking spray before mixing up the batter. This will make sure nothing sticks to the mug and the cake comes out easily. If the cake is still giving you trouble, run a thin metal spatula or butter knife around the outside to help loosen it up.
Coffee Cake Mug Cake
A simple microwave mug cake recipe with a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping.
Prep time 7 minutes
Cook time 3 minutes to 3 minutes 30 seconds
Serves 1
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 tablespoons
unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup
packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup
dairy or unsweetened non-dairy milk
- 1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup
plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon
ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon
baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon
kosher salt
For the streusel topping:
- 2 tablespoons
unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons
all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons
packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon
ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon
kosher salt
For the drizzle (optional):
- 2 tablespoons
powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon
dairy or unsweetened non-dairy milk, plus more as needed
Instructions
Make the cake batter: Microwave 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a 12-ounce or larger microwave-safe mug or deep ramekin on HIGH power until melted, 25 to 30 seconds.
Add 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/4 cup milk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir with a fork until the sugar is mostly dissolved. Add 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir with the fork until a smooth, loose batter forms with no pockets of unincorporated flour.
Make the streusel topping: Microwave 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a small microwave-safe bowl on HIGH power until melted, 25 to 30 seconds. Add 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir with a fork until moistened and crumbly. Scatter the streusel over the cake batter.
Microwave on HIGH power until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with just a few moist crumbs stuck to it, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. (Cooking time will vary greatly depending on the strength of your microwave. Start with 2 minutes and check for doneness before adding more time.)
Make the drizzle (optional): Place 2 tablespoons powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon milk in a small bowl and stir until smooth and thick yet pourable. Add more milk to thin it out as needed. Drizzle over the mug cake and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: The streusel topping can be made up to 1 week in advance and refrigerated in a small airtight container or zip-top bag.
This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: 10-Minute Coffee Cake Mug Cake