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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Easy Vanilla Mug Cake

    Posted: Jan 8, 2016 · Updated: May 22, 2024 by Sara · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Easy Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles
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    Easy Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness!

    Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles

    This post includes affiliate links. Please see my disclosure.

    So, eating healthier and getting in shape are part of my goals each year. . .mine and a bazillion other people's no doubt. It has to be the reason I'm craving sweetness now more than ever. You always want what you can't or shouldn't have, right?

    Well, to satisfy my sweet tooth but keep the portion size in check, I made this yummy and easy Vanilla Mug Cake.

    This little cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! Pretty smart, right?

    Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles

    I've never really "trusted" mug cakes. So many have turned out dry and tasteless. It took a little experimenting until I achieved the sweetness I was looking for.

    And in my opinion, cake isn't really cake if you eat it out of a mug. Cake out of a mason jar, now that's a different story. You can "see" through a mason jar so it can still be "pretty." You following me?

    Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles

    So, this is usually my hot chocolate mug from which I drink the most wonderful hot chocolate in the world. Alright, so I'm a little biased, but you can't get much better than ice cream AND white chocolate.

    Oh, man. I need to make more of that this winter. . .

    What were we talking about again? Oh yes. This mug cake. . .

    Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles

    All it takes is 90 seconds in the microwave, and you'll have a little "mug" o' heaven. Classic vanilla cake is just the best. In fact, vanilla truly IS our favorite cake flavor here in the house.

    One of the most important tips I can offer if you're going to make this cake is to make sure that your mug is at least 14 ounces or it may "bubble" over while baking in the microwave.

    Watch that mug closely!! If you use a big enough mug there's nothing to worry about. My cake took up about ¾ of the cup, which was perfect.

    I made sure to spray the mug generously with cooking spray before adding the batter and baking it. That way, when it was done, I just ran a butter knife around the edges of the cake to loosen it from the mug and flipped it over!

    Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles

    Here's the disclaimer. This is not about perfection. It may not look "perfect" when you flip it out of the mug. But in my opinion, it looks much prettier out of the mug than in it.

    Top it with some sprinkles and you'll begin to fall in love.

    Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles

    Add some sweet icing, and you'll forget the cake was ever even in a mug. What mug? See.

    Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles

    I let the icing soak in a little bit while I filled a glass of milk. . .AND. . .put a few more sprinkles on top.

    Vanilla Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness! #mugcake #vanillacake #recipe #easymugcake #microwavedessert #bitzngiggles

    Just look at how moist this is. Drag the cake right through that little pool of icing. Holy moly. Seriously now. Promise me you'll try this. Believe it or not, the cake is fairly sweet without the icing.

    If you wanted to switch out the icing for some whipped cream, you could do that, too. Heck, next time I may add some sprinkles to the actual cake batter!

    So, yeah. There you have it. An easy vanilla mug cake perfect for one. . .or two, if you really wanted to share. But when it comes to cake is that even a consideration?

    I'm going to go and grab an extra mug just to be safe. I'll make you your own. Do you have 90 seconds to spare? After that, we'll do PiYo in my basement. You in?

    Easy Vanilla Mug Cake – Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness!

    Looking for More Delicious Mug Cakes?

    Pumpkin Mug Cake - A quick and easy microwave pumpkin mug cake. Topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick, this is the ultimate simple fall dessert!
    Easy Chocolate Mug Cake - Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist and delicious with melty chocolate fudge throughout!
    Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Mug Cake - This delicious mug cake literally takes about 60 seconds to make in the microwave. It tastes just like a cinnamon sugar doughnut!

    And Who Can Resist a
    Delicious M&M Microwave Cookie?

    M&M Microwave Cookie - A soft, warm and delicious cookie you can make right in the microwave in less than 2 minutes!! Perfectly portioned for one or two!

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    Easy Vanilla Mug Cake

    Ready in 90 seconds! This mug cake is moist, delicious and topped with a lovely vanilla icing that soaks into the cake and infuses it with sweetness!
    4.49 from 108 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 2 minutes mins
    Total Time: 7 minutes mins
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 482kcal
    Author: Sara
    adjust servings: 1

    Ingredients

    For the Cake

    • 4 Tablespoons flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 3 Tablespoons sugar
    • ½ Tablespoon butter (softened)
    • 4 Tablespoons milk
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • Pinch of salt

    For the Icing

    • 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon butter. softened
    • 1 Tablespoon milk
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    For the Cake

    • Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
    • Pour into greased mug (at least 16 ounces).
    • Microwave on high for 1 minute 30 seconds (or 90 seconds).

    For the Icing

    • Mix all ingredients together and drizzle over cake either inside the mug or pop cake out of mug onto plate.

    Notes

    1. Mind the Mug Size: Use a mug that is at least 16 ounces in size to allow for the cake to rise without overflowing during microwaving. Using a smaller mug may result in the batter spilling over and creating a mess in the microwave.
    2. Check for Doneness: Microwave cooking times can vary depending on the wattage of your microwave oven. After microwaving the cake for the recommended time of 1 minute and 30 seconds, check the cake's doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, the cake is ready. If not, microwave in 10-second intervals until done to avoid overcooking.
    3. Customize Your Icing: Adjust the consistency of the icing to your liking by varying the amount of milk added. For a thicker icing, use less milk, and for a thinner drizzle, add more milk. Additionally, feel free to add a drop of food coloring to the icing for a pop of color or swap vanilla extract for other flavor extracts like almond or lemon for a different flavor profile.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 319mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 63g | Vitamin A: 421IU | Calcium: 218mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BitzNGiggles or tag #bitzngiggles!
    22611 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chelsea

      March 22, 2019 at 10:41 pm

      In the recipe you call for baking powder, but in the video, it’s baking soda.. just want to verify which one the recipe calls for. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sara

        March 31, 2019 at 9:21 pm

        Chelsea - it should be baking powder! I'm in process of fixing the video. Thanks so much for your message!

        Reply
    2. Viviana

      March 14, 2019 at 4:58 pm

      This is THE BEST mug cake I’ve ever made! It was perfect!

      Reply
      • Sara

        March 15, 2019 at 1:47 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Viviana!

        Reply
    3. Alina

      March 13, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      Sara, nice idea! This cake look absolutely delicious! I need to try it!

      Reply
      • Sara

        March 15, 2019 at 1:48 pm

        I hope you do try it, Alina!

        Reply
    4. Alyssa

      March 12, 2019 at 1:29 am

      5 stars
      Sara, thanks! Very tasty mug cake turned out. Very cool photos!

      Reply
      • Sara

        March 15, 2019 at 1:54 pm

        So glad you liked the mug cake!

        Reply
    5. Jj

      March 02, 2019 at 12:59 pm

      2 stars
      Excellent recipe but why must I read an essay of crap before the recipe!

      Reply
      • Sara

        March 15, 2019 at 1:58 pm

        Wow. Well, that was a bit harsh. I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe. I hope you have a better day tomorrow.

        Reply
    6. Boop

      February 19, 2019 at 12:54 am

      5 stars
      This is the best mug cake I've made thus far. Usually they have a faint taste of baking soda, but this one does not. This recipe makes a cake that is moist, fluffy, and tastes great. Highly recommend! Don't understand how it's 4.5/5 stars, it is only a mug cake after all so you shouldn't expect much.

      Reply
      • Sara

        February 24, 2019 at 4:23 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    7. Joe

      February 18, 2019 at 12:16 am

      5 stars
      Wow! Made this for my niece at 12am. She was telling me she wanted brownies or cake or something so I googled mug cake! My batter was really soupy so I was skeptical, might have added too much milk, but it actually turned out really qell! I think next time I'll double the recipe though. Icing was tasty! I think overall I added a bit more vanilla. Thank you for the great recipe! It satisfied her late night sweet hankering.

      Reply
      • Sara

        February 24, 2019 at 4:23 pm

        So glad your niece enjoyed it, Joe! Thanks so much for rating and leaving a comment!

        Reply
    8. Erica

      February 15, 2019 at 7:29 pm

      5 stars
      Girl, oh girl, this recipe made for one ugly cake, but it was 100% delicious! I was craving something sweet and easy and this hit the spot! The recipe was perfect and the cake tasted great! I used some store bought frosting and sprinkles I had on hand, but I'll definitely have to try the recipe you suggested. 5/5 stars!!!

      Reply
      • Sara

        February 24, 2019 at 4:25 pm

        Erica, so funny! You're right, mug cakes aren't real pretty but they can sure satisfy a craving.

        Reply
    9. Reynaldo Alcantara

      January 30, 2019 at 12:00 am

      Hi, I was wondering if I could use this vanilla mug cake recipe as base for other cake flavors. It looks pretty yummy and moist. Maybe just adding like baking soda if I make making chocolate mug cake? Would you agree? Thanks for the recipe. ?

      Reply
      • Sara

        January 30, 2019 at 10:48 pm

        I DO use my vanilla mug cake recipe as a base for my Chocolate Mug Cake recipe. Check this one out and let me know if you enjoyed it! https://bitzngiggles.com/easy-chocolate-mug-cake/

        Reply
    10. Steph mason

      January 29, 2019 at 4:04 am

      Great recipe, I took out almost all the sugar and added some apple pieces that I cooked for about 10 mins with some cinnamon so yummy

      Reply
    11. Rachel

      January 21, 2019 at 2:28 pm

      Can you use water instead of milk??

      Reply
      • Sara

        January 28, 2019 at 9:38 pm

        I've never tried it. It may make the cake harder and flatter then it should be?

        Reply
    12. Anonymous

      January 16, 2019 at 7:47 pm

      5 stars
      So good! I've made this every day since I found the recipe lol I like to add a little almond extract to give it a amaretto flavor ♡

      Reply
    13. Ben

      January 14, 2019 at 8:47 pm

      3 stars
      I made one it was bad but I think I used the wrong measurements but looked good

      Reply
    14. Beulah C

      January 11, 2019 at 7:40 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! I added some apples and cinnamon to mine and I really liked how it tasted although I had to cook it longer for the apples to be soft. Because i cooked it longer, it was a little dry. But still really yummy AND easy! Will have to use this as a date night dessert.

      Reply
    15. Anonymous

      January 09, 2019 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      I love the recipe but could you make a flourless one for some of us who want to bake but don't have all the supplies?

      Reply
      • Sara

        January 13, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        I will have to whip up a flourless mug cake for you! Stay tuned!

        Reply
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    Sara Zenner, blogger at Bitz N Giggles

    welcome!

    Hey, I’m Sara!

     Born and raised in Wisconsin, where family and fun are at the heart of it all - I inherited a deep appreciation for home cooking and family traditions. I’m all about quick and easy recipes, tidying up, and laid back “up north” living.

    Read more!

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