This easy vanilla mug cake recipe is perfect for those days when you’re craving fluffy homemade vanilla cake. And it’s ready to eat in under 5 minutes!
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The best vanilla mug cake
With a soft texture and classic vanilla flavor, this single serving vanilla cake in a mug is like true love in the form of a dessert.
It calls for just a few pantry staple ingredients and can easily be made in the microwave or oven, whichever baking method you prefer.
And there’s no milk and no eggs required!
Readers also love this Healthy Banana Bread
What is a mug cake?
Moist, filling, flavorful, and quick to prepare, mug cake recipes are great if you are baking for one, or if you don’t want the temptation of an entire cake in the house.
Add all of the ingredients to a mug, stir to form a batter, and microwave or bake in the oven until soft and fluffy. It really is that easy.
You can even do some dessert meal prep in advance.
Simply measure out the dry ingredients for multiple cakes, portion the mix into individual bags, and store your single serving vanilla cake mixes in the cabinet.
This way, they are ready to go any time you want vanilla cake without the wait!
Vanilla mug cake recipe video
Above, watch the step-by-step recipe video
Ingredients for vanilla cake in a mug
The cake calls for flour, baking powder, pure vanilla extract, water, sweetener of choice, a pinch of salt, and optional oil or butter.
Flour: I’ve successfully made the recipe with spelt flour, white flour, or oat flour. A few readers say that all purpose gluten free flour works for a gluten free vanilla mug cake.
The recipe tastes great with almond flour but does not really hold together. So just eat it straight from the mug if you want to do a grain free cake. Or there is also a keto mug cake recipe included as an option in the recipe below.
Vanilla extract: Make sure to buy pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla or vanilla flavoring. Look for the word “pure” on the label.
This extract is more expensive, but the improved taste and lack of artificial aftertaste are very much worth the higher price.
Sweetener: You can use your favorite granulated sweetener here.
Try white or brown regular sugar, raw or unrefined coconut sugar, or granulated erythritol for a sugar free mug cake. Use the lower sugar amount if adding frosting or the higher amount if eating the cake on its own.
Fat source: For a traditional vanilla cake texture, it is best to use either melted coconut oil, sunflower oil, butter, or a vegan alternative. You can make an oil free, fat free version by substituting mashed banana, applesauce, or sweet potato. The low calorie mug cake will taste like a muffin, making it perfect for breakfast or a healthy snack.
Vegan vanilla mug cake
Because this recipe calls for water, it already naturally works without milk.
To make a fully dairy free and egg free mug cake, just choose banana, coconut oil, or vegan butter instead of dairy butter.
Top the vegan mug cake with your favorite nondairy ice cream.
Vegans also love these Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
How to make the recipe
To prepare the vanilla cake, start by setting all of your ingredients out on the counter and reading through the directions.
Grease a mug, or a heat-safe bowl or two ramekins. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, water, oil or oil free option, and vanilla extract to the mug or bowl.
Stir everything together with a fork or spoon to form a vanilla cake batter.
If you are baking the mug cake in an oven, preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then bake on the oven’s center rack for fourteen minutes or until the cake is light and fluffy.
Or for a quick microwave mug cake, cook for one and a half to two minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean. The microwave time will depend on your microwave’s wattage.
Apparently you can also bake mug cakes in an air fryer, but I have never tried this method. If you experiment, be sure to report back for the rest of us.
Serve and enjoy. Whether or not you want to share is entirely up to you!
Also make this homemade vanilla Chia Pudding
Frosting ideas
Top the mug cake with packaged or homemade frosting, melted almond or peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, or fresh berries, banana, and Coconut Whipped Cream.
Feel free to stir a spoonful of rainbow sprinkles, some crushed walnuts or pecans, or a handful of shredded coconut and mini chocolate chips into the batter.
Or garnish with birthday sprinkles, powdered sugar, or shaved chocolate after baking.
I used the basic cream cheese frosting recipe from my Easy Cinnamon Rolls.
Fun flavor variations
You can stir in a half teaspoon of ground cinnamon for a cinnamon roll mug cake.
Or add three to five drops of pure almond extract or maple extract.
Turn it into a lovely spice cake by including a pinch each of ground cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice.
Or omit the oil and swirl in two tablespoons of peanut butter or almond butter instead. Top the finished microwave cake with chopped peanuts and caramelized banana slices.
For a coffee cake, stir in a half teaspoon of instant coffee granules, or swap out the water for strong brewed espresso instead.
Of course, my personal favorite variation is to throw in a handful of chocolate chips and top the yellow mug cake with dark chocolate frosting.
Vanilla Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp flour (spelt, white, oat, or here's a Keto Mug Cake)
- 3 tbsp sugar or granulated sweetener of choice
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter or oil or mashed banana
- 3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- To make a single serving vanilla mug cake, simply stir all ingredients in a greased mug or bowl. Either bake in the oven or microwave until fluffy, with a cakey texture. It takes around 1 1/2 to 2 minutes to cook in the microwave, depending on wattage. Or preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake 14 minutes.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
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More Mug Cake Recipes
If you have any other mug cake flavors that you would like to see, please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what recipe to try next!
Christi says
I would love to see a Spice Cake in a mug! Or Chai flavor!
Lana says
This was a delicious and easy recipe. I have loved your chocolate mug cake recipe for years and was excited to see a vanilla version – long overdue! I will be making this again and again 🙂
Aly Mastro says
Truly the perfect vanilla mug cake!
Caroline says
This was so light and fluffy and good as well. I added some chopped chopped in mine. This is truly the best vanilla mug cake recipe!
Camille says
My daughter (10) has been making your 1-minute streusel coffee cake minus the streusel for years as a not-too-sweet treat. We’re excited to try out this new recipe.
CCK Media Team says
❤
Vegan newbie says
Satisfied my craving this afternoon for cake 🙂 Five stars.
Doug says
This was so delicious and so easy! We are definitely making these again!
CCK Media Team says
Thank you so much for trying it 🙂
Rachel says
This was a great mug cake for a Saturday afternoon pick me up. I added a spoonful of peanut butter in the middle too!
Susan says
Has anyone tried this with Splenda or any other artificial sweetener? How much would you use? 2 or 3 tablespoons seems too much. Thanks
bob a. ganoosh says
I used monk fruit and used 2 tablespoons. I wouldn’t use less than that because I think it would taste bitter.
becky jo says
I love this i made this for my family in bowls not mugs and they are really good then we made icing and added sprinkels god bless you for making this recipe i love it
Lynn says
Love love love this! You have made my non vegan family believers! Do you have a full size yellow or vanilla cake recipe?
Thank you! I am off to buy your cookbook!
CCK Media Team says
Thank you so much for making it! For a larger version, try this one: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/vegan-cake-recipe/
SH says
Made this in a donut mold (like a waffle maker) and it turned out pretty good.
Cara says
It was ok but could be more moist
naomi says
really moist and soft! i used almond instead of vanilla extract and it tasted amazing!
Kim says
This is the best Vanilla mug cake I’ve ever tried! Thank you so much for this recipe. I LOVE it!
Addie Schaudt says
used banana and added homemade vanilla buttercream and sprinkles! absolutely delicious! 🤍
imfrom21stcentury says
I tried this with almond powder and sprinkles and it was scrumptioulicious
Jessica says
Mug cake! Oh my so good followed recipe, used wheat flour added pumpkin pie spice with some chopped pecans and a little bit of whipped cream. Quick very tasty dessert. Thanks Katie!
Karen says
This cake was so delicious. Wouldn’t change a thing
Maria says
Loved this vanilla mug cake!
Minami says
I didn’t have vanilla essence so I put peanut butter. It was very fluffy and a crumbly textured cake. In the future I might try putting an egg, or anything else that’ll bind the cake together but it tastes good.
Cat Sciarrino says
Very tasty. I would make it again. I added cinnamon and when done (microwave) I drizzled a little confectionery sugar simple frosting and added sprinkles. Definitely hit the spot!
Lively Smith says
Wonderful, ate with royal icing but it lacked the whole cake-ness I expected, but was still quite enjoyable in its own way. If you eat with royal icing I recommend a dash of vanilla in the icing
Elaine says
This was the best mug cake I have ever had! I used 2 T of white sugar, 1 t of brown sugar, 1/4 t of cinnamon and a little over 1.5 tablespoons of melted butter. I was a little worried about it being dry with the sugar. I put half in the mug, chopped pecans, rest of the batter, topped with a few more pecans. After 2 of the longest minutes of my life in the microwave, and boom! Done! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! DELICIOUS!!!
Brianne Bates-Dinney says
So delicious! Do you have the recipe scaled up for an actual cake? Would love to make this for my son’s birthday as he can’t have eggs, dairy or wheat (we use oat flour and it’s so good!)
CCK Media Team says
Hi! We have a few options for larger non-chocolate cakes. The “vegan cake” (page 4 in the link below) might be what you are looking for in terms of a plain vanilla cake. Or the vegan banana cake or applesauce cake. https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/category/healthy-pies-and-cakes/
Elkay says
Made this and yummy 😋
I replaced some of the flour with two tablespoons of dark rye flour that was leftover from a previous recipe I made the same day. Love this quick, easy, and versatile recipe. Thank you, CCK!
Riley says
One of the best mug cakes I’ve tried! Great recipe! I doubled it, cooked it in the microwave for exactly 2 minutes and it came out perfect. So yummy!
Lanette says
My first time making mug cake and this recipe is perfect. I added chocolate chips for some extra sweetness. I would make this recipe again.
Dee says
Pretty good, not too sweet, added about 6 slices of canned peaches on top with a little cinnamon, serves 2or3.
Katha Winchester says
Made ours with AP flour, sugar and oil. Very moist, great flavor and texture
Fan says
Do you have a recipe for normal vanilla icing enough just for one mug cake?
I would absolutely love that!
Amy Stery says
thumbs up
best mug cake so moist
Charlotte says
Very good, but the recipe gives 2 serving, way too much for 1 person 🙂
Cathleen says
I hate mug cakes but this one won me over! How is this THIS good with no eggs or milk?? Thanks for the recipe!