This super easy vanilla mug cake recipe is perfect for those days when you’re craving a delicious fluffy homemade cake, and it’s ready to eat in under 5 minutes!
The best vanilla mug cake recipe
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.
Using just a few pantry staple ingredients, it can easily be made in the microwave or oven, and there are NO eggs and no milk 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.
You can even do some dessert meal prep in advance, by measuring out individual bags of the cake dry ingredients and storing them in the cabinet.
This way, they are ready to go any time you want vanilla cake without the wait!
Above, watch the step-by-step vanilla mug cake recipe video
How to make vanilla cake in a mug
To make the vanilla cake, start by setting all of your ingredients out on the counter and reading through the directions.
Grease a mug or heat-safe large bowl, and add the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, water, oil (or oil free option), and vanilla extract to the mug. Stir with a fork or spoon to form a cake batter.
If you’re baking the mug cake in an oven, preheat to 350 degrees Fahreheit. Then bake on the oven’s center rack for 14 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Or for a microwave mug cake, cook for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or until cooked through. The microwave time will depend on your microwave’s wattage.
Apparently you can also bake mug cakes in an air fryer, but I’ve never tried it. 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 peanut butter, ice cream, or fresh berries, banana, and Coconut Whipped Cream.
Feel free to stir a spoonful of sprinkles, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, some crushed walnuts or pecans, a handful of shredded coconut, or mini chocolate chips into the batter.
Or add some sprinkles, powdered sugar, or shaved chocolate after baking.
I used the basic cream cheese frosting recipe from my Easy Cinnamon Rolls.
Recipe ingredients
The flour: I’ve successfully made the recipe with spelt, white, or oat flour. A few readers say that all purpose gluten free flour works for a gluten free vanilla mug cake.
It tastes great with almond flour but doesn’t 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 linked in the recipe below.
For the vanilla extract: Make sure to buy pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla. 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.
To make a vegan vanilla mug cake: This recipe is made without milk and can also be done with no butter, so it’s already naturally dairy free, egg free, and vegan as long as you choose to go with the oil or vegan butter option.
For the 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.
Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp spelt, white, or oat flour (here's a Keto Mug Cake)
- 2-3 tbsp granulated sweetener of choice
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 tbsp oil, butter, or mashed banana
- 3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- optional add-in ideas are listed above in the post
Instructions
- Stir all ingredients in a greased mug or bowl. Either bake in the oven or microwave until fluffy and cake-like. It takes around 1 1/2 to 2 minutes in the microwave, depending on wattage. Or preheat the oven to 350 F and bake 14 minutes.View Nutrition Facts
Notes
Have you made this recipe?
Tag @chocolatecoveredkatie on Instagram
More Mug Cake Recipes
If you have any other mug cake flavors that you’d 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!!!