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The vanilla version to my chocolate mug cake is this very vanilla mug cake! It’s just as easy to make as her chocolate friend and just as light and fluffy! Still has no eggs and fully customizable!

The moistest very vanilla mug cake is like a fluffy vanilla cupcake in a mug! Recipe on tablefortwoblog.com
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A very vanilla mug cake to rule the land!

If you have been hanging around the blog for a few years now, you’ll know that my chocolate mug cake has been such a hit.

But not everyone is a fan of chocolate, which is quite shocking.

That’s always the age-old question, right? “Chocolate or vanilla?”

So if you are a vanilla lover, here is the vanilla mug cake version of the chocolate mug cake!

Honestly, several of people asked for one and honestly, it wasn’t a bad idea.

It’s like having chocolate and vanilla ice cream flavors to choose from.

Sometimes you’re wanting chocolate, some days you’re wanting vanilla. Same deal for mug cakes, right?

The moistest very vanilla mug cake is like a fluffy vanilla cupcake in a mug! Recipe on tablefortwoblog.com

What is a mug cake?

I still seem to get this question a lot and a mug cake is literally as it sounds. A cake that is made in a mug!

It’s great because you don’t need to whip out a bunch of tools to make this simple mug cake.

This vanilla mug cake is made without eggs. Why?

Okay, I get asked this a lot too and the reason why this mug cake is made without any eggs is because that is what makes it have a spongey texture!

If you think about it, it makes sense. Why would you put an entire egg into a mug cake when a regular full-sized cake often asks for one or two eggs?

This isn’t a full-sized cake. And of course I’m not going to ask you to divide an egg in half.

Just omit it! Best texture, ever!

The moistest very vanilla mug cake is like a fluffy vanilla cupcake in a mug! Recipe on tablefortwoblog.com

Can I make this with self-raising flour?

You can, but I tested it with self-raising flour and it just came out spongey and not the texture I wanted.

I like my cakes light, fluffy, and moist and with the self-raising flour, it just didn’t yield the results I wanted.

There have been many people who have used self-raising flour in this recipe and didn’t notice a difference so if you’re up for the challenge, I say go for it.

Can this mug cake be made in the oven?

No, this was solely developed for the microwave. I have had readers who have baked this but I honestly recall how it turned out and/or what temperature or time.

The moistest very vanilla mug cake is like a fluffy vanilla cupcake in a mug! Recipe on tablefortwoblog.com

What is different about this vanilla mug cake vs. your chocolate mug cake?

Well, for one, the most obvious: this is vanilla, not chocolate!

Additionally, this mug cake takes slightly longer to “bake” since the batter is thicker than the chocolate mug cake one.

Also, this vanilla version is easier to be built upon (or at least I think so) – add chocolate chips to it, a dollop of peanut butter, a dollop of nutella, anything!

I mean, what you can put on a cupcake, I’m sure you could put in this :)

The moistest very vanilla mug cake is like a fluffy vanilla cupcake in a mug! Recipe on tablefortwoblog.com

If you love mug cakes, you may like these different variations on my vanilla mug cake:

3.95 from 112 votes

The Moistest Very Vanilla Mug Cake

A light and fluffy vanilla version of my famous chocolate mug cake!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 1

Ingredients 

  • ¼ cup (31 g) + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup (59 ml) + 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
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Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
  • In a measuring cup, whisk together milk, vanilla bean paste, and vanilla extract.
  • Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients then pour the milk mixture into the center, followed by the melted butter.
  • Whisk until no lumps remain and batter is smooth and well combined.
  • Pour into a 16-ounce microwave-safe mug.
  • Microwave on high for 130 seconds or 2 minutes and 10 seconds.
  • Carefully remove and enjoy!

Notes

Please note that ALL microwaves are different therefore can yield different results and can overcook this mug cake if you aren’t careful. My microwave is 950 watts and I cooked mine on 100% power for 130 seconds. Knowing this information, it may help you better judge how long to cook yours for and at what power.
Remember, 130 seconds is 2 minutes and 10 seconds. It is quite long if your microwave is a higher wattage than mine; therefore, could OVERCOOK your mug cake. To play it safe, if your microwave wattage is higher than mine, I would try 100 seconds first and then increment it by 10 seconds until it’s fully cooked through.
Note about the vanilla bean paste: if you do not have vanilla bean paste on hand, that is ok. You just won’t have the vanilla bean specks in your cake. If you’re omitting the vanilla bean paste (ONLY if you’re omitting the vanilla bean paste), use 1 tbsp. of vanilla extract instead of 1/2 tbsp. I do highly suggest the vanilla bean paste, though, because it gives it a deeper vanilla fragrance and taste!

Nutrition

Serving: 1mug cake, Calories: 520kcal, Carbohydrates: 62g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 25g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 29g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

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657 Comments

  1. It took a couple of tries to find the right time in my microwave, and when I finally did… WOW. Truly fantastic. The texture was perfect. The second time, I made a brown sugar, cinnamon, butter topping to eat with breakfast. Delicious! Thanks, Julie!

  2. I just made this with substitutions (margarine, Splenda, and fat free milk). I also added some white chocolate chips into the batter. Based on your advice I microwaved mine longer due to the lower voltage of 750W, but I over cooked it. Despite the overcooking I still liked it and will adjust the time for less on my next try. I am glad I found your page :)

  3. OOOO soo yummy! a little bit of goodness with no hassle! My teen boys love it! Especially since they can make it on their own when they come in from school! They love both the vanilla and chocolate and I’ve noticed mugs are ending up in the sink a whole lot more often since we found your recipes a few weeks ago! lol. Thank you for a great quick snack!

  4. Loved the chocolate mug cake so I made the Very Vanilla one today. I made a GF version using 1/4 c rice flower and 2 T corn starch and 1/8t xanthan gum as substitutes for the wheat flour. It was so yummy! Thanks

  5. What does it mean 1/4+2 tbsp does it mean i have to add 2 tbsp or i can chose either the 1/4 measurment or the 2 tbsp measurment ?

    1. No, you definitely cannot choose either measurements. 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp means 1/4 cup of flour PLUS 2 more tablespoons of flour. Hope that helps!

  6. I just made this. It turned out terribly. There was a huge buttery taste and the consistency varied greatly. I double checked everything and I followed the instructions perfectly. It looked like oatmeal and tasted like butter. I have made 5 minute cakes before and this recipe is the worst.

    1. Hi Hannah, sorry yours didn’t work out. As you can see from numerous comments and the photos, it’s worked out for others – wish it worked out the same for you. I don’t know why yours would’ve looked like oatmeal, though..only thing I can think of is you didn’t cook it long enough as microwaves vary and you might’ve needed to zap it longer.

  7. So I tried this recipe with a little bit of lemon juice and rolled oats added (dont ask me why but I was craving that particular pairing) and it turned out pretty well :)

  8. I’m planning on making this with orange zest and a tablespoon of orange juice and cranberries in it to mimic my favorite muffin. That way I can legitimately have it for breakfast….right? ;) I’ll let you know how it turns out!

  9. OH MY GOSHHHH! SO delicious. I’ve had a horrible sweet tooth lately because I’m allergic to EVERYTHING. I made this recipe GF and Allergen free! I used 1/4 cup brown rice flour and 2 tbsp oat flour. I used rice milk for the milk and 2 tbsp coconut oil instead of butter. I also added some cinnamon (I promise you won’t be sorry if you do). I actually purposefully under-microwaved it because I like things under done BUT so good! I highly recommend :)