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A vanilla mug cake is the perfect fix when you are craving a simple cake but not necessarily the whole shebang of making a full cake. This single serving vanilla mug cake is just as easy to make as my chocolate mug cake; equally light and fluffy, and still has no eggs and fully customizable!
The Very Best Vanilla Mug Cake
If you have been hanging around the blog for a few years now, you’ll know that my original chocolate mug cake that started the whole mug cake trend has been a hit. I recognize, though, that not everyone is a fan of chocolate. If I’m being honest, that’s quite shocking to me but, I aim to please, so if you are a vanilla lover, here is the vanilla mug cake!
Over the years, 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?
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! They are popular because they’re easy to make, egg-free, and a single-serving. When you are craving cake, you don’t have to whip out all your baking equipment, let alone bake an entire cake. A mug cake is a great alternative to nip that craving in the bud!
Vanilla Mug Cake Variations
Vanilla cake in a mug is the perfect base for your favorite add-ins. Here are some ideas:
- Sprinkles (I suggest using Jimmie sprinkles as the nonpareils will bleed color into your batter)
- Chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, you get the jist!
- Mix in some jam for a fruity surprise!
- Add in some leftover candy like chopped up Reese’s peanut butter cups or a Snickers bar.
- Crush up cookies like Nilla Wafers or Oreo cookies and mix them into the batter.
- Use a nut butter or substitute of choice. Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc.!
- Top it off with some whipped cream or ice cream!
Important Vanilla Mug Cake Tips
- Use a microwave-safe mug! This is so important. You don’t want anything shattering in the microwave. Additionally, make sure it holds at least 16 ounces.
- Place the mug on a paper towel just in case it bubbles or spills over. It would make clean up a lot easier.
- Microwave wattages vary thus cook time will vary. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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, and knowing texture and taste may be off, I say go for it.
No, this was solely developed for the microwave. I have had readers who have baked this but I honestly do not recall how it turned out and/or what temperature or time.
Other Mug Cake Flavors
Very Vanilla Mug Cake
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (31 g) + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (59 ml) + 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.1/4 cup (31 g) + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt
- In a measuring cup, whisk together milk, vanilla bean paste, and vanilla extract.1/4 cup (59 ml) + 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, 1/2 tablespoon 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.2 tablespoons unsalted 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
Nutrition
Photographs by Eat Love Eat
I found the recipes for the chocolate and vanilla mug cakes a couple of years ago, and it was truly love at first bite! Last night, hubby (who is diabetic) was craving a “real” yummy dessert, so I whipped up the vanilla mug cake, subbing Swerve for the sugar and with cashew milk, and dropped a spoonful of lite cherry pie filling in the middle. He loved it!
I first made the chocolate and vanilla mug cakes about 2 years ago. Love at first bite! I made the Very Vanilla one tonight for my hubby, who has diabetes, and subbed Swerve for the sugar. Dropped a,spoonful of low sugar cherry filling in before baking. He’s loving it.
amazing! i am a big fan of the chocolate one but i used egg nog for this one instead of milk and i added cinnamon. now it is an egg nog mug cake instead!
also i used coconut oil instead of butter amazing!
im going to add some cookie butter the next time i make it
i was wondering if i could use powdered sugar and get the same result
no, you cannot substitute powdered sugar for granulated sugar
This really was the moistest vanilla mug cake. It had a very nice vanilla flavor and i did not use vanilla bean paste. I used 1 tbsp of vanilla extract which is said in the recipe notes.
I’m a big fan of this mug cake. I’ve been trying to add different ingredients to experiment. Once added a couple of dulce de leche spoons, and today I added chopped strawberries. I love all the ideas I’ve read in the comments.
I just made this. It’s not bad for a microwaved cake that was ready in 2 minutes. It saved me a trip to the store because I was really craving a cupcake. However, it’s not very sweet, so if you’re looking for that I would add more sugar. I ended up adding some vanilla ice cream to it, which was also good because the cake was hot. I might make it again sometime. Thanks for the recipe!
Oh, also I melted the butter in the mug and then added all the ingredients together and mixed it up like that. Ain’t nobody got time for extra dishes. ;)
I was surprised the texture turned out so well. I will have to try the chocolate one sometime!
yeah…i added an extra half tbsp of sugar and it turned out great
Followed the recipe exactly at 1 min and 30 seconds and it came out chewy and lacking in flavor
SO DELICIOUS