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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
Yum!! I’m a lemon fanatic. Any ideas on how to do this with lemon zest and lemon extract?? Stumbled on this today and looking forward to trying it I need to figure out the wattage on my microwave first.
I haven’t tried it with zest or extract but I’m pretty sure you’re able to achieve that! :)
I love this mug cake it was delicious but I didn’t have any vanilla bean paste or extract so I substitueded it for Nutella and it was amazing love this recipe its best to eat it out of the mug!!! x
I didnt have any access to vanilla extract or butter but it turned out just fine and tasted better than any vanilla cake ive ever made. The recipe was really easy to follow
So I tried the 1 tbsp of vanilla extract because I don’t have vanilla bean paste and my cake came out very dark colored and it was basically mush. I could taste the vanilla extract even after washing my mouth out with water. I’m not sure if I did something wrong but just a heads up
Perfect recipe if you don’t want to make a huge mess while enjoying something sweet!
Best and moistest vanilla mug cake ever!! And I didn’t have vanilla bean paste so I just up my vanilla extract! I loved it! Immediately ordered a bottle of vanilla bean paste for my future cakes! You’re the best! I will make this over and over!
Do you have a recipe for a regular sized cake that will be as epic as this?
I have many cake recipes here: https://www.tablefortwoblog.com/category/desserts/cake-2/
I didn’t have vanilla bean paste so I just increased the amount of vanilla extract. Also you should just microwave it for a 1 min and 40 sec.
Microwave time depends on power/wattage of your microwave. What worked for you may not work for others.
This mug cake was good and simple to make. The vanilla flavor was just right. The cake was still a bit spongy, but really that’s to be expected with all mug cakes. I could tell that the texture would be that way just from looking at the photos. Still very good for a mug cake that takes 5 mins to make. Thanks!
Stop using the word moistest (because the word is fake) but the cake was AMAZING!!!!
Sorry but this mug cake was anything but moist. Dense and sticky like gluey pancakes. Sitting like a lump in my tummy now. Not a good recipe at all