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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
No where near enough flour in this recipe. Crepe batter that turned into slimy, gummy hockey puck. I knew it was a fail before I even put it in the microwave, but hoped for it to work out. It didn’t.
The texture was doughy and the cake was tastless.It just tasted like flour and baking soda
Surprising it tasted like baking soda when baking soda isn’t even part of the ingredient list…
Baking powder added not soda
Oof!
I enjoyed mi e and liked the flavor. I could not wait I didn’t add any frosting or powder suger on the top.
I heard some comnwnts it wasnt fluffy or a glumoy mess so in their cases either over or under cooked. But, for me thank you, it was perfect!!?
The texture of this mug cake was incredible! It was so fluffy and soft. The only thing that could be improved for me is a little more sugar! I am one of those people with a crazy sweet tooth, so next time I make it I will add a bit more!
I really doubted this recipe, but i tried it because i love cake and i dont like waiting for the cake to bake. I made the batter which only took about 5 minutes! I put it in the microwave and i thought it wouldnt work. I took it out and i was so shocked it worked!! I ate it with hersheys syrup, This recipe tastes better than oven baked cake and extremly easy! I will definitely do it again also I recommend this recipe for everyone.
this was perfect!
So happy to find this recipe – THANK YOU!! I am a vanilla girl…not a chocolate fan. This cake is so light and yummy; very easy to make. I used almond milk (because that’s all we have in the house) and added 2 Tbsp of some fresh blueberries I had stashed in my freezer (just dropped them on top of the batter before microwaving and gave a light swirl with a knife). ?
The mug cake was delicious but it took a long time to get the lumps out But it was still delicious but I would recommend to my friends
Can you multiply the dry ingredients so you can just put 1/4 cup in a mug and add the milk, butter, oil? Adding all of these for one mug as you need it is as much trouble and time consuming as if you made a whole cake.
I absolutely love this vanilla mug cake recipe. It is so easy to make and incredibly delicious. I’ve made this recipe countless times and it always turns out amazing. This mug cake far exceeds a box mix any day. Thank you for this super quick and yummy recipe. FYI..The chocolate mug cake is outstanding too!
Man I really enjoyed this! I substituted almond milk for dairy and used a butter substitute as I’m lactose intolerant, and it turned out wonderfully! Thanks for putting this out there