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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
Perfect recipe. I dont even measure the ingredients accurately, but it worked, first time I accidentally overcooked it so it ended up like a heavy pudding, but after that all the others had a perfect cake texture and flavor. I made it both vanilla and added some chocolate powder for more pleasure. Both were perfect.
Not sure what I did wrong followed the recipe to a tee and ended up with vanilla flavored floppy jello… it tried it and it was chewy and really gross and slimy. It also took way longer than 2 and a half minutes to cook. Kinda disappointed
Me too. Only ate it because I poured over a helping of ruined peaches.
Lol. Tinned peaches, not ruined peaches.
This recipe wasn’t bad but there were some areas for improvement. The biggest changes it would make would be to double the baking powder and use oil instead of butter. Use 2 Tablespoons of oil, and this will be perfect!
After reading the comments after the recipe, I adjusted mine by adding only an egg yolk. Since I’ve made microwave in a cup recipes before, I found adding a whole egg made them very egg-y. I followed this recipe exactly, otherwise. I turned out better than I thought, but not enough to make it again. I dumped it out of the cup, so it wouldn’t keep cooking, since the cup iis very hot. I melted some dark chocolate chips in the same hot cup & used it to eat with the cake. That made it more tolerable. Thanks for sharing.
Way too much liquid
Very tasty – I made it without the vanilla bean paste and used double the amount of vanilla extract, as recommended. It was the perfect sweet treat to conquer my cravings! I also threw some maple syrup on it, and it was like the perfect vanilla pancake ? Would definitely make it again.
Amazing recipe, I also tried it using almond butter or peanut butter as a 1:1 sub for the oil and it tasted just as great!
Wow! Best mug cake recipes ever on here! Looove them!!
I love this recipe so much!!! Perfection!
Simply amazing! Both me and my brother love this recipe, as I didn’t have Vanilla essence or paste, I used almond essence and some ground almonds to add a but more texture and the flavour was phenomenal, I would highly suggest this recipe to anyone who loves a quick and simple cake without a lot of mess