This Vanilla Strawberry Mug Cake is a simple, light and fluffy dessert that's ready in 5 minutes. No need to turn on the oven - all you need is a mug and a microwave, it's that easy!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
If you're looking for the easiest dessert ever, look no further. These Microwave Mug Cakes are ridiculously fast - in just a few minutes, you can indulge in these warm, freshly baked sweet treats, all without the hassle of firing up the oven. They've become a go-to recipe of mine for those times when I'm craving something sweet, but don't have the time or energy to bake. What makes them such a hit?
- Easy, fast and kid-friendly - with just a handful of ingredients, a mug, and a microwave, this is a dessert that even kids can help make.
- Minimal cleanup - one of the best things about these mug cakes is the lack of mess. Everything is mixed and cooked right in the mug, and eaten straight from the mug too - so cleanup is a piece of cake (no pun intended)!
- Easy to customize - the options are endless when it comes to customizing your mug cakes. Experiment with different flavour combinations and toppings to create a treat that satisfies your cravings.
- Basic pantry staples - forget about fancy ingredients – all you need are basic pantry staples that you likely already have on hand. Flour, sugar, milk, and a few extras are all it takes to whip up a delicious mug cake whenever the mood strikes.
- Vegan-friendly - you can easily adapt these mug cakes to suit a vegan diet. Opt for plant-based milk, and use a vegan sweetener like maple syrup.
Ingredients
Please see recipe card below for exact quantities.
- Flour - while I typically use all-purpose flour, feel free to substitute cake flour instead.
- Maple syrup - I personally like using maple syrup for its delightful natural sweetness, but honey, agave nectar, or granulated sugar work just as well.
- Unsweetened almond milk - I prefer unsweetened almond milk for its lightness and absence of added sugars, but any milk variety you prefer will do just fine.
- Vegetable oil - you can also use canola oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, or melted unsalted butter - any of these options will provide moisture and richness to your mug cake.
- Baking powder - essential for that satisfying rise and fluffy texture, baking powder will help transform our simple mixture into a delectable cake.
- Vanilla extract - to provide the delicious vanilla base flavour of our cake.
- Strawberries - you can use raspberries, blueberries, or a berry blend - it's totally up to you! I find adding berries to my vanilla cake gives it a delicious tartness.
Instructions
STEP 1: Slice roughly 1-2 strawberries, so that you end up with 2 tablespoon of chopped pieces.
STEP 2: Into a mug, combine and stir the dry ingredients.
STEP 3: Pour in wet ingredients, and mix with dry ingredients until mixture turns into a smooth batter.
STEP 4: Add in chopped strawberries, mixing them into the batter. Add a few more chopped pieces right on top of the batter.
STEP 5: Microwave for 80 seconds or until cooked. Cooking times may vary depending on your microwave. Let it cool for a minute, then enjoy!
Equipment
For this recipe, all you need is a microwave oven and a coffee mug! Using a good-sized mug is crucial, as the batter will rise and expand during microwaving. I suggest opting for a mug with a capacity of at least 10 ounces (283 ml) to accommodate the size of the cake after it rises fully.
Toasty's Tips
- Microwave ovens vary in power, so cooking times may differ. I recommend starting with 80 seconds, then assessing for doneness. Add extra cooking time in 15-second intervals as necessary.
- To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the centre of the mug cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready to enjoy. If batter clings to the toothpick, cook it for a bit longer.
- Feel free to customize your toppings. While I'm opting for chopped strawberries, you can use whatever you like - other types of berries and chopped fruits, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts and seeds, it's totally up to you.
FAQ
Can I add protein powder to my mug cake?
Absolutely! Adding protein powder is a great way to enhance the nutritional value of this recipe with an added protein punch. However, when incorporating protein powder (or any dry ingredients like powdered supplements), it's important to offset the dryness by adding a splash of milk or other liquid to the recipe. This ensures your mug cake maintains its desired texture and moistness.
Do I have to use a coffee mug? Can I use something else?
Absolutely! While the "mug cake" name itself implies using a coffee mug, you can use any kind of container you like, as long as it's microwave-safe and similar-sized to a regular coffee mug (at least 10 ounces). Ramekins, or glass/ceramic bowls that are microwave-safe are fine alternatives.
Other Mug Cake Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe Card
Vanilla Strawberry Mug Cake
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- salt - pinch
Wet Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1.5 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix-ins
- 2 tablespoon chopped strawberries
Instructions
- Slice roughly 1-2 strawberries, so that you end up with 2 tablespoon of chopped pieces.
- Into a mug, combine and stir the dry ingredients.
- Pour in wet ingredients, and mix with dry ingredients until mixture turns into a smooth batter.
- Add in chopped strawberries, mixing them into the batter. Add a few more chopped pieces right on top of the batter.
- Microwave for 80 seconds or until cooked. Cooking times may vary depending on your microwave. Let it cool for a minute, then enjoy!
Notes
- Video: Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here.
- Microwave ovens vary in power, so cooking times may differ. I recommend starting with 80 seconds, then assessing for doneness. Add extra cooking time in 15-second intervals as necessary.
- To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the centre of the mug cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready to enjoy. If batter clings to the toothpick, cook it for a bit longer.
- I suggest opting for a mug with a capacity of at least 10 ounces (283 ml) to accommodate the size of the cake after it rises fully.
- Feel free to customize your toppings. While I'm opting for chopped strawberries, you can use whatever you like - other types of berries and chopped fruits, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, nuts and seeds, it's totally up to you.
STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO
You can find step-by-step video tutorials for all of my recipes on my YouTube Channel. There you'll find many more tips and tricks to help you along!
Nutrition
Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Pattie McNulty says
OMG 🥰
I found you on YouTube. I am excited to try all your recipes. Your videos are amazing! You make each recipe personal, easy to follow and you share great tips.
This Mug Cake is perfect and delicious.😋 I live alone, kids have gone, so my days of big baking days are over.👏
My next adventure will be your Cheese and Jalapeño Bagel, Smoothies, Oatmeal Cookies and Chia Pudding with Granola.
I look forward to more of your tasty recipe ideas.😄
Toasty says
Hey there! Thanks so much for the kind words and feedback, I really appreciate it! Glad you stumbled here as well - and happy to hear you enjoyed the mug cakes 🙂 Hope you like giving some of those other recipes a try! I'd love to hear how they turn out for you when you do!