Vanilla Mug Cake
Updated Jul 29, 2026
Vanilla mug cake made in the microwave in about 2 minutes. This single-serve funfetti cake is dairy-free, soft, and easy to make with pantry staples.
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This vanilla mug cake exists for the nights when I want cake! It’s one serving, made right in the mug, and it goes from craving to spoon in about two minutes, which is what I need at the end of the night! I add sprinkles to turn it into a funfetti situation, which my kids are obviously all about, but the plain vanilla base is just as good on its own!
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Recipe testing notes
For the past 10 years, I’ve tested every recipe before sharing it with you! These notes give you a peek into the process of developing this vanilla mug cake recipe.
The microwave time was where most of my testing went, same as any mug cake. The tricky part is that microwaves all run at different wattages, so I can’t give one perfect number. What I can tell you is that a few seconds too long turns it rubbery and dry with no saving it, while pulling it a touch early leaves it soft and tender. I start at 75 seconds and only add time in small bumps if the top still looks wet.
The lumps caught me off guard early on. My first couple came out with little pockets of dry flour at the bottom, because the mug’s narrow shape makes it easy to miss. Now I make a point of scraping the bottom and corners of the mug while I stir, and that alone fixed the raw flour spots.
The sprinkles taught me some timing too. When I stirred them in too early and mixed too much, they started to bleed and streaked the whole batter a muddy grayish color. Folding them in at the very end with just a couple of stirs kept them intact so you actually get those little bursts of color in the finished cake. And don’t skip the five-minute rest, since the cake keeps setting as it cools and goes from molten to actual cake. Seriously soo good.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Vanilla Mug Cake Ingredients
- Dry ingredients: All-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. You can substitute whole wheat or gluten-free flour.
- Wet Ingredients: Almond milk, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. I use unsweetened and unflavored almond milk, but plant-based milk or dairy milk works. If you’re not a vanilla fan, you can also try almond or lemon extract!
- Sprinkles: I use rainbow sprinkles for a funfetti mug cake. Use your favorite sprinkles!
How to Make Vanilla Mug Cake
These photos show the process from start to finish so you can see what the batter should look like along the way. For the full ingredient amounts and detailed instructions, head to the recipe card below, or jump straight to the → Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe
1. ADD THE DRY INGREDIENTS
Grease the mug with cooking spray, then add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt directly to the mug.
2. ADD THE WET INGREDIENTS
Pour in the milk, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract over the dry ingredients. Make sure you cool the melted coconut oil first.
3. STIR UNTIL SMOOTH
Mix everything together until no dry pockets remain. Scrape the bottom and sides of the mug, then gently fold in the sprinkles.
4. MICROWAVE UNTIL SET
Cook until the top looks set and the cake starts pulling away from the sides of the mug. Let it cool for a few minutes before eating.
Full Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe
Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch salt
- 4 tablespoons almond milk
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon sprinkles plus more for serving
Instructions
- Grease a 12-ounce mug with cooking spray. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Stir in milk, coconut oil, and vanilla extract until smooth with no lumps, being sure to scrape the bottom of the mug. Stir in sprinkles.
- Cook in the microwave for 75–90 seconds or until the cake is just set and pulls away from the mug corners. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before enjoying.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Variations
- Chocolate chips: Stir 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips into the batter.
- Birthday cake: Increase the sprinkles to 2 tablespoons for an even more colorful funfetti vanilla mug cake.
- Frosting: Add a spoonful of vanilla frosting after the cake cooks slightly so it melts over the top.
Recipe Tips
- Measure the ingredients very precisely. Because the mug cake is so small, it’s extra important to be precise with ingredient quantities!
- Use a mug with straight sides if possible. I love a fun wide mug, but straight sides will help the mug cake bake evenly all around. Keep in mind that wider mugs will cook faster than taller mugs.
- Don’t overcook the mug cake. Microwave power varies, and even an extra 10 to 15 seconds can make it dry and rubbery. Stop cooking when the center is just set, because it will continue to cook as it rests.
Troubleshooting
The most common reason is overcooking. Since microwave power varies, start checking early and stop cooking once the center is just set for a moist vanilla mug cake.
Your baking powder is probably too old. If it’s been sitting in the pantry for a long time, it may not have enough lift left.
Yes! Whisk the ingredients together in a bowl and pour them into a greased oven-proof ramekin. Bake at 350ºF for 15–20 minutes.
Comments
Daughter loved it! Thanks for this recipe!
I love that! You’re so welcome!
Super easy and delicious! Dangerously so! Perfect on its own but I jazzed it up with chocolate. I topped it with some chocolate chips during the 5 minutes it sat, making them soften into a pseudo frosting. Will be making again!!
Yum! That sounds so good! Glad you liked it, Des. Thank you!!
Hi, can I make ahead the batter in the cups and then cook right before ready to serve? If so, how long can I store the batter? Thank you!!
You can make the batter ahead of time but mug cakes are better when made fresh. They only take a few minutes to make and are easy to whip up whenever you want, so I’ve actually never tried storing the batter ahead of time. So sorry!
Can you use oat flour? Or any other flour? Thanks
I haven’t tried oat flour with this recipe yet but have used whole wheat flour and white whole wheat flour—both taste great!
Can I use coconut milk instead of almond milk?
Yes, absolutely!
Is the mug cake safe to eat raw
No, because even though there is no egg, it is not safe to eat raw flour.
Could you use almond flour instead of all purpose flour?
I haven’t tried making the recipe with almond flour but it would probably work! I’d love to hear how it turns out if you end up trying it.
Can you use normal milk?
Absolutely! I hope you enjoy!
Can I do it in the oven instead?
This recipe is meant to go in the microwave, I am not sure if it will work in the oven. You can always try!
Did you try this in the oven? Just curious, I don’t have a microwave and was wondering the same thing.
I made the mug cake today. It was so easy and very delicious. I was making it for my step daughter’s birthday but then I decided I needed to try it first. Now I have to make another one. No problem.
So glad you liked it, Elizabeth!
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