Cinnamon Roll Microwave Mug Cake {video}
This easy cinnamon roll microwave mug cake is the perfect treat when you’re craving a little something sweet. In just over a minute, you can be indulging in a scrumptious moist single-sized cinnamon roll flavored cake. Just because this cake’s made in the microwave, doesn’t mean it can’t be delicious!
This post was originally posted on 5/12/2015. It was republished on 3/7/19 with helpful recipe tips and new photos.
OMG, you guys. This cinnamon roll microwave mug cake recipe has become one of my family’s favorite desserts to make.
The simplest healthier treat, yet incredibly moist, easy, and the best single-serving dessert out there (to share or not to share)!
Mug cake for one or two!
Microwavable mug cakes are so convenient, especially if you live in a dorm and don’t have access to an oven or you just don’t want to fire it up.
You likely have ALL the ingredients in your pantry already. When you get that late night craving? Or want a small batch dessert (and not whip out a giant baking pan to make brownies to nip that craving)? This mug dessert IS FOR YOU!! If you haven’t made this yet, you are 100% missing out.
The BEST Mug Cake recipe out there!
Seriously though, you’re probably so over mug cakes and you’re probably rolling your eyes at me right now but STOP! I promise you, this isn’t like any other mug cake out there.
I’ve tried a bunch of mug cakes and I hated them.
I thought they were a really neat concept for a quick dessert fix, but nothing would ever beat baking an entire cake or cupcake. I hated that all the mug cakes came out SPONGY and they had the grossest texture. But not this one! I feel like the secret to a light, tender, amazing texture in mug cakes comes from leaving out the eggs. That’s right! No egg in this recipe. It’s not only easier to make a mug cake without an egg, but it turns out so much tastier!
Even my picky kiddos loved this single-serve mug cake recipe. They’re such huge fans, we’ve already made this more times than I could count. Even for a special breakfast treat! They have all of the flavors of your favorite cinnamon roll, but without any of the rolling and waiting.
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! It’s great because you don’t need to whip out a bunch of tools to make this simple mug cake. You can even just pop it in the microwave and it’s done in a matter of minutes!
Can this mug cake be made in the oven?
I personally have not cooked this particular mug cake recipe in the oven. Feel free to experiment, though, and give it a try. Based on some other similar mug cake recipes, if I were going to try this one in the oven, I would bake at 350ºF for about 14 minutes. If you give it a try, please comment on this post and let us know how it worked out for you.
Mug Cake Tutorial
TRY SOME OTHER FAVORITE HEALTHY MUG CAKE RECIPES
10 Healthy Microwave Mug Cake Recipes
Low Fat Chocolate Mug Cake from Cafe Delites
Keto Vanilla Berry Mug Cake from Ditch the Carbs
I’d love to know if you make this (or any) recipe! Tag @kimscravings on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
This easy cinnamon roll microwave mug cake is the perfect treat when you’re craving a little something sweet!
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour or Kodiak Cakes pancake mix*
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened vanilla almond milk or other milk + 1-2 tablespoons more, as needed
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil or melted butter**
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Spray a microwavable mug with cooking spray and then mix together flour (or pancake mix), baking powder, milk, maple syrup, vanilla and oil (or melted butter) inside. Add 1-2 tablespoons more of milk, if needed for desired consistency. You want the batter to stay thick, but not dry.
- In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the top of the mixture in mug. Use the tip of a knife to swirl cinnamon mix into the top of the batter.
- Microwave on high for about 1 minute and 25 seconds. Take out of the microwave and if desired transfer muffin to a plate. Enjoy!
*All purpose flour or (my personal favorite) Kodiak Cakes Flapjack mix will lend the best results. I've also successfully used spelt flour. Other flours will likely work, but may change the texture of the cake. If using pancake mix, leave out the baking powder.
**Any oil or melted butter will work.
Please note that ALL microwaves are different therefore can yield different results and can overcook this mug cake if you aren't careful. When trying this recipe for the first time, you might want to start with a 60-70 second cooking time at 100% power.
No eggs? Correct. There are NO EGGS in this recipe. Why? Egg is what makes the mug cake spongy. If you think about it, when you bake a full-sized cake, you typically use 1 or 2 eggs...for a mug cake to use 1 egg is A LOT!
I’ve also enjoyed this mug cake without the brown sugar topping and with a little jam. Delicious either way!
Photos by Sasha at Eat Love Eats.
Did you make this recipe?
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Oooh that looks great! I love mug cakes, this one sounds like a great way to start the day with something sweet 🙂
For sure! This one turned out so good, I’m going to have to come up with some different flavors!
Tasty! Just made a double batch in a large mug… because #pregnancycravings. I used a 6-grain pancake mix from Costco, and while it’s grittier than I like my cinnamon rolls, it has at least temporarily appeased the less-than-healthy craving for Cinnabon! Thanks!
I’m so glad you loved it!! I’ve been craving cinnamon rolls, so it looks like I need to make it again too! 🙂
Just have to let you know that this was wonderful! I am gluten-free and egg-free so I used Pamela’s Pancake mix and left out the baking powder – WONDERFUL! The taste was great and so so easy. I had some leftover powdered sugar frosting so I put a dollop of that on top when it was still warm. JUST LIKE A CINNAMON ROLL.
Thank you 🙂
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Not bad. I love cinnamon. I don’t use a lot of sugar. No eggs, butter and just a little sugar free syrup. My sons girlfriend said mmmm. Yummy.
Thanks! Glad you’re a fan!
Can u use another oil?
Yes 😉
can you use butter?
Yes. Feel free to substitute butter for the coconut oil. Enjoy!
is it possible to use oven instead of a microwave ??
Sure! It should work at 350 degrees F. for about 12 mins. Make sure your dish/mug is oven safe. Good luck!
thank you sweetie ! excited to try it
This looks like heaven. I am very eager to make this. I’ve got all the ingredients except for the coconut oil. Is there a substitute and measurements please?
You can use the same amount of melted butter or olive oil as you would use of coconut oil. Enjoy!
I accidentally didn’t read and added 1 tbsp coconut oil instead of 1 tsp and holy moly it was still amazingly delicious. Topped with some strawberries and a little ice cream. yum!
Yum! Sounds terrific!
Can i use olive oil instead of cooking spray?
Sure! Or butter, coconut- basically anything to keep the batter from sticking.
I love Kodiak pancake mix too!
It’s so good and keep your out for some new products that will be sold at Target soon!
Mug cakes – what a brilliant idea! Not a recipe I could cook in my campervan but definitely one I’ll be doing at home. It also means that everyone can have their particular version of the cake.
For sure!
Is there a way to not use syrup? I’m not a fan of it and don’t think I’d like the taste in my cinnamon roll.
Definitely! The maple syrup is used to sweeten the cake. Try using 1 tablespoon brown (or white) sugar, coconut sugar, honey or a packet of sweetener, like Stevia. You may actually enjoy it just fine leaving out the sweetening agent altogether. If you do leave it out, you may need to add a little more almond milk to moisten it up a bit. Good luck!
I used butter instead of oil and i whisked 1 tsp of maple syrup and 1 tablespoon of cream cheese to make a quick icing it was AWESOME
Great substitutions! I’ll definitely have to give that cream cheese icing a try!
Hands down the best mug cake I’ve ever made/tasted. Amazing! Thank you 🙂
Yay! That’s so awesome to hear and thanks so much for your comment!
The cake was tasty enough but sort of one dimensional and a bit tough. I made it a second time with an added pinch of salt and replaced the coconut oil with margarine (butter would probably taste even better but I wanted to keep it vegan) to add a richness that is more typical of cinnamon baked goods. Because the cake uses maple syrup and mixed-in brown sugar, in the top of the batter anyway, the batter, overall, is probably a touch acidic, so I added a pinch of baking soda in addition to the baking powder, which is generally used in a neutral pH batter. The resulting coffee cake had a bit softer and more crumbly texture with a more classic coffee cake flavor. Yummy!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
This was so EASY, fast and really yummy! I used gluten free flour, which might be why mine came out with sort of a half-baked texture, but I actually really loved it like that (kind of like a real Cinnabon!) I also topped mine with cream cheese frosting. Heaven! The hubby and my picky son loved theirs too! Thanks, this recipe is a keeper!
So glad that you had great results! I think I need to try a cream cheese frosting next. Yum!
Loved this! Made a few substitutions – neutral oil instead of coconut, as that’s all I had, and a touch of brown sugar instead of maple syrup as I didn’t have any. I also added some cinnamon to the actual mix, and to me that made all the difference – I’d probably add more next time! And stir the top in more as it was gone too quickly at the top! Ate it straight from the mug, so didn’t worry about greasing it either.
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed! My daughter was actually begging me for one today. 🙂
If I doubled the recipe would the cook time be the same?
I tried it and it was yum!! I doubled the cinnamon though and added a tiny bit more sugar. Would taste great with icing!