Apple Mug Cake

A sweet and delicious Apple Mug Cake can be made with only eight ingredients. This fantastic single-serve dessert can be enjoyed in less than five minutes, so be sure to grab a mug!

This apple mug cake recipe is so easy to make and perfect for a snack craving or quick dessert. The recipe only uses eight basic ingredients, all of which are probably already in your kitchen. The best part is that it only takes a few minutes to cook in the microwave.

This is definitely a kid approved treat. My kids came home to a kitchen full of mug cakes when I was taking photos the other day. They were happy to be the taste testers of both this and our honey mug cake.

Ingredients

Apples - I typically use gala apples in this recipe but you can use granny smith apples, pink lady apples, or even macintosh apples. If you choose a soft apple like macintosh cut the initial cooking time to just 30 seconds.

Butter - I use salted butter when baking. The small bit of added salt helps balance the sweetness of the desserts.

Flour - I use all-purpose white flour but a 1:1 gluten free flour should sub in fine. For an almond flour based mug cake check out this keto cinnamon mug cake.

Brown Sugar - Brown sugar gives this a homey flavor. You can use white sugar if you prefer.

Milk - I use regular whole milk but if you'd like a dairy-free version you can sub in almond milk and sub in coconut oil for the butter.

Vanilla Extract - Vanilla enhances the other flavors in the cake.

Cinnamon - I love the combination of apples and cinnamon. If you do not feel free to omit the cinnamon.

Baking Powder - This cake rises on its own without eggs and just with baking powder. Make sure yours is fresh or it will be gummy instead of light and fluffy.

How to Make Apple Mug Cake

This is one of my favorite mug cake recipes because it tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Adding fresh apples to microwave mug cakes makes them taste fresh and vibrant.

Step One: Start by mixing together the butter and diced apples in a microwave-safe mug like a coffee mug, a small bowl, or a large ramekin. Cook on high for 45 seconds. The butter should have melted and softened the apples.

Step Two: Stir in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and milk. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until the cake batter is well combined with the softened chopped apple.

Step Three: Microwave the apple cake mixture on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds until the cake has puffed up and the top no longer looks very wet. It is ok if it looks damp.

Variations & Toppings

Spices - Add some nutmeg, ginger, cardamon, or apple pie spice.

Sugar - You can swap the brown sugar for white sugar, coconut sugar, or honey.

Smoked Apples - Swap in our smoked apples! You can just mix them into the rest of the ingredients since they are already cooked.

Caramel - Top the cooked apple mug cake with caramel sauce. Or really live it up and top with some dulce de leche mousse!

Whipped Cream - Who doesn't love whipped cream? Drop a dollop on top of the cake and eat immediately.

Vanilla Ice Cream - Vanilla ice cream and apple desserts go hand in hand for a reason. The warm sweetness of apples and cinnamon pair perfectly with cool creamy ice cream.

Common Questions

What is Apple Mug Cake?

It is a dessert that can be cooked in a microwave in just a few minutes. It is made with ingredients that are likely to be found in most kitchens, including apples, sugar, butter, flour, and baking powder. The cake can be eaten plain or served with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

How can a cake rise without eggs?

Bakers use a chemical leavening agent to make cakes rise without eggs. This agent, often baking soda or baking powder, is a combination of an acid and a base. When these two ingredients are mixed together, they react to create carbon dioxide gas. The gas forms tiny bubbles in the batter, which causes the cake to rise as it bakes.

What apples are best for baking?

There are many different types of apples that can be used for baking, such as Granny Smith apples, Honeycrisp apples, or Golden Delicious apples. Each type of apple has a different level of sweetness and tartness, so it is important to choose the right apple for the recipe. For example, Granny Smith apples are tart and firm, which makes them perfect for pie fillings or crisps.

Craving chocolate? Try this oreo mug cake next!

Love apples? How about a Caramel Vodka Apple Cider Cocktail or Smoked Apple Pie.