Just six simple ingredients are needed to make a sweet and delicious Honey Mug Cake. You can be enjoying this fantastic single-serve dessert in less than 5 minutes so grab a mug and let's get started!
This can be a great option if you're only looking to have one dessert, or if you want to customize your dessert specifically for your needs. There are a number of ways to make a single serve cake, so you can choose the method that best suits your preferences and ingredients. You can also try our Apple Mug Cake.
I'm sure like most people, I love a delicious piece of cake. What's not to love? But sometimes, when I'm craving something sweet but don't want a huge piece of cake, I'll make this easy mug cake. It's really easy to make and only takes a few minutes to satisfy my sweet tooth. All you need is a microwave-safe mug, some honey, vanilla, milk, baking powder, flour, and some butter.
Ingredients
Salted Butter - I only buy salted butter so that is what I use when baking. If you have unsalted butter make sure to add a tiny pinch of salt to the cake to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.
Flour - This uses regular all-purpose flour. Both bleached or unbleached is fine.
Honey - Honey is the star of the show in this cake so choose the flavorful honey you enjoy.
Milk - I use whole milk but to make this dairy-free and vegan nut milk or coconut milk can be subbed instead along with coconut oil for the butter.
Baking Powder - This is mug cake doesn't contain egg so fresh baking powder is essential for the cake to rise.
Vanilla Extract - A little vanilla enhances the other flavors in the honey cake.
How to Make Honey Mug Cake?
Step One: Stir together the wet ingredients and the dry ingredients in a microwave-safe mug. I just add them all at once and mix with a fork.
Expert Tip: If your butter is cold place that in the mug first and microwave it for 10-15 seconds until it is softened. It is ok to use softened butter or melted butter in this.
Step Two: Microwave the mixture for about 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Note: Every microwave varies and the one I have is not that strong so if you have a high-powered microwave check it at a minute and keep an eye on it. You want the cake batter to rise and the top to look damp but not wet.
Variations
Chocolate Chip - Is chocolate ever a bad choice? Stir some chocolate chips into the batter or use some to top the cooked honey mug cake.
Cinnamon - Cinnamon goes really well with honey. I suggest adding a quarter to half a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter depending on how cinnamon-y you would like it.
Pumpkin Spice - Add some pumpkin pie spice for a fall flavor!
Toppings
Cooked Fruit - My favorite topping for this is our stewed pears. Cooked apples are almost as good but there is something about pears that go so well with the flavor of honey.
Fresh Fruit - No time to cook down some pears? Sliced peach is my second favorite. Followed by fresh berries such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and sliced strawberries.
Ice Cream - I love this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a little more honey drizzled on top.
Whipped Cream - Whip up some cream and top with a dollop. Fresh whipped cream is the best.
Sprinkles - Making this for the kids? Go ahead and add a few sprinkles.
Peanut Butter & Banana - Slice up a banana and add it to the mug with a spoon of peanut butter. You will be in heaven.
Frosting - My fave is cream cheese frosting on this cake. A vanilla buttercream icing is a good second choice.
Common Questions
What type of honey should I use?
You can use any honey you enjoy. Honey is a natural sweetener that has been used for centuries. There are many different types of honey, each with its own unique flavor and properties. Some of the most common types of honey include clover honey, wildflower honey, and manuka honey. Each type of honey has its own unique flavor and properties that make it suitable for different purposes. This recipe uses honey for its flavor so just pick one that tastes good to your own tastebuds.
Can I bake a mug cake in the oven?
Yup! When most people think of baking, they think of making dozens or even hundreds of cookies or cakes at once. However, it's also possible to bake a single cupcake or microwave mug cake in the oven. It will take about 20 minutes at 350, similar to the time and temp for a cupcake.
Recipe
Honey Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoon milk
- 2 tablespoon honey
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Add butter to your mug. Microwave until softened.
- Stir vanilla extract, milk and honey into the butter. Add flour and baking powder and stir until combined.
- Microwave mug cake 1.5 minutes.
zara says
Can I add cocoa powder to make it a chocolate cake or would that ruin the texture?
Taryn Scarfone says
Hi Zara, I haven't tried. I wouldn't just add it, I would also remove some flour. Try 3 tbsp flour and 1 tbsp cocoa powder (instead of 1/4 cup flour) and lmk how it turns out 🙂 If that isn't chocolatey enough you can try 2 and 2.
Kade says
I've tried quite a few mug cakes and this is easily one of my favorites, the taste and texture are great! Definitely worth trying if you have honey to spare
A says
Cooking time in my 1000 watt microwave was 1min 15sec.
H says
My two year old was refusing to eat but asking for cake. This actually is super yummy and toddler approved!
Brad Young says
I just bought some really good Hawaiian orange blossom honey and was looking for a quick recipe to use it in. This did not disappoint! I mean sure you can tell it's a quick cake that wasn't toiled over but the flavor is on point.. The bright orange tinged honey showed through in perfect balance. Definitely saving this one.