Banana mug cake is a moist, fluffy and super easy mug cake recipe that takes under 5 minutes to make. This banana cake in a mug is especially delicious when topped with lots of melty chocolate chips. Make this cozy banana bread in a mug cake for the perfect single serve breakfast, snack or dessert.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
Mug cakes are the easiest and best desserts ever. They’re versatile and endlessly adaptable based on your cravings and what you have in the pantry. My Chocolate Chip Mug Cake, Peanut Butter Mug Cake, 3 Ingredient Mug Cake, Oreo Mug Cake and Chocolate Tahini Mug Cake are two of my favorite mug cake recipes. This banana mug cake is another fun and easy single serve dessert I know you will love.
- It’s quick, easy and fun to make. This banana bread mug cake takes about 2 minutes to mix up and 2 minutes to “bake” in the microwave. Give the easy banana cake in a mug about 1 minute to cool and you have a super delicious banana dessert in 5 minutes.
- Perfect for 1 or 2: This mug cake with banana makes one perfect single serving of warm, fluffy banana cake with chocolate chips. Double the recipe for two banana bread mug cakes.
Ingredients
This banana mug recipe is made from a handful of pantry basics. Here’s what you’ll need to make either of this easy banana cake mug cake.
Gather crushed a very ripe banana, an egg, butter, milk, light brown or granulated sugar, salt, vanilla extract and flour. If you’d like, throw in a handful of chocolate chips.
Substitutions
This simple banana mug cake is meant to be quick and easy, but sometimes you may not have everything on hand. If you need them, here are my recommended substitutions for this recipe:
- Banana: Make sure the banana is ripe with some brown spots. If you would use it for banana bread, it’s perfect for this banana cake in a cup.
- Egg: A lightly beaten egg is optional, but I prefer the overall texture of the mug cake when an egg is added. To make this banana mug cake with no egg, simply leave the egg out. Otherwise, any large egg is perfect.
- Butter: I like to use unsalted “sweet cream” butter in almost all my baking recipes. This is the most common and widely available butter in the US. If needed, use salted butter or a diary free butter you like.
- Granulated Sugar and Light Brown Sugar: Feel free to use both or one or the other. I like the taste of both in my mug cake. Maple sugar would be good refined sugar free substitute.
- Vanilla Extract: Adding a splash of vanilla extract really makes this microwave banana bread shine. I recommend keeping it if you have it in your pantry.
- Milk: Any type of milk will work well in this mug cake banana cake.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhanced the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Flour: Any flour works well in this banana bread mug cake. I love using oat flour. Feel free to use almond flour to make this grain free or all purpose flour for a more cake like texture.
- Chocolate Chips: I love adding a handful of chocolate chips to the banana cake before cooking in the microwave. Feel free to add some or use peanut butter chips.
Variations
- Toppings: For even more flavorful banana mug cake, top it with any of these suggested toppings: Mini peanut butter cups, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, sprinkles or even crushed pretzels.
- Healthy Banana Mug Cake: To make this banana mug cake “healthier” swap the sugars for maple sugar (my favorite) or a refined sugar free sugar alternative. Use oat flour or almond flour and omit the butter.
How To Make
Let me show you how to make banana mug cake in a few easy steps. Grab your ingredients and let’s go!
- Grab your favorite mug. It should hold at least 8 oz. (240 ml) of liquid. Melt one tablespoon of butter in the mug. This takes about 20-30 seconds in the microwave. Mash the ripe banana in the mug. Lightly beat the egg in another bowl or whisk into the mashed banana and melted butter. Just make sure to fully incorporate the egg into the banana before adding the other ingredients. If you choose to skip the egg to make a no egg banana mug cake, skip the egg. Stir or whisk in the milk, followed by the vanilla extract, sugars, baking powder, salt and flour until smooth and well combined. If you would like to add chocolate chips or any other mix in, do so now.
2. Microwave the mug cake banana cake in the microwave for 90 - 120 seconds (1 ½ - 2 minutes). The mixture should puff up and resemble cake. If there is any liquid at the bottom or the cake seems underbaked in the center or bottom of the mug, heat the mug cake in the microwave in additional 20 second increments until the cake is to your desired consistency. Top with more chocolate chips, a drizzle of peanut butter and more bananas if you like.
How To Serve and Store
- Serve: I love topping this easy mug banana bread with more chocolate chips and a drizzle of nut butter. Feel free to add anything you like. Peanut butter cups and ice cream would be incredible too!
- Store: This mug cake recipe is designed to be single serve and to be eaten as soon as it is made. I do not recommend storing this banana bread mug cake as the texture changes over time. Aka, it tastes so much better right after it is made.
M’s Expert Tips
- Mix in the suggested order. I love an easy one dish dessert. After trying a few different ways, I found whisking or mixing the wet ingredients first and then adding in the dry was the best and easiest way to make this banana mug cake.
- Mix the ingredients well. The banana cake batter should be similar to a banana bread batter.
- Check the wattage on your microwave. If your microwave is below 1100, you may need to add 20 - 30 seconds. If your microwave is above 1100, you may need to start at 90 seconds and add 20 - 30 more seconds as needed.
- Top the mug cake with your favorite toppings. My favorite way to enjoy a mug cake is with a scoop of ice cream, peanut butter cups or chocolate chips.
FAQs
You absolutely can. Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Place the mugs or ramekins filled with the banana cake batter on a baking sheet. Bake the mug cakes for 10 - 15 minutes.
You can double the recipe, but use two mugs and microwave them separately. It’s such a quick and easy recipe, that you can still have a fabulous dessert in no time.
This can happen when a cake has been overcooked of if there is too much oil. If this happens, try starting at 30 - 45 seconds. Add 15 seconds more until the microwave mug cake is the right texture.
More Banana Recipes to Try
- Banana Brownies
- Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Banana Mini Muffins
- Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Banana French Toast
If you try this Banana Mug Cake recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking!
Banana Mug Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 1 12 oz. or larger microwave safe mug or ramekin
- 1 fork or small whisk
- 1 microwave
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter
- 1 medium ripe banana
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons (38 g) light brown or granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon "pinch" of salt
- 3 tablespoons (23 g) all purpose flour, oat flour or almond flour
- 1- 2 tablespoons chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Grab your favorite mug. It should hold at least 8 oz. (240 ml) of liquid. Melt one tablespoon of butter in the mug. This takes about 20-30 seconds in the microwave.1 tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter
- Mash the ripe banana in the mug. Lightly beat the egg in another bowl or whisk into the mashed banana and melted butter. Just make sure to fully incorporate the egg into the banana before adding the other ingredients. If you choose to skip the egg to make a no egg banana mug cake, skip the egg.1 medium ripe banana , 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- Stir or whisk in the milk, followed by the vanilla extract, sugars, baking powder, salt and flour until smooth and well combined. If you would like to add chocolate chips or any other mix in, do so now.1 tablespoon (15 ml) milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract , 3 tablespoons (38 g) light brown or granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ⅛ teaspoon "pinch" of salt, 3 tablespoons (23 g) all purpose flour, oat flour or almond flour, 1- 2 tablespoons chocolate chips, optional
- Microwave the mug cake banana cake in the microwave for 90 - 120 seconds (1 ½ - 2 minutes). The mixture should puff up and resemble cake. If there is any liquid at the bottom or the cake seems underbaked in the center or bottom of the mug, heat the mug cake in the microwave in additional 20 second increments until the cake is to your desired consistency. While the banana mug cake is still warm, top with more chocolate chips, a drizzle of peanut butter, more bananas or ice cream if you like. Enjoy!
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