Peanut butter mug cake is a soft, moist and fudgy peanut butter cake made in a mug. This peanut butter microwave cake can be made in about 3 minutes using a handful of simple ingredients. Top this indulgent pb mug cake with mini pb cups and more creamy peanut butter for the perfect decadent single serve 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 Pumpkin Mug Cake, Chocolate Chip Mug Cake, 3 Ingredient Mug Cake, Banana Mug Cake and Oreo Mug Cake are some of my favorite mug cake recipes on the blog. This pb mug cake is another fun and easy single serve dessert I know you will love.
- It’s quick, easy and fun to make. This peanut butter cake mug cake takes about 2 minutes to mix up and 1 minutes to cook in the microwave. Give the easy mug peanut butter cake about 1 minute to cool and you have a super delicious peanut butter dessert in under 5 minutes.
- Perfect for 1 or 2: This mug cake with creamy peanut butter makes one perfect single serving of warm, fluffy peanut butter cake. Add a handful of chocolate chips or mini peanut butter cups for even more of a dessert feel.
Ingredients
This pb mug cake recipe is made from a handful of pantry basics. Here’s what you’ll need to make it.
Gather butter, creamy peanut butter, milk, granulated sugar, salt, vanilla extract, baking powder and flour. If you’d like, throw in a handful of chocolate chips or mini peanut butter cups.
Substitutions
This simple peanut butter cake 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:
- 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.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Use a creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. Cashew butter makes a wonderful substitute for peanut butter. Sunflower butter is a great nut free substitute for peanut butter.
- Milk: Any type of milk will work well in this mug cake pb cake.
- Granulated Sugar: Feel free to use light brown sugar. Maple sugar would be good refined sugar free substitute.
- Vanilla Extract: Adding a splash of vanilla extract really makes this microwave peanut butter cake shine. I recommend adding a splash it if you have it in your pantry.
- 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 or Mini Peanut Butter Cups: I love adding a handful of chocolate chips to the pb muffin mug cake before cooking it in the microwave.
Variation
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Mug Cake: Mix ¼ cup creamy peanut butter with 2 tablespoons (15 g) flour of your choice and 2 - 3 tablespoons sweetener of your choice (I like maple syrup). Mix well and cook in the microwave for 60 - 90 seconds.
How To Make
Learn how to make peanut butter mug cake in a few easy steps.
- Grab your favorite mug. It should hold at least 8 oz. (240 ml) of liquid. Place the butter in the mug. Microwave the butter until melted, about 20 - 30 seconds in the microwave.
- Stir or whisk in the creamy peanut butter, followed by the milk, sugar, vanilla extract, salt and baking powder until smooth and well combined.
- Stir in the flour until smooth and well combined. If you would like to add chocolate chips or mini peanut butter cups or any other mix in, do so now. I like to mix a few in and also top the peanut butter cake batter with a few more.
4. Microwave the mug cake peanut butter 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, 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, mini pb cups or a dollop peanut butter and enjoy.
How To Serve and Store
- Serve: I love topping this easy peanut butter mug cake with more chocolate chips, or mini peanut butter cups and a dollop of more creamy peanut butter.
- 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 peanut butter cake in a mug 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 fluffy and moist peanut butter muffin cake.
- Mix the ingredients well. The peanut butter cake batter should be similar to a cake 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 peanut butter 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.
Yes, you can use a bowl to make a mug cake. Use the smallest bowl you have to mix the ingredients. Microwave the peanut butter mug cake for 45 - 60 seconds to start. Then, if needed add 20 more seconds to get the peanut butter cake to your desired doneness.
More Peanut Butter Recipes to Try
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies
- Fluffernutter Cookies
- Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
If you try this Peanut Butter 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!
Peanut Butter Mug Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 1 8 oz. mug
- 1 spoon
- 1 microwave
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons (48 g) creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons (38 g) sugar or maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons (23 g) all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons mini peanut butter cups or chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Grab your favorite mug. It should hold at least 8 oz. (240 ml) of liquid.
- Place the butter in the mug. Microwave the butter until melted, about 20 - 30 seconds in the microwave.1 tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter
- Stir or whisk in the creamy peanut butter, followed by the sugar, milk, vanilla extract, salt and baking powder until smooth and well combined.3 tablespoons (48 g) creamy peanut butter, 3 tablespoons (38 g) sugar or maple syrup, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) milk, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract , ⅛ teaspoon salt , ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- Stir in the flour until smooth and well combined. If you would like to add chocolate chips or mini peanut butter cups or any other mix in, do so now. I like to mix a few in and also top the peanut butter cake batter with a few more.3 tablespoons (23 g) all purpose flour , 2 tablespoons mini peanut butter cups or chocolate chips, optional
- Microwave the mug cake peanut butter 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, heat the mug cake in the microwave in additional 20 second increments until the cake is to your desired consistency.
- Cool the mug cake for 1 minute. Top with more chocolate chips, mini pb cups or a dollop peanut butter and enjoy.
Agus says
It was so delightful! The only thing id complain about was it being a little too sweet, however, the next time I make it I will put in less sugar. Loved the texture! So soft and moist.
Megan says
Hi Agus, thank you for trying the recipe and for the feedback. I hope you give the recipe another try soon!
Diana says
Really yummy.. my son rated it 11 out of 10. I only used 2 tablespoons of sugar and it was perfectly sweet.
Megan says
Hi Diana, 11/10! That's amazing! Thanks for including your adjustment to the recipe. I am so happy you and your son enjoy the pb mug cake.