Vanilla mug cake is a light, moist and flavorful vanilla cake made in a mug. This vanilla microwave cake can be made in about 3 minutes using a handful of simple ingredients. Top this fluffy vanilla cake mug cake with frosting and sprinkles for the perfect single serve cake 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, 3 Ingredient Mug Cake, Peanut Butter Mug Cake, Banana Mug Cake and Oreo Mug Cake are some of my favorite mug cake recipes on the blog. This vanilla cake in a cup is another fun and easy single serve dessert I know you will love.
- It’s quick, easy and fun to make. This vanilla cake in a mug takes about 2 minutes to mix up and 1- 2 minutes to cook in the microwave. Give the easy funfetti mug cake about 1 minute to cool while you make the frosting and you have a super delicious single serve cake in about 5 minutes.
- Perfect for 1 or 2: This mug vanilla cake with sprinkles makes one perfect single serving of warm, fluffy vanilla cake. Add a some sprinkles and creamy vanilla buttercream frosting for even more of a birthday cake inspired dessert.
Ingredients
This vanilla mug cake recipe is made from a handful of pantry basics. Here’s what you’ll need to make it.
- For the Vanilla Cake: Gather butter, milk, granulated sugar, salt, vanilla extract, almond extract, baking powder and flour. If you’d like, throw in some of rainbow or funfetti sprinkles.
- For the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting: Gather butter, powdered sugar and milk.
Substitutions
This vanilla funfetti 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.
- Milk: Any type of milk will work well in this mug cake vanilla cake.
- Granulated Sugar: Maple sugar would be good refined sugar free substitute.
- Vanilla Extract and Almond Extract: Adding a splash of vanilla extract and almond really makes this microwave vanilla cake shine. I recommend adding a splash of both 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 moist mug cake. I love using oat flour or all purpose flour. Feel free to use almond flour to make this grain free.
- Sprinkles: This brings a really festive and aesthetic touch to this vanilla mug cake recipe. Feel free to omit, include in the cake only or use it to top the mug cake to make it more like a funfetti cake.
- Frosting: This is purely optional and for when you really want a slice of cake or a cup cake. Feel free to use store bought frosting if you prefer.
Variation
Vanilla Cake Mix Mug Cake: Aka, a 3 -2-1 mug cake. This mug cake is perfect for when you have no eggs and no milk but you’re still craving a cup of cake. Mix 1 ½ tablespoons angel food cake mix with 1 ½ tablespoons cake mix of choice- white cake, yellow cake or funfetti cake works well, (3 total tablespoons between the two cake mixes) into 2 tablespoons (30 ml) water. Pour into a mug and microwave for 1 minute. Top with frosting and sprinkles if you like.
How To Make
Learn how to make vanilla mug cake in a few easy steps.
- Grab your favorite mug. It should hold at least 10 - 12 oz. (300 - 360 ml) of liquid. Place the butter in the mug. Microwave the butter until melted, about 30 seconds in the microwave.
- Stir or whisk in the milk followed by the sugar, vanilla extract, almond 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 sprinkles or any other mix in, do so now. I like to mix a few sprinkles in and also top the vanilla cake batter with a few more.
- Microwave the mug cake vanilla 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.
4. Make the buttercream while the cake cools. Just like with regular cake, the vanilla cake in a mug needs time to cool if you’re going to top with frosting. Mix room temperature butter in a bowl until smooth. Mix in the powdered sugar and milk until smooth and well combined. Add a ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract for vanilla buttercream or a ½ teaspoon of cocoa powder for chocolate frosting (add more to taste). Top the cooled mug cakes with the frosting and more sprinkles if you like.
How To Serve and Store
- Serve: I love topping this easy vanilla mug cake with a generous dollop of homemade buttercream (also single serve) and more sprinkles. It’s like having a birthday cake in a mug.
- 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 vanilla cake in a mug as the texture changes over time. Aka, it tastes so much better right after it is made. The frosting can be made in advance and stored in an air tight container for up to 5 days. Bring to room temperature before topping the mug cake.
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 sprinkle filled vanilla mug cake.
- Mix the ingredients well. The vanilla cake batter should be similar to a regular 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 this mug cake is with a generous dollop of buttercream and more sprinkles.
FAQs
You absolutely can. Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Place the mugs or ramekins filled with the vanilla 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 recipe for vanilla mug cake can still be made without baking powder. Just keep in mind that the cake will be a bit denser like a pudding versus light and fluffy like a cake.
More Funfetti Recipes to Try
If you try this Vanilla 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!
Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 1 10 - 12 oz. mug
- 1 mini whisk or spoon
- 1 mixing bowl optional for the frosting
Ingredients
Vanilla Mug Cake
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract, optional
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup (30 g) all purpose flour
- 1 - 2 teaspoons sprinkles, plus more for topping
Buttercream Frosting for Mug Cakes
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
- 2 - 3 tablespoons (15 - 23 g) powdered sugar
- 1 - 2 teaspoons (5 - 10 ml) milk, as needed
Instructions
- Grab your favorite mug. It should hold at least 10 - 12 oz. (300 - 360 ml) of liquid.
- Place the butter in the mug. Microwave the butter until melted, about 30 seconds in the microwave.2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
- Stir or whisk in the milk followed by the sugar, vanilla extract, almond 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 sprinkles or any other mix in, do so now. I like to mix a few sprinkles in and also top the vanilla cake batter with a few more.¼ cup (60 ml) milk, 2 tablespoons (25 g) sugar , 1 teaspoon vanilla extract , ¼ teaspoon almond extract, optional , ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ cup (30 g) all purpose flour , 1 - 2 teaspoons sprinkles, plus more for topping
- Microwave the mug cake vanilla 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.
- Make the buttercream while the cake cools. Just like with regular cake, the vanilla cake in a mug needs time to cool if you’re going to top with frosting. Mix room temperature butter in a bowl until smooth. Mix in the powdered sugar and milk until smooth and well combined. Add a ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract for vanilla buttercream or a ½ teaspoon of cocoa powder for chocolate frosting (add more to taste).2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, 2 - 3 tablespoons (15 - 23 g) powdered sugar, 1 - 2 teaspoons (5 - 10 ml) milk, as needed
- Top the cooled mug cake with the frosting and more sprinkles if you like.
Kara says
Fantastic. Looks funny, but tastes just like a real vanilla cake.
Megan says
Hi Kara, I agree mug cakes look funny! I am so happy to read that you enjoyed the vanilla mug cake. Thanks for trying the recipe and for leaving a review.
Beth S. says
Just made it, and it was delicious. Unfortunately, I didn't let it cool enough, so the frosting melted. Also, while I like the addition of the almond extract, I think I'll add only a couple of drops of it next time as it was definitely almond/amaretto forward. Looking forward to making it again!
Megan says
Hi Beth, thank for making the mug cake and for sharing your thoughts on the amount of almond extract. It so hard to wait for the mug cake to cool off long enough to top with frosting!!