Coffee Mug Cake Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

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byArman Liew

published on Jul 13, 2023

108comments

5from 156 votes

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Thiscoffee mug cakemakes the perfect single serving treat that takes less than a minute to make. It’s fluffy, moist, and topped with an easy streusel.

Coffee Mug Cake Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2)

I’m all about healthy single-serving desserts, especially if they are quick and easy. Mug cakes are one of my favorites, like a protein mug cake, almond flour mug cake, and keto mug cake.

After sampling the delicious classic coffee cake from Starbucks, I wanted to recreate it and give it a single-serving treatment.

Table of Contents
  1. Why you’ll love this coffee mug cake recipe
  2. Ingredients needed
  3. How do you make a coffee mug cake?
  4. Tips to make the best coffee cake mug cake
  5. Recommended tools to make this recipe
  6. More mug cake recipes
  7. Frequently asked questions
  8. Coffee Mug Cake (Recipe Card)

Why you’ll love this coffee mug cake recipe

  • Perfect texture. Fluffy on the inside, tender on the outside, and topped with a delicious streusel topping. It tastes of cinnamon and vanilla and was instantly one of my favorites!
  • Healthier. It’s made with grain-free flours and uses just a little maple syrup to sweeten it (similar to my healthy mug cake).
  • Quick and easy. Like a red velvet mug cake, This one takes seconds to prep and just a minute in the microwave to cook.
  • Single serving dessert. This is the kind of dessert you make when you crave coffee cake but don’t want to put in the effort to make a full recipe!

Ingredients needed

for the mug cake

  • Almond flour– Blanched almond flour is best, not almond meal. The blanched variety yields a fluffier and lighter cake.
  • Coconut flour– Gives the mug cake the cakey texture, and with no coconut flavor.
  • Baking powder– Gives the mug cake some rise and fluffiness.
  • Maple syrup– Adds sweetness while also keeping the middle of the cake moist and fluffy. Honey or agave nectar work.
  • Cinnamon– A must for the traditional coffee cake flavor!
  • Egg– Room temperature eggs.
  • Milk of choice– Any milk can be used. I used unsweetened almond milk.

For the Streusel topping

  • Almond flour– Again, try to use blanched almond flour.
  • Sweetener of choice– I like brown sugar or coconut sugar.
  • Almond butter– Gives a buttery crumble topping, minus the butter or oil. Peanut butter or cashew butter also work.
  • Cinnamon– Adds cinnamon flavor.
  • Milk– To mix everything together to make the crumble.
  • Powdered sugar– Optional, but if you like a glaze.

How do you make a coffee mug cake?

  1. Prep. Lightly grease a small, microwave-safe bowl or ramekin.
  2. Make the batter. In a small bowl, add your dry ingredients and stir well. Add your wet ingredients, and mix until a smooth batter remains. If the batter is too thick, add extra milk.
  3. Make the streusel. In a small bowl, add your streusel ingredients and mix until combined.
  4. Microwave the mug cake. Transfer the cake batter into a mug and spoon the streusel topping over it and microwave for 1-2 minutes or until cooked. Allow cooling for 1-2 minutes before enjoying!
Coffee Mug Cake Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (3)

Tips to make the best coffee cake mug cake

  • Microwaves differ based on make and model. Start with microwaving it at one minute, and if it is not cooked, continue microwaving it in 20-second spurts until it is done.
  • Use a microwave-safe cereal bowl or shallow container instead of a mug. This will ensure the cake is fully cooked through.
  • Do not omit thecoconut flouror try to substitute it. It is key to include it to ensure the mug cake is fluffy and tender on the outside.
  • As all coconut flour brands differ, you may need more than half a cup of milk (the suggested amount). Continue adding more milk to the batter until it is smooth and thick.
  • To reduce the fat and calories, you can use an egg white instead of a whole egg.
Coffee Mug Cake Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (4)

More mug cake recipes

  • Cinnamon roll in a mug
  • Vanilla mug cake
  • Chocolate mug cake
  • Lemon mug cake
  • Muffin in a mug

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no coffee in this recipe?

Coffee cakes, including coffee mug cakes, are designed to be enjoyed with coffee. There is no espresso or coffee in the actual cake batter.

Can I make this in the oven?

The quickest option is to make the coffee cake in the microwave. However, not everyone has a microwave, so this mug cake can be made in the oven.
Simply replace the microwave-safe bowl with an oven-safe ramekin or similar. Bake at 180C/350F for 10-12 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Coffee Mug Cake Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (5)

Coffee Mug Cake

5 from 156 votes

Thiscoffee mug cakemakes the perfect single serving treat that takes less than a minute to make. It's fluffy, moist, and topped with an easy streusel.

Servings: 1 mug cake

Prep: 1 minute min

Cook: 1 minute min

Total: 2 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 tablespoon coconut flour
  • 1 tablespoon almond flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup adjust to desired sweetness
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk * See notes

For the optional streusel topping

  • 1 tablespoon almond flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter can sub for any nut or seed butter
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients and mix well.

  • In a separate small bowl, combine the maple syrup, vanilla extract, milk, and egg and whisk lightly. Add the mixture to the dry mixture and mix until just combined.

  • Prepare the streusel topping. In a small bowl, combine the almond flour with the cinnamon and sugar and mix well. Add the almond butter and mix well until a thick, crumbly mixture is produced. Add a dash of milk if desired.

  • Grease a microwave-safe bowl or ramekin and pour the batter in it. Top with streusel and microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until cooked through.

Oven Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease a large ramekin and set aside.

  • Follow directions as above and once ready, bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Notes

* Start with 2 tablespoons of milk then adjust accordingly. If the batter is too thick, add more.

Coffee mug cake should be eaten fresh and enjoyed warm. Do not refrigerate or freeze for later.

Nutrition

Serving: 1mug cakeCalories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 9gFat: 10gSodium: 345mgPotassium: 92mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 273IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 214mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 9g

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Arman Liew

Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Coffee Mug Cake Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

FAQs

Why did my mug cake turn out rubbery? ›

This is likely because your mug is too small, or you added too much baking powder. Measure accurately and make sure your mug is at least 10oz in volume. Why is my chocolate mug cake rubbery or dry? A rubbery mug cake is indicative of being overcooked, or incorrect measurements.

Why is my mug cake so dry? ›

Many protein mug cake recipes suffer from dryness because they don't contain enough fat. They use wheat or oat flour, protein powder, and no eggs or oils. Naturally, it's going to be very dry with these ingredients.

Why did my mug cake fail? ›

Don't overfill your mug with ingredients

So, if you fill it past two-thirds of the way full, you're more likely to have a messy overflow situation in the microwave. Overfilling might also affect how well the cake cooks through, as more batter means a longer bake time, which your recipe might not have accounted for.

Why is my mug cake not spongy? ›

You didn't use self-rising flour

This one isn't necessarily a deal breaker, but it could help save time and ensure proper texture in your mug cake. Self-rising flour is a flour mixture that includes salt and baking powder, two ingredients that help cake become cake.

Why don't mug cakes use eggs? ›

It's easy to see why—most classic cake recipes call for two or three eggs and serve at least 10 people. So for a single-serving mug cake, just skip the egg; a whole egg will overpower the small amount of batter (and it's pretty tough to divide an egg in quarters).

Why does my mug cake taste bitter? ›

If you purposely or accidentally used baking soda instead of baking powder without making any changes to your recipe, you'll definitely end up with a bitter taste. Remember, baking soda is an alkaline, or base, ingredient that naturally has a bitter taste. Baking powder is a multi-ingredient leavener.

Why does my mug cake taste like flour? ›

Too much flour can result in a dry and dense product, as well as a strong flour taste. To avoid this, make sure to spoon your flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge.

How do you keep a mug cake moist? ›

This is a pretty important tip: a little water will prevent the top of your cake from over-baking and drying out (and becoming rubbery). Don't worry—it all evaporates in the microwave and ensures a perfect, moist texture every time.

Can you eat undercooked mug cake? ›

Are Mug Cakes Safe to Eat? Absolutely! Just make sure that you cook them long enough for all of the ingredients to cook thoroughly. Luckily, this recipe doesn't call for eggs, so no need to worry about them being undercooked.

How do you know when a mug cake is done? ›

Cook each mug separately and remember they will continue to cook a touch more on standing, so I found 1 minute perfect for my mug-cakes. Touch the centre and if it's firm then your cakes are done. Try not to overcook these or they will go rubbery (the perils of the microwave!)

What is a substitute for baking soda in mug cake? ›

There are several pantry-friendly ingredients that you can use as baking soda substitutes, including egg whites, self-rising flour and even club soda. Or, you can use baking powder - and even a couple of extremely scientific sounding items that perhaps you just happen to have lying around - baker's ammonia anyone?

Why is my mug cake eggy? ›

One entire egg added to a 10 or 12-ounce mug can leave your simplistic cake tasting like custard, and might also make your mug cake too wet when incorporated into the other ingredients.

Are baking soda and baking powder the same? ›

Baking soda and baking powder are not the same. Sodium bicarbonate and bicarbonate of soda are other names for baking soda. Baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder.

Why is my coffee cake hard? ›

Avoid over-baking: Over-baking can cause a coffee cake to become dry and tough, so make sure to remove it from the oven as soon as it's done. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.

Why is my coffee cake tough? ›

Toughness in cakes is caused by over-mixing, or the wrong type of flour. Solution: Mix your cake according to the recipe. There is a function to the order in which ingredients are added to create the right texture. As soon as you begin mixing flour with a liquid and a fat, gluten is developed.

What happens if you overcook a cake? ›

When overcooked, a cake will come out hard and dry, and when undercooked, it has a gummy and dense texture. If you don't know how to tell when your cake is just cooked right, then baking will become a very tedious and unrewarding task.

Why is my cake batter gluey? ›

Overmixing the batter can increase gluten, to a dense and sticky texture. Mix the ingredients until simply combined and keep away from excessive stirring. This guarantees a soft texture and prevents stickiness on the top.

Why does my cake have a close texture? ›

If your cake has a very close texture, then you may have added too much fat or your hands were too warm when rubbing in the flour.

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