Easy Snickerdoodle Mug Cake Recipe

What better dessert to indulge in than a warm serving of freshly prepared cake? The problem is that most cakes take a bit of time and effort to prepare. It's not like you can simply decide you want a piece of cake and whip up an entire dessert in a matter of minutes. Well, that's actually not the case when you turn to a brilliant microwave classic: the mug cake.

This mug cake recipe we're serving up is, in fact, so easy to make, and you'll be enjoying it before you know it. This easy snickerdoodle mug cake is sweet on the palate, charming to the eye, and so easy to make even when you're having a busy week. Chef and recipe developer Autumn LeAnn says of this quick and simple dessert, "This is a fairly easy recipe that anyone can make, regardless if they have experience baking or not."

As for whether or not you tell people it took less than seven minutes to prepare this sweet little cake? That sweet little secret is safe with us.

Gather the ingredients to prepare this easy snickerdoodle mug cake

The recipe calls for all-purpose flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, salt, ground cinnamon, melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, whole milk, vanilla extract, and an egg yolk ... all of which you probably already have in your kitchen, which is an added bonus to this treat!

As for the hardware you'll need in order to cook up your little mug cake, that's pretty simple stuff, too. As a matter of fact, all you'll need are two small mixing bowls, a fork, a microwave-safe mug, and, of course, a microwave in which to do the cooking.

Prepare your wet and dry ingredients

Start by measuring out all of your ingredients, especially if you are making several servings of this cake, as you'll want to work fast once you have each one going into the microwave.

Combine the flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, salt, and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon in one bowl (not in the mug — more on that later), and stir to mix these dry ingredients.

Next, melt the butter in another small bowl, then combine it with 2 tablespoons of sugar, the whole milk, vanilla extract, and the egg yolk. "Make sure the melted butter isn't too hot when adding in the egg yolk, as you may end up with little scrambled egg pieces in your cake," says LeAnn, adding, "You can do this by adding the other wet ingredients and mixing before adding the egg yolk."

Combine the ingredients in the mug, then microwave it

Next up, grab a microwave-safe mug, and spray the inside with non-stick cooking spray. Pour your wet ingredient mix into the mug, then slowly mix in the dry ingredients, stirring a bit in, then adding more, until everything is nicely combined.

Next, mix together your remaining ½ tablespoon of sugar and ⅛ teaspoon of cinnamon, and sprinkle this blend on top of the cake batter in the mug. Then, microwave the mug cake for one and a half minutes and ... you're done! Now, wasn't that easy?

Can you mix everything at once?

Okay, so you probably have the same question a lot of people do. Since everything ends up being combined in the mug anyway, you're likely wondering, "Can I skip mixing the ingredients in other bowls first, and simply mix them all together in the mug?"

According to LeAnn, you totally can — but there's a catch. "Mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately first yields a better mug cake," she says. So, you may want to spare the extra minute here to make the best mug cake possible. Trust us when we say it's worth it. 

With that done, LeAnn has a mouthwatering pairing suggestion. "This mug cake would pair well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I'm a sucker for hot and cold desserts," she says. Then, dig in!

Easy Snickerdoodle Mug Cake Recipe
5 (27 ratings)
This easy snickerdoodle mug cake is sweet on the palate and such an easy treat to make even when you're having a busy week.
Prep Time
3
minutes
Cook Time
2
minutes
Servings
1
serving
forkful of mug cake
Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • pinch of baking powder
  • pinch of cream of tartar
  • pinch of salt
  • ¼ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons plus ½ tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg yolk
Directions
  1. Combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, salt, and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon in one small mixing bowl.
  2. Melt the unsalted butter in another small mixing bowl, then combine it with 2 tablespoons of sugar, the whole milk, vanilla extract, and egg yolk, stirring to mix well. (Make sure the melted butter isn't too hot when adding in the egg yolk.)
  3. Coat the inside of a microwave-safe mug with non-stick cooking spray.
  4. Pour your wet ingredient mix into the mug, then slowly mix in the dry ingredients, stirring as you go, until everything is combined nicely.
  5. Mix together the remaining ½ tablespoon of sugar and ⅛ teaspoon of cinnamon, and sprinkle on top of the cake batter in the mug.
  6. Microwave for 1 minute and 30 seconds, then enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 515
Total Fat 27.9 g
Saturated Fat 16.5 g
Trans Fat 0.9 g
Cholesterol 210.2 mg
Total Carbohydrates 58.5 g
Dietary Fiber 1.4 g
Total Sugars 33.4 g
Sodium 194.1 mg
Protein 6.6 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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