Cinnamon Mug Cake (Vegan)

Name: Cinnamon Mug Cake (Vegan)
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 0.25 Cup of All Purpose Flour; 2 Tablespoons Granulated Cane Sugar; 0.5 Teaspoon Baking Powder; 0.25 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon; 0.25 Cup Plant-based Milk: Used soy milk, which adds a little bit of protein to the dish; 1.5 Tablespoons Vegan Butter, Melted: See Substitutions section for a healthier and more easily available alternative.; 0.5 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract; 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar; 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon; 1 Tablespoon Vegan Yogurt or Vegan Cream Cheese; 2 Tablespoon Powder Sugar; 0.125 Teaspoon Vanilla, Optional

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This Cinnamon Mug Cake is a super easy sweet and cozy treat! Just make the cake batter in a mug, swirl in the cinnamon sugar topping, and then microwave for sightly over a minute. With an easy to make sticky frosting to top it with, it tastes almost like a cinnamon bun. Plus, it's vegan!

Hey Internet, we've got a new recipe that's the perfect quick fix for your sweet tooth. Another microwave mug cake recipe!

We have some of the best mug cake recipes on our blog, like our Vanilla Mug Cake, our Vegan Mug Brownie and our Protein Mug Cake. We really love an easy microwave cake as they're usually a single serving dessert that helps us portion control while not completely depriving us of treats.

They also don't make many dishes; just the mug and the measuring spoons. Mug cakes are just that easy!

However, today is a great day if you're a huge cinnamon fan. Our new mug cake is like a combination of a cake, a snickerdoodle cookie, and a cinnamon bun all in one.

With a cinnamon swirl topping and a sticky glaze that your can pour on top of the cake (ice cream optional, though we certainly love it!), it makes for the perfect treat or dessert. And the whole thing comes together in just 5 minutes, so it really is the perfect evening dessert.

So let's get mixing!

Why You'll Love This Microwave Mug Cake

Easy to Make: With basic ingredients, most of which can be found around the house, you'll be enjoying this can in no time!
Fast Cooking Time: At about a 1 minute cook, you'll spend more time gathering the ingredients than waiting for it to finish in the microwave.
Healthier Options: In the substitutions section below, we've got alternative ingredients that can help you lower the calories, make this recipe gluten-free, or just easier to make!

Ingredients

Pick up these simple ingredients the next time you're at your local grocery store. See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredients, instructions, and accurate nutrition information (to the best of my ability; please consult your physician or healthcare professional if you have specific dietary needs or need to meet a certain daily value of any nutrient). I give substitutions for the ingredients in the section below this one, so most people can still make this recipe!

Cake Batter

0.25 Cup of All Purpose Flour
2 Tablespoons Granulated Cane Sugar
0.5 Teaspoon Baking Powder
0.25 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
0.25 Cup Plant-based Milk: Used soy milk, which adds a little bit of protein to the dish
1.5 Tablespoons Vegan Butter, Melted: See Substitutions section for a healthier and more easily available alternative.
0.5 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Cinnamon Swirl Mixture

1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

Sweet Glaze

1 Tablespoon Vegan Yogurt or Vegan Cream Cheese (if you use this, you may want a few tablespoons of plant based milk on hand to thin it)
2 Tablespoon Powder Sugar
0.125 Teaspoon Vanilla, Optional

Substitutions

All Purpose Flour: A 1-to-1 gluten free flour should work for this recipe. Great brands that we have used include King Arthur's Measure for Measure Flour and Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour. You can also try using oat flour for a healthier option, though keep in mind the cake will be somewhat less fluffy
Cane Sugar: Coconut sugar or more brown sugar can be used in a pinch. We've also made this mug recipe with artificial sweetener for a friend who wanted less sugar and it turned out great!
Vegan Butter: Ripe bananas can be used in place of the vegan butter! Instead of the melting process, put about a tablespoon to 1.5 tablespoons of banana in the bottom of the mug you intend to use and mash it with a fork. Then add the wet ingredients and sugar and mix it all together.
Soy Milk: Oat milk and almond milk make for great 1 to 1 replacements for the soy milk. You could also try coconut milk for an even richer mug cake, however, you may need to adjust the butter/banana ratios for it to work.

How to Make this Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake

Get Your Mug: You'll want a large microwave-safe mug to make this recipe. You can use smaller mugs, but you'll need be careful with the mug in the microwave. If you use a small mug, you'll need to watch it and stop the microwave for a moment to prevent the cake rise from overflowing from the mug! With a large mug, you shouldn't have to worry.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: If you have not done so, melt your vegan butter in the mug or in a small dish. Add the melted butter, plant milk, vanilla extract, and the sugar to the mug and then whisk them together.
Mix in the Dry Ingredients: Next, add the all purpose flour, baking powder, and cinnamon to mug and mix them together. Remember that it is just like a cake and can be over mixed! One thing that can help you prevent overmixing is to make sure to scrap down the sides of the mug with each stir. This will help incorporate the mixture faster with less overall mixing.
Stir in the Topping: If you have not done so already, mix your cinnamon sugar mixture together in a small bowl. Add the contents of the bowl to the top of the batter and then gently mix it in. We like to do this using a butter knife. Don't mix it in all the way. You can control how deep the topping is getting to your cake by pushing it down while mix it.
Microwave the Mug Cake: Add your mug to a microwave and cook it on high for 1 minute to 1:10. You know it's done when the batter has risen and pulled away from the sides of the mug at the top. Note that if your mug is on the smaller side, you may need to stop the microwave early if the cake is threatening to overflow. You can always let it cool down for 10 seconds and then microwave for 10 seconds more, and alternating until the cake is cooked.
Make the Glaze: Take your glaze ingredients and mix them in a measuring cup or small bowl. If the contents are too thick, consider adding small splashes of plant milk until it's the right consistency.
Serve: Grab a fork and top the mug cake with the sticky glaze and vegan ice cream if desired. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Could I make this in an oven?

Yes! It's a bit slower but the cake satisfy your sweet cravings either way. Make it in an oven-safe mug or small ramekin. Bake it on the top rack of your oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (or 177 degrees Celsius). You’ll want to bake it for 10-16 minutes (varies by oven and a variety of other factors) or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Be extra careful when removing it from the oven.

How do I know if my mug is microwave safe?

Most ceramic mugs and vessels are safe to microwave. Some might say if they are microwave safe on the bottom of the mug. You could also look up an item on the manufacture's website.

Could I use a liquid sugar like maple syrup?

Yes! Use about tablespoon of maple syrup or agave.

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