Vegan Mug Cake (10 Ways!)

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This delicious vegan mug cake is a game-changer for all of your sweet tooth cravings. It’s super quick, easy to make, and the best part is, it’s absolutely healthy! Made with simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and cocoa powder, this dairy free mug cake is a treat you can enjoy guilt-free. Enjoy this chocolate vegan mug cake, or customize it with one of our 10 flavor options below!

Whether you’re a chocolate lover, a vanilla cake or a peanut butter fan, this recipe has got you covered. With ten variations including chocolate mug cake, vanilla, and peanut butter mug cake – you can choose your own adventure. The secret to its moist, fluffy texture lies in the combination of almond milk and olive oil, while the dairy-free chocolate chips or peanut butter add that extra oomph.

This vegan mug cake is super rich and indulgent, but doesn’t compromise on health. The chocolate version is a heavenly blend of cocoa powder and vegan chocolate chips, while the vanilla and peanut butter variant offers a creamy and nutty delight. The rest of the options include all natural ingredients as well! All versions use almond milk, adding a subtle nuttiness that enhances the overall flavor.

This perfect dessert is such a decadent microwave cake — all you have to do is dump all the ingredients into a mug, stir, and put it in the microwave! With the right ratio of wet to dry ingredients, you’ll have a vanilla cake or a vegan chocolate cake in a mug – ready in no time.

If you happen to have a birthday coming up, then you can make these cakes for all of your guests — they’re great for providing a single serving cake to each guest, and makes a fun birthday cake for you! Just stick some candles in this super easy mug cake and commence the celebrations!

And if you’re looking for more vegan chocolate cakes, be sure to check out my gluten-free vegan chocolate lava cake recipe, which is totally decadent, gooey, rich and packed with chocolate flavor!

👩🏽‍🍳 Why You’ll Love This Vegan Microwave Cake

• Plant-Based: This vegan mug cake is a dream dessert for those following a plant-based diet. With no dairy and all-natural ingredients like almond milk and olive oil, this cake is as wholesome as it is delicious!
• Quick And Easy: Who said baking has to be time-consuming? With just a few simple steps, you can whip up this easy recipe in under six minutes. It’s perfect for those unexpected sweet cravings or a quick dessert after dinner.
• Versatile: This is the best mug cake because you can customize it however you like! Whether you’re a fan of chocolate or more into vanilla or peanut butter, this recipe has got you covered. Want a banana bread cake or a funfetti cake? A few simple swaps and you’ve got a new dessert!
• Simple Ingredients: This vegan microwave cake recipe uses ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. No need for fancy or hard-to-find items. Plus, it is so simple to make, it is perfect for beginner cooks and bakers.
• Family Friendly: This egg free mug cake is a hit with kids and adults alike. It is a great way to introduce the little ones to plant-based desserts. Plus, who can resist a cake that’s ready in minutes? 
• Portion Controlled: This is one time you can really just eat the entire cake without having to worry about portions!

🥘 Ingredients

These vegan mug cake recipes are as simple as they are scrumptious! The ingredients are basic pantry staples that you can easily find at your local grocery store or may already have at home.

Dry Ingredients

• Flour: All purpose regular flour is what we used for these single-serving cakes. It forms the foundation of this 5 minute vegan dessert.
• Sugar: White granulated regular sugar creates a bit of sweetness and moisture for this single serve vegan dessert.
• Cocoa Powder: Satisfy your chocolate craving with this dairy free chocolate mug cake recipe. For this version, you will need cocoa or cacao powder. Omit for the vanilla + peanut butter version (see notes below).
• Baking Powder: A leavening agent for the cakes, you will need some baking powder for this recipe.
• Chocolate Chips: Dairy-free chocolate chips are used in the vegan chocolate mug cake recipe and can be used as a filling for the vegan vanilla mug cake. You can use mini chocolate chips in place of typical chocolate chips. Make sure to use dark chocolate chips.

Wet Ingredients

• Pure Vanilla Extract: This key ingredient is used in all of our mug cake recipes, as it brings out the sweetness in this no-egg chocolate mug cake and adds vanilla flavor to the vanilla vegan mug cake.
• Olive Oil: Adds moisture and helps to create a tender crumb in our cake.
• Almond Milk: This non-dairy milk is our liquid ingredient, helping combine everything together. It also keeps this almond milk mug cake moist, and makes it milk-free and dairy-free!

🍲 Ingredient Substitutions

• Flour: If you don’t have all-purpose flour, you can use whole wheat flour. You can also make an oat flour mug cake or try almond flour for a gluten-free version. 
• Sugar: You can replace the regular sugar with coconut sugar, brown sugar, or your choice of liquid sweetener such as monk fruit or maple syrup.
• Cocoa Powder: If you don’t have cocoa powder, carob powder or cacao powder can be a good substitute for the eggless chocolate mug cake version.
• Chocolate Chips: If you don’t have dairy-free chocolate chips, you can chop up a dairy-free chocolate bar into small pieces. 
• Dairy Free Milk: Any plant-based milk such as soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk can be used in place of almond milk. 
• Oil: Any neutral-flavored vegetable oil can be used in place of olive oil such as coconut oil, avocado oil, or canola oil.
• Peanut Butter: The vanilla peanut butter mug cake uses just a tiny amount of peanut butter. You can use either crunchy or creamy. If you don’t have peanut butter on hand, you can substitute it with any nut butter – cashew or almond butter would both work well.
• Cooking Spray: If you don’t have olive oil cooking spray, you can simply use a little bit of your favorite plant-based oil and spread it around the inside of the mug with a pastry brush or paper towel.

🔪 How To Make Vegan Mug Cake

Ready for a quick and easy dessert? Here’s how to make an easy vegan mug cake! For more detailed instructions and nutrition facts, see the recipe card below.

Mix Dry Ingredients: Add the all purpose flour and other dry ingredients to your greased mug. Mix to combine.

Add Wet Ingredients: Next, add the wet ingredients and stir to combine.

Add Your Filling: For the chocolate vegan mug cake, add chocolate chips to the batter. For the vanilla mug cake recipe, don’t use a filling, or add peanut butter to the center of the batter. For the other flavors, see the variations section below.

Cook The Cake: Cook this vegan cake in a mug in the microwave for 60 seconds.

Serve: The best part about this recipe is eating this single serving cake warm!

💭 Expert Tips

• Choose The Right Mug: Always use a microwave-safe mug for this healthy mug cake recipe. It should be big enough to allow the cake to rise without spilling over.
• Perfect The Batter: For best results, mix the dry and wet ingredients separately before combining. This guarantees a smooth, lump-free batter that will result in a moist and fluffy mug cake.
• Don’t Overcook: Microwaving the cake for exactly one minute is crucial. Overcooking can make the cake dry, so keep an eye on it to ensure it stays moist and soft.
• Enjoy It Fresh: This vegan cake is best enjoyed immediately after cooking. It tends to become stale after a few hours, so savor its fresh, warm deliciousness right away.
• Alternative Baking Method: If you don’t have a microwave, bake the mug cake in an oven-proof small ramekin at a temperature of 350 degrees F for approximately ten minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

📖 Variations

Here are some of our favorite ways to customize the flavors of this delicious vegan mug cake recipe:

• Vegan Vanilla Mug Cake: Omit the cocoa powder and chocolate chips, and follow the rest of the directions as written!
• Banana Bread Mug Cake: In the vanilla version, use 1/2 a mashed banana instead of the peanut butter. Add 1 tablespoon of chopped walnuts in the batter and add a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter before stirring and baking for a delicious vegan banana mug cake.
• Sugar Free Mug Cake: You can either just use less sugar to make these mug cakes healthier, or omit the sugar and replace it with stevia or monk fruit to make this sugar free!
• Snickerdoodle Mug Cake: From the vanilla version – omit the peanut butter and add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Create that snickerdoodle topping by combining sugar & cinnamon in equal parts and sprinkling it over your mug cake before microwaving it.
• Vegan Lemon Mug Cake: Add the zest of half a lemon to the vegan vanilla mug cake for a delicious lemon variation that’s bright, fresh, and incredibly zesty!
• Funfetti Mug Cake: Follow the vanilla cake recipe, but add 1 tablespoon of rainbow sprinkles into the center of the cake!
• Vegan Peanut Butter Mug Cake: Add 2 tbsp peanut butter to the center of the mug cake, and omit the cocoa powder in the batter. For a Reese’s pieces inspired version, add some extra chocolate chips on top!
• Vegan Apple Mug Cake: Want to bring the taste of fall into your mug? Try adding a tablespoon of grated apple and a pinch of cinnamon to the vanilla and peanut butter recipe. This variation will give you a delicious apple pie-like flavor in your mug cake!
• Vegan Cookie Mug Cake: Craving for cookies? No problem! Simply add a tablespoon of crushed vegan cookies to any of the basic recipes. The cookies will add a delightful crunch and flavor to your mug cake. You can also make a vegan brownie mug cake by adding brownie pieces into the middle of the cake instead of the crushed cookies!
• Vegan Blueberry Muffin Mug Cake: Love blueberry muffins? Try adding a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries to the vanilla and peanut butter recipe. The blueberries will burst during cooking, creating a juicy, fruity surprise in every bite!

🍽 Serving Suggestions

When it comes to serving our vegan microwave mug cake, the possibilities are endless! Whether you’re after a sweet treat for breakfast, a decadent dessert, or a yummy snack, this mug cake can be paired with a variety of dishes to suit your cravings. Here are some of our favorite serving suggestions:

• Breakfast: Start your morning with a bang by enjoying the vegan mug cake alongside a refreshing breakfast fruit salad or a bowl of bananas and cream oatmeal. You can also pair it with delicious mocha latte or a glass of chocolate milk tea.
• Desserts: Looking for a guilt-free dessert? Serve this mug cake with a scoop of your favorite ice cream. Mine is a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream for the chocolate cake, and some caramel nice cream for the vanilla cake. For a fruitier twist, pair it with a serving of fresh berries or a drizzle of homemade vegan honey.
• Toppings: Peanut butter, almond butter or even sunflower seed butter would all taste great drizzled on top. Or you can use some vegan frosting or make your own at home! That turns these into little cupcakes! I also I love coconut yogurt, but any dairy free yogurt will work drizzled over top, with a sprinkle of granola or vegan chocolate chips! For a lighter option, top with your favorite fresh fruits!

🙌 Dietary Adaptations

All of the variations – including the chocolate and vanilla peanut butter mug cake recipes provided are already vegan and dairy-free, which is fantastic for those following these dietary preferences. Here’s how to make it gluten free or lower in sugar:

• Gluten Free Mug Cake: To make this mug cake gluten-free, use a GF (gluten-free) flour. I like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1:1 Flour. You can also make this vegan mug cake with almond flour or oat flour. Just make sure that you’re using certified gluten-free oat flour if you’re sensitive to gluten, as oats are often processed in facilities that also process wheat, barley, and rye. 
• For A Lower Sugar Option: You can reduce the amount of sugar in this moist cake, or replace it with a healthier alternative. For example, you could use coconut sugar, which has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar, or a sugar substitute like stevia or monk fruit sweetener. Remember, these alternatives can be sweeter than regular sugar, so adjust the quantity to taste.

🫙 Storage Directions

• To Refrigerate: Unfortunately, this delicious vegan mug cake doesn’t store well in the fridge. It tends to become stale after a few hours, so it is best enjoyed fresh right after cooking.
• To Freeze: Freezing this non dairy mug cake is not recommended either. The texture and taste could be compromised, making it less enjoyable when thawed and reheated.

❓Recipe FAQs

🧁 More Sweet Treats and Healthy Desserts!

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