Sometimes all you want in this world is something sweet. A warm, gooey, fragrant dessert could be just the thing you need to get through the week. 

But then the thoughts of sugar, calories, and fat set in. You could reach for some boxed, lightened-up snacks or desserts full of artificial sweeteners and chemicals, or you could make a super quick, super cute dessert made from all-natural ingredients found in almost every pantry. 

Making mug cakes are a quick and easy way to satisfy sweet cravings. We tested out five different unique mug cake recipes, and the results were delicious:

Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake

  • Prep Time:2 mins
  • Cook Time:2 mins
  • Total Time:4 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 tablespoon coconut sugar or your favorite sweetener
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 2.5 tablespoons almond milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Chocolate chips
cream, milk, ice, chocolate, dairy product, sweet, coffee, ice cream
Lauren Arendt
  • Step 1

    After spraying your mug with cooking spray, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in the mug.

    coffee
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 2

    Add wet ingredients (oil, milk, and vanilla) and mix until well incorporated. You want minimal chunks for the best results.

    coffee, milk, chocolate, cream, sweet, pudding, espresso, candy, cappuccino, dairy product
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 3

    Stick the mug in the microwave for about 30 seconds at a time, being careful not to overcook. Try sticking a toothpick into the center to ensure it is cooked through.

    chocolate, cream, sweet, coffee, cake, beef
    Lauren Arendt

Taste Test: The chocolate mug cake was incredible. Even after microwave cooking, it stayed moist and flavorful. The large ratio of cocoa powder gives it a deep, satisfying chocolate flavor. Coming in at around 200 calories, this little treat provides a sweet-fix without maxing out your calorie intake for the day. 

Vegan Peanut Butter Mug Cake

  • Prep Time:2 mins
  • Cook Time:1 min
  • Total Time:3 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup could substitute for another sweetener
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 vanilla extract optional
  • Chocolate chips optional
Lauren Arendt
  • Step 1

    If you are using thick peanut butter, microwave it for about thirty seconds by itself in the mug to make it more easily mixable with the other ingredients.

    coffee, beer, tea
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 2

    Combine all ingredients (leaving out the chocolate chips) in the mug and stir with a fork to ensure that ingredients are well incorporated.

    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 3

    Fold chocolate chips into cake batter.

    cream, vegetable, soup
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 4

    Microwave in 30 second increments, making sure the cake does not over cook. Try the toothpick test to be sure that the center has fully cooked.

    milk, cream, chocolate, coffee
    Lauren Arendt

Taste Test: This mug cake comes out tasting like a fluffy, decadent peanut butter cookie. The texture is less like a slice of cake and more like a brownie and will be perfect for all of the peanut butter lovers out there. The peanut butter makes it a little more calorie-intensive, but the ingredients are all-natural and wholesome.

Vegan Funfetti Vanilla Mug Cake

  • Prep Time:2 secs
  • Cook Time:1 sec
  • Total Time:3 secs
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sweetener choice
  • Pinch salt keep it small!
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
  • Sprinkles
dairy product, sweet, cream, bread, pudding, coffee, chocolate
Lauren Arendt
  • Step 1

    Whisk all dry ingredients inside of an 8 oz mug.

    coffee, milk, tea, sweet, cream
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 2

    Add wet ingredients and mix until well incorporated. Add desired amount of sprinkles.

    cream, sprinkles, chocolate, ice, milk, ice cream
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 3

    Microwave until the center is cooked through, but be sure not to overcook. Try the toothpick test.

    bread, sweet, cream, chocolate, cake
    Lauren Arendt

Taste Test: This cake is super cute and smells amazing coming out of the microwave. The sprinkles make it fun and the ingredients are light and satisfying. It is the perfect way to quench your sweet tooth using pure, light ingredients. 

Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake

  • Prep Time:2 mins
  • Cook Time:1 min
  • Total Time:3 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons sweetener choice
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
cake, chocolate, sweet, pastry, cookie, cream, candy
Lauren Arendt
  • Step 1

    Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl.

    sweet, cream, milk, chocolate, cake, coffee, dairy product, flour
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 2

    Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into a greased mug.

    peanut butter, cream, peanut
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 3

    Microwave until the center is fully cooked, but do not overcook. Try the toothpick test, and enjoy!

    sweet, cream, bread, pastry, cake, hummus
    Lauren Arendt

Taste Test: The simplicity of this mug cake makes it perfect in a time crunch. Even though it contains minimal ingredients, the warm cinnamon-sweet is extremely satisfying a flavorful.

Vegan Banana Bread in a Mug

  • Prep Time:2 mins
  • Cook Time:1 min
  • Total Time:3 mins
  • Servings:1
  • Easy

    Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 2 tablespoons sweetener choice
  • 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons water
  • 1 tablespoon overripe mashed banana
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Optional Topping:
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons overripe mashed banana
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
sweet, cake, chocolate, dairy product, pastry, pudding
Lauren Arendt
  • Step 1

    Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl.

    milk, coffee, cinnamon
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 2

    Mix wet ingredients and incorporate thoroughly. Scoop mixture into a greased mug.

    sweet, cream, cake, jam
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 3

    Microwave until the center is fully cooked, but do not over cook. Try the toothpick test.

    milk, cream, hummus, dairy product
    Lauren Arendt
  • Step 4

    For a sweet topping, combine cinnamon, brown sugar, mashed banana, and coconut oil (optional).

    Lauren Arendt

Taste Test: This mug cake tastes exactly like banana bread. If overcooking is avoided, the cake remains moist and smells heavenly. The topping is a great addition in terms of varying the texture, however is completely optional.