Microwave mug cakes are a quick and easy dessert that can be made in just a few minutes. They’re perfect for the single cook when you’re craving something sweet, and, since they’re made in a mug, there’s little cleaning-up to do.
The following recipes can be made entirely with Pantry Essentials, but, of course, they can be customized to your liking. They are also healthy and nutritious, being made with wholemeal flour and little or no sugar. In fact, they can be considered a meal in themselves and could serve as a dessert, snack or a weekend breakfast. For an additional nutrition boost, they can be served with a dollop of natural yoghurt. While I’m calling these cakes-in-a-mug, they can also be made in a small bowl.
As these cakes are made without eggs, they are naturally vegetarian, but can be made vegan by using a plant-based milk, or where indicated, fruit juice. For the gluten intolerant, oat flour can be substituted for the wholemeal flour. If you have a nut allergy, obviously avoid the Nut Cake and you can substitute skim milk powder for the almond meal and 1 teaspoon of sugar for 1 tablespoon of desiccated coconut, though you might need to add a little more flour or quick oats to get the right consistency.
Any cooking oil can be substituted for the canola oil. White flour can be substituted for the wholemeal flour, and if you have self-raising flour on hand, you can use it instead and omit the baking powder.
For more quick desserts you can refer to the following entries:
» Quick and Healthy Desserts from the Pantry
» Things to do with a Granny Smith Apple
» Things to do with Frozen Mixed Berries
Recipes:
Nut Cake-in-a-Mug
- 2 tbsp. wholemeal plain flour
- 1 tbsp. quick oats
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- 1 tbsp. almond meal
- 1 tbsp. (plus) desiccated coconut
- 1 tbsp. peanut butter
- ¼ cup low-fat milk
- 1 tbsp. chopped mixed nuts (optional)
- Ginger
- In a wide mug or small bowl, mix together flour, oats, baking powder, almond meal, coconut and ginger
- Stir in chopped nuts (optional)
- Add peanut butter and milk and mix thoroughly
- Smooth out and sprinkle with desiccated coconut (optional)
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes
Variations:
- substitute butter, margarine or any nut spread for the peanut butter
- substitute chocolate-hazelnut spread for the peanut butter
- substitute chocolate chips for the chopped nuts
Chocolate Cake-in-a-Mug
- 3 tbsp. wholemeal plain flour
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- 1 tbsp. (plus) desiccated coconut
- 1 tbsp. almond meal
- 2 tsp. cocoa powder
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1 tbsp. canola oil
- ¼ cup low-fat milk
- Chilli (optional)
- In a wide mug or small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder coconut, almond meal, cocoa powder, sugar and a pinch of chilli (optional)
- Add canola oil and milk and mix thoroughly
- Smooth out and sprinkle with desiccated coconut (optional)
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes
Variations:
- substitute 3–4 tsp. drinking chocolate for the cocoa powder and sugar
- substitute instant coffee for some or all of the cocoa powder and omit the chilli
- stir in 1–2 tbsp. chocolate chips at Step 2
Citrus Cake-in-a-Mug
- 3 tbsp. wholemeal plain flour
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- 1 tbsp. (plus) desiccated coconut
- 1 tbsp. almond meal
- 2 tsp. canola oil
- 2 tbsp. low-fat milk
- 1 tbsp. orange or lemon juice
- Ginger
- In a wide mug or small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, coconut, almond meal and some ginger
- Add canola oil, milk and orange or lemon juice and mix thoroughly
- Smooth out and sprinkle with desiccated coconut (optional)
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes
Serving suggestion: whisk 1 tsp. lemon or orange juice and 1 tsp. sugar into 1 tbsp. natural yoghurt and serve on cake as a frosting
Mixed Berry Cake-in-a-Mug
- 3 tbsp. wholemeal plain flour
- 1 tbsp. almond meal
- 1 tbsp. (plus) desiccated coconut
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ cup frozen (mixed) berries
- 1 tbsp. canola oil
- ¼ cup low-fat milk
- Cinnamon and/or ginger
- In a wide mug or small bowl, mix together flour, almond meal, coconut, baking powder, cinnamon and/or ginger
- Add mixed berries, canola oil and milk and mix thoroughly
- Smooth out and sprinkle with desiccated coconut (optional)
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes
Banana Cake-in-a-Mug
- 1 small banana, very ripe
- 1 tbsp. low-fat milk
- 1 tbsp. canola oil
- 3 tbsp. wholemeal plain flour
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ½ tbsp. (plus) desiccated coconut
- Cinnamon and ginger
- Thoroughly mash or liquidise the banana (with spices and milk)
- In a wide mug or small bowl, mix together mashed banana, spices, milk and canola oil
- Add flour, baking powder and desiccated coconut and mix thoroughly.
- Smooth out and sprinkle with desiccated coconut (optional)
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes
Variations:
- cover 1 tbsp. sultanas (or similar) with water, microwave for 60 seconds, drain and stir into the mixture after Step 1
- substitute fruit juice for the milk
Apple Cake-in-a-Mug
- ½ (Granny Smith) apple
- 1 tsp. sugar
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tbsp. canola oil
- 2 tbsp. low-fat milk
- 2 tbsp. plain wholemeal flour
- 1 tbsp. quick oats
- 1 tbsp. almond meal
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- Chopped nuts or desiccated coconut (optional)
- Peel and chop the apple
- In a wide mug or small bowl, mix together chopped apple, sugar and cinnamon
- Microwave on high for 60 seconds
- Stir in canola oil and milk
- Mix in flour, oats, almond meal and baking powder
- Smooth out and sprinkle with chopped nuts or desiccated coconut (optional)
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes
Variations:
- cover 1 tbsp. sultanas (or similar) with water, microwave for 60 seconds, drain and stir into the mixture at Step 3
- substitute fruit juice for the milk
Carrot Cake-in-a-Mug
- 3 tbsp. wholemeal plain flour
- 1 tbsp. quick oats
- 1 tbsp. (plus) desiccated coconut
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ cup grated carrot
- 1 tbsp. canola oil
- ¼ cup low-fat milk
- Cinnamon and ginger
- In a wide mug or small bowl, mix together flour, oats, coconut, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger
- Add grated carrot, canola oil and milk and mix thoroughly
- Smooth out and sprinkle with desiccated coconut (optional)
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes
Variations:
- substitute boiled and mashed pumpkin or sweet potato for the grated carrot
- cover 1 tbsp. sultanas (or similar) with water, microwave for 60 seconds, drain and stir into the mixture at Step 2
- stir 1 tbsp. chopped nuts into the mixture at Step 2
- substitute fruit juice for the milk