Brown Sugar Cinnamon Mug Cake
A soft brown sugar cinnamon mug cake with a buttery cinnamon swirl, ready in the microwave in just a few minutes.
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 3 tbsp whole milk
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 small scoop vanilla ice cream, optional
- whipped cream, lightly whipped, optional
Instructions
- Use a microwave-safe mug with at least a 12-ounce capacity.
- In the mug, whisk together the flour, 2 tbsp brown sugar, baking powder, 1/8 tsp cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the milk, 1 tbsp melted butter, and vanilla. Stir only until no dry flour remains. Do not aggressively overmix.
- In a small bowl or spoon, combine 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp melted butter.
- Spoon the cinnamon mixture over the mug-cake batter. Use the tip of a knife or toothpick to gently swirl it through the upper portion of the batter. Do not completely mix it in.
- Wipe any batter from the upper inside walls of the mug.
- Microwave on HIGH for 60 seconds. Check the cake — the edges should look set while the center remains soft and moist.
- If necessary, microwave in additional 10-second intervals until just cooked. Most microwaves should require approximately 60–90 seconds total.
- Let the mug cake stand for 1–2 minutes before eating. The mug will be very hot.
- Serve warm, optionally with a small amount of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Nutrition
Chef's Notes
DO NOT OVERCOOK: Microwave cakes continue cooking briefly after the microwave stops. Pull the cake while the center still looks slightly soft rather than waiting until it appears completely dry. MICROWAVE POWER VARIES: Start with 60 seconds. A high-powered microwave may need very little additional time, while a lower-powered microwave may require several additional 10-second bursts. USE A LARGE ENOUGH MUG: Use at least a 12-ounce microwave-safe mug so the batter has room to rise. CINNAMON SWIRL: Keep the cinnamon-brown-sugar mixture partially swirled rather than completely mixing it into the batter. This creates pockets of buttery cinnamon flavor. STORAGE: This recipe is designed to be made and eaten immediately. It is not intended as a make-ahead dessert. Leftover mug cake may be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day, but texture is best when freshly cooked.