Snickerdoodle Mug Cake bakes up in the microwave in just one minute, yielding a warm, cinnamon-sugary treat that will satisfy any sweet tooth!
How many times have you had a sugar craving, only to discover that there's nary a cookie nor a cupcake nor a candy bar in the house? Now that's not always a bad thing, mind you. Sometimes the only thing that prevents me from ingesting too much sugar is the fact that I made a point not to buy or make sweets in the first place. 😉
Mug Cake Love
But other times, IneedsomethingsweetandIneeditrightNOW! And in those instances, spending a few minutes throwing together a microwave mug cake seems a bit more refined than scarfing chocolate chips straight out of the bag.
Did y'all happen to catch the One-Minute Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake that I posted last spring? Because it is, to put it bluntly, awesome. In fact, I've had quite a few comments from people declaring it the best mug cake recipe they've ever tried. And while it's hard -- nay, impossible -- to top chocolate and peanut butter, sometimes I'm in the mood for something vanilla-based instead. So I decided to take my Chocolate Peanut Butter M.C. and attempt to remove the chocolate...and the peanut butter. And would you believe my efforts were a success?!
Cinnamon Sugar Mug Cake
I clearly have a thing for snickerdoodle treats, seeing as how I've already shared cinnamon-sugary variations of popcorn, candied pecans, quick bread, muffins, and coffee syrup. So what would be more natural than a cinnamon sugar mug cake that ends up tasting like a soft, warm, snickerdoodle cookie?
Snickerdoodle Mug Cake is just that...a moist, tender cake, spiced with cinnamon and layered with cinnamon sugar. And y'all...it can be crossing your lips in under five minutes from start to finish! Just a few basic ingredients are mixed, poured into a mug, and microwaved. And then, before your very eyes, the batter transforms into cake, rising up to the top of the mug and then collapsing a bit once the baking stops.
Most mug cakes end up having a less-than-desirable texture...dense and gummy and just kind of weird. But not this one! I feel like the secret to a light, tender, amazing texture in a mug cake comes from leaving out the eggs. That's right! No egg in this mug cake recipe (or any of my others). It's not only easier to make a mug cake without an egg, but it turns out so much tastier!
(Oh, and I realize that y'all are smart enough to figure out how to layer the batter with cinnamon sugar, but I was playing around with baking one of these in a clear mug...so you get a photo. It was actually fun to watch the batter transform into cake, like some nerdy food blogger science experiment.)
This recipe is perfect for those there's-nothing-sweet-in-the-house sugar cravings. But since making it does require minimal effort, it's easy enough to stop at one. And one batch can even be shared! I actually make a couple of mug cakes for dessert sometimes and split them between our family of five.
Tips & Tricks
- The strength of individual microwaves can vary, so the first time you make this recipe, you'll need to experiment a bit to make sure that 1 minute is the perfect length of baking time. The nice thing about this treat is that even if it is undercooked, you don't have to worry about raw eggs!
- My Snickerdoodle Mug Cake was done to my liking in one minute and 15 seconds. This is slightly longer than I bake my Chocolate Peanut Butter version, since I prefer that one to have a molten center.
- Unsalted butter will work just fine in this recipe, but I find that using salted butter (or adding a tiny pinch of salt) adds a small flavor boost.
- A tall, cylindrical mug with straight (not angled) sides will ensure that the cake bakes evenly. I found a 14-ounce mug to be the perfect size to allow the cake to rise up while baking without overflowing. (I filled my mug to the top with water and then transferred the water to a measuring cup to determine its capacity.) If you use a smaller mug, you may want to bake the cake on top of a plate or paper towel to catch any possible overflow.
- I also advise you to place a plate under your mug the first time you make this treat to catch any potential spillage.
The bottom line is that this recipe is pretty darn flexible. Experiment with what you've got and you'll quickly figure out the winning formula!
If you like cake...if you enjoy snickerdoodles...if you're a fan of instant gratification...if you own a mug...this Snickerdoodle Mug Cake recipe was made for you! Please say that you'll try it and let me know what you think? And then go ahead and try the chocolate peanut butter version and let me know which one you like better.
Because for me? Honestly, it's a toss-up at this point. They're totally different but equally scrumptious. Guess I'll keep making them both until I can decide a clear winner. <insert fake sigh> Food blogging is a tough job, but somebody's got to do it... 😉
More Effortless Mug Cakes
Snickerdoodle Mug Cake
Ingredients
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup milk, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted and cooled
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For layering/topping:
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon until thoroughly, completely combined, with no streaks of any ingredients remaining. Blend in milk, butter, and vanilla until batter is smooth. Into a 14-ounce (or larger) microwave-safe mug with straight sides, scoop a big spoonful of batter, then sprinkle with a spoonful of cinnamon sugar. Alternate layers, ending with cinnamon sugar.
- Microwave on high for 1 to 1 ½ minutes, or until cake is done to your liking. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- A tall, cylindrical mug with straight (not angled) sides will ensure that the cake bakes evenly. I found a 14-ounce mug to be the perfect size to allow the cake to rise up while baking without overflowing. (I filled my mug to the top with water and then transferred the water to a measuring cup to determine its capacity.) If you use a smaller mug, you may want to bake the cake on top of a plate or paper towel to catch any possible overflow.
- The strength of individual microwaves can vary. The first time you make this recipe, be prepared to experiment a bit to make sure that 1 minute is the perfect length of baking time. The nice thing about this cake is that even if it is undercooked, you don't have to worry about raw eggs!
- Unsalted butter will work just fine in this recipe, but I find that using salted butter adds a tiny flavor boost.
Adapted from One-Minute Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake
Originally published on January 15, 2015
Lewis
This recipe is a keeper. My wife and I love it.
Emily M
i doubled the recipe, used brown sugar and baked a bit longer (little over 2 min) in a square ceramic cereal bowl instead, came out awesome! yum. thank you!
Amber Koch
So So good! Only thing I changed was using about a tablespoon of chocolate chips. Might try to double it next time I make it just so I have more!
Mary jo Borel
Snicker doodles are my favorite cookies. Can’t wait to make these!
Audie
Hi! This looks delicious. If I don't have access to a microwave at home, how long would you recommend baking in an oven?
Sus
You are my new best friend. I have an egg allergy *and* an extreme sweet tooth, especially for cinnamony things. It's raining and I don't have any flour in the house but Imma brave the flood just so I can try this tout de suite!
Ellora
This was delicious! I used oil as a substitute for the butter and it turned out great!
Austin H.
Damn this is good! I used whole wheat flour, brown sugar, and 1 tbsp butter....still turned out amazing for a microwave cookie. I only imagine how dank this is if one follows the recipe as written. Well done, beautiful Texan momma.
Chanele
It probably shouldn't be called a snickerdoodle mug cake with the amount of modifications I made but OMG, I have never tasted a mug cake like this. I did the almond milk modification (as suugested by others), used Brown sugar instead of white and apple sauce instead of butter (because let's face it, cinnamon and apples belong together). Simply out of this world! Thanks for the recipe!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Glad you enjoyed and thanks for sharing your modifications, Chanele! 🙂
M. Atique
This was hands down the best mug cake I've ever tried and believe me I've tried plenty so thank you for this amazing recipe! The texture is really soft and the first few bites melt into your mouth. Every bite has that sweet cinnamony flavour and the crunchy sugar on top takes it to another level. It's delicious and warm and perfect for fall!!
Shereen
I made this gluten and dairy free. I used gluten free flour and earth balance (vegan) butter and it turned out REALLY good. Thanks for the recipe!
Kitkat101
Omg awesome mug cake I love it . It always turns out really good
Cole
I added a but of glaze at the end, made with milk and powdered sugar. Super, super tasty!
Nini
This was delicious! Quick and easy to make and satisfied the cake craving I was having.
You might want to rethink your ads tho. Seeing ads for skin tags and moles on a food blog is pretty gross. I tried to scroll fast but that is seared in my brain now.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Glad you enjoyed the cake, Nini!
And so sorry about the ads...that type of ad should not be showing on my blog, but sometimes they slip through. I appreciate you letting me know and I'll share the complaint with my ad network!
Elle
Oh my! I tried the recipe without cinnamon, which I'm sure took a piece of godness oit of the recipe, and it tasted heavenly! I've searched everywhere for a good mug cake recipe, and yours is so far the best! Most recipes end up being bitter, even when I add extra sugar, but yours was delectable! I love it!
Elle
Hi, could I omit the cinnamon?
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Sure! 🙂
kait
?I cooked for 11 minutes and it was in smoke . then my cat went in the kitchen . Not very safe cause the smoke was all in the kitchen . ?????death wish
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Hi Kait. The directions say to microwave this mug cake for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. 11 minutes is definitely way too long and a fire hazard! I'm glad you and your cat are okay.
Jenny
Hey I did this once as a teenager, hit the 30 minute button and before you know it... Smoke everywhere.
Katie Mize
I was skeptical when the batter was so thick, but it was delicious! A minute and a half was perfect. My ten year old son and I made this and it was so yummy! We didn’t have milk so he suggested we use some of a leftover cappuccino and the results were ??. Thanks for sharing this fun recipe.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Glad it was a hit, Katie!