Gingerbread Mug Cake

Why You'll Love This Recipe:

You will love this gingerbread mug cake recipe because it is:

• Budget-friendly, using only a few pantry staples that you might already have.
• Quick and easy to make in the microwave, perfect for a single-serving dessert.
• Adaptable and can be made dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian using plant-based alternatives.
• A delicious dessert that can be enjoyed hot or warm.

Ingredients In This Recipe

The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.

Butter - we use salted butter, but you could also use unsalted butter or dairy-free butter.

Sugar - use soft brown sugar rather than white granulated sugar because it contains molasses, which helps make the cake moist along with the butter.

Milk - We used dairy milk, but a non-milk can also work.

Spices - cinnamon powder and ginger powder are the spices used for this mug cake, they add a nice warm flavor and it smells so nice when it bakes.

Flour and baking powder - use all-purpose flour (plain flour) and add baking powder to help the cake rise as it bakes. 

Molasses - is a classic ingredient in gingerbread and helps to add flavor and color to the mug cake.

Equipment

• Microwave oven
• A microwave-safe mug at 350 ml (12 ounces) capacity.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1 - Place the butter into a 350 ml (12 ounces) microwave-safe mug and microwave on high for 20 - 30 seconds to melt.

Step 2 - Add the molasses, milk, salt, sugar, ginger powder, and cinnamon powder and mix well.

Step 3 - Stir in the flour and baking powder and mix until well combined. Use a spoon to even out the top of the batter.

Place the mug into the microwave oven and cook on high for 1 minute, or until cooked. - Refer to the Cooking Times in the notes below.

Remove from the microwave and cool for five minutes or more before serving - this allows the cake to set and the flavor to develop.

Enjoy warm or at room temperature. 

Recipe Tips

Mug size

Use a mug that has a capacity of at least 1 ½ cups (350 ml, 12 ounces) because this will allow enough room for the cake to rise and leave enough space for any topping you might like to add.

Mixing the batter

You can mix the batter in the mug (saves washing up) or in a separate bowl and spoon the mixture into the mug after mixing. 

Don't over-mix the batter because it just needs to be combined with the wet ingredients so that there are no dry bits left.

Greasing the mug

You don't need to grease the mug before adding the batter.

Cooking times

Every microwave oven is different, and the cooking times will vary, so this is how you can tell when the mug cake is ready: 

• A microwave mug cake is ready when the top feels slightly tacky to the touch. You want it a little sticky on top because the cake will continue to cook for about 1 minute or so after microwaving.  
• If it looks too wet, it is undercooked and will need further cooking in increments of 5 -1 0 seconds until done.
• If it feels dry to the touch, it has been overcooked and could taste a little dry. 

Serving Size

One mug cake is a serving size.

Calories Per Serve

There are about 645 calories in a serving of the gingerbread mug cake without toppings.

Serving Suggestions

You can enjoy the gingerbread mug cake as it is, straight from the mug or with a topping like a dusting of icing sugar, or a dollop of whipped cream.

It can also be served with a side of ice cream and with or without fresh fruit.

Substitutions

You can use self-rising flour instead of plain flour and baking powder.

More Easy Recipes

If you like this gingerbread much cake recipe you might also like these easy desserts:

• Mixed fruits in cream
• Dulce de leche mousse
• Red velvet brownies with cake mix
• Easy apricot cake