I’ve been getting a lot of requests for lemon recipes: lemon bars, lemon cakes, etc. I’m working on trying to get some on the blog but I rarely have fresh lemons in my house and I’m not a very big citrus dessert person.
I recently had a few lemons laying around and decided to try making a lemon mug cake.
It came out light and fluffy and lemony. I do feel like it was a little plain and needed something to make it stand out but I’m not sure what.
I did add a little lemon zest to it as well. Perhaps next time I’ll add a glaze. I do think it’s a good start for a base of a lemon cake though and if you really love lemon cakes this is a quick and easy one.
Update: Please check out this newer lemon cloud mug cake I made that I think is even better than this one (though this one is fine too!).
Lemon Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 3 tbsp fat free milk
- 2 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
- lemon zest
Instructions
- Using a small whisk, mix together flour, baking powder, sugar, milk, oil and lemon juice in a microwave safe mug until batter is smooth. Grate some fresh lemon zest on top of batter and whisk into batter.
- Cook in microwave for about 1 minute. Top of cake should be dry. Let cool before eating. Add a lemon glaze if desired.
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Tried two times to make this and both times it was a huge fail I’m a good cook, so I know what I’m doing.
Lots of readers have made this recipe with success, so without knowing more details it’s hard to know what happened with yours unless you let us know. Would love to help if we can!
I’m home alone today and craving cake, I didn’t want to use a whole cake recipe and looked for a mug cake to have the ingredients already set for one portion. I decided to use this recipe and bake it in the oven instead, let’s see what comes out of it ? thank you for the recipe!
Loved it ? heaven in a Mug ?
I’m so glad you liked it!
This tasted pretty good, but I think the lemon flavor could be increased a little more, but then again I didn’t use and lemon glaze. ?
I’m glad you liked it. the lemon glaze definitely helps!
i to did not use the glaze but the second time i made it i added another tbsp of lemon juice and a dash of salt. it made it so much better without having to make the glaze!
Thanks for letting us know!
idk why i might have messed up but it was so nasty-
Sounds like maybe you mismeasured some ingredients?
Lemon glaze recipe please
You can mix about a tablespoon of powdered sugar with a little lemon juice to make the glaze. You can adjust those two ingredients to get a consistency to drizzle the glaze over the cake. Hope that helps!
How do I prepare it to be moist?
Don’t overcook the mug cake – that will dry it out and make it rubbery.
Good recipe. I added a few drops of vanilla and a shake or two of salt. It was great with a lemon glaze. 2 tblsp of confectioners sugar and about 1 tblsp lemon juice. That woke it up.
I’m glad you liked it!
I’ve made this many times and love it! Thank you for the wonderful recipe. ??
I’m so glad you like it!
I made this today for my husband’s birthday. We don’t like to have a huge cake around for the two of us, and this was perfect! I melted 1 TB of butter in the mug first, instead of oil and swished it around the mug, then added the wet ingredients to the mug, followed by the dry. Used 2% milk. I made 2 mugs, each separately, and added the glaze after they cooled down at bit. The lemon juice in the glaze added another layer of lemon flavor! Yum! A keeper that I will make again. Yes… do use fresh squeezed lemon and zest.
I’m so glad it worked out!
Do you know what happened if your mug cake is still ever so slightly transparent on the inside? But it tastes great!
I’m not quite understanding your question but I’m glad it tasted great!
Absolutely delicious!!! I’ve made A LOT of mug cakes during quarantine and this one was by far the best! My microwave has never made a mug cake so light and fluffy!!! Love it, thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I decided to make this for me and my parents and we loved it!! I just want to thank you and myself for finding this recipe. will definitely make again!
I’m glad you and your parents liked it!