A single serving mug cake that tastes like a snickerdoodle cookie in cake form. This easy fluffy cinnamon sugar cake cooks in the microwave in just one minute.
I am really excited to share this new mug cake recipe with you today. I took a small break from creating new mug cake recipes, but that ends now.
The mug cake starts with a cinnamon butter cake. It then has a swirl of cinnamon sugar mixed in and is topped with some more cinnamon sugar. It really does taste like the cookie in cake form.
Mug Cake Size
To truly keep this to one serving, this makes a small cake about the size of a cupcake. It will just fill an 8 oz mug. Keep in mind that an 8 oz mug is not your standard mug. It is about the size of a child’s mug.
If you want the mug cake to fill your favorite oversized coffee mug, you can easily adjust the recipe. I often make 1.5x or 2x the recipe if I plan on sharing my cake.
How to Determine the Size of Your Mug
To determine how many ounces your mug holds, fill it to the top with water. Then pour the water into a liquid measuring cup.
Microwave Setting
I cook my cake at full power in my 1000 watt microwave. If you have a lower wattage microwave, you will likely need to cook the cake a little longer. If your microwave is stronger than 1000 watts, you will need to reduce cooking time or reduce cooking power.
Eggless Mug Cake Texture
Like the majority of my mug cakes, this cake does not contain egg. This is something I came up with a few years when I wrote my mug cake cookbook.*
Adding a full egg to such a small amount of cake batter causes the cake to have a gummy and spongy texture. Without the egg, the cake texture stays super fluffy. However, the crumbs of this cake are looser because the cake is missing a strong binding agent. Therefore, even though this cake bakes up like a cupcake, it is best to keep it in the mug when eating, as the cake will fall apart more easily once you dig in.
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
The key to making this cake taste like a snickerdoodle is the cinnamon sugar. Much like the cookie, the surface of the cake is coated in cinnamon sugar. I also added a cinnamon sugar layer to the middle of the cake, which creates a cinnamon sugar swirl in the middle of the cake.
Snickerdoodle Mug Cake Tips
- This cake is best consumed shortly after it is cooked. It will dry out faster than a traditional oven-baked cake if left to sit out for several hours.
- If you want the cake to fill a mug, choose an 8 oz microwave safe mug. You can also double the recipe for a 16 oz mug or make 1.5x the recipe for a 12 oz mug.
*Some of the product links contained in this post are affiliate links. Much like referral codes, this means I earn a small commission if you purchase a product I referred (at no extra charge to you).
More Mug Cake Recipes
Snickerdoodle Mug Cake
Ingredients
cake
- 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp granulated white sugar
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tbsp skim milk
- 1 tbsp melted unsalted butter
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tbsp granulated white sugar
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe mug, add all cake ingredients. Mix with a small whisk until batter is smooth. It will be thick.
- In a small bowl, add cinnamon sugar topping ingredients. Whisk until evenly mixed.
- Using a very large spoon, scoop up half of the cake batter. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar topping over the batter still in your mug. Then add the other half of the cake batter back into the mug.
- Sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar topping evenly across the top of the cake.
- Microwave cake at full power for about 1 minute or until cake is cooked. Let cool a few minutes before eating. Cake is best enjoyed shortly after it is cooked.
Notes
- You can substitute the skim milk with low fat milk or almond milk.
- This cake is best consumed shortly after it is cooked. It will dry out faster than a traditional oven-baked cake if left to sit out for several hours.
- To truly keep this to one serving, this makes a small cake about the size of a cupcake. It will just fill an 8 oz mug. If you want the cake to fill a mug to the top, choose an 8 oz microwave safe mug. You can also double the recipe for a 16 oz mug or make 1.5x the recipe for a 12 oz mug.
- To determine how many ounces your mug holds, fill it to the top with water. Then pour the water into a liquid measuring cup.
- I cook my cake at full power in my 1000 watt microwave. If you have a lower wattage microwave, you will likely need to cook the cake a little longer. If your microwave is stronger than 1000 watts, you will need to reduce cooking time or reduce cooking power.
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.
Okay, this was so good. I doubled the recipe for my husband and myself to each have one, and had to substitute cream of tartar+baking soda for the baking powder (which made it in effect more similar to the cookies!) I was also cheeky and substituted a small portion of buttermilk in. Didn’t bother with the layering and did 1min30 at 800W and they turned out GREAT! Just a tiny bit on the dry side, maybe next time I’ll add a touch more milk. This was perfect to whip up after lunch to satisfy my pregnancy-related sweet tooth ?
We’re so glad you loved it! We have a lot of other Mug Cake Recipes you might like, too.
This turned out amazing. I used oil instead of butter and almond milk instead of dairy milk. Also used brown sugar instead of regular sugar since that’s all I had. Still turned out fantastic! This is a very forgiving recipe as long as you keep the proportions the same.
Thanks so much for sharing your adjustments – we’re glad it worked for you!
I have tried to make your 4 ingredient lemon cake twice and both times it has come out like a brick. Any suggestions? The flavor is good, I have followed the ingredients and instructions as written. I can’t find the recipe now to respond on it’s site.
it sounds like there is an issue with your self rising flour. If your flour is old, the baking powder in it may no longer be effective and that would prevent your cake from rising properly.
I added plums and whipped cream and let me tell you this was incredible ????
I’m so glad you enjoyed!
just made this and am enjoying it, thanks for sharing! i was wondering if you could replace the butter with coconut oil?
You can try it and use the same amount of melted coconut oil. It may alter the flavor of the cake so please keep that in mind.
My family loooooovessss anything cinamon. This easy to make mug cake recipe is a saviour on boring weeknight dinners.. Thanks for sharing xoxo
I’m so glad you enjoy this mug cake!
If you use whole milk it will taste like donuts.
thanks for sharing!
This recipe is great! I used gluten free flour and increased the milk by 2 tbsp. It turned out light and fluffy – nothing like any other gf cake I have tasted. THANK YOU for sharing this recipe with us !!!!
I’m glad you enjoyed!
It would taste a lot more like a snickerdoodle if you added cream of tarter. That’s the ingredient that makes snickerdoodles not just cinnamon & sugar cookies.
*Tartar
it’s true that cream of tartar is what gives snickerdoodles their distinctive tang, however only a small amount is used in a full batch of cookies so it’s much harder to measure a tiny amount for a single mug cake. Also a lot of people don’t have cream of tartar on hand and I don’t think it’s worth making it a required ingredient.
This looks really good ! I know it’s a mug cake but can I bake it in the oven? My microwave is not working andi really wanna make this recipe.
You can try baking this one at 350F. I have not tried it in the oven
I absolutely love this recipe. Made it 4 times now for my brother and I as were in quarantine
Thanks so much for this recipe
I’m so glad you and your brother liked the recipe!
Made this tonight for my husbands birthday while we are in quarentine. He loved it and I loved that we had all the ingredients in the pantry. I recommend that you use all the cinnamon and sugar for the swirl and the topping. I made a recipe an 1/2. It was delicous.
I’m so glad it worked out well for you!
Tasts amazing!!! Will definitely make again! Multiple times! A month!!! I love making mug cakes for my sisters, it’s basically the only thing I can bribe them with!!! 😉
So happy you like the recipe!
Super good
So glad you liked it!
Very yummy! It tastes very similar to my go-to snickerdoodle mug cake recipe. Except this recipe has a better portion size. Love it! Will make again.
I’m so glad you liked it!
My 5 year old daughter and I just made this mug cake right now. She and I are enjoying it. It has been a fun Friday night treat.
I love that you made this with your daughter!
It’s delicious! I think I overcooked it just a little bit, but it’s still amazing! Will definitely make again.??
I’m happy you enjoyed!
Delicious! Need a little after dinner treat for my husband and me. This was perfect!
I’m so glad you enjoyed!
I just showed my 15 year & 13 year old Granddaughters how to make it, even to showed them how to find the side of mug they wanted to use. We all enjoyed doing it. They wanted something sweet, so I showed them how. We enjoyed then immensely. Thank you Proud GrandMaMa
I love hearing stories like this. Thank you so much for sharing!
Do you have a keto version of this one?
Not yet, but I do want to make one. Adding it to my to-do list!
One of the best mug cakes I’ve ever had. Amazing! flavour is lovely and great texture.
so glad you liked it!
This looks amazing! Could you make this using 2% milk and using contrycrock vegetable oil spread (looks like butter, haha!) ? I don’t have unsalted butter. Thank you!
you can replace butter with vegetable oil. The cake will be missing a little buttery flavor but other than that it should be fine