Are you ready to make A Cup of Coffee Cake (in Under Five Minutes) in the microwave!
I don’t love chocolate or chocolate chips. BLASPHEMY I KNOW! It just doesn’t do it for me, what can I say? I do, however, love me some cinammon. And some crumbles. And some crumb-topping, if you will. Can I get a what what? Is anyone with me? Who is craving a microwave oven coffee cake? A coffee cake mug cake is where it’s at.
So, I don’t always feel like making a giant coffee cake and eating it for three days straight until it’s gone. No, wait, that’s a lie. I do want to do that, but it’s really for the best if I can just make a single-serve microwave coffee cake. Reduces temptation, right? It’s just one of our single-serving dessert in a cup microwave dessert recipes.
So I messed around with ingredients, a measuring spoon, and a microwave, to see if I could create a crumbly, cinnamony mug coffee cake that could be made in a microwave in about five minutes at 11 p.m. while i watched The Notebook for the 5,000th time (hey girl, don’t even try to pretend you don’t love Ryan Gosling, I won’t hear it).
I think I’ve come up with a decent substitute for coffee cake, considering the small amount of time and effort that goes into it. Give it a try and tell me if you disagree.
Get my five minute microwave coffee cake recipe below…And while you’re at it, check out Jaime’s Lazy Late Night Cooking Corner for more microwaveable treats like, 2-Minute French Toast in a Cup, Single Serve Cinnamon Roll, Rice Krispy Treat, Blueberry Cobbler, and Strawberry Shortcake for Two.
How to Make Five Minute Microwave Coffee Cake
Well, first you’ll need a cup. If you want it to puff up over the top of the cup, use a small one. Or if you want to dig into the cup, use a big one. It matters not.
Add a tablespoon of butter.
Soften it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Don’t melt, just soften.
Stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar until it’s fluffy and creamy, maybe 30 seconds.
Now you can add some egg. you don’t have to, but without egg it’s more crumbly and less cake-y. You can do a whole egg, but I like to break the egg into a ramekin and stir it up, then split it between two cups of coffee cake, or just use half for one coffee cake. But really, play it by ear. Try it out and see what tastes best to you.
Then stir in 2 tablespoons of sour cream and a few drops of vanilla. We’re talking droplets here, don’t add too much.
Stir in 1/4 cup of flour and 1/8 teaspoon baking powder.
If you want some crumb topping (you know you do), in a separate ramekin or bowl add 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
Smoosh it together with your fingers for a few.
Now back to your cup. Your ingredients are all mixed up, so…
Add the crumb topping mixture to the cup…
Then microwave it. Start with 1 minute, then do 10 seconds more until it’s done to your liking. For my microwave, a minute 20 seconds does it perfectly.
It will be REALLY HOT when you take it out of the microwave.
Let it cool down for a few seconds, then dig in to your mug coffee cake.
This is basically a start for a quick microwave coffee cake in a mug recipe, you can adjust to your own tastes and liking, since this is a serving for one after all. I like it just like this, however my husband doesn’t mind it without the egg. You may want more of this or less of that to suit your tastes.I look forward to hearing any adjustments you make and finding out if cake in a cup seems worth it to you.
A Cup of Coffee Cake (in Under Five Minutes)
A tasty cinnamon-y single-serve mug coffee cake made in the microwave.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 1
- Total Time: 6 minutes
Ingredients
Cake
1 tbls butter
2 tbls sugar (or sweetener of choice)
1 egg (or 1/2 egg)
1 tbls sour cream (or yogurt, if that’s what you have)
Few drops of vanilla extract
1/4 cup flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
Topping
1 tbls butter
2 tbls flour
1 tbls brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Place butter in approximately 12-ounce microwave-safe mug, then soften in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
Stir in sugar until fluffy and creamy
Break egg into a ramekin or small bowl and stir. Pour some (or all depending on your tastes) of the egg into your cup with sugar mixture and stir.
Stir in sour cream and vanilla.
Stir in flour and baking powders.
In a separate cup or ramekin, combine all topping ingredients. Mix with fingers.
Add crumb topping mixture to cup on top of cake mixture.
Microwave. Start with 1 minute, then 10 seconds more until it’s done to your liking. For my microwave, 1 minute 20 seconds does it perfectly. No-bake perfection!
Let cool slightly, then devour.

Did you make this microwave mug cake recipe?
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Originally posted 10/11, updated 10/22


Add a tablespoon of butter.
Soften it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Don’t melt, just soften.
Stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar until it’s fluffy and creamy, maybe 30 seconds.
Now you can add some egg. you don’t have to, but without egg it’s more crumbly and less cake-y. You can do a whole egg, but I like to break the egg into a ramekin and stir it up, then split it between two cups of coffee cake, or just use half for one coffee cake. But really, play it by ear. Try it out and see what tastes best to you.
Then stir in 2 tablespoons of sour cream and a few drops of vanilla. We’re talking droplets here, don’t add too much.
Stir in 1/4 cup of flour and 1/8 teaspoon baking powder.