Snickerdoodle Mug Cake

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake bakes up in the microwave in just one minute, yielding a warm, cinnamon-sugary treat that will satisfy any sweet tooth!

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake collage with text

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.

Mug Cake made with cinnamon and sugar

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?!

Spoon digging in

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!

Getting ready to dig in with spoon

(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.)

Mug Cake Recipe showing snickerdoodle layers in jarThis 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!

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake Recipe with text overlay

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 ~ bakes up in the microwave in just one minute, yielding a warm, cinnamon-sugary treat that will satisfy any sweet tooth! | FiveHeartHome.com

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake bakes up in the microwave in just one minute, yielding a warm, cinnamon-sugary treat that will satisfy any sweet tooth!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 mug cake
Calories: 500kcal
Print Pin Rate

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 500kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 800IU | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 1.5mg
Made this recipe? I'd love to see on IG!Mention @FiveHeartHome or tag #FiveHeartHome!

 

Adapted from One-Minute Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake
Originally published on January 15, 2015

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake collage with text

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434 Comments

  1. I haven't tried this out yet but I images, if it is like the brownie mug recipe, you will want to spray the mug with cooking spray. That will for sure save you some time.

    1. Great tip, Althea! I don't use cooking spray if I'm going to be eating this cake straight out of the mug, but spray would definitely help if you want to overturn the mug and have the cake slide out. 🙂 Hope you enjoy this recipe if you have a chance to try it!

    1. Ha ha, Mimi...well I'm so happy you were pleasantly surprised by how this mug cake turns out! 🙂 Hope you get to enjoy it again the next time you have a craving for a little something sweet... 😉

  2. So yummy! The kids and I gobbled them up with a tall glass of milk! Delicious, fun to make and definitely satisfied my late night sweet tooth. Thank you so much for the fantastic recipes. My family is really enjoying everything I have made!

    1. So happy y'all loved these, Joanna! And I'm thrilled that you've enjoyed all of the recipes that you've tried from the site so far...it makes my day to hear that. 🙂 Happy Friday!

  3. Thank you for sharing your wonderful blog post on #PureBlogLove Link Party. I just wanted to personally drop by to say hello and thank you for taking the time to celebrate with us last Thursday night!
    Besos
    Heidy

    1. Thanks for hosting and I appreciate you stopping by, Heidy...hope you have a great weekend! 🙂

  4. Your photos are gorgeous and just adds to the perfect dessert! I don't know what is better, the recipe or the photograph! lol I'm going to share this. Thanks for linking this up at Totally Terrific Tuesday last week. It is live right now! Can't wait to see what else you have to share! Hope to see you there!

    Sharon
    herorganizedchaos.com

  5. i have tried a few mug-in-a-cup recipes and they have not really worked, but I couldn't resist giving this one a try. Soooo glad I did! I am making a second one now as a treat for my college-aged daughter who came home sick for the weekend. Snickerdoodle is her absolute favorite. And what could be better than a warm cake all to herself. I just discovered your site and will be back for more....there's chocolate and peanut butter here! Thanks for the great recipe.

    1. You are so welcome, Barbara! I'm glad you enjoyed it, I hope your daughter did, too, and I hope she's feeling better! Thanks for taking the time to comment, and have fun exploring the site for more goodies. 🙂

  6. delicious. mine took 1 min and a half. if u cook it too much, it gets rubbery. i think vanilla ice cream would be perfect with it or a dollop of whip cream.

    1. Glad you enjoyed your mug cake, Eileen! And yes, if you microwave this too long, the texture will definitely suffer. As far as ice cream or whip cream on top, I can tell you from firsthand experience that it makes this cake even better -- ha! 😉

  7. YAY for you Sam! This lovely recipe is one of our featured at this week's Weekend Potluck! I have the printed recipe sitting on my counter and I hope to make it this weekend. So glad you are willing to share with us...keep em coming...please! Enjoy a super weekend.

    1. I hope you love it, Marsha! I think it's about time I whip up another one for myself... 😉

  8. My gosh! These photos are making me drool!. Thanks for linking up at Funtastic Friday. Hope to see you again this week.

  9. This mug cake looks so delicious! And of course being so quick to make how can I not try this ASAP?! If you had a spare moment, I would be delighted if you'd drop this (and anything else you'd like to share) by at the #PureBlogLove DIY and recipe link party!

  10. Oh, yum! I love snickerdoodles and always make a point to NOT buy snacks for myself. This may just need to be made in the next few days. Going to check out the chocolate/PB version too!

    1. Ha, Leslie...I like mug cakes because they're easy enough to whip up quickly, but there's just enough effort involved to give me time to stop and ponder whether I really need a treat in the first place. 😉 Hope you enjoy this if you try it...and the chocolate one, too! Happy Friday!

  11. Sam - I LOVE you! What a brilliant idea. I can't wait to try this. Your gorgeous photos always grab me by the neck and make me drool. Thanks much for sharing at Weekend Potluck!

    1. Thank you for stopping by, Marsha, and thanks (as always) for the fun party!

      I wanted to let you know that I'm so sorry about your dad. I tried to leave a comment on your blog post the other day but the comment form wasn't working for me for some reason. Big hugs, prayers for you and your family, and my deepest condolences...

  12. Wow...what a scrumptious little treat. I love the idea of a mug cake. I have never tried one and can't wait for this yummy recipe to be my first. Thanks for sharing! PINNED!

    1. Thank you, Michelle! I appreciate the pin and I hope you love this if you end up trying it. 🙂

    1. I couldn't agree more, Lori! Maybe because mug cake is still warm when you eat it? And this past week I discovered that vanilla ice cream on top is a nice contrast to this warm snickerdoodle cake...I'm in major trouble now! 😉

    1. Thanks so much, Kristen...I appreciate the share and the pin and I hope you enjoy every bite of this on your cheat day! 😉 Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

  13. I love mug cakes, but have to be careful making them because I'll want to make another right away! Snickerdoodle is a great flavor and I can't wait to try this 🙂

    1. You are so right, Megan...mug cakes are juuust convenient enough to be dangerous! 😉 Hope you enjoy this snickerdoodle twist if you have a chance to try it. Have a fabulous week!

  14. Wow! This sounds delicious! I had a snickerdoodle cookie when I visit the USA in February 2015 it was so good! Can't wait to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing!

    Em 🙂

    1. I hope you love this mug cake, Emma! Hopefully it will measure up to the American snickerdoodle you so fondly remember... 😉 Thanks for taking the time to comment and I hope you're having a wonderful week!

  15. wait...you mean scarfing chocolate chips straight from the bag by the handful ISN'T refined?? I guess this means I have to try this now. After causally walking by and ignoring the oatmeal raisin cookies on the counter...I've yet to try a mug cake I really like but something tells me this one will be divine!

    1. Ha, Meaghan...refined or not, I have no reservations about eating chocolate chips straight out of the bag! But mug cakes can be a nice change of pace... 😉 Hope that this is the mug cake you've been looking for! If you like chocolate & peanut butter, you should check out that one, too...I adore them equally. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by...have a fabulous week!