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 come from a culture free of Snickerdoodles, but I made it anyway. It's freaking delicious! Profoundly delicious and very, very simple to make. Thanks!

  2. i have never made a mug cake before and itching for something sweet, didn't want to go
    out in the bad weather, no choco chips. but i always have baking stuff and cinnamon and nuts. i found your recipe through thekitch. cooked it for one minute 10 seconds and the texture was perfect. not dry, not gooey, perfect all the way through. glad to find your site.

  3. I woke up really early this morning to make this. And since I am still a teenager getting my mom to buy me a little bit of something sweet is nearly impossible. This was really easy, and I might even make one for my little brother, because he kept threatening to eat mine. Thank you for this sweet and simple treat.

  4. This looks delicious! I was wondering what Watt microwave you used for the 1 minute and 15 seconds so when I try mine it turns out perfect?

  5. This is wonderful! The perfect cinnamony-sweet treat, and it cooked up beautifully! Thank you so much for sharing, and of course, I Pinned it to use again later. ?

  6. Hey there!!!

    I just wanted to thank you so much for making such a delectable addition to our household!! What's more, my teenage son with Down Syndrome had a chance to make his way through our kitchen and cook up 12 mugs of this wonderful recipe for our guests! I've shared this recipe with other moms with children that have special needs. Thanks a bunch! Can't wait to try out your other recipes.

    With love,
    Eve

  7. Wow! This was awesome! I substituted butter for pumpkin because I am trying to eat healthier and it turned out amazing! Tasted like autumn in a cup. I never comment on recipes but just had to with this one! Thank you for the wonderful recipe! 🙂

    1. I love the idea of using pumpkin, Bree! I'm so happy you enjoyed this mug cake so much. 🙂

  8. Let me start off by saying I NEVER comment on recipes. I just make the food and move on. But this was SO AMAZING that I had to comment! The cake is the perfect texture, not too dense like some mug cakes tend to be. The flavor is great and the layers of cinnamon sugar are to die for! I added a 1/4 teaspoon extra cinnamon to the batter and it was delicious. I'm so glad I found your recipe on Pinterest, this will definitely be my go-to whenever I'm craving something sweet!

    1. Oh yay, Aly...thanks for taking the time to share! I'm very happy you enjoyed this mug cake so much. 🙂

  9. I enjoyed this sweet treat with a few substitutions. I used coconut sugar and 1/4 cup w.w. flour +2 Tbs white flour. 1 min 20s was a perfect cooking time for me. Next time I may try coconut oil instead of butter. I like that I don't have a bunch of cake or a ton of cookies laying around to tempt me. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, I look forward to trying the chocolate pb mug cake also!

    1. Thanks for sharing that, Laura! I'm glad your substitutions worked out and I hope you enjoy the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake just as much. 🙂

  10. It turned out good but, it did not look like it did in the picture. It looked more of a darker vanilla. So please could someone reply and tell me what I may have done wrong.

    1. I'm not sure, Alana...it could have been the flour that you used? At any rate, if it tasted good, I wouldn't worry too much about the color. 🙂

  11. Mhhm,

    I'm not much of a cook, and certainly didn't follow the recipe to the letter but tastay!!

    Much enjoyed, thank you.

  12. Just made this doddle-doddle in a mug, and it's yummilicious... irresistible... thanks a ton for this wonderful recipe! Had tried many others earlier in the microwave, this one wins the race!
    Though had to microwave like one and half minutes, with breaks, (was trying to be cautious) it's just perfect!
    By the way the recipe has reached to Vadodara-Gujarat-India!

  13. Stumbled across this recipe and I have made it a few times. Honestly this is the best mug cake I have ever tried! It turns out perfectly every time! Love it!

  14. Tried this and it was awesome! I was so surprised - probably the best texture of a mug cake i've ever had. It definitely needs a some kind of cinnamon roll icing though!

  15. Just made this and it's great! I've made a lot of mug cakes and this one by far has the best texture. I haven't tried your chocolate peanut butter mug cake, but I certainly will. I mixed up the cinnamon sugar topping in the bowl I melted the butter in, and the effect was a lovely buttery filling. Thank you for the recipe!

    1. So happy you enjoyed this, Emily, and I'm glad that the texture was to your liking! If you have a chance to try the Chocolate PB version, I hope you love it just as much! 🙂 Happy Friday!

    1. Hi Cassie! I'm not sure that this recipe would turn out very good using water. I'd recommend trying your favorite milk alternative -- like almond milk -- instead. Good luck! 🙂

    2. I'm two years late, but I was out of milk when I made this so I just mixed cream and water and it turned out great