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Home Β» Baked Goods Β» Easy, 5-Minute, Gluten-Free Vanilla Mug Cake

October 17, 2021 (last updated March 23, 2022)

Easy, 5-Minute, Gluten-Free Vanilla Mug Cake

4.6 from 5 votes
Leave a Comment Jump to Recipe

This gluten-free vanilla mug cake bakes in the microwave and is ready in just FIVE minutes. It is moist and fluffy and about as easy as cake making gets. It has no eggs and can also be made dairy-free and vegan.

Be sure to check out more of my vanilla cake recipes including my 2 layer gluten-free vanilla cake (dairy-free), gluten-free vanilla cake pops, gluten-free vanilla almond flour cake and my gluten-free dairy-free vanilla cupcakes.

Microwave Baking

This mug cake bakes in the microwave in less than 2 minutes. I wouldn’t normally bake cake in the microwave – it’s not the ideal way to bake a cake if you’re picky about cake texture. But as a very impatient person who loves cake, the idea of making a cake from start to finish in 5 minutes is irresistible. And because it’s single-serve I don’t have to share! Just expect that the cake will not be as tender as an oven-baked cake, but it will still be moist, fluffy and so satisfying!

Ingredients

This recipe has just 7 simple ingredients and mixes up with a fork directly in the mug!

Gluten-Free Flour Blend – My go-to for gluten-free flour is King Arthur Measure for Measure. It works well in many of my recipes and is available at most grocery stores. It is the most affordable of the one’s I’ve tested. Be sure to check out more of my recipes with King Arthur gluten-free flour.

Pamela’s All Purpose Artisan Blend is a similar gf all in one flour, and works well too. Both of these flour blends are vegan and certified gluten-free.

2 white mugs with gluten free vanilla cake. Fork with cake and frosting in front. Rainbow sprinkles scattered on table. Gray napkin in back,

Sugar, salt and baking powder round out the dry ingredients – so simple right?

I prefer oil over butter for adding moisture to gluten-free cakes. Avocado, sunflower, extra light olive oil, canola. vegetable or any other neutral flavored oil will work.

Milk or a non-dairy substitute like hemp, coconut (not the canned stuff), soy, rice or almond milk will work in this recipe.

And finally vanilla gives this cake its flavor. My preferred vanilla is Cooks Vanilla Powder. I love that it’s in powder form and that it has no alcohol. Vanilla bean paste is also a good alcohol-free option. Unfortunately vanilla has become crazy expensive lately, so if real vanilla is not in your budget, definitely use imitation vanilla.

How Much Batter?

The only complicated thing about this recipe is determining how much batter you’ll need for the mug you’re using. If you want just a small, single serving of cake, regardless of your mug size, go with the first version in the recipe card. If your mug holds 1 1/2 cups of liquid or more, and you want a full mug of cake, use the second version.

If you use too much batter, the worst thing that will happen is it will spill over the sides of the mug during baking. The cake will still be fine!

2 white mugs with gluten free vanilla cake topped with rainbow sprinkles. Spoons in front and red napkin in background.

Mug Cake Toppings

You will likely want to devour this cake as soon as it comes out of the microwave. It will be steaming HOT. So most toppings will melt pretty quickly. Here are some topping options that are good for a hot cake:

  • Marshmallow Cream (Fluff)
  • Hot Fudge or Chocolate Syrup
  • Strawberry Sauce
  • Caramel
  • If you don’t mind melting toppings, ice cream or frosting is so good with this cake
2 white mugs with gluten free vanilla cake topped with frosting and sprinkles. Spoon standing up in one mug. Red napkin in background.

Easy, 5 Minute Gluten-Free Vanilla Mug Cake

Author: Janet Harlow
Course: Baked Goods, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1
This gluten-free vanilla mug cake bakes in the microwave and is ready in just FIVE minutes. It's moist and fluffy & as easy as cake making gets. The recipe is also egg-free & vegan with a milk substitute.
4.6 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Cook Time 2 mins

Recommended Products

  • King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour
  • Vanilla Powder

Ingredients
  

For small mug or small, single serving

  • ΒΌ c gluten free flour blend
  • 4 tsp sugar
  • ΒΌ tsp baking powder
  • 2 pinches salt
  • ΒΌ milk or dairy-free milk sub
  • 2 Tbsp oil (avocado, sunflower, canola)
  • Β½ tsp vanilla powder, extract or bean paste

For a larger mug that holds 1Β½ c +, or large serving of cake

  • β…“ c flour
  • 2 Tbsp sugar
  • Β½ tsp baking powder
  • 2 pinches salt
  • β…“ c milk or dairy-free milk sub
  • 2 Tbsp oil (avocado, sunflower, canola)
  • Β½ tsp vanilla powder, extract or bean paste

Instructions
 

  • Place the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in the mug. Stir with a fork.
  • Add the oil, milk and vanilla and stir until smooth.
  • Cook on high in the microwave -1 minute 20 seconds for the small and 1 minute 40 seconds for the large. It should spring back from a light tap. If it doesn't seem fully done, heat another 10 seconds.
  • Once the time is up, let it sit in the closed microwave for 10-15 seconds.
  • You'll likely want to devour the cake immediately! But if you can wait a few minutes, it will be better.
  • Top with marshmallow cream, strawberry sauce, hot fudge or chocolate syrup, whipped cream, sprinkles, frosting or ice cream.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how it was! Tag @chefjanetk on Instagram.

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Posted In: Baked Goods, Dessert · Tagged: cake, vanilla

Comments

  1. Nicky says

    January 31, 2022 at 10:06 pm

    4 stars
    I love cake so much that I have a piece tattooed on my inner bicep. Ironically, I can no longer have any gluten. All the other recipes don’t have great reviews so I decided to give this one a go. I just needed something cake-like. I used King Arthur Gluten Free Flour. I know from making other mug cakes that I like the richness that butter gives them so I replaced the oil in this recipe with melted butter. I added Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips and microwaved it. It’s good! Decent. It’s not the best, but it’s the consistency I like and it tastes ok. I’ve bookmarked this so I can make it again so my husband doesn’t have to hear me whining about not having cake for 4 days lol! Try it out, make it your own!

    Reply
  2. Kevin says

    March 5, 2022 at 1:12 pm

    5 stars
    So easy and tasted great.

    Reply
  3. Angie says

    March 23, 2022 at 3:12 pm

    5 stars

    5 stars
    Delicious! Used buttermilk instead of milk and it was great!

    Reply
    • Janet Harlow says

      March 23, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      That’s a great idea! Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

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