This super-easy eggless mug cake recipe is made with pumpkin, chocolate chips, pumpkin spice, and vanilla extract. It’s the perfect dessert to bake in minutes.
I am beginning to bake cakes!
Can you believe it? I have a baker’s thumb now, who knew!
Those of you who know me know that I have the hardest time baking anything!
Tips for making this mug cake
- Cover the top of the mug with something, but leave a little room on top for the cake to rise. I like to cover anything that I put in the microwave.
- If you don’t have hazelnut milk, you can easily make your own.
- You can use almond milk if you don’t like hazelnut milk or don’t have access to it. However, the taste may not be the same, so try to add a few hazelnuts.
- The mug cake is best when eaten right out of the microwave. If you can’t eat the whole mug cake, you can cover it tightly and refrigerate it.
- I made this a chocolate chip pumpkin mug cake, but you can put in any ingredients you like. Freeze-dried berries would be perfect in this cake
- You can add a drop of rose water to the mug cakes, and it will give the cake a heavenly aroma. This is optional, but I highly recommend it
- If you prefer, make the batter in a mixing bowl and then transfer it to the mug to microwave.
- This is how I store leftover pumpkin puree so I can use it in other recipes.
Why I love this recipe
To get comfortable baking, I am starting with small, easy cake recipes. With each bake, I am starting to gain confidence in my dessert-making.
Before this vegan mug cake, I had made an olive oil pumpkin cake, which was beyond delicious! After that, I experimented with a few cakes, and one of them turned out delicious. It will be posted someday soon. Major procrastination on that recipe!
But the best part is that this cake tastes delicious!
If you don’t want to use regular flour, you can make this mug cake with cake mix. It’s super easy and delicious.
P/S: There are many unique things you can do in a mug. Baking a cake is just one. Have you tried making a DIY Mug Planter? It’s a fun way to grow herbs and flowers.
How to microwave this cake
Can I just get 2 disclaimers out of the way? First, every microwave is going to be different. So, cook times will vary.
Second, size does matter! 🙂 When I experimented and then made the video, I used the tall mugs. Those mugs took 3-4 minutes to cook the cake. However, when I used the small mugs, it cooked in under 3 minutes.
So, I want to say that experiment with the total time, and let me know what you find. I microwaved mine in 45-second increments, which prevented me from overcooking it.
When the cake is browned on top, it means it is cooked. I like the top to be just a little undercooked because it makes the cake moist on the inside.
What else can I add to it?
- Freeze-dried berries
- Nutella (Nutella is Vegetarian, but not vegan-friendly)
- Caramel (Lucky for us, there are vegan caramels available on the market)
- Butterscotch (It’s easy to make at home if you want vegan. There are several recipes online for vegan butterscotch.)
- Make it a carrot cake mug cake
- Oreo Cookies (Oreos are vegan-friendly)
I know I am missing quite a few ingredients to add to the cake. Please send me your favorites to add to this mug cake. My friend Molly has a gluten-free chocolate mug cake that you must try. It’s easy to make and tastes just like regular mug cake.
What non-dairy milk to use for baking
Hazelnut milk is my perennial favorite nut milk to use in any recipe. I love its nuttiness and flavor from hazelnut milk.
Until now, I used to make my hazelnut milk, but I recently discovered a really good store-bought version. Its light, natural flavor completely floored me.
This milk is by Elmhurst 1925. This is not an affiliate link, and I am not getting paid to write this post. This is purely a fan girl’s praise for a hazelnut milk that I like. They are on the pricey side, but worth it.
Common questions when making this cake
Are chocolate chips vegan?
Most chocolate chips in the market use butter or non-vegan sugar to make the chocolate chips.
But there is good news. Enjoy Life (NOT an affiliate link) makes chocolate chips that are very vegan-friendly. Not only do they make vegan chocolate chips, but they also make them in a facility dedicated to dairy-free and soy-free products.
If you want more info on what is vegan-friendly, check out my guide to everything vegan
What kind of mug should I use?
My favorite mugs are stoneware mugs because they handle well in the microwave and distribute heat evenly, so the cake doesn’t come out dry in one area.
The mugs I used are from Cityscape’s Signature collection found on eBay. My mug is 4.25″ in height and 3.6″ in diameter.
What should I decorate the cake with?
- Funfetti
- Vegan frosting
- Vegan whipped cream
- Chocolate sprinkles
- Chocolate syrup
- Strawberry syrup
Can I bake this cake in the oven
I can only recommend baking them in Ramekins and not mugs. I know they will bake well in small ramekins that can withstand the oven temperatures.
Add water to a baking pan. The water should be about halfway outside the ramekin. Put the batter into the ramekin and place the tray in a preheated oven at 300°F. Bake for about 20 minutes or until you see the dough rise above the ramekin
Remove and serve
Can I freeze this mug cake?
First, remove the cake from the mug and wrap it in parchment paper. After that, I placed the cake in a zip-lock bag, put the date on it, and put it in the freezer
The cake wasn’t the same once I thawed it and heated it in the toaster oven for a few minutes. It can be frozen, but doesn’t taste the same when thawed.
Want to try mug cakes on other diets? Try this low-carb microwave chocolate mug cake. It’s easy to make and so delicious.
More chocolate and pumpkin recipes
I couldn’t close this post without recommending some of my favorite chocolate and pumpkin recipes. Which one is your favorite?
Made a hot chocolate and added ice to it. This is a cool summer drink
Energy bites made with tahini and dates. They are the perfect vegan protein snack
Chocolate banana smoothie bowl
Chocolate smoothie bowl made with avocado, peanut butter, and nuts.
Vegan pumpkin smoothie made with coconut milk, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a swirl of blueberry sauce
Warm, hearty pumpkin soup with butter beans added for more nutrition and texture
Easy Mug Cake
Equipment
- Microwave
- Microwave safe mugs
Ingredients
- 1/8 tsp baking powder
- 1 Tbsp vegan butter
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour sieved
- 2 Tbsp pumpkin puree
- 2 Tbsp vegan chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup agave
- 1 drop vanilla essence optional
- 1/2 cup hazelnut milk
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients in a microwave safe cup
- Mix well
- Clean the sides of the mug from the inside
- Place in the microwave
- Bake the mug cake for 3-4 minutes (Use 45 sec intervals)
