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This delicious muffin-in-a-mug recipe is perfect for a single-serve, quick dessert fix! It’s incredibly easy to prepare, uses simple ingredients, and has a light fluffy texture.
If you are skeptical about mug muffin recipes using microwaves, you probably haven’t found the right one yet. My blueberry muffin version takes 1 minute to cook and turns out perfectly moist and flavorful.
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
- It’s portion-controlled. I love baking, but there are often times when a whole cake or a tray of muffins is too much. Single-serve desserts always cook faster, there’s no waste, and you can satisfy your cravings on the spot.
- Vegan-friendly. This recipe contains no eggs or dairy. It’s the perfect sweet treat for plant-based diets.
- Minimal clean-up. I love mixing and microwaving the muffins in the same container. This makes the clean up so much easier.
Ingredients needed
You only need a few baking staples to make this mug muffin. Here’s the full list of ingredients:
- Flour. I used all-purpose flour, but this can be substituted for a gluten-free blend like almond flour or coconut flour.
- Granulated sweetener. Any granulated sweetener will work. You can skip this altogether if you don’t like super sweet desserts.
- Maple syrup. A natural sweetener that also helps keep the muffin moist. Honey or agave nectar can also be used.
- Baking powder. To help the muffin rise and become nice and fluffy.
- Milk. Any milk of choice will work. I used unsweetened almond milk.
- Coconut oil. Melted, this adds some richness to the crumb and helps bind the ingredients. You can also use butter.
- Blueberries. Fresh blueberries work best, but frozen ones are fine, too.
How to make a muffin in a mug
Step 1 – Mix the ingredients. Mix the flour and baking powder in a small bowl and set aside. Add the wet ingredients to a microwave-safe mug and mix until fully combined. Add the dry ingredients and continue to stir well. If you find the batter to be too thick, add a dash more milk to it. Fold in the blueberries.
Step 2 – Microwave and serve. Heat the mug muffin on high in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the muffin from the mug or dig straight in with a spoon.
Recipe tips and variations
- Thaw any frozen berries. Thaw any frozen fruit that you are using, fully, in the fridge and pat them dry before adding them to the batter.
- Don’t overcook the muffin. Cook the muffin at 30-second intervals and remove it from the microwave as soon as it looks set. Test with a toothpick and ensure it comes out clean.
- Try some additional flavors. I like adding some lemon zest to the muffin batter for some variety. You can also replace the blueberries with chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans, or another fruit of your choice. Just be aware that the water content of different fruit may affect the cooking time.
- Substitutes for coconut oil. Any neutral-flavored vegetable oil can be used to replace the coconut oil in this recipe. You can also use applesauce for a sweeter muffin.
Storage instructions
To store: Mug muffins are best enjoyed immediately. However, you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container for a day or two.
To reheat: You can reheat the muffin in the microwave for just 20 seconds to soften it after being refrigerated.
Frequently asked questions
Using room-temperature ingredients is one of the key secrets to light and fluffy muffins. Baking powder and baking soda make muffins fluffy too when used in the right amount. Using too much of the leavening agent results in dense muffins.
Yes, you can bake this muffin in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and bake the muffin for 12 to 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Make sure to use an oven-safe mug or bowl.
More mug cake recipes to try
Muffin In A Mug
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar optional
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1-2 tablespoons blueberries
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, add your dry ingredients and mix well.
- In a microwave-safe bowl or mug, add the rest of your ingredients, minus the blueberries, and mix well. Add your dry ingredients and mix very well. If the batter is too thick, add a little milk. Fold in your blueberries.
- Microwave for 1-2 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Remove from the mug or bowl and enjoy!
Wow this is really “muffin in a mug”? Sounds amazing! I like to use microvawe so much. I often make mug cakes with protein powder, but I want to try this one! Thank you!
This recipe I just saved. I made many times mug cakes but never “muffin in a mug”. I cannot believe how creative recipes you have.
This was the best muffin in a mug recipe I’ve ever made!
The best single serving dessert I’ve made in a while!
This is the best muffin in a mug recipe ever!
Vraiment fabuleux !!!
Etant diabétique, j’ai réduit le sucre (pas habituée au goût trop sucré) et remplacé par du sucre de coco.
Résultat totalement à mon goût et délicieux. Merci beaucoup, je conserve la recette, Top !
Eggs are not vegan
Well aware of that, hence the clearly stated vegan option 🙂
Awesome Recipe! Blueberries are really very tasty, adding this blueberry muffins to my favorites.
So glad to hear that!
thanks for this recipe….gonna try it with my just-picked concord ( seedless ) grapes ! and kudos to Oswego….I’m an alum as well…( see ? I read the whole post !)
😀 LOVE IT!!!! xxx
Wow, so good. My only complaint is that there wasn’t more if it. I can easily fix that.
Haha love that!!!!
Just tried this in my Pampered Chef Egg Cooker and it turned out great! I’ll share this on my FB and IG page soon and copy your link.
I’m Keo so I used coconut oil in place of banana, more almond for oat flour too, went with heavy cream for liquid. Baked in oven in two regular muffin cups. These were amazing!!!! I think anyone would enjoy this recipe. Thank you!
How many carbs are in the recipe itself?
Feel free to calculate it using myfitnesspal or similar 🙂
Nutritional content??????
Myfitnesspal is a great tool to calculate macros 🙂 Enjoy!
What size ramekins do you use for your minute cakes/muffins?
Hi Rhonda! I use about a 5 inch or so ramekin/Small Ikea cereal bowl 🙂
Thanks. I KNEW I needed another reason to go back to IKEA! I just went for the first time in October since the closest one is 3 hours away! (Have already been back once since and making my list for a third trip!)
IKEA IS SO DANGEROUS hahahaha! Make sure you fuel up on their delicious breakfasts 😀
can i use all whole wheat white flour for the recipe?
Hi Jen! That should work 🙂
Hello! I had pinned this recipe awhile back but I just tried out this morning! I did the oven version and since I didn’t have fresh or frozen blueberries, I subbed some dried cranberries instead. It came out wonderful! Definitely keeping on my weekly rotation from here on out! Thank you for a great recipe.
Hi Emie! Thanks so much for the feedback- The cranberries are such a fun twist to it 🙂
Hi could you please clarify what the measurement T is referring to?
Thanks
Hi Pauline! It is one tablespoon, so 15 mls 🙂
Literally just finished eating this! I doubled the recipe to make 2 at once. The only change I made was using one egg instead of two (I was afraid it would taste eggy). Mine did not look at all like your picture but it tasted fantastic. I will be whipping some up tomorrow for breakfast. This time I will try making it in the oven thank you!!
🙂 You are so welcome, Elizabeth- Hope you enjoyed it!
I made the blueberry muffin mug cake tonight. Except I used blackberries. It was delicious! Even though the center was not baked, it was tasty. Next time I might use the oven. But there will be a next time.
🙂 Oh yay- Thanks so much, Diane!
Great recipe. Do you happen to know the macros?
Thank you! 🙂 For sure, if you go to myfitnesspal.com and add the ingredients in there, it will provide it for you 🙂 Enjoy!
Hey there,
So I just made these, first with 2 T of coconut flour…I didn’t have any oat. It turned out delicious!!
I then tried it with a flax egg instead of an actual egg, still turned out delicious just didn’t rise as much.
Both recipes I used coconut oil rather than mashed banana.
Thanks for the recipes! Keep em’ coming 🙂
Hi Diana! Thanks so much for the feedback, I’ve been intrigued if banana could be subbed for coconut oil and so glad it did 🙂
Appreciate it!
This was so yummy! I wanted to use bananas, but didn’t have one, so I used pumpkin. I was apprehensive about blueberries and pumpkin together, but it was so good. My mind is abuzz with how to adapt different flavors. I cooked one in the oven and one in the microwave…both were equally delicious. Keep these good recipes coming!
Hi Lynette! Thanks so much for the feedback- I’m glad you enjoyed it, and pumpkin is a great sub 🙂
just made it and ate it up in 10 minutes! delicious 🙂 it did, however, take muuuuuuuch longer to bake in the oven ..closer to 30 minutes… maybe I put too much liquid? will make it again! thanks!
I made this last night for a snack before bed and it was delicious 🙂
It says low calorie but how many Cala exactly are there in this recipe. I used coconut oil in place of banana, etc
Hi Patricia! If you add the ingredients you used in a calorie calculator, it will provide it for you! 🙂 Enjoy!
I made this for breakfast this morning–it was delicious! I changed up the recipe to work with what I had on hand. Here is what I used:
3T Whole Wheat Flour
2T Coconut Sugar
1/2t Baking Powder
A dash of cinnamon
1 egg
1T Coconut milk (plus maybe a half teaspoon more)
1T Melted Butter
3T blueberries
Not quite as healthy but it was delicious nonetheless. The only thing I would do differently next time is to coat the blueberries in flour beforehand to keep them from sinking while they cooked. Other than that, it was very moist and surprisingly light.
Hi Emilie- Thank you SO much for sharing this with your additions- That sounds delicious and I appreciate others will love this alternative too 🙂
I’m reporting back on using coconut oil in lieu of mashed pumpkin/banana/starch. I used ghee the first time and it turned out great. Using coconut oil yielded no difference in flavor or texture in my opinion. So I’d say subbing either, if you have to, would work fine. Thanks again for the great recipe!
Oh wow- Thanks so much for the feedback, Gina! I’ll definitely add that in 🙂
My 2 yr old really wanted muffins for breakfast but there was no way I was going to make a dozen muffins and eat 10 as well. This was a fast, one serving alternative. She loved it but it did have an eggy texture-I’m wondering if didn’t add enough almond flour?
Hi Rebecca! I’m so glad this was a good option for you! 🙂 I recommend using the coconut flour if possible- it really absorbs the liquid and makes it more fluffy 🙂
Baking powder has corn starch in it (corn =/= paleo 🙁 ) any other option for leavening the muffin?
Hi Xader! You can omit and it will still come out- although just a little bit flat 🙂
This was good. Great for wanting something sweet and carb-y when you’re on a detox! I used ghee in place of the mashed fruit or starch and it worked well. (banana not on detox and no pumpkin in the house 🙁 ). Next time I want to try subbing coconut oil. Thanks for this!
Oh wow- Thanks for letting me know that ghee worked well in place of the mashed starch! 🙂
Let me know how the coconut oil goes 🙂
Cheers- Arman
Hey Arman! I am new to your site and so excited to try some of your recipes. They look mouth wateringly delicious. In this recipe do you need to use a granulated sugar or could you use maple syrup and put more flour?
Hi Jeriylnn!
Thanks so much for your kind words- I haven’t tried it that way but I could totally see that working- You’ll just need to adjust the milk I’d say more than the flour 🙂
Hi Arman! New to your blog and love it already. Always looking for something new to make for the kiddo for breakfast and this was a winner for sure! I was wondering, if I were to add protein powder to this how much should I add and should I add it in addition to the flours listed or in place of one or more of the flours. Thanks so much! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
Hi Jenny! Thanks so much for your kind words!
For adding protein powder, you’ll need to play around with it- Add it in addition to the flour but you’ll need to increase the milk- Just until a thick batter is formed. Keep an eye on it in the microwave as the contents may spill or use a cereal bowl 🙂
I’ve actually never tried any of the baked goods at Starbucks, but I would definitely eat this!
Oh man, definitely making this with my kid. He is a blueberry monster!
Love this blueberry muffin recipe! I have made it both ways, microwave and oven, and prefer the end result after baking in the oven so I try to make sure I have time to bake it…. next time I will try to make a few at a time and freeze. thanks for sharing your great recipes! carrot cake up next!
YAY! thanks so much for the feedback, Carmen- I love making them in batches or sometimes I multiply the ingredients by 4 (except the baking powder) and make them into blondies 🙂
Love the idea of this tasty little minute muffin! Can’t wait to give it a go! (Unfortunately I can’t have almond flour, but am still eager to give it a whirl with a substitute.) Thanks for posting!
YAY! Let me know how it goes, Christie- You can sub in more oat flour 🙂
It’s 3 A.M. and because I’m asleep, I’d probably wake up to find myself chewing on my hand. Whooooops XD when I go to college, I’d avoid frats and sororities like the plague! I’ve heard they’re lots of trouble!
Anyways, this looks like the perfect midnight snack and dessert!
Ohhh I’m excited to hear how college goes for you!
You have the best recipes ever!! I make the Vanilla Cake everyday! I was wondering if you could get the muffin like texture with using just a combo of coconut flour and oat flour or do you think you need the almond too? Any suggestions? Which binder did you use the applesauce/banana/ or pumpkin?
Oh what!!! That is awesome, Heather! You’re far too kind! 🙂
You certainly don’t need the almond flour- I’d recommend more oat flour over coconut- I also love using pumpkin but for this recipe, I used banana (the pumpkin made it look gross haha!)
The whole fraternity/ sorority thing was so alien to us in the UK – we all watched the American teen films and thought it sounded cool but nothing like it existed! I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing!
Haha same as Australia! 🙂
You already know I’m a big fan of blueberry anything. In fact, the fruitier, the better. Love this. I’d make a dozen, a bakers dozen that is.
🙂 My house smells amazing and you get to have it Saturday!!!
Fraternities, Sororities and muffin bribery to get in – we know none of that over here and I have an inkling we’re missing out on some fun … right? I can get on board with single-serving blueberry muffins in anyway.
Same as Australia!
college in Portland meant I had PLENTY of coffee within a few minutes walk. and there are probably 10x more than um… back then. AHEM.
I was teaching step aerobics, coaching weight lifting, and playing tennis during college. I could have used this muffin recipe. #carbs
Hahahahaha you are the best.
I bet the mashed banana makes this so moist! Looks tasty, Arman. Yet another recipe I can try with my NEW COCONUT FLOUR
I’m so excited for your coconut flour. PS how far are you from Columbus?!
A little over 400 miles! (Just checked)
This is genius. I wish I would have had recipes like this when I was in college! 10 years ago 😉
Hahahaha you and me both 😉 Although those 3 am pizza runs. So . worth. it.
The last time I was hungry at 3 am, It was those freezer taquitos. As you can probably guess, it wasn’t exactly a sober decision…so good/bad though.
omg so much respect. Can we recreate that?
I love that you used pumpkin in this! I need to go out and buy some, I already spotted them at the supermarket. Oh, and yes, I ALWAYS create this horrible mess when making MUG cakes. Duh.
3am? I actually love to have a bar on hand, something healthy. I remember when I was in Sydney and stocked up on bars and when I tried the first one, I finally understood why you created all these recipes for homemade protein bars…….a punishment, edible, that was.
WHAT! Swiss cheese has pumpkin? That is awesomesauce! 🙂
I finished my degree when I was in my mid twenties, so I was not in a sorority. I feel like that would have just been weird.
And YES to the blueberry microwave muffin!
Hahaha naww not weird at all!
That’s a pretty funny story. My son has a microwave…I might have to forward this to him. I’m wondering what he is eating these days, given that sweets no longer disappear in our house like they did before his departure…lol. I wonder if veggies are still part of his diet. No sorority or fraternity for my husband or I. 🙂
Hahahaha if I recall correctly, the scrambled eggs and bacon were ALWAYS a hit. oh and those potato things? Tator something.
I can have my muffins in a minute?!?! HELL YEAH! Dorm food rules! I think that’s why I enjoyed most about college. HAHA 😀
Hahahaha oh man. Cool whip on toast. shhhh
Man, you’re like the King of all things 1-minute. This one looks sooo rad. Job well done my friend!
Thanks Mike!
Did you knowwww that Starbucks switched over to selling pastries made by the San Fran bakery La Boulange a couple years ago, meaning a NEW blueberry muffins? I wonder if they’re any good. Either way this muffin in a micro (micro-minute and micro-wave!) looks delish and sugary perfect.
Oh nice!!! I need to try it out now!
Dang. As a past Starbucks employee (who JUST had her last shift – HOLLA!)… I can now say more confidently that I do have have a reason to return to that place.
Haha thanks so much! 🙂
3am and I’m hungry? Please…3am I’m asleep! But if I was awake, it would probably be pizza nad beer. Mmmm…pizza….I love pizza almost as much as I love blueberry muffins. Too bad I can’t figure out how to make blueberry muffins in 1-minute…oh wait, you already did! Cheers to you, mate. These will soon be a staple in my house!
I remember the days of staying up until 5am playing Age of empires and pokemon. GOOD times.
I was a sorority girl in college. And I ended up married to a fraternity guy, though we weren’t at the same school. I was usually eating pizza at 3 AM instead of muffins. Man, do I miss that 20-year-old metabolism….
Haha right? I saw the funniest meme the other day!
It’s almost breakfast time here in my neck of the woods, which also mean my pre workout meal. This little bowl of muffin-perfection feels like it would be the perfect bite. Plus, 1 minute? Obsessed. Pinned!
YESSSSS. thanks so much, T-dawg.
Love this! It would be such a hit with my kids, too. Pinned!
Right? Thanks so much, Blair!
Two of my bridesmaids were in my sorority 😀 I loved being a part of it until 3 years in, when it seems like everyone went bananas. I often studied at the Sbux on campus for a change of scenery. And who doesn’t love a bakery blueberry muffin??
LOL. Everyone went bananas. I love that.
The Starbucks on my college campus was also a big hit because it was the only one around…. dining hall, Starbucks aaaaand that was about it. I love muffins, but mostly 1 minute muffins because LAZY.
YESSSSS 😀
Yes I was in a sorority 🙂 Seems like another lifetime! Love all the easy microwave recipes, where were you when I was in college at 3am eating ranch dressing drowned pizza?
um, same here. or peanut butter and ice cream from the container. we could have used you then Arman. ALthough I was in college over 13 years ago…sigh.
Hahahaha that sounds delicious though. We need to recreate that time :p
Hahaha oh man, ranch drowned pizza sounds amazing!