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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!
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 🙂