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3 Minute Apple Mug Cake

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This apple mug cake is a tender, soft, raw apple cake richly seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s ready in 3 minutes or less and is cozy, delicious, and oh-so-perfect for chilly days!

Two apple mug cakes presented in white mugs sit atop matching saucers. Each cake is topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. A shiny gold spoon accompanies the setting next to an apple and a wooden cutting board in the background.

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What I Love About an Apple Mug Cake

Do you know those days when you crave something sweet, seasonal, and delicious? Days when you also want to curl up in your favorite chair, maybe sit by the fire, and read the novel you can’t quite put down or that movie that’s been on your list ever so long? Yep. Those days are made for mug cakes.

When apple pie is on your mind, or your favorite raw apple cake, but an hour in the oven just isn’t going to suit. Or when friends and family are occupied, and you want a quick and warm treat in minutes, it’s time for an apple mug cake.

  • It’s quick (like 3 minutes or less)
  • Delicious with warm spices
  • Fresh apples combined with a soft, delicious cake for one (or two)!

If you love mug cakes, our readers are huge fans of our carrot cake in a mug, especially in the spring but also in the fall with its warm flavors. Speaking of fall, the gingerbread mug cake is also out-of-this-world delicious!

Top-down view of baking ingredients including a bowl with flour, brown sugar, and spices, a cutting board with chopped apples, apple slices, a knife, a block of butter for an apple mug cake, three whole apples on a plate, and a pitcher of milk on a white wooden surface.

Apple Mug Cake Ingredients

Mug cake ingredients are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but here is a quick list of what you need:

  • Butter (salted or unsalted) and melted
  • Brown Sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Milk (dairy or non-dairy)
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Seasonings: Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt
  • Small apple, finely chopped

How to Make an Apple Mug Cake

The recipe card below has full instructions, but here is an overview of making this easy mug cake!

Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, milk, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir or whisk to combine the ingredients until smooth. Fold in the chopped apples.

A mug of unbaked apple mug cake batter with chunks of apple sits on a wooden board placed atop a red and brown checkered cloth. Next to the cup are two cinnamon sticks. An apple is partially visible at the top right corner of the image.

Microwave the mug cake for 1 to 1½ minutes. In my microwave, it’s best at 1 minute 15 seconds. Begin checking at 1 minute. The cake should look set, but be careful not to over-microwave. Let is cool before enjoying!

A white mug filled with just baked apple cake rests on a matching saucer atop a red plaid cloth and wooden board. Surrounding the mug are yellow flowers, a red apple, and two cinnamon sticks arranged in a cross. The setup is on a light-colored wooden table.

Topping Ideas

For me, vanilla ice cream is the perfect topping for many mug cakes. I love the way it melts down into the tender crumb of the cake, fills in all the crevices, and gives a wonderful balance of cool and warm.

A top-down view of a mug cake in a white mug topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. The mug is on a decorative white plate with a golden spoon beside it. The plate sits on a wooden cutting board with a checked cloth and yellow flowers nearby.

I topped this apple mug cake with vanilla ice cream, a ready-made caramel sauce drizzle, and a pinch of coarse sea salt. However, you don’t need to go to that fuss unless you have it on hand. Simply dust powdered sugar and whipped topping, or leave it plain. The cake is delicious all on its own.

A close-up of a white teacup filled with a mug cake topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. A spoon is taking a bite from the delightful apple mug cake. A red apple and another teacup are visible in the background.

More Mug Cake Recipes to Try

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A white mug containing a light brown apple cake topped with a dollop of ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce. The bowl is placed on a white plate with embossed designs, accompanied by a gold spoon on a wooden board with a red plaid cloth and yellow flowers.

3 Minute Apple Mug Cake Recipe

This Apple Mug Cake is a 3-minute microwave mug cake dessert that's perfect for the season. Sweet, delicious, and oh-so-easy!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients 

  • 1 ½ tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch nutmeg
  • 1/2 small apple finely chopped

Instructions

  • In a small bowl or inside the mug, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, milk, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir or whisk to combine the ingredients until smooth. Fold in the chopped apples.
  • Microwave the mug cake for 1 to 1½ minutes. In my microwave, it's best at 1 minute 15 seconds. Begin checking at 1 minute. The cake should look set, but be careful not to over-microwave.
  • Let cool before topping with whipped cream or ice cream, caramel sauce, or dust with powdered sugar.

Notes

Topping Ideas

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe? Pin it Today!Follow me on Pinterest for more and use the "Pin" button at the top of the recipe card.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple mug cake, easy mug cake recipe

4 Comments

    1. Hi Mark– I haven’t tested this mug cake in the oven but I’m fairly certain it would work. I would preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180c) and use oven safe mugs. I’m not certain on the baking time but would plan on about 20 minutes, but begin checking it a few minutes before. If you try it, I would love to hear how it turned out!

5 from 1 vote

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