3 Minute Carrot Cake in a Mug
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This Carrot Cake in a Mug recipe is a 3-minute microwave mug cake dessert perfect for the season. Sweet, delicious with warm spices, and oh-so-easy!
Love mug cakes? Try this gingerbread mug cake in the fall and winter, or this strawberry mug cake in the spring!
Unlike its time-honored favorite inspiration (the oven-baked carrot cake or the equally delicious carrot cake cupcakes), this recipe is made incredibly quickly and easily in the microwave. And absolutely satisfies those cravings!
It's so delicious that you will want to make it soon!
Featured Reviews
"I made a carrot mug cake in just three minutes that was so easy, moist and delicious."
ANGELA PATRONE at Express.co.uk
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Carrot Cake in a Mug Recipe
Are you a fan of mug cakes? If so, we're kindred spirits.
I love mug cakes. They're such a treat after a long day. Even for those of us who cook all day.
Mug cakes are cozy, special, and a little indulgent. They're cakes for one or two with a few simple ingredients.
As spring days grow longer, and the grass begins to green... I'm still in the mood for cozy mug cakes.
And if they can have spring-type flavors, all the better. Like our Lemon Mug Cake, this Carrot Cake Mug Cake is perfect for a changing season. If you happen to be reading this recipe in the fall, try our pumpkin mug cake at the height of pumpkin spice season!
Plus, the ingredients are so simple that you likely already have them on hand.
Have I convinced you yet? If not, the simple cream cheese frosting just might. Oh yum! Or, if cream cheese isn't your thing, try a simple sprinkling of confectioners' sugar or a quick dollop of whipped cream topped with chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans).
However you choose to top your mug cake, it's an incredible treat regardless of your choice.
Ingredients for Carrot Mug Cake
Here are the simple ingredients for this oh-so-easy mug cake recipe.
Dry Ingredients: Gather all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract. If desired, you could also add a pinch of nutmeg and toss in a few raisins and or chopped nuts.
Additional Wet Ingredients: You will also need 1½ tablespoons of butter, milk, and finely shredded carrot. This mug does not use an egg.
How to Make Carrot Mug Cake
Add all the ingredients to a small bowl or a microwave-safe mug. Stir or whisk until the batter is smooth. Fold in the shredded carrots.
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, though. The cake should look set, but be careful not to over-microwave.
Let cool before topping with whipped cream, cream cheese frosting, or powdered sugar.
More Mug Cake Recipes
- 2 Minute Gingerbread Cake in a Mug
- 2 Minute Chocolate Chip Banana Mug Cake
- Chocolate Brownie Nutella Mug Cake: Microwave Recipe
- 3 Minute Microwave Apple Crisp in a Mug
- Two-Minute Bread Pudding in a Mug with Browned Butter Vanilla Sauce
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3 Minute Carrot Cake in a Mug Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tablespoons milk
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons finely shredded carrot (about 28.3g)
Instructions
- In a small bowl or a microwave-safe mug, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, milk, flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Stir or whisk to combine the ingredients until smooth. Fold in the shredded carrots.
- 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 though. The cake should look set but be careful not to over-microwave.
- Let cool before topping with whipped cream, cream cheese glaze or simply powdered sugar.
Video
Notes
- Add-ins: Readers have also enjoyed adding a small amount of raisins and chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans. You could also add a small pinch of nutmeg if desired.
- Topping Ideas: If you want a topping for your mug cake, whipped cream, confectioners' sugar, or an easy cream cheese frosting (recipe below) is delicious!
Easy Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- ¼ cup confectioners' sugar
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
This was perfect for an afternoon treat! I made it just as recipe shared and cooked for 1 min 15 seconds. Let it cool slightly and topped with vanilla ice cream 🍨
Hi Janine! I'm in love with this mug cake-- I'm so happy you enjoyed it too! Thank you for trying it and sharing your microwave time. Vanilla ice cream is perfect!
Can you recommend what to substitute for the butter to make it fat-free?
That's a great question. Unsweetened applesauce is a great fat free substitution for butter, but mashed bananas or or Greek yogurt also works. I might consider very lightly spraying the mug with nonstick cooking spray.
This is super yummy! Followed recipe, added some nuts & it turned our perfectly!
1 min 15 seconds. Delicious, not overly sweet either! Plenty for two. I'm shocked at how flavorful and moist it is! Keeper!
Hi Angel! Thank you so much for trying the recipe. I'm thrilled you enjoyed it (and I agree -- there is plenty for 2!).
really good
If all the ingredients were misé en place, it MIGHT take just three minutes. Could you also include the mise time, not just prep time & cook time? It would also be nice to have cooling time included. So many recipes say they take 10 minutes, but it is 10 to gather & measure everything, 10 to put them all together, & then 6 hours to cook it, a day to retard it, three weeks to cure it, an hour to cool it, whatever, & it is not included.
That's a great point, but hard to accurately reflect a set-up time. I tend to do things quickly because I'm doing it all of the time. I try to account for that and add minutes in the "prep" section of the recipe card. But I completely agree that it's important to understand the time commitment needed for certain recipes. Thank you for your suggestion!
Could you add a Tbs of chopped walnuts?
Hi Dorothy! Yes, you can definitely add walnuts. That would be delicious!