3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake
I truly don’t know the origins of this cake. I remember it being on the back of a Duncan Hines cake mix many years ago. If any of you who ever lived in a dorm or in a teeny tiny apartment that didn’t come with an oven, then you are probably VERY familiar with this recipe since learning to cook with a microwave can be it’s own art form when you don’t own an oven.
Single-Serving
1 (15.25) oz. box any flavor cake mix
water
1 tub frosting (optional)
Pour both dry cake mixes into a gallon-size Ziploc bag.
Stir well until completely combined. Batter will get foamy as you stir. Then pop it into the microwave. Cook on high for 1 minute.
And that’s how it gets it’s name, 3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake.
To make:
3 tbsp. cake mix
2 tbsp. water
1 minute in the microwave.
When it’s finished, carefully take it out of the microwave (mug will be very warm.) Dab a little frosting on top (optional) and dig into the warm cake.
You can eat the cake right out of the mug or you can run your finger or a butter knife gently around the inside edge of the mug. Flip mug over on a plate. And dig in!
Definitely add a dollop of frosting on top! It will melt slightly since it’s going on a warm cake. Yum! Keep your bag of cake mix stored in your dry and cool pantry for up to 2 months.
Cook’s Notes: Use any type of cake mix you like. But it has to be mixed with the Angel Food Cake mix for this to work properly. I absolutely love Lemon and Dark Chocolate cake mixes with this. My son is pretty partial to this Rainbow Chip flavor. And feel free to play with different toppings depending on the flavor of cake you use. Whipped cream, canned fruit fillings or fresh fruit are all great toppings to try.
- 1 box Angel Food cake mix
- 1 box any flavor cake mix
- water
- 1 tub frosting optional
- Pour both dry cake mixes into a gallon-size Ziploc bag.
- Zip it up tight and begin to shake it well to make sure cake mixes are combined thoroughly.
- In a clean mug (you do not need to grease the mug), combine 3 tbsp. of the combined cake mixes with 2 tbsp. of water.
- Stir well until completely combined. Batter will get foamy as you stir.
- Then pop it into the microwave.
- Cook on high for 1 minute.
Recipe Video
For One Serving:
3 tbsp. cake mix
2 tbsp. water
1 minute in the microwave.
When it's finished, carefully take it out of the microwave (mug will be very warm).
Dab a little frosting on top (optional) and dig into the warm cake.
Or you can run your finger or a butter knife gently around the inside edge of the mug. Flip mug over on a plate. If you like, add a dollop of frosting on top.
Keep your bag of cake mix stored in your dry and cool pantry for up to 2 months. Use any type of cake mix you like. But it has to be mixed with the Angel Food Cake mix for this to work properly. Feel free to play with different toppings depending on the flavor of cake you use. Whipped cream, canned fruit fillings or fresh fruit are all great toppings to try.
I loved hearing you on the radio show! you were great! As for the new recipe I showed it to Skye and he said COOL! guess I will be making this one before long. Thanks for all the great recipes! <3 Amanda
Amanda – I appreciated you staying up to listen that night!! 🙂 Hope Skye likes this one!
My guys would go crazy over this. Love the ease of it.
The other good thing about these Janna is they aren't really heavy. they are light, yet moist! Hope you love it!
I love this!! Adding into my grocery list today!!
Thank you for comng on the show 🙂
Thank you so much for posting this!!! I have been craving cupcakes for weeks now but I have held off on fixing them because the three of us do not need 24 cupcakes! Now I can get my cupcake fix without any going to waste or gorging on them to keep them from wasting! 😉 I have never heard of this before but it sounds so neat!!
How neat that you were on the radio! Unfortunately, my speakers are out and I cannot listen. 🙁 Thanks for sharing this Mug Cake recipe ~ I'm thinking of several people that would love it.
You always share such wonderful goodies!
Pat
AHA – I have the VERY SAME thing in my pantry…marked on the bag and everything!! Love this for a quick snack…and lowfat too. Really really fun to get to hear you on the radio Girlie! But you were a STAR before you were on the radio…=)
P.S….thanks for sharing my blog link…Woot!
It's been so hot we haven't cooked anything in ages…but with our weekend cool spell, I gave your Crock-pot cubed steak a go. My hubby was so pleased to have "food" again lol. Made your 3-2-1 Mug cake (using lemon cake mix) for dessert too….Wonderful meal. Thanks for the 'food' ideas;-) Really love your site and recipes.
~tracy
Looks so fun!
Congrats for being on the show Brandie!!! Glad everything is going well for you!
So simple and easy and just the right portion size! Thanks for sharing!
Just made this with a plain yellow mix so I threw in about a 1/2 cup of sprinkles. YUMMY!! Couldn't find my frosting so I took some bark chocolate and shaved it off over the top and it melted so easy. Thanks for another great recipe. I'll be sharing the bag with a friend. Teri 🙂
Brandie, Love the picture of you sitting on the porch so as to not wake the family. Having never heard you speak, it was so fun to hear a southern accent. Perfect! So is this mug cake…I love individual portions, especially if I can have a cake to call my own. Brava!
that looks great!! And my momma had those dishes like your mug (with the brown around it) and I have the green like your plate!!
My kids are gonna loooove this!!!
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?!?! This is dangerous knowledge to posses.
I was so excited to see this recipe and then it just tickled me when I saw the cup. I yelled over to my husband "Look honey! She has our pattern!!"
Haha! I would love to get more of this pattern. Right now I just have the cups. I do a lot of thrift store shopping so I'm always looking out for them,
I am very excited about this! 🙂 I am headed to college in August and will only have a microwave. Since I love to bake, I will miss having an oven, but this will be a happy substitute I think 🙂
Congratulations! I am so excited for you! I hope this will at least be an easier and tasty way for you to get your cake fix. Microwave cooking becomes an art while in college. Ha!
I'm in love with this. I love having single desserts like this. I make a 100 calorie brownie very similar to this, but this looks magical – thank you!
I am going to the store and picking up all the things for this ……so my grandaughter can put it together and make some for us. Thank you and I would love to listen to you on the radio if you were only in Indiana on a radio station.
This is amazing! I am heading to college in a week and this will be perfect for late night studying!
Do you know if this works with the gluten free mixes
This has to be the greatest invention of the 21st century! My granddaughter loves cupcakes and so do I. Now we can make them whenever we want! Any suggestions about how to make and keep frosting on hand?
We’ve been planning these for little “just add water” gifts…to fill the empty space in the jars we used chocolate, caramel, or mint chips and they actually settle to the bottom during cooking and serve as icing if you flip it onto a plate…or just dig the bottom while eating straight from the cup!
Great idea!
I love this! I have found that with chocolate cake, it's better if you also add 1/2 cup cocoa powder to the two mixes. Also if you want a double portion, it still only takes a minute to microwave.
Made these tonight, my daughter and I loved them. So easy and no mess, and just the right amount of cake, perfect little dessert. Thanks for sharing!
was wondering if the 2 step angel food cake mix will work???
Just made the mix and then went ahead and made a mug cake…OMG…its like a flavored angel food. I used a strawberry supreme cake mix…so good!!
What is the texture like? I’m not fond of angel food cake.
I love mug cakes, and this one looks great! However, my preferred method of eating Rainbow Chip icing is: with.a.spoon. 🙂
Can this be kept in the freezer? Also as another reader asked, does this work with the angel food mixes with 2 pouches – 1 for the egg whites and 1 for the flour mixture.?
I have never used the angel food cake mix that has two pouches. I am not sure how that would work to be honest. And, are you asking if the dry mix can be kept in the freezer? 🙂
Hello I’m excited to try this but wanted to ask if the carb count was for the cake mixture or dose that include icing? About to be a bad diabetic but need a correct carb count so wanted to double check. Thank you 😊
This is insanely awesome! I’m going out TODAY and picking up the ingredients I need to make my own.
Would this work with gluten free cake mixes?