3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake (+Video)
3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake is made with only two main ingredients and water. It whips up in minutes and is the perfect single serving dessert!
A SIMPLE DESSERT FOR ONE!
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. It makes a deliciously quick dessert that satisfies any sweet tooth!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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.
There are many different versions. This one is made with two different types of cake mixes mixed with water.
Mug cake has a sponge-like cake texture so it tastes very light and not like a heavy dessert at all.
Absolutely! We are cooking this long enough so that any raw flour in the mixes has been thoroughly cook. There aren’t any eggs in this recipe so you don’t have to worry about that being an issue.
Of course! What’s wonderful about this recipe is the ease of making it and that you can easily pull it out of your pantry and whip it up in seconds. However, you can certainly put in some more time and effort to make it all from scratch!
Keep your bag of cake mix stored in your dry and cool pantry for up to 2 months.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- angel food cake mix
- any flavor cake mix (Funfetti used here)
- water
- frosting
HOW TO MAKE MICROWAVE MUG CAKE:
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 microwave-safe mug (you do not need to grease the mug), combine 3 tablespoons of the combined cake mixes with 2 tablespoons 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.
And that’s how it gets its name, 3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake. I like to write the directions on the outside of the bag so everyone will know how to prepare it when they pull it out of the pantry.
To make:
3 Tablespoons mug cake mix
2 Tablespoons 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!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Original published: September 2015
Updated and republished: January 2023
3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake (+Video)
Ingredients
- 1 box Angel Food cake mix
- 1 box any flavor cake mix (I used Funfetti)
To prepare one serving:
- 2 Tablespoons water (for preparing)
- store-bought frosting (optional)
Instructions
- Pour 1 box Angel Food cake mix and 1 box any flavor cake mix into a gallon-size Ziploc bag.
- Zip it up tight and begin to shake it well to make sure cake mixes are combined thoroughly.
- To prepare: In a microwave-safe mug (you do not need to grease the mug), combine 3 Tablespoons of the combined cake mixes with 2 Tablespoons water .
- Stir well until completely combined. Batter will get foamy as you stir.
- Then microwave for one minute. Top with some store-bought frosting, if desired.
Video
Notes
- Rainbow Chip and Funfetti are two of our favorite cake mixes to use.
- For One Serving:
- 3 tablespoons cake mix
- 2 tablespoons 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.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
can this be used for a full cake or is it only for mug cakes ?
Good question, I’ve never tried a whole cake. I guess it would work as long as the microwave safe cake dish fit in your microwave. If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out for you!
I tried this using a Dolly Parton Old-Fashioned Banana cake mix (from Duncan Hines) & it is awesome!! Would this recipe also work with brownie mix?
No it doesn’t work with brownie mix unfortunately – sorry!
Can I add additional ingredients like chocolate or peanut butter chips in with the mix/batter before microwaving these mug cakes?
I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why not. I don’t know if they’ll drop to the bottom or not. Please let me know if you give it a try!
“Are microwave cakes safe?
Absolutely! We are cooking this long enough so that any raw flour in the mixes has been thoroughly cook. There aren’t any eggs in this recipe so you don’t have to worry about that being an issue.”
Good grief! Who are these people. “RAW FLOUR” When you spend enough time in the kitchen you’ll learn that flour is not raw and it totally safe.
Actually raw flour can contain traces of salmonella & E. coli so it’s a perfectly reasonable question for someone to ask.
Totally right about the raw flour, and having recently read about the possible risks of it, I appreciated you confirming that it was safe.
Hey! I was wondering if I could use a “Deluxe Angel Food Cake Mix” instead of just an angel foodcake, which contains 2 packages. One for the egg white mixture and one for the cake flour mixture. So if I can, does that mean I mix them up all in one bag?
Good question Rob! I’ve never tried it to be honest and I’ve never used to deluxe so I’m honestly not sure. My guess would be yes to mix it all up but I can’t be positive.
Love 321 Cake! But what are you supposed to do with the unused portion after two months? Is there a way to use it all at once? On a sidenote: I have had mine in a plastic nut jar for almost a year and it’s still good!. I just turn the jar Several rotations to stir it back up if it’s been sitting a while!
If you plan on not using it after two months then put it into the freezer when not using to help it last longer. It’s never stayed that long around my house so I’ve never had that issue LOL
Has anyone tried this with gluten free mixes?
Yes it works
Can you double the cake mix and water amount to make a bigger mug full?
Hi Frances, you sure could. Just keep an eye on the cooking time in the microwave. You may need a few more seconds. 🙂 You don’t want to overcook it or it will be rubbery.
Yes
I love this idea and will try when on trip in our motorhome (our only microwave). Can this be baked in a small oven? Temp? Time?
What can you use if you dont have a microwave safe mug
A small microwave safe bowl would work as well. 🙂
Do you think I could use 1/2 box of each and make it in a Bundt pan in the oven instead?
These look wonderful, but a bit small for my husband 😉 Can they be doubled?
Thanks for such a unique idea!
What size mug should these be made in?
????
How far. A head if i make it for a bake sale
It depends. Are you baking them in advance then freezing? Are you making them fully ahead of the bake sale or are you just whipping up the dry batter? The dry batter is good in an airtight bag up to three months.
what is mug/cup is used?
Would this work with gluten free cake mixes?
It would depend on the mix. The regular angel food cake mix has powdered egg already included (you just have to add water). I have seen a lot of mug cake recipes, and it seems that angel food cake mix might be the key ingredient. It might work if you find a GF mix that only requires you to add water. I have not found one yet. I have found a really good yellow cake mix and a chocolate cake mix- Pillsbury.
This is insanely awesome! I’m going out TODAY and picking up the ingredients I need to make my own.
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 ????
If you can find Pillsbury Sugar free cake mix, chocolate or yellow, it will cut your sugar intake.
I just made this using sugar-free cake mix and it was quite good wasn’t as sweet as regular cake mix but it’s good for my husband because he’s diabetic
Thanks for sharing this, it looks awesome. I know you posted this a while ago, but saw you commented recently and I have a question: is it possible to make this with just the angel food cake mix? Is there any reason why you need to use the regular cake mix too, aside from taste? Hoping to make something just slightly healthier with less fat. Thanks!
That’s a good question. I’ve never tried it on its own but it should work because if you look on the back of the box of angel food cake mix, you only add water. 🙂
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? 🙂
Regarding which angelfood cake mix….no. the 2-step mix won’t work. Just like the recipe for pineapple angelfood cake (1 1-step angelfood mix and 1 cab undrained crushed pineapple) the 1-step mix only will work for those recipes.
Thank you for posting…a nice small treat!
Why don’t the 2 pouch angel food cake mixes work? I am having a problem with my cakes coming out with a burned area on the bottom or spot on bottom that ends up too well done, and dry and chewy. What am I doing wrong?
I used the Angel Food cake mix from Aldi — had 2 pouches. I just emptied them both in the bag with another flavored cake mix. It worked swell!
Yay! Love hearing that!
I love mug cakes, and this one looks great! However, my preferred method of eating Rainbow Chip icing is: with.a.spoon. 🙂
What is the texture like? I’m not fond of angel food cake.
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!!
was wondering if the 2 step angel food cake mix will work???
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!