This Red Velvet Mug Cake cooks up in the microwave in only 1 minute! It is moist, tender, and the perfect single serving treat. Top with a dollop of cream cheese frosting for an extra special sweet treat.
Jump to:
Why I Love It:
- Microwave Mug Cake - Easy single serving dessert that 'bakes' right in the microwave!
- Ready in Under 5 Minutes - Super fast and perfect when you have that sweet tooth craving.
- Cream Cheese Frosting - Although this is optional, it's the perfect pairing with red velvet cake.
Ingredients
- Milk - You can use whole milk, 2%, or even nonfat
- White Vinegar
- All-Purpose Flour
- White Granulated Sugar
- Cocoa Powder
- Baking Powder
- Kosher Salt
- Canola Oil - or other neutral oil like vegetable oil
- Vanilla Extract
- Red Food Coloring - Optional, but it will give it the classic Red Velvet Cake color
- For the optional Cream Cheese Frosting - Cream Cheese, Powdered Sugar, and Vanilla Extract
Step by Step Instructions
Making a red velvet mug cakes takes just a few seconds to mix up and only a minute in the microwave gives you a super moist dessert.
- Mix Wet Ingredients - In a microwave-safe mug, mix together the milk and vinegar.
- Mix Dry Ingredients - In a small bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.
- Mix Cake Batter - Add the dry ingredients to the milk mixture and stir to combine. You can add a few drops of food coloring if desired.
- Microwave - Microwave for about 1 minute until set.
- Frosting (Optional) - If frosting, mix together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. I just use a fork to do this. If the cream cheese isn't soft enough, you can microwave it for just a few seconds so it's easier to mix.
- Serve - Top the mug cake with the cream cheese frosting or dust with powdered sugar.
Recipe Tips
- Microwaves Vary – The strength of your microwave may be different than mine, so keep an eye on the mug cake. It’s better to undercook it and pop it back in for a few more seconds than to overcook it.
- Mix Dry and Wet Separately - I know it may seem like an unnecessary extra step but it really helps the batter ingredients incorporate equally without over mixing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vinegar is used in red velvet cake to not only help the cake rise and be lighter and more tender, but it also adds a super subtle tang.
I highly recommend using milk to create a richer red velvet cake.
Red Velvet has a mild chocolate flavor that has a slight tang from the vinegar. It pairs amazingly with the sweet cream cheese frosting on top!
Any standard size (8 ounces or larger) coffee mug works! The most important piece is to use a mug that is microwave safe! The cake will rise as it bakes.
Because you eat the the cake right out of the mug, you do not need to grease the mug. I just soak the mug in some warm soapy water for a few minutes before cleaning to remove any cooked on bits.
Serving Ideas
The Nutella mug cake is ready to eat right out of the mug, but if you want to jazz it up try some of these pairings:
- Cream Cheese Frosting - This is my favorite topping!
- Scoop of Vanilla Ice-Cream – Top the warm cake with a scoop of your favorite ice-cream
- Whipped Cream – Either regular aerosol whipped cream or the whipped topping in a tub are great on top.
Other Mug Cake Recipes
- Nutella Mug Cake - Only 3 ingredients and takes 1 minute to cook! Such an easy single serving chocolate treat.
- Molten Chocolate Mug Cake – gooey, chocolatey and perfect with a scoop of ice-cream on top.
- Sugar Cookie Mug – get that classic sugar cookie flavor in a cooke-cake form.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug – melty chocolate chips in a mug cookie-cake.
- Hot Cocoa Mug Cake – use hot cocoa mix to make this chocolate cake
Like this recipe? Sign up for my e-mail list so you get a weekly e-mail with new recipes from the week as well as occasional ‘bonus’ content not found on the blog! E-mail link sign up!
Those ads on the page? A portion of all ad revenue is being donated to Warrior Dog Rescue. A MN-based dog rescue that I foster and volunteer with.
PrintRecipe
Red Velvet Mug Cake
This Red Velvet Mug Cake cooks up in the microwave in only 1 minute! It is moist, tender, and the perfect single serving treat. Top with a dollop of cream cheese frosting for an extra special sweet treat.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 mug
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Microwave
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cake
- 3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons canola oil
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- A few drops of red food coloring, optional
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- 2-3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix Wet Ingredients - In a microwave-safe mug, mix together the milk and vinegar.
- Mix Dry Ingredients - In a small bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.
- Mix Cake Batter - Add the dry ingredients to the milk mixture and stir to combine. You can add a few drops of food coloring if desired.
- Microwave - Microwave for about 1 minute until set.
- Frosting (Optional) - If frosting, mix together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. I just use a fork to do this. If the cream cheese isn't soft enough, you can microwave it for just a few seconds so it's easier to mix.
- Serve - Top the mug cake with the cream cheese frosting or dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
Microwaves Vary – The strength of your microwave may be different than mine, so keep an eye on the mug cake. It’s better to undercook it and pop it back in for a few more seconds than to overcook it.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug cake
- Calories: 445
- Sugar: 28.4 g
- Sodium: 1264.9 mg
- Fat: 22.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 57.9 g
- Fiber: 3.4 g
- Protein: 6.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0.9 mg
Keywords: Red Velvet Mug Cake, Microwave Red Velvet Mug Cake
Katie says
I love red velvet cake and I love that this is so quick to make!
★★★★★