Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe with Rainbow Sprinkles
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Made with white chocolate chips and vanilla bean paste, this easy vanilla mug cake recipe comes together in under ten minutes, no oven required. Decorated with plenty of rainbow sprinkles, it’s like a funfetti birthday cake in a mug!
Why Make This Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe?
I have a handful of recipes that I keep on hand for curbing late-night cravings, or for evenings when I’m only making dessert for one, and mug cakes are definitely at the top of this list. I began experimenting with mug cakes a few years ago, when I moved from the US to the UK and no longer had the kitchen space to easily make a full-size cake. (As a New Yorker I’m no stranger to a cramped kitchen, but London kitchens are beyond tiny—many don’t even have ovens, just a couple of burners known as a “hob.”) I started with my easy chocolate mug cake, then got to work on perfecting a vanilla mug cake recipe.
This simple, microwaveable vanilla mug cake recipe uses staple ingredients I always keep in the cabinet, like self-rising flour, white chocolate chips, and vanilla bean paste. It’s the ideal recipe for solo dessert occasions, or for days when I’m short on time (or ingredients!) but still in the mood to bake. Best served with lots and lots of rainbow sprinkles!
Vanilla Mug Cake Ingredients
- Self-Rising Flour – Along with one egg, self-rising flour makes the mug cake rise. I always keep self-rising flour on hand for making bara brith and traditional British scones, but it’s perfect for mug cakes, too.
- Granulated Sugar – Granulated sugar adds sweetness and moisture. Caster sugar or superfine sugar will also work—I usually recommend measuring these finer sugars by weight, but no need to be perfectly precise here.
- Whole Milk – I tested this mug cake recipe with whole milk, but feel free to substitute skimmed, semi-skimmed, or your favorite plant milk, such as almond or oat. Any liquid that moistens the flour will work, but remember that a higher-fat milk (cream, whole milk, half-and-half) will yield a richer cake.
- Butter – Some mug cakes use vegetable oil, but here I’m using melted butter to give the cake a buttery taste and rich, moist consistency. If you don’t have butter on hand, replace it with vegetable, canola, or coconut oil. Avoid using extra virgin olive oil, which will add a noticeable “olive oil” flavor to the cake.
- Vanilla Bean Paste – Because the vanilla flavor features prominently in this recipe, I recommend sticking with a good-quality vanilla bean paste. Nielsen-Massey is my preferred brand. You can also use vanilla extract.
- White Chocolate Chips – To make the cake extra-gooey and extra chocoalte-y, you’ll need white chocolate chips, chopped white chocolate, or callets. I recommend having a few extra chocolate chips on hand to garnish.
- Fine Sea Salt – A pinch of fine sea salt cuts the sweetness of the white chocolate.
- Rainbow Sprinkles – To decorate, you’ll need plenty of rainbow sprinkles (or homemade sprinkles!) for creating the classic funfetti look. I don’t recommend stirring the sprinkles into the batter—see my notes below.
Vanilla Mug Cake Tips and Tricks
- Do a test run. All microwaves operate differently, so it might take a trial run or two to get your mug cake exactly how you like it. I prefer my mug cakes “cakey” around the edges, and warm and gooey in the middle.
- Don’t overcook. Overcooked mug cakes quickly turn tough and rubbery, and arent very appealing to eat. The cake will continue to cook as it cools, so err on the side of underbaking. Mine took about 1 minute 30 seconds, but start checking for doneness after a 60-second cook.
- Reserve the sprinkles for garnish. Add the rainbow sprinkles on top of the cake, rather than stirring them into the batter. When I tested a version with the sprinkles stirred into the mix, the baked cake looked muddy and brown, and not very visually appealing.
- Use a mini whisk. I love my miniature silicone whisk, which is perfect for making mug cakes since it fits nicely into a standard-sized mug. If you don’t own one, you can also stir the ingredients with a fork.
- Don’t make in advance. Mug cakes take on a dense, rubbery texture as they cool, so they are best enjoyed immediately. Do not make this cake until you’re ready to eat it. For a good make-ahead cake option, I suggest my lemon icebox cake or my flourless orange almond cake instead.
Vanilla Mug Cake Recipe with Rainbow Sprinkles
- Total Time10 minutes
- Yield1 mug cake 1x
Made with white chocolate chips and vanilla bean paste, this easy vanilla mug cake recipe comes together in under 10 minutes, no oven required. It’s like a birthday cake in a mug!
Ingredients
30 grams self-rising flour (3 tablespoons)
25 grams granulated sugar (2 tablespoons)
Pinch fine sea salt
1 large egg
45 milliliters whole milk (3 tablespoons)
15 grams unsalted butter, melted (1 tablespoon)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
30 grams white chocolate chips (2 tablespoons), plus more to garnish
Rainbow sprinkles, to decorate
Instructions
In a microwave-safe mug, whisk together self-rising flour, granulated sugar, and fine sea salt.
Whisk in the egg, followed by the milk, melted butter, and vanilla bean paste. Continue whisking until no lumps remain.
Stir in the white chocolate chips.
Microwave on high for 60 seconds. If necessary, continue microwaving in 15-second increments, until cake is puffy and just barely set. (Do not overcook.) Garnish with rainbow sprinkles and additional white chocolate chips. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 1-2 minutes
- Category: Cakes and Cupcakes
- Method: Microwave
How to Enjoy Birthday Cake Mug Cake
This vanilla mug cake is perfect for curbing a late-night dessert craving, without the time or mess required to bake a full cake. It’s equally great as a solo treat or a quick dessert. Enjoy your mug cake plain, or top with rainbow sprinkles, white chocolate chips, homemade caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream. If you’re feeling extra ambitious you can even make your own homemade sprinkles from scratch. And if it’s your birthday, feel free to add a candle, too!
Other Funfetti-Themed Recipes You Might Enjoy
Funfetti Slice and Bake Shortbread Cookies
Buttercream Rainbow Cookie Recipe
Rainbow Whoopie Pies
Frosted Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Oh, and if you’re a fan of mug cakes, check out my easy chocolate mug cake, too!
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
This was really easy to make using ingredients I already had available. So good for a fast and simple dessert.