Unbirthday Mug Cake
When (almost) every day is your unbirthday, you have reason to celebrate, as Alice learns in Through the Looking Glass. This Unbirthday Mug Cake recipe makes a personal-sized cake that cooks in under 5 minutes in the microwave, so you can enjoy it 364 days per year.
Good To Know
- Make sure the mug you choose is microwave-safe (it will usually say so on the bottom). If you’re not sure what size it is, fill it with water, then pour the water into a liquid measuring cup to see how many ounces it holds. A mug that holds 10 to 12 ounces is ideal for this recipe.
- Melting the butter in your microwave at 50% power helps to make sure it doesn’t overheat and pop and splatter. To set your microwave at 50% power, look for a “power” button and press it repeatedly or enter a number so a “5” or “50” shows up in the display before entering the time. Every microwave is different, so ask a grown-up for help to learn how yours works.
- White chocolate chips give this cake extra “birthday cake” flavor, but you can swap them out for semisweet or mini chocolate chips, or even butterscotch or peanut butter chips, if you like. You can change up the sprinkles, too—it’s your unbirthday, so make it your way!
Equipment You'll Need
- 1 (10 to 12-ounce) microwave-safe mug
- Mini whisk or fork
- Spoon
- Oven mitts
Measure Your Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter (salted or unsalted)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch table salt
- 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles (plus extra for decorating)
- 1 tablespoon white chocolate chips (optional)
- Whipped cream, for serving (optional)
Let's Cook!
- 1 tablespoon butterPlace the butter in a 10- to 12-ounce microwave-safe mug. Microwave on 50% power until the butter is melted, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 pinch table salt, 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles, 1 tablespoon white chocolate chipsRemove the mug from the microwave and add the flour, milk, sugar, vanilla, baking powder, and salt. Use a small whisk or fork to mix until the cake batter is well combined and smooth. Use a spoon to gently stir in the sprinkles and chocolate chips, if using.
- Return the mug to the microwave and cook on full power until the cake rises to the top of the mug, looks dry on top, and begins to pull away from the sides, 1 to 1 ½ minutes.
- Whipped cream, for servingUse oven mitts to remove the mug from the microwave and set aside to cool for at least 2 minutes. If you like, top with a dollop of whipped cream and a few more sprinkles, and serve warm.