Watch out mug cake lovers, this might just become your new go-to! This Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake is like a short cut cinnamon roll with no kneading, no rising, and no rolling required! It’s the perfect quick fix for when you need just a couple bites of cinnamon-y sweetness without having a whole pan of cinnamon rolls staring you down all day. Or when you don’t want to pay $5 for a cinnamon roll the size of your head. Because while I love cinnamon rolls that big, I don’t need cinnamon rolls that big. 😅
What’s with Mug Cakes, Anyway?
Mug cakes certainly aren’t for everyone, but if you’re the type of person that doesn’t like to keep sweets on hand, but does have the occasional sweet craving, mug cakes are the perfect single-serving fix. They take just enough work that I’m not tempted to make them ever day, but they’re certainly easier than making a whole dessert or going out to buy a single portion of something. They do also require a pantry stocked with basic baking ingredients, like flour, sugar, baking powder, etc.
Do I Have to Use a Microwave?
Yes, this recipe is designed specifically for the microwave. Ovens cook at a much slower pace, so this recipe would have to be tested and adjusted to compensate for the difference. Unfortunately I have not tested this recipe for conventional ovens.
Can I Use Non-Dairy Milk?
Because the milk is such a small quantity in this recipe, I do think you could get away with using a non-dairy milk, like almond or soy. You may also be able to use a non-dairy butter substitute as well, as long as it does not contain too high of a percentage of water. I have not tested this recipe with either of these non-dairy ingredients, so this is just my best guess.
Estimated Pricing
Take the pricing breakdown below with a grain of salt. This recipe uses super small quantities of ingredients that already cost pennies at normal volumes, so the calculations are definitely more in the range of a general estimate.
Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake
Servings 1Ingredients
Mug Cake Batter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour ($0.03)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.04)
- 1/4 tsp baking powder ($0.01)
- 1/8 tsp salt ($0.01)
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon ($0.02)
- 1 Tbsp chopped pecans or walnuts (optional) ($0.16)
- 1/2 Tbsp butter, melted ($0.03)
- 2 Tbps milk ($0.04)
Cinnamon Butter Swirl
- 1/2 Tbsp butter, melted ($0.03)
- 1 tsp brown sugar (0.02)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon ($0.05)
Icing
- 1 Tbsp powdered sugar ($0.01)
- 1/2 tsp milk ($0.01)
Instructions
- In a small mug (about 1 cup volume), stir together the dry ingredients for the mug cake batter: flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and chopped pecans.
- Add the melted butter and milk to the dry ingredients in the mug and stir until a thick batter forms.
- In a separate small bowl or mug, melt the butter for the cinnamon butter swirl (about 15 seconds in the microwave). Stir the brown sugar and cinnamon into the melted butter.
- Drizzle the cinnamon butter swirl over the mug cake batter, then gently fold them together until they are only about half mixed. There should be thick ribbons of the cinnamon butter swirl throughout the batter.
- Microwave the mug cake for 45-55 seconds (for a 1100 watt microwave, cooking time will vary with microwave wattage). The mug cake will create quite a bit of steam as it cooks, so don’t be alarmed. Let the mug cake cool for 1-2 minutes.
- While the mug cake is cooling, stir together the powdered sugar and milk for the icing, using the same small bowl used for the cinnamon butter swirl. The residual cinnamon in the bowl will flavor the icing.
- Drizzle the icing over the mug cake and enjoy while it is still warm.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Nutrition
Love microwave mug cakes? Check out my Funfetti Mug Cake, “The One” Chocolate Mug Cake, Blueberry Mug Muffin, 5-Minute Microwave French Toast Mug, and 5-Minute Savory Microwave Breakfast Mug.
How to Make Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake – Step by Step Photos
Start by adding the dry ingredients for the mug cake batter to a small mug (about 1 cup volume): 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp cinnamon, and 1 Tbsp chopped pecans or walnuts. Stir these ingredients together until they are well combined.
Next, add 1/2 Tbsp melted butter (microwave butter for about 15 seconds in a separate bowl) and 2 Tbsp milk.
Stir the wet and dry ingredients together until they form a thick batter.
In a separate small bowl, melt another 1/2 Tbsp butter (microwave 15 seconds or so), then stir in 1 tsp brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. This is the cinnamon butter swirl.
Drizzle the cinnamon butter over the mug cake batter, then gently fold them together, only until they are about half mixed. You want thick ribbons of the cinnamon butter throughout the batter.
Microwave the mug cake for 45-55 seconds (this is the time for an 1100 watt microwave, your time may vary with the wattage of your microwave). The mug cake will steam quite a bit as it cooks, so don’t be alarmed. Let the mug cake cool for 1-2 minutes.
While the mug cake is cooling, make the icing. Use the same bowl used to make the cinnamon butter swirl. The residual cinnamon in the bowl will flavor the icing. Stir together 1 Tbsp powdered sugar with 1/2 tsp milk until a thick icing forms.
Drizzle the icing over the Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake.
Enjoy while still warm!
This was delicious! Made it for my kids this morning and they all loved it. Can’t believe how closely it resembles a cinnamon bun! Thanks for anither great recipe!
I made this for motherโs day and it was delicious!
So delicious and easy! I am in mid-pregnancy and really just wanted something sweet and a little filling (like a cinnamon roll) and this totally met my craving. I made it immediately after seeing it on instagram thanks to it being made with very simple and staple pantry ingredients I already had on hand. (Also helped that my other littles were at the grandparents, no sharing required :D ) Will definitely make again! Your recipes are consistently some of my favorites that I try from online recipe bloggers. Yum!
(Forgot to add the rating to the first review. Please feel free to delete my one without a star rating)
Thank you!!
This recipe explains everything in such depth that i feel like a pro cook haha, thanks for sharing
I had a hankering for cinnamon rolls but not the time to make them. I made the recipe exactly as-is and it is amazing! I would recommend using a short stout mug rather than a tall skinny one like I did though. Next time I’ll try whole wheat to make it a bit healthier, and a little vanilla.
Wow, the only mug cake recipe I’ve ever had success with! I’ll admit, I often double the recipe for my bigger mugs, and it turns out excellent. I also only keep coconut milk on hand, which adds a nice fun flavor to the recipe!
Iโm 8 months pregnant and this has become my emotional eating go to! Ha. My hubby is just happy Iโm eating this and not making him go buy 6 packs of cinnamon rolls
Haha! I love it! :)
Beth,ย
I just noticed you havenโt updated the blog in a while. I hope everything is okay and youโre just taking a well deserved vacation! Your readers love you!
Yes, I took a 9 day trip to China. :) Thank you for checking on me!
Just made this to go with my morning coffee and I am astounded. It. Is. So. Good. I was worried it would get all hard and tough around the edges, as many things do in the microwave, but this doesn’t. It’s like a real, tender cinnamon roll. Thank for you making life worth living.
The cake part stands on its own, no need for the glaze. Deeelish!
My grandma would love this recipe, but is diabetic. Anyone have any suggestions for a brown sugar substitute? Could sub stevia for the sweetness, but wouldn’t get the same flavor.
Hi Taylor, This is Gina. I think Splenda makes a brown sugar substitute. I hope this helps. I remember seeing at Wal-Mart so I am sure any chain would carry it. You could also Google how to make your own and add the stevia in place of the sugar.
Before I saw this recipe, I tried so many mug cake recipes and hated them all. They were either dry or they had no flavor. I’m a discerning mug cake consumer! Then I made yours and I’m amazed at how delicious it is. I switched out the butter for margarine, and it still came out great. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for those incredible ideas, i really impressed by your yummy recipes. thanks again !
Made these this week and they were AWESOME!
Thanks for recipes !