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!
I have never tried a mug cake before this. I was just scrolling through recipes on this site and found this! I love cinnamon scrolls and did have a hankering for something a little sweet. I made this right away! Took me about 5 minutes and really does taste like a cinnamon scroll!! Amazing!!
Hooooo this hit the spot today. Absolutely delish… this is a dangerous recipe to know. Yum. :P
Absolutely delicious! I am dairy free and had no problem with the recipe when I substituted almond milk and plant butter. I did only add a pinch of salt since the plant butter I use contains salt. Will definitely be making again!
Excellent! Has saved me from buying and eating several store bought cinnamon rolls! I make mine in a 2 cup Corning French ware and cook. for 45 seconds in my 1500 above the orange microwave. It turns out perfect every time and gives me more surface are for the icing!
Thank you for this and so many other great recipes
a few tips— i don’t think you have to add the salt. i can’t have added table salt, and i thought it tasted great without it. mix it in something other than the mug itself. i know it’s a small mug recipe so it should cut down on the amount of bowls you have to use, but it’s not easy to mix in the mug and sometimes the flour gets stuck around the bottom. i microwaved it for more like a minute and 40 seconds. but it really does depend on your microwave. it 100% tastes like a cinnamon roll in cake form tho! and it actually tasted like cake, which is a feat in itself cos i’ve never gotten a mug cake to taste like cake!
First recipe of 2021! A delicious way to start a new year :-)
HORRIBLE. TOO SALTY
Thank you for providing this recipe. It helped me out of a 4 am study craving! Delicious and doe not make a lot of dishes. Some of the mug cakes I am still making a lot of dishes.
I’ve tried a lot of mug cakes and this is a great one! Perfect texture and flavor. I will make again.
Would love to try this, but I’m looking for a high protein alternative. Do you think I would be able to add a scoop of protein powder anywhere in this recipe?
I’ve not done any baking with protein powder, so I’m not sure how that would turn out. If you decide to give it a try, let me know how it turns out!
Pretty great for when you when you want something sweet but don’t keep that stuff in the house, I love cinnamon rolls. I felt like mine needed a little less salt and maybe twice the icing – I don’t have a huge sweet tooth but felt like it needed it. My husband had never seen the “baking in a mug” thing before and was fascinated. Love your website, thanks!
This was a delicious recipe but now i want this in a much larger portion. Do you think if i multiply this recipe and put it in a cake pan and bake it the oven that it will still turn out well or should i alter the recipe?
Unfortunately that’s not something I could guess without testing. The cooking environment of a microwave is very different than an oven, so I’m not sure how it would turn out.
just read your suggestion, ignore my previous comment ;)
Planning to make it today, but I don’t have a microwave. Do you think it will be fine to hit it up in the oven? If so, how long?
Won’t be quite the same and you’d need to be sure your mug is oven safe.
Amazing, was a hit with the whole family. Always make your chocolate mug cake so was aprehensive of the method but those extra steps were worth it.
Note to Brits – I used Self Raising flour instead of AP & baking powder and all was fine – light and fluffy 👌