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. 😅
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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
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!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!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I made this tonight for my husband and he really enjoyed the light texture and delicious taste. It was so easy to make!
Tasty! I normally don’t have luck with mug cakes, but this one is actually good! I used a pinch of salt instead of 1/8tsp.
Loved this recipe! I added cardamom to everything (for every portion of cinnamon I did half as much cardamom). I didn’t have powdered sugar to make icing, so instead I put some honey in the same mug I made the swirl as per the icing instructions, then microwaved for 5-10 seconds. Once it was warm enough to be thin and runny like warm maple syrup (which I’m definitely trying next time) I mixed in cinnamon and cardamom, then drizzled it over top. I made sure to make enough honey drizzle to cover the whole top in a thin layer, and it added sweetness to the cake that I think rounded it out nicely.
Just what I needed! I was craving something sweet but didn’t want to pull out the mixer or mess with a bunch of ingredients. I subbed for oat flour and almond milk. I didn’t do the powdered sugar topping. Delicious and no leftover to tempt me.
Delicious for a treat!
Just had this for breakfast… Absolutely delicious. Used almond milk because of run out of dairy milk and used oil in the batter (butter in the swirl)… Even better than I was expecting . Thank you so much for sharing!
You guys, 1/8 tsp of salt is way too much salt for this. You need to change it to be a pinch. It was legit salty. But otherwise, pretty good
I made this with 1:1 gluten free flour, plant-based butter, and oat milk. I’m celiac and allergic to milk. I made it like cake batter, though. I mixed all the dry ingredients, added solid butter and incorporated it with a fork until the dry batter was course like sand. This takes a little more time but made the finished product lighter. I also used half a beaten egg with the milk.
I’ve also doubled and tripled this recipe exactly as written, adding 1 min to cook time for each addition. I put a top over it in the microwave as well.
Just tried the Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake and it is excellent!!! 😊👍. I used what I had on hand walnuts instead of pecans. My husband is diabetic and has a sweet tooth. I’m going to try it with his sweetner and see how it comes out. Thank you. Great recipe.
Quick and easy to make, thanks for the alternative to chocolate mug cakes.
Do you need to adjust the cooking time if making 2 at the same time?
Hi Melissa- I wouldn’t do two at the same time, as they might not cook evenly. But if you want to try it, then yes you should adjust the cooking time. Unfortunately, since we haven’t done it that way, I can’t tell you how much you should adjust the time. Let us know the results! XOXO -Monti
Do you need to cover the mug in the microwave?
You shouldn’t need to cover it! ~Marion :)
This recipe rocks! Thank you!
Can you please make a full-size version of this recipe? I’m in loooooove with it!
I’ve made this recipe maybe 5 times and whenever I’m craving a small treat I ALWAYS turn to this recipe. It has the perfect amount of cinnamon and nuttiness from the pecans. Easily my favorite treat for when I’m wanting something nostalgic.