This banana oat mug cake is tender, light, and fluffy. It can be easily whipped up in just a few minutes from start to finish, making it a perfect quick snack or dessert. Made with wholesome ingredients, this single-serving cake will leave you feeling satisfied and nourished. It can also be customized with different toppings and mix-ins to suit your taste preferences.
I love banana bread, as it’s one of my favorite quick breads. Honestly, I could eat a slice (or more) every week. However, on days when I don’t want to bake a whole cake, this banana oat mug cake is the perfect solution. It’s absolutely delicious and so effortless to prepare! You can whip it up in just a few minutes from start to finish.
Even though I usually have it as a sweet snack, it’s actually a nutritious option for a special breakfast because it’s made with wholesome ingredients like oats and bananas. It’s incredibly tender, light, and fluffy.
Whether you’re in the mood for a breakfast treat, a healthier snack, or a dessert, this banana oat mug cake is sure to satisfy your cravings!
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What is a banana oat mug cake?
A mug cake is a small single-serving cake that is typically made in a mug and cooked in a microwave oven. It is a quick and easy dessert that requires minimal preparation and cook time.
Mug cakes can be made in a variety of flavors and can be customized with different toppings and mix-ins. This banana oat mug cake is made with mashed bananas, oat flour, and other ingredients, making it a healthier alternative for a sweet treat.
This dessert or snack is both delicious and simple to prepare, taking only a few minutes to make.
Why you’ll love this recipe
This banana oat mug cake is:
- A delicious and healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth while also providing nutritional value. It has a moist, light, and fluffy texture that is also hearty. It’s decadent and sweet without feeling heavy on the stomach, and it’s packed with fiber and slow-digesting carbs, making it highly satisfying.
- Super easy and quick to make thanks to the microwave’s unique cooking method, which cooks food from the inside out. In just about 5 minutes, your cake will be ready to eat!
- Easily customizable by adding your favorite mix-ins. For example, chopped nuts can add a satisfying crunch, while chocolate chips can create delicious pockets of melted chocolate.
- The perfect single-serving size makes it a convenient option for satisfying your sweet tooth without having to bake a whole cake.
- Both vegan and gluten-free, making it an ideal option for those with dietary restrictions. Additionally, the recipe is egg-free, which avoids the unpleasant eggy taste that can sometimes occur in mug cakes.
Ingredients you’ll need
This recipe for banana oat mug cake uses simple and easy-to-find ingredients.
- Banana: Adding banana to mug cakes helps with moisture, binding, and sweetness. Make sure to use ripe or overripe bananas (those with dark spots on them). To achieve the perfect cake texture, I suggest weighing the peeled banana in grams/ounces or measuring it in cups.
- Oat Flour: Oat flour not only provide a hearty and nutritious base for this mug cake, but also adds a slightly sweet and nutty taste that enhances its flavor. If you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease, be sure to use certified gluten-free oat flour.
- Peanut Butter: Peanut butter adds a rich and creamy flavor and healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Choose natural store-bought or homemade peanut butter that doesn’t contain any additives such as oil or sugar. Any nut or seed butter works in this recipe, like almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter (for a nut-free version). Note that the flavor might change.
- Sugar: Coconut sugar is used in this recipe to give the mug cake a dessert-like quality, but you can also use other granulated sugars like turbinado, demerara, or brown sugar. Avoid using liquid sweeteners like maple syrup as they can throw off the wet/dry ratio of the recipe. Reduce or omit sugar if preferred.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder is used as a leavening agent.
- Salt: Sea salt is added to enhance the flavor and balance the sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract provides a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor.
- Add-Ins: While optional, chopped walnuts and chocolate chips add some extra texture and flavor to this cake.
Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. This section covers notes on ingredients and possible substitutions.
How to make banana oat mug cake
This banana mug cake is incredibly easy to prepare and will only take you a few minutes to make!
While the recipe card provides detailed instructions, you can also follow along with the step-by-step photos and helpful tips included here to make the process even smoother.
Step 1: Mix the ingredients
Start by mashing the half of the banana until smooth. You can use a masher or a fork. Then, add all wet ingredients and whisk until well combined. Next, stir in dry ingredients and mix until well combined. For extra flavor and texture, fold in some chocolate chips and chopped walnuts, if desired.
The batter should be thick enough to stir but not too runny. If it feels too thick, add 1-2 teaspoons of water until you reach the desired consistency (you can refer to the video for guidance).
Pour the batter into a wide-mouthed microwave-safe mug (mine has 10 oz / 300 ml). Sprinkle a few more chocolate chips onto the batter, if desired.
Note: While you can mix the ingredients directly in the mug, I suggest using a separate bowl to prepare the batter. This allows for better mashing of the banana and easier mixing of the other ingredients with more room to work.
Step 2: Cook
Place the mug in the microwave and microwave on high for about 1 minute and 10 seconds. The cooking time may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave.
The cake should be fully cooked around the edges and slightly pulled away from the mug, with a center that appears a bit underdone (but the batter on top should no longer be wet). As the cake cools, it will continue to cook slightly, so be careful not to overcook it.
If the cake needs more time, cook it in additional 10-second increments until it reaches the desired level of doneness. For my 950 W microwave, I find that 1 minute and 30 seconds is the perfect amount of time. Don’t overcook the cake, or it may become tough!
Remove the mug from the microwave and let cool for 2-3 minutes before enjoying. The cake will finish cooking slightly during the resting time.
Recipe video
Watch how to make this recipe:
Tips & recipe notes
- To make the best mug cake, choose a microwave-safe mug with a wide opening and a capacity of at least 10 oz (300 ml). The cake will rise quite a lot as it cooks, so it’s important to use a mug that’s spacious enough to accommodate this expansion.
- Avoid overcooking the cake to prevent it from becoming dry and rubbery. Start with a shorter cooking time and increase it as needed. Slightly undercooked cake is better because it will continue to cook slightly as it rests. If you accidentally overcook it, add 2 teaspoons of water or milk on top to help moisten it.
- To ensure the best results, use a kitchen scale to measure the banana in grams/ounces. The size of your banana can vary, so measuring it out will ensure the perfect consistency. Once you know what consistency to look for, you can eyeball it. The mixture should be easy to stir, but not too runny like pancake batter. Don’t add too much banana, as this can result in a dense and overly moist mug cake.
- Stir the peanut butter in the container thoroughly before measuring the required amount, as natural peanut butter tends to separate. The consistency you want is runny and not dry, like the bottom of a container.
- Don’t skip cooling. Allow the mug cake to cool for a few minutes before digging in. This is important to allow the cake to finish cooking and improve the texture.
- As this mug cake is gluten-free, there’s no need to worry about overmixing the batter, so be sure to thoroughly combine all the ingredients.
Variations, additions & swaps
- Spices: Adding spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger can add warmth and complexity to the cake.
- Sweeteners: If you’re watching your sugar intake or prefer less sweetness, feel free to reduce or omit the coconut sugar in this recipe. To maintain some sweetness, it’s especially important to use an extra ripe banana. This will add natural sweetness to the cake without the need for additional sugar.
- Nut butters: Swap the peanut butter for almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter to switch up the flavor profile. You could also try adding tahini for a nutty and rich flavor.
- Add-ins: Instead of or in addition to the chocolate chips and walnuts, you can add other mix-ins such as dried fruit, shredded coconut, or chopped nuts like pecans, almonds, or cashews. Be careful not to add too much as it can affect the texture and moisture level of the cake. It can also make the cake overly dense or dry. It’s best to add two tablespoons of add-ins at most to maintain the integrity of the recipe while also adding some variety in flavor and texture.
Serving suggestions
- Enjoy with a cup of coffee, milk, or tea for a well-rounded snack.
- Drizzle some additional peanut butter (or other nut or seed butter) or melted chocolate on top for extra deliciousness.
- Serve with a scoop of your favorite ice cream for a decadent dessert.
- Top with sliced bananas or fresh berries for a pop of color and freshness.
FAQs
Yes, you can eat mug cake the next day, but it might have a different texture than when it’s freshly made. Mug cakes tend to dry out quickly, so it’s best to eat them while still fresh. To store them, put them in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or refrigerate. If it becomes dry, you can add 1-2 teaspoons of water or milk of your choice on top to bring back some moisture.
Although this recipe was created for a quick microwave cake, you can also bake it in the oven. To do this, use an oven-safe dish like a ramekin, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C), and bake it for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Keep in mind that baking the mug cake in the oven will result in a slightly different texture than microwaving it.
Mug cakes can have different textures depending on the recipe and how they’re prepared. This banana oat mug cake should have a light and fluffy texture. If your mug cake turns out tough or chewy, it’s probably been overcooked. The cooking time can vary depending on the wattage of your microwave, so it’s important to stick to the recipe and keep a close eye on the cake while it’s cooking. Since every microwave is unique, it may take a few attempts to find the ideal cooking time for your appliance when making any mug cake recipe.
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