Need a fast dessert without baking a whole cake? This Cake in a Coffee Mug mix turns a boxed cake mix and instant pudding into grab-and-go single servings that cook in the microwave in about 2 minutes. It is handy for college kids, quick after-school snacks, and easy little gift packets that do not require a full pantry to use.
This is a wonderful recipe for single people, college kids, afterschool snacks, etc. They make lovely gifts and are delicious.
One batch makes about 9 mug cake packets, plus a simple glaze mix you can tuck right alongside each bag. Pick matching cake and pudding flavors for the classic version, or mix things up with lemon, chocolate, pineapple-coconut, or butterscotch if you like options more than dishes.
Ingredients for Cake in a Coffee Mug
For the dry mug cake mix, you only need two pantry shortcuts:
- 1 box cake mix, any flavor
- 1 box instant pudding mix, 4-serving size, any flavor
For the glaze mix, combine:
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dry flavoring
Good dry flavoring options include powdered lemonade mix, powdered orange breakfast drink mix, or cocoa powder.
To cook one mug cake, you will need:
- 1 packet mug cake mix, about 1/2 cup
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 glaze packet
- 1 1/2 teaspoons water for the glaze
- Cooking spray or a lightly greased mug
How to Make Cake in a Coffee Mug Mix
- In a large bowl, blend the cake mix and instant pudding mix until the mixture is completely combined.
- Measure 1/2 cup of the dry mixture into individual sandwich bags. One batch makes about 8 to 9 packets, depending on how level your measurements are.
- In separate small bags, combine the powdered sugar and dry flavoring to make glaze packets.
- Place one cake mix packet and one glaze packet into a large coffee mug if you are giving them as gifts, then attach the cooking directions.
- To prepare one serving, grease or spray a large coffee mug.
- Empty one mug cake mix packet into the mug and add the egg white, oil, and water.
- Blend with a fork until smooth, making sure you scrape the bottom corners so you do not wind up with a flour pocket pretending it is cake.
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
- While the cake cooks, add 1 1/2 teaspoons water to the glaze packet. Seal the bag and gently rub it until smooth.
- Remove the mug cake carefully, cut a tiny hole in the corner of the glaze bag, and drizzle the glaze over the warm cake.
- Serve warm.
If you want to make the packets easier for gift giving, add a couple teaspoons of Just Whites egg replacement powder to each cake packet and increase the added water on the direction tag by 1 tablespoon while omitting the egg white.
Flavor Ideas and Helpful Tips
- Lemon cake mix + lemon pudding keeps the flavor bright and simple.
- Yellow cake mix + vanilla pudding gives you a plain, soft vanilla cake that works with almost any glaze.
- Devil’s food cake mix + chocolate pudding makes the richest version and pairs well with a cocoa glaze.
- Pineapple cake mix + coconut pudding tastes like vacation food, which is a respectable use of a coffee mug.
- Butterscotch cake mix + butterscotch pudding makes a warm, old-fashioned dessert flavor.
For the best texture, use a large mug so the batter has room to rise without climbing out like it pays rent there. Stir until smooth before microwaving, and do not overcook. Microwave mug cakes can go from tender to rubbery in a hurry.
If you want a richer chocolate version, you might also like Rich Chocolate Mug Cake. For a cinnamon-forward variation, Cinnamon Honey Bun Coffee Cake Mix in a Mug is another easy pantry dessert.
Storage and Make-Ahead
Store the dry mug cake packets and dry glaze packets in airtight bags or jars in a cool, dry cupboard. Because the mix is dry and shelf-stable, a conservative estimate is up to 6 months for best quality if you keep moisture out and avoid heat. If the mix develops hard clumps, off smells, or visible moisture, toss it.
Once cooked, the mug cake should be eaten right away for the best texture. If you do have leftovers, refrigerate them promptly. General food-safety guidance for cooked leftovers is 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, so that is the sensible upper limit here too. Cover the mug or transfer the cake to a sealed container so it does not dry out.
If you are making these for gifts, pack the dry cake mix and glaze separately and attach the directions right away. That saves the recipient from guessing, which is rarely the road to a good cake.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this mug cake warm, straight from the mug, with the glaze drizzled over the top. It is a good quick dessert on its own, but you can dress it up with a spoonful of whipped topping, a few berries, or a tiny scoop of ice cream if you are feeling fancy.
This also works well as a DIY gift. Tuck one cake packet and one glaze packet into a large mug, add a ribbon, and include the directions. If you like these single-serve mixes, Butterscotch Cake in a Mug and Birthday Cake Mix in a Mug are worth a look too.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Cake in a Coffee Mug
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Cake Mix, 15.25 oz Box
- Instant Pudding Mix, 3.4 oz Box
- Powdered Sugar, 32 oz
- Dry Flavoring Mix, 10 count Packets
- Mug Cake Mix, 3 oz Packet
- Eggs, 12 Count
- Vegetable Oil, 48 fl oz
- Glaze Packet, 1 package
- Bottled Water, 16.9 fl oz
- Cooking Spray, 6 oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cake in a Coffee Mug
Use a large coffee mug and keep the batter to one packet plus the listed wet ingredients. That gives the cake room to rise in the microwave without overflowing, which is the mug-cake version of learning the hard way.
Absolutely. Pack the dry cake mix and the glaze in separate bags, then store them in a cool, dry place until you are ready to give them away. Keeping the glaze dry and separate prevents clumping and helps the mix stay easy to use.
A few brisk stirs are enough. You want the batter smooth, but once the dry pockets are gone, stop there or the finished cake can turn a little tougher than you want in a microwave dessert.
You can. The cake will still cook just fine without it, but the glaze adds moisture and extra flavor, especially with lemon or chocolate versions. If you leave it off, serve the cake warm so it still feels like dessert instead of an emergency snack.
Not for a single packet without changing the balance. A whole egg adds more liquid and fat than this small portion needs, so the texture can get heavy. Stick with one egg white, or use the egg-replacement option packed into each mix packet.
It helps give the mug cake a softer texture and a stronger flavor in a very small serving. Since microwave cakes cook fast, that extra help keeps the result from tasting flat or dry.
It is better to make two separate mugs. Doubling the batter in one cup makes it more likely to overflow, and microwave cooking gets uneven fast when the center has too much batter to heat through properly.
Powdered lemonade mix is great with lemon cake, cocoa powder works with chocolate cake, and powdered orange drink mix pairs nicely with yellow or vanilla-style cake. Use just enough to flavor the powdered sugar without turning the glaze bitter or chalky.
You can, but it is best fresh. Cover it and refrigerate leftovers promptly, then use them within 3 to 4 days. The texture will be a bit denser after chilling, so a few seconds in the microwave before serving helps.
If the mix has hard moisture clumps, smells stale, or shows any sign of dampness, toss it. Dry mixes keep well when sealed, but once humidity sneaks in, quality drops fast and the texture will not be worth your egg white.
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Did you make this recipe? Tell us which flavor combo you tried and whether you kept it simple or went full glaze. Drop a comment below so other readers know what worked.
🖨️ Print-Friendly Cake in a Coffee Mug
Cake in a Coffee Mug
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix any flavor
- 1 box instant pudding mix 4-serving size, any flavor
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry flavoring such as powdered lemonade mix powdered orange breakfast drink mix, or cocoa powder
- ½ cup prepared dry cake mix
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 prepared glaze packet
- 1 ½ teaspoons water
- Cooking spray or grease for mug
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix and instant pudding mix until thoroughly blended.
- Measure 1/2 cup of the dry mixture into individual sandwich bags to make about 9 packets.
- In separate small bags, combine the powdered sugar and dry flavoring to create glaze packets.
- For gift giving, place one cake packet and one glaze packet into a large coffee mug and attach the cooking directions.
- To prepare one mug cake, grease or spray a large coffee mug.
- Empty 1 packet of cake mix into the mug and add 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1 tablespoon water.
- Stir with a fork until smooth.
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add 1 1/2 teaspoons water to the glaze packet, seal it, and rub gently until smooth.
- Cut a tiny hole in the corner of the glaze packet and drizzle over the warm cake.
- Serve immediately.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Cook time is listed as 0 minutes because the card reflects mix assembly only.
Dry mix shelf life is an estimate of up to 6 months in airtight storage in a cool, dry place.
Cooked mug cake is best eaten immediately, but leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 to 4 days.
If desired, add a couple teaspoons of Just Whites egg replacement powder to each cake packet and increase added water by 1 tablespoon when preparing.
Instead of adding oil to the mix for baking, could I add dehydrated butter to the mix, that would allow for baking in an office with no mess. I all ready plan on adding dry egg.