This Apple Mug Cake uses a clever technique to pack one whole apple in one mug cake! It is ultra-soft, and fluffy and is a must-try fall recipe.
Mug cakes are quick and easy to prepare. There's no need to cream butter—just mix everything together in one mug and you're set.
I have been working on several new recipes using apples to share with you this fall. Meanwhile, here are a few from my existing apple repertoire: apple waffles or apple fritters.
My perfect apple mug cake is simple—soft and fluffy, with a genuine apple flavor reminiscent of a classic apple muffin.
I found that increasing the amount of apples in the apple mug cake recipe was both a blessing and a curse. While the extra fruit created a wonderfully fruity treat, the quick 2-minute microwave time wasn’t sufficient to soften the apple chunks, and it ended up weighing the cake down.
To fully incorporate apples into the recipe and ensure they become tender within the short microwave cooking time, I realized I needed to pre-cook them, similar to the method used for mango mug cake. This approach softens the apple chunks, reduces excess moisture (since apples are about 86% water), and intensifies the flavor.
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Why you'll love it?
- One whole apple in one small mug cake
- Ultra soft and fluffy texture
- Unique method of packing in more apples
- Single-serve dessert
- Perfect apple dessert for fall
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Apple - I like to use Gala, Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious for baking, because they are sweet with a hint of tartness and hold their shape better when cooked.
- Flour - Regular all-purpose flour adds enough structure.
- Sugar - Actually, not much is needed—just two tablespoons, because apples provide plenty of natural sweetness on their own.
- Milk - Makes the apple mug cake rich and flavorful.
- Oil - A flavorless oil is the secret to making cakes with a moist crumb.
- Baking powder - It is always my go-to for leavening in eggless microwave mug cake recipes.
- Vanilla - It makes it taste cakey. However, ground cinnamon, ginger, and allspice will be just as delicious.
Variations
- Use cinnamon instead of vanilla extract.
- Use warm fall spices like ginger, nutmeg, or cardamom instead of vanilla extract.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
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Pro tip: Pre-cooking the apple chunks softens them, reduces excess moisture, and intensifies their flavor.
Tip: Use room-temperature butter! Cold butter reduces the temperature of apples drastically and affects the texture of the finished product.
Pro tip: After the cooking time is complete, avoid opening the microwave for an additional 10 to 20 seconds before removing the cake. This helps prevent any shrinkage.
How to serve?
Like my air fryer apple crisp, enjoy apple mug cake hot with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or caramel sauce.
Helpful tips
- Mug size. Both large or medium size microwave safe coffee mugs work for this apple mug cake recipe. However, it is easier to mix the batter in a larger one.
- Cooking time. Cook for 1 min and 50 secs, if using a wide mug and 2 minutes, if using a medium mug.
- Best apples to use. I like to use Honey crisp, Golden Delicious, Fuji or Gala. You want to choose a fruit that is crisp, sweet, and tart.
- Sugar. It depends on the sweetness of the apple used. I used Gala, and 2 tablespoons of sugar was perfect.
- Stir batter until lump free. Using a spoon, stir the cake batter until smooth and no lumps remain.
- Best eaten hot. Enjoy this cake, because microwave cakes have a tendency to might dry a little when left at room temperature.
- The cake tends to shrink slightly when you remove it from the microwave. So, I prefer opening the microwave after 10 to 20 seconds after cooking.
More mug cakes
Apple Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped apples (1 small-medium size apple)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Wash, peel, core an apple and chop into ¼-inch cubes. Measure one cup.
- Add chopped apple into a microwave safe coffee mug (preferably a large mug). Microwave for 2 minutes. Pro tip: Pre-cooking the apple chunks softens them, reduces excess moisture, and intensifies their flavor.
- Remove mug from microwave, stir in butter, until it is fully melted and then mix in milk. Tip: Use room-temperature butter! Cold butter reduces the temperature of apples drastically and affects the texture of the finished product.
- Add remaining ingredients and mix very well, until thoroughly combined.
- Microwave for 1 minute and 50 seconds for a wide mug or 2 minutes for regular mug (as shown in photos).Pro tip: After the cooking time is complete, avoid opening the microwave for an additional 10 to 20 seconds before removing the cake. This helps prevent any shrinkage.
- Serve hot with ice cream!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Did you make this recipe? I’d love your feedback! Please let me know by leaving a comment, a star rating or review below.
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Teri W
Made this just now, cooked apple and butter together because I couldn’t wait for the butter to soften 🤣 used 1 T sugar and maybe 1/8 t or so of cinnamon. Very good! Keeping this one! 🍎
Maria Doss
Hi Teri, Sounds great, glad you liked the mug cake, Maria
Andy
Any tips for using almond or coconut flour instead?
Maria Doss
Hi Amy, We wouldn't recommend using gluten free flours in this recipe. However, you can check out this Mug cake recipe using almond flour instead. Hope it helps - Maria
Jennifer
This was by far the best mug cake I've ever made!! Didn't change a thing from your recipe, I used a honey crisp and the result was perfection. Thank you for the awesome recipe!! I know I'm late to the party, but I just had to let you know how good it was lol
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡
Janet
I my goodness I can’t believe how easy and delicious this is
Can’t wait to try other cakes
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡
Dougal
I used coconut oil instead of your suggestion for butter and cornflour cos I have run out of flour and it was delicious; added a dash of caramel flavour before noshing! Wonderful thank you 🫖
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡
Linda Atkinson
Wow. Such a great mug cake. Soft and fluffy...very easy to make. I added some cinnamon because I love cinnamon and apple together. Put some yoghurt on top once it was cooked. Yummo!
Linda
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! Wishing you a very happy new year - Maria ♡
Dana
I look forward to trying this! But no cinnamon is a travesty! 😄