If you love lemons as much as we do but are short on time, why not try this incredibly light gluten free lemon mug cake recipe? This lemon microwave cake is ready from start to finish in about 4 minutes.

A shot of a spoon drizzling lemonade icing over a microwave cake.

Summer is coming, and it is the time of year I least like using my oven. Not using an oven to bake is hard, especially for my cake-loving family!

This cake is full of rich lemon flavor and topped with homemade lemonade icing. You will never know this cake is gluten free! Mug cakes are our new favorite summer dessert.

If you haven’t had a microwave cake yet, you are in for a treat! This mug cake is not only gluten free, but it is also dairy-free! If you want an egg-free mug dessert, try this easy gluten free mug brownie recipe.

Why I love this gluten free lemon mug cake:

  1. If you love fresh lemon flavors and are craving cake…this is the recipe for you!
  2. You can make this gluten free lemon mug cake in under 4 minutes from start to finish.
  3. All you need are a few simple ingredients and your favorite mug! If you prefer a vanilla cake, try this gluten free vanilla mug cake recipe!

Reader Rave

Just made using Namaste gf flour blend!!! DELICIOUS…. I had to add 20 seconds for my 16oz mugs, it turned out great & I didn’t add any toppings!!!” Charlotte P., Facebook comment

I just made this is and it’s delicious. It tastes like a cupcake. Will make this again anytime, thanks for the recipe! I used King Arthur’s Cup4Cup.”

Lisa S., Pinterest comment
A lemon mug cake with a piece cut out.
Top Pick
King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 lbs

This is one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends for cookies, cakes, pie crust, biscuits, and muffins! (Do not use this flour blend for yeast recipes.)

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Ingredient Notes:

  • Gluten Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend, Pillsbury Gluten Free Flour Blend, and King Arthur’s Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend (pictured above). That doesn’t mean others will not work; I have not tested other flours, and I can not guarantee the recipe will work if you use other mixes. Note my DIY All Purpose Gluten Free Flour Blend also works very well in all of my mug cake recipes. It is a gum-free custom blend.
  • Sugar – Use cane sugar and not powdered.
  • Baking Soda – Use baking soda since this recipe has acid from the lemon juice.
  • Xanthan Gum – If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1/16 teaspoon.
  • Egg – Size large.
  • Light Oil – You can use any light oil, but avoid strong-flavored oils. I tested this recipe with canola oil.
  • Non-Dairy Milk – I used almond milk, but other dairy-free milk will work. I do not recommend canned coconut milk.

Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:

The dry mug cake ingredients in a bowl.

Step 1: Add your dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend. In another bowl, add the wet ingredients and whisk to blend.

To measure your gluten free flour, I recommend using the spoon method or leveling method. In a perfect world, people weigh their flour, but most do not own a kitchen scale. Every gluten-free flour blend has a different weight, making a scale even trickier.

Put the measuring scoop into the flour and fill. Do not pack the flour. Use a knife to scrape along the top to remove the extra flour.

You can also use a spoon to fill the measuring cup. Use a knife to level along the top to remove the extra flour.

Wet mug cake ingredients.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

The mug cake batter in a coffee mug.

Step 3: Pour your cake batter into a mug. Microwave for 90 seconds. If you use a deep coffee mug, you will want to add 20 seconds if it needs more time.

Note: The cake is going to rise while cooking…A LOT. Make sure when you put the batter in the cup that it is no more than half full. The cake will grow way past the rim, then sink back down as it cooks.

This gluten free snickerdoodle mug cake rose way up when cooking in the microwave!

Topping ideas:

There are so many fun ways to top this mug cake! Here are some of our favorites:

If you want even more delicious gluten-free lemon recipes, try this easy gluten free lemon donuts recipe a try!

The top view of the lemon mug cake with icing and lemon zest.

If you love making a cake in under 5 minutes, you can check out all of my easy gluten free mug cake recipes!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ:

How long do you microwave cake?

For my mug cake recipes, I microwave my mug cakes for about 1 minute and 45 seconds. If you use a deep mug, you may need to microwave an additional 20 seconds.

Can you use any mug?

You can use any mug to make a mug cake as long as it is microwave-safe. Do NOT use plastic mugs, as they can melt or add a chemical flavor to your cake. Ensure your mug is tall enough that the batter will come up no higher than halfway.

How to make a mug cake pretty

The only bummer about a mug cake is they just aren’t pretty. If you need to make your mug cake look good, you can use a knife to make some simple cuts to make it more uniform.

Once your mug cake is uniform, cut it in half horizontally so that it is like a layer cake. Frost as you would a regular layer cake

Can you use jarred lemon juice?

You can easily substitute jarred lemon juice for fresh lemon juice, but you won’t have any fresh lemon zest if you use jarred. The rich lemon flavors will still shine through in the most delicious way!

This gluten free chocolate mug cake takes about 2 minutes because it is a double serving.

Reader Rave:

This works and it actually tastes like cake. Maybe a bit more like a good pancake. But it‘s still a good quick dessert👍🏻”

Elesa E., Pinterest user

If you love these cakes, do you know you can make mug cobblers? Try this gluten free cherry cobbler mug cake!

More Delicious Gluten Free Lemon Recipes:

Gluten Free Lemon Mug Cake

Sandi Gaertner
A gluten free lemon mug cake topped with lemonade icing. This delicious mug cake is ready in under 3 minutes!
4.75 from 8 votes
dairy free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
Course Gluten Free Cake Recipes, Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 1
Calories 494 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients
  

For the Mug Cake

  • ¼ cup gluten free flour blend * see note
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • dash salt
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon light oil * see note
  • ¼ cup non-dairy milk * see note

For the Icing

  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
  • Add the wet ingredients to another bowl and mix well.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix.
  • Pour the batter into a mug, making sure the batter goes no more than ½ way up the mug.
  • Microwave the cake for 90 seconds.
  • Mix the powdered sugar and lemon juice to make your icing and drizzle on top of the mug cake.

Notes

  1. If you are using a tall mug, you may need to microwave the cake 20 seconds longer.
  2. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF, Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend, and Authentic Foods Multi Blend in this recipe. That doesn’t mean others will not work; I have not tested other flours.
  3. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1/16 of a teaspoon.
  4. I used almond milk, but other dairy-free or regular milk will work. I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
  5. This mug cake will keep up to 3 days in an airtight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 494kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 11gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 92mgPotassium: 381mgFiber: 3gSugar: 45gVitamin A: 338IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 203mgIron: 2mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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15 Comments

  1. 1 tsp xantham gum seems like way too much for just 1/4 cup gf flour? I read about 1/2-1 tsp for 1 cup flour so maybe 1/16 tsp is enough? If

  2. 3 stars
    I do not know what I did wrong. I used King Arthur measure for measure flour, avocado oil, and 2% milk. It did not have a nice texture at all, it was almost gummy.

    1. Hi Crystal, if your cake turned out gummy, it probably cooked in the microwave too long. Cooking time depends on the depth of the mug and how hot your microwave runs.

    1. I don’t have a microwave either, so I use my Dash mini-bundt maker. Also, I have doubled or tripled Sandi’s mug cake recipes and baked a few cupcakes in the oven with the batter. They taste great, whichever way I bake them.