This gluten-free vanilla mug cake is fluffy, warm, and bursting with rich vanilla flavor. In just three minutes, you’ll be enjoying a soft, tender cake that’s perfect for a quick afternoon treat or late-night sweet craving-without turning on the oven.
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❤️ Sandi’s Recipe Summary
If you haven’t had a gluten free mug cake yet, you are in for a special treat!! But, I am going to be a bit honest, mug cakes are not that “pretty” type of cake. There, I said it. You can see above…it needed to be said, but know that the flavor of this cake is delicious! This homemade mug cake turns out fluffy and full of vanilla flavor.
A microwave mug cake cooks quickly at high temperature in a mug. It bubbles and rises up over the cup as it cooks. (It is solid, not liquid, by the time it rises over the rim, so in most cases, it does not explode cake batter, thank goodness!)
After trying this gluten-free mug cake, you will want to try this Gluten-Free Lime Mug Cake recipe. It is one of our favorite summer desserts. I share all of my best mug cake recipes and tips in my Guide to Gluten-Free Mug Cakes.
Ingredient Notes:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe using my DIY Gluten-Free Flour Blend (see note from my Kitchen), Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1, and King Arthur Measure for Measure. One of my readers reported back that she used Namaste GF Flour Blend, and it worked well. Flour blends vary greatly, and it is normal to need to adjust moisture levels by adding more flour or milk. Read Why Gluten-Free Flour Blends Vary to learn more.
- Xanthan Gum – If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1/8 teaspoon. Read Why Binders Matter in Gluten-Free Baking to learn more.
- Baking Powder and Salt – Use aluminum-free baking powder.
- Coconut Oil – Other types of oil also work.
- Egg – I used a large egg.
- Non-Dairy Milk – I used almond milk, but other types of non-dairy and regular milk also work in this recipe.
- Vanilla Extract – I highly recommend using pure vanilla extract and not imitation vanilla.
I modeled this quick gluten-free cake in a mug in a cup recipe after my popular Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake recipe. If you have the time to bake, I recommend trying this cake recipe too! If you are looking for another great mug cake, try this easy Gluten-Free Lemon Mug Cake recipe.
Testing Notes From My Kitchen
I tested this vanilla mug cake recipe with three flour blends over the past few years. The most recent test was my gum-free DIY All Purpose Blend. Each worked very well in creating a fluffy vanilla microwave cake, but my blend needed 2 teaspoons more milk. One reader tested Namaste and had great results.
I haven’t tested this recipe with an egg-free version, but one reader mentioned using Just Egg in a different mug cake recipe. Let me know if you try this egg-free option.
How to Make a Gluten-Free Vanilla Mug Cake in the Microwave:
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Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients in a small
🔑 Sandi says: You can make a mug cake without mixing the ingredients separately, but mixing in bowls avoids any bits of dry ingredients in the bottom edges of the mug from not blending.
Step 2: Add the dry ingredients to another small bowl and whisk to blend. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients. Mix well so there are no visible signs of flour. The batter should be thick, but pourable.
Step 3: Add the cake batter to your favorite coffee mug. This is what your mug cake batter will look like.
Step 4: Microwave for 90 seconds. While cooking, the mug cake rises up past the top of the mug and then falls slightly. This is normal because of the high power of cooking in the microwave.
Step 5: Turn the mug cake upside down on a plate. It is very hot so do this carefully. As I said, mug cakes are pretty ugly. Let the cake cool, then top it with:
- frosting
- ice cream
- whipped cream
- fresh berries and fruit
This Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Mug Cake is Mr. Fearless Dining’s favorite! If you prefer something with chocolate, try this easy Gluten-Gree Chocolate Mug Cake.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can use any type of mug as long as it is microwave-safe!! I have used both glass mugs and ceramic mugs without any trouble.
Cook time of a microwave cake can vary by the depth of the mug you use. The typical amount of time needed is around 90 seconds.
This recipe makes a single serving of gluten free vanilla cake, so it is not common to have any leftovers. If you do, it should keep fresh for about 2 days in the refrigerator.
Reader Adaptations:
Lauren made this recipe with King Arthur’s Measure for Measure and oat milk. She topped it with store-bought cream cheese frosting.
More Delicious Gluten-Free No-Bake Desserts:
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Gluten-Free Vanilla Mug Cake (Ready in 3 Minutes!)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup gluten free flour blend * see note
- 2 tablespoons cane sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- tiny dash salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup milk or non-dairy milk
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Instructions
- In a small bowl, add 1/4 cup gluten free flour blend, 2 tablespoons cane sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and a tiny dash salt. Use a wire whisk to blend.
- Grab another bowl and add 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil, 1 large egg, and 1/4 cup milk or non-dairy milk. Mix well.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix. (I recommend mixing separately to ensure there are no flour pockets in the mu)g.
- The mug cake batter should be thick, but pourable. Pour the gluten free batter into a microwave safe mug. (The batter should be 1/2 to the top of the mug. If it is a lot higher, use a larger mug.)
- Microwave your mug cake for 90 seconds. Allow it to cool, then tip it out of the mug onto a plate.
Video
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure, Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1, and my DIY All Purpose GF Flour Blend. (Note: if you use my blend, add 2 teaspoons of additional milk.)
- If your gluten-free flour blend doesn’t contain a binder like Xanthan Gum or Guar Gum, please add 1/8 teaspoon.
- You can use any microwave-safe mug for this recipe.
- The mug handle may be very hot when you remove it from the microwave. Make sure to use a pot holder to remove the mug.
- I used almond milk, but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work, but I do not recommend canned coconut milk because it is too thick.
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, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
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.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
I’m allergic to coconut, do you recommend a different oil?
Hi Rosa, you could use a light oil like canola or avocado. Enjoy :-).
Can you use Bisquick GF baking mix?
Honestly, I haven’t tried that mix so I am not sure. If you try it, please come back and let me know how it turns out.