Got a ripe banana, 5 minutes and a microwave? Check out this awesome Banana Bread Mug Cake Recipe! One of my most pinned recipes and still a favorite!
Y’all, banana bread is one of my favorite comfort foods. And I don’t think I’m alone on this one. Maybe it’s because we all end up with a semi-past due banana from time to time and want to come up with a way to use it, like my favorite, Banana Bread with Nutella Swirls, or maybe it’s cuz we all secretly want to feel healthy while eating cake. 😉 Either way, this single serve mug cake recipe is now my magic trick for when that one banana is begging to be used.
What is a Mug Cake?
Mug cakes are single serve cakes in mugs prepared in the microwave. They are fast and easy! Plus, being single serving, they are great portion control for those of us who lack the will power to keep an entire cake nearby without nibbling. This Banana Bread Mug Cake is one of my favorites to make.
How do I bake a Mug Cake?
For a few years, I have seen recipes floating about for ‘mug cakes’ – where you mix the ingredients in a cup and plop it in the microwave. The idea is pretty neat, we just don’t do a whole lot of microwaved anything. I didn’t have a microwave at my parents’ house, so I rarely think to use it now that one sits there taking up valuable counter space. But guys, cake for one in like 5 minutes. Magic. That is a mug cake.
A friends mom gave me a recipe for a chocolate mug cake a while ago and I meant to try it, but the paper got shuffled in with life and there went that. It wasn’t until I saw this recipe over at Vittles and Bits that I was reminded of wanting to give the whole baking in a microwave oven idea a try again. And this one was banana bread.
How to bake a banana mug cake?
This one is easy. If you have a ripe banana, chances are you have the rest of the ingredients to bake a banana mug cake. Gather them up and stir together in one mug. Pop in the microwave and a few minutes later, enjoy!
So, this small portion, quick fix banana bread is the perfect excuse to give the old microwave oven, and mug cakes, a try. And a perfect portion for myself.
Who doesn’t love banana bread? Ok, maybe unicorn hating Commies, but everyone else, we love banana bread. Oh… and that boyfriend that one time. He hated bananas too.
Can I bake a mug cake in the oven?
We get this question a lot, and the short answer is no. Microwave mug cakes are about quick and easy single serve cakes in microwave-safe mugs. In my opinion, it’s best to keep mug cakes to the microwave for safety. Go on and get wild and bake a full cake or banana bread in the oven if you are feeling wild.
However, if you were to have an oven-safe mug, you could bake a mug cake in the oven. You would need to adjust the temperature to 325 and the cook time, according to your oven-safe mug and wait. Also, if you like this idea, steaming a cake in an aluminum can in the oven is also a beautiful way to create a small cake.
This banana bread mug cake has been pinned thousands of times and I know I have made it more than a handful when I am in need of a quick snack! This IS not the best ever “banana bread” I’ve ever had, and trust me, I know freakin fantastic banana bread. But it’s a great quick fix, the “I have an overly ripe banana on the counter that I could toss in the freezer or use right now,” kind of bread. Perfect for a single serving or to impress an unexpected guest!
You may enjoy these other Banana Bread Recipes from me!
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Coffee Cake
- Banana Bread Scones with Maple Cream
- Banana Bread with Nutella Swirls
- Banana Peanut Butter Swirl Bread
If you’ve tried this Banana Bread Mug Cake recipe or any other recipe on passthesushi.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also follow along for more good eats and travel tips on Instagam@passthesushi & @girlcarnivore, Twitter & Facebook.
Banana Bread Mug Cake
Ingredients
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 ripe banana mashed
Instructions
- Spray a microwave safe mug with cooking spray.
- In a bowl, or right in the mug, whisk flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add egg and combine until just incorporated with dry ingredients. Mix in vanilla, oil, milk and mashed banana.
- Pop into the microwave for up to 3 minutes, with no fear to stop and check after 90 seconds for doneness.
- Like all magical things that come out of the microwave, the inside of this will be hotter than the surface of the sun when you first remove it from the microwave. Give it a few minutes.
- Seriously, that easy.
Notes
Adapted from Vittles and Bits, Adapted from Mickis Morsels
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 496 Total Fat: 20g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 15g Cholesterol: 187mg Sodium: 576mg Carbohydrates: 72g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 40g Protein: 11g
Belinda @zomppa says
How adorable are these. I love mug cupcakes, and who can resist banana bread?
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Such a fun idea!! Love this.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel says
Love it! I’ve yet to try a mug cake.
Toby @ Plate Fodder says
I’m still trying to get the Athletic Shoe Shepherd’s Pie and Juice Box Creme Brulee to work. (The box keeps catching on fire).
you really can’t beat banana bread.. It loos great!.. and it’s in a CUP!
steph@stephsbitebybite says
You have NO idea how happy I am to see this!!
Kiri W. says
I love a mug cake, but have never seen bread made in a mug! Deliiiicious.
Lindsey@Lindselicious says
Oooh I have a banana that is waiting to be used for this! Love it! So cute.
Heather @ Better With Veggies says
I love single servings treats – it’s portion control for those of us who are terrible at it alone. 🙂 Great idea!
Liz says
My hubby won’t eat banana bread either…what is it with these guys? So this is a perfect recipe for when I need that quick bread fix 🙂
RavieNomNoms says
That is just TOO much fun! Thank you for sharing it.
Kristen says
I have seen coffee cake and done chocolate cake, but this banana bread is a new one. I like it. Frankly, I think I completely under-utilize my microwave!
Sara says
What a great idea! I have a couple bananas on the counter that would be perfect for this!
Susie Bee on Maui says
Great idea! I pinned it.
Julia {The Roasted Root} says
You just made my heart skip a beat. I’m doing it, and I’m doing it tonight!!
Anita at Hungry Couple says
I haven’t tried my hand at a microwave mug cake yet but it’s probably only a matter of time. Saving this recipe for some evening when I’m in desperate need of a sweet treat.
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
I actually learned about mug cakes recently (maybe that tells I’m not much of a baker?), and have been wiling to give a try. You are right – there are great banana bread out there and cooking in a mug may not be the perfect result…but when I crave for banana bread any time of the day, I think this is a great recipe to go to, or if I only have a single banana left…. 🙂 Thank you for the recipe, Kita!
ping says
I’m so excited with this! I can’t tell you how much … will jumping up and down do?
Single serve, microwave, easy …. magic!
Grubarazzi (@Grubarazzi) says
Oh lawdy. This looks amazing.
Erin says
I haven’t tried this yet, but definitely enjoying the banana bread version idea the most so far.
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
Kita, this is pure genius, I love it!
Stephanie says
This is a great idea for a new mug treat! Love banana bread, but I always eat too much so this is a better option!
Katie @ OhShineOn says
Mmmm, sounds tasty. I love banana bread. I think I’ll try this and add a few chocolate chips to the mix. And maybe peanut butter. And sprinkles.
Kimberly (Unrivaledkitch) says
Holy crap I have to make this for my sweet toothed boyfriend. He’s love me forever then beg me to tell him how to do it so he could have more when I wasn’t there. So I’ll never tell him hahaha 🙂
Emily @ Life on Food says
Mug cakes are never the same as the real deal but you just cannot beat the instant gratification of a quick dessert.
briarrose says
This just looks fun to try out. I’m going to have to give it a whirl. 😉
Maggie @ Vittles and Bits says
So glad you liked it, Kita! Definitely a good quick fix 🙂
Susie Bee on Maui says
Thanks for the idea-I made one and was pleasantly surprised!
kash says
made some adjustments: used quinoa flour. added nutmeg and used applesauce instead of oil.
Christina says
Freaking amazing! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I added a handful of chocolate chips to the batter, and spooned some homemade caramel sauce over the top when it came out of the microwave. It’s WAY to easy to be this delicious!
CWoods says
Great idea!!! Loved it! I added a little cinnamon & it tastes just like my banana pancakes. I might just makes these at work, slice them up & add syrup. Very yummy!
moxtox says
i made this right now, and it didn’t turn out good. It was very eggy and too moist. It didn’t taste great either. but good idea!
Bethany S. says
You do NOT need an EGG!! Banana acts like an egg in quick bread recipes. My full-size banana bread recipe doesn’t even call for an egg. Eliminate the egg and this will be perfect. I sprinkled mine with cinnamon and sugar before microwaving, and also used a bigger “mug” (gravy boat).
Erin C says
OMG I just made this and OMG…. great great great! genius!
maria says
It looks so easy to do and delicious
Chelsea Stone says
I made this, it rose out of the mug I used by about 5″, it did eventually sink back down. It was VERY spongy and chewy. Not to bad as far as taste though, if I made it again I would eliminate the egg and I would definitely use some nutmeg.
Amelia says
This is good, but add more banana, take out the egg and add cinamon or nutmeg or something as it is quite bland otherwise, but nice for a first try at it. x
Ease of baking says
I tried this recipe, and it came out real tasty but super chewy. No bread texture. But that could probably be because I substituted spiked egg nog for the milk. It was supremely tasty, though! Sprinkled some cinnamon and sat back to enjoy. Kind of enjoyed me of this asian delicacy because of its texture. You should try the substitution! Don’t use an egg or vanilla or milk. Just add the equivalent in spiked egg nog. DEEEELICIOUS.
Amanda P. says
I just made this and it turned out great. I added 2 tbsp of milk chocolate chips cos I love the combination of banana and chocolate. It had great texture and the perfect amount of sweetness. Beware, it is ridiculously hot and needs to be cooled for a bit. I ate it with a glass of cold milk. Next time, I would divide it between two mugs as the one serving was quite filling.
Lunexe says
Awesome Made my day…….i made one for the whole fam!
ffdarlings says
Hello. Thank you for the recipe. I tried making it. It turned out ok. I didn’t have brown sugar so I substituted with white sugar so maybe that was the difference. Also, I think adding a bit of cinnamon would make the recipe better because it really just tasted like a hot banana.
Elena says
Hmm, I did 90 seconds, then 60, then 30, then 30, then 40. Still too moist. In total I did 4 minutes and 10 seconds. I think 4.30 or even 5 would have done it. Not sure what microwave I use, but other mug cakes take only a minute and a half. Guess it’s the banana that really affects the cooking time.
smalltowngirl says
This tastes AMAZING!!! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Anddddy says
That was absolutely amazing!! added copious amounts of chocolate and some honey instead of the white sugar!! worked great!! potentially the best and easiest banana bread i have ever had!
charlie says
Tasted terrible! Lesson learned, never make bread in a microwave
TygerBurning@LegionAvalon (Twitter) says
I make banana oatmeal, it takes a little longer to cook than the recipe above – I microwave it ‘slowly’ for 10 minutes on the very lowest setting and stir in the mashed banana at the end – but it tastes great with a little sprinkle of brown sugar. 🙂
Ashley says
Just tried this recipe! Love it, tastes great, mine was done in 90 seconds also! The hardest part for me was finding the ingredients scattered all around the kitchen, haha! Can’t wait to try this again when I get back to college. Thanks for sharing!
lazyteenager says
Banana bread!!! Awesome idea and a great (quick) fix before heading off to uni at crazy hours of the day ie. too early. Thank you 🙂
Alyssa says
Will try this without egg next time, but there certainly will be a next time! Frost with Nutella for an extra treat.
I only microwaved it for 90 seconds, then 40, then 20. The bread kept rising from the mug like a monster from the deep and I needed to pause frequently so that it wouldn’t explode.
Yelo says
I just tried ths recipe and It is ok. Mine didn’t turn out to be bread, it was more of a dense bread pudding type of consistency. That was dissaponiting. I added less sugar as I don’t like very sweet foods. I added blueberries and a pinch of cinnamon. The blueberries were a great addition. Next time I will make it with a walnut streusel I think it needs texture. And maybe les time in the microwave.
Christian says
Added a little bit of cinnamon and used whole wheat flour. Absolutely delicious, and aromatic to boot.
zharif says
tried this; great for tea time. thanks for the recipe
Ellie says
Tastes A-MAZE-ING with cinnamon and drizzled in maple syrup!!
Emily says
so I was rreallyyy craving something sweet late at night and the only thing I had was a much too overly ripe banana, so I searched this recipe up and was delighted!! problem was that I didnt have any baking powder or soda but no problem I did without anyways (yes I was that desperate). it turned out amazing! without the baking powder it was more like a wet banana bread pudding (in a gooood way) it was the bomb! I added some walnuts in the mixture as well and topped it off with a little chocholate spread I pinched off my housemate 😛
Brooke says
Don’t forget to add the chocolate chips!!!
Aims says
Tried this, and isn’t very good… I think it could possibly use more flour, as the cake itself is very mushy and gel-textured even after cooking it for three minutes. (I’m pregnant and the consistency is getting to me…) This isn’t very banana bread like, but maybe baked pudding or something? Sorry, not a fan of this mug recipe!
makayla says
this was a great recipe it was easy fun and delious
haley says
i made this and it didnt work at all. it smelled wierd and barely even baked. it was practically goo in a mug and i put it in for an extra minute.
Kita says
Hi Haley,
It totally stinks that the recipe didn’t work out for you. I know temps and power levels can very from microwave to microwave, but a whole minute longer and still no luck. 🙁
Cindy B says
I gave this recipe a try and couldn’t get it to look like the photo. How do you get the top nice and brown? Mine ended up looking spongy.
Kita says
My texture was spongy – not bad – but definently not a warm cake like texute that I would get with a homemade banana bread. It was good – but certainly just a quick fix and not a full on cake.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
Mug cakes are so awesome for those late nights “I really want cake!” moments
DessertForTwo says
YUM!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
I love these easy mug cake recipes!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Carolyn Ingram says
This looks delicious!
Gwen says
This recipe worked real well for me. All I did different than what it said was a few walnut pieces.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
So easy to make and looks delicious!!
Erin Clarkson says
What a good idea! I love mug cake
Richa Gupta says
I love these Banana bread, they are good for breakfast!
Sanda Bacile says
First time I decided to try making a mug cake it’s insanely easy and good. Was laughing my ass off watching it in the microwave rising up out of the cup.great recipe I added honey and crushed almonds turned out relish😊
Tracey says
SO good! Perfect dessert for one person! I topped it with a little powdered sugar icing, decadent!
Lisa says
I have made a few mug cakes. This one was pretty good. A little too sweet for me, but overall pretty good. I prefer the chocolate mug cakes (even though I love banana bread). A piece of advice. Always eat mug cakes warm. They do not taste the same when room temperature.
Rachel Doan says
Just made this and It was delicious! So quick and easy! Perfect quick-fix for a banana bread craving!
Ash says
You’re wonderful! I’m a monster so I added cinnamon, peanut butter and chocolate chips. This is a great recipe, thank you for sharing!
Village Bakery says
This is such a fantastic recipe. Made it for my GF this morning. She loved it