Healthy Banana Mug Cake

Have you ever made a mug cake recipe only to be disappointed by a slightly eggy, soufflé-like texture? That’s not going to happen today. I’ve spent weeks testing this banana mug cake recipe, so it turns out tasting like a slice of banana bread… not like a knock-off version you can microwave in 2 minutes.

But yes, you can microwave it in 2 minutes!

Made with simple, real-food ingredients like oat flour, ripe banana, and a touch of maple syrup, it comes together quickly and will leave you feeling satisfied. (Both in taste and feeling full!)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review

“So delicious! Tasted just like a slice of banana bread but was softer and fluffier in texture. Highly recommend!” – Aisha

Banana Bread Mug Cake Ingredients

• Oat Flour. Oat flour is easy to buy at the store, or you can make it at home by grinding rolled oats in a blender. Use certified gluten-free oats if you need a gluten-free recipe.
• Peanut Butter. Use all-natural nut butter for the best results. This, along with the banana, lets you skip adding oil, but you can use another nut butter if you prefer.
• Banana. Use a banana with lots of spots on its skin for the best flavor.
• Egg. This binds the mug cake together and prevents it from drying out.
• Maple Syrup. A natural sweetener that boosts the banana bread flavor.
• Baking Powder. This is a crucial ingredient for helping the cake rise as it cooks. Don’t confuse it with baking soda, or the flavor won’t be good.

For added texture, add a handful of walnuts, or make it more of a dessert with a few dark chocolate chips sprinkled on top. It’s easy to customize!

How to Make Banana Mug Cake

Step 1:

To make one large serving, add the peeled banana to a 16-ounce mug and use a fork to mash until it looks relatively smooth.

Note: If you don’t have a mug this big, mix the cake mixture in a separate bowl, then divide it between two smaller mugs before cooking. They still cook in 2 minutes!

Step 2:

Add the peanut butter, egg, maple syrup, oat flour, baking powder, and ground cinnamon, then stir well. 

There’s no need to mix the wet ingredients before adding the dry ingredients in this case. The mixture should have a similar consistency to cake batter, but it will be slightly more lumpy because of the mashed banana.

Step 3:

Add any toppings you like, such as chocolate chips or walnuts, then place the mug in the microwave and cook at high power for 2 minutes. The center should feel firm to the touch when the cake is done cooking.

Depending on the wattage of your microwave, your mug cake might need an additional 30 seconds of cooking. Test the cake with a toothpick if you want to make sure the center is no longer wet.

Serving Tips

Let the mug cake cool for 5 minutes. (The mug will be very hot!) After that, it’s ready to eat. 

Before digging in, add any extra toppings you like, such as sliced banana or an extra peanut butter drizzle.

Healthy Banana Mug Cake Recipe

4.98 from 35 votes

This banana mug cake recipe tastes like a perfect slice of banana bread, only you don't need to wait an hour for it to bake… and even longer for it to cool! It's the perfect treat to make when you have a single banana to use up. This recipe uses oat flour, so it's naturally gluten-free, and you can cook it in two mugs to share or in one big, oversized mug for a single serving.

prep5 mins cook2 mins total7 mins

Servings:1

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Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 1 large banana
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• ⅓ cup oat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• pinch of salt

Instructions

• Place the peeled banana in a large microwave-safe mug (16-ounce or larger) and use a fork to mash until smooth.
• Add in the egg, peanut butter, maple syrup, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Stir well until the mixture looks like a lumpy cake batter. Sprinkle a few chocolate chips or walnuts on top, if you'd like extra texture.
• Place the mug in the microwave and cook on high power for 2 minutes. The cake will rise above the top of the mug as it cooks, but it shouldn't spill over as long as you use a 16-ounce or larger size mug. The cake should feel firm to the touch in the center when it's done cooking; add another 30 seconds of cook time if you need to.
• Carefully remove the mug from the microwave (it will be hot!) and let it cool for 5 minutes before digging in.

Video

Notes

Nutrition information is for a single serving without the optional toppings. This information is automatically calculated and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.

Oven Directions: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Place the oven-safe mug on a baking sheet for easy removal (this will ensure the mug doesn’t tip over on a wire shelf). Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cake. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Mug Cake for Two: If you want to make a snack-size portion or have smaller mugs to work with, divide this batter into two 10-ounce coffee mugs and cook them simultaneously for 2 minutes in the microwave.

Update Note: This recipe was updated in July 2023 to use a microwave and turn out more like banana bread. Find the original recipe here if you prefer the flourless oven-baked version, which does not work in a microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 509kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 186mg | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 1246mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 359IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 4mg

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: banana mug cake

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More Recipes to Try

• 5-Minute Freezer Fudge
• Banana Ice Cream
• Flourless Banana Snack Cake
• Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
• Oat Flour Banana Muffins

If you try this banana mug cake recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like it.