Shredded apples give this vegan apple mug cake just the right texture, while the warm spices make it feel like fall. Enjoy this wholesome, single serving dessert that's ready in just 10 minutes.
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It's time to dive into those fall flavors, and apple happens to be one of the best!
I've shared many single serving desserts with you in the past, but I've been working on this apple mug cake since last fall to make sure it's perfect for you. It just so happens to be vegan, making it a great treat that just about anyone can enjoy.
It starts with shredded apples that are cooked on their own with a little coconut oil to make them soft and sweet. Then we're mixing them into fluffy cake batter that's naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup. Don't reach for the sugary breakfast syrup here, only the real stuff will do!
My favorite thing about this recipe is that you can mix it right in the mug, so no dirtying extra dishes! You can also enjoy it straight from the mug, or turn it out onto a plate with a scoop of ice cream if you prefer. This would be really delicious with my cinnamon oatmeal cookie chunk ice cream!
Ingredients
- Apple
- Coconut oil
- Maple syrup
- Almond milk
- Lemon juice
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Cloves
- Baking powder
- Flour
How to make apple mug cake
- Combine shredded apple and coconut oil in a large microwave safe mug. Microwave for 1 minute.
- Add the maple syrup, almond milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine.
- Microwave 1 minute or until the top of the cake is no longer wet looking.
- Allow the cake to rest for 1 minute before topping with powdered sugar or other optional toppings.
Top tips
What size mug to use for mug cake
I recommend you use a mug that holds a minimum of 8 ounces. When I was testing this recipe I tried to use a small mug and immediately knew it wouldn't be big enough. There's nothing wrong with using a large mug for your cake, but you may need to adjust your cooking time or use a long spoon when it comes time to eat it.
Make sure your mug is microwave safe. It should say on the bottom of the mug if it can go in the microwave or not.
What kind of apple to use for mug cake
I recommend using any apple you would normally use for baking, such as Gala, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, and more. I used a Gala apple when testing this.
How to shred an apple
To shred my apple, I cut the four sides off around the core and then grated those sides on a box grater. You will probably not need the entire apple to make this mug cake.
Tips for customizing apple mug cake
- Top with a little vanilla glaze, buttercream frosting, peanut butter, instant pot apple butter, or ice cream
- You can omit the nutmeg and cloves if you don't care for them
- If you're not vegan you can swap the almond milk for dairy milk
- If you don't want to shred your apple you can cut it into small chunks
- Use a 1:1 gluten free flour swap to make this gluten free
FAQ
A mug cake is a single serving cake that is cooked in a mug in the microwave. They're a quick, easy, single serving dessert that often uses simple ingredients you already have on hand.
This mug cake is vegan, so there is no egg in this recipe. Most mug cake recipes use eggs to hold it together and keep it moist and fluffy. We're getting around that by using plenty of liquid ingredients and combining baking powder with lemon juice to increase the fluffiness.
You could substitute ¾ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice for the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in this recipe.
More single serving dessert recipes
- Single Serving Apple Crisp
- Vegan Cookie Dough for One
- Single Serving Vegan Cookie
- Vegan Brownie for One
- Edible Brownie Batter
- Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
- Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
- Lemon Mug Cake
- Single Serving Crustless Pumpkin Pie
- Healthy Banana Mug Cake
- Vegan Mug Brownie
- Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Apple Mug Cake
Ingredients
- ½ cup grated apple
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened plain almond milk
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- Optional toppings: powdered sugar, nut butter, frosting, icing, apple butter, or ice cream
Instructions
- In a large mug, combine grated apple and coconut oil. Microwave 1 minute.
- Add the maple syrup, almond milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir well until fully combined.
- Microwave 1 minute, then let rest for 1 minute.
- Serve immediately with your favorite topping or all on its own.
Notes
Tips for customizing apple mug cake
- Top with a little vanilla glaze, buttercream frosting, peanut butter, instant pot apple butter, or ice cream
- You can omit the nutmeg and cloves if you don't care for them
- If you're not vegan you can swap the almond milk for dairy milk
- If you don't want to shred your apple you can cut it into small chunks
- Use a 1:1 gluten free flour swap to make this gluten free
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