A single-serving Cinnamon Roll in a Mug that is so simple to make, takes less than 1 minute to cook in the microwave, and is made with just a handful of pantry staples. Perfect for when those sweet cravings hit & you NEED a decadent dessert or sweet breakfast, like now!
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"For such a quick microwave dessert this is amazing! They were supposed to be for the kids but we ended up having to make more for the adults!"
- Christine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ More reviews →
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Easy desserts don't get better than the OG Cinnamon Roll in a Mug! It's warm, sticky, doughy, perfectly sweet, and cinnamony with drippy sweet frosting. So good while also being ridiculously quick and easy to make.
A whole batch of cinnamon rolls is lovely, but let's be real, they do take a bit of time and effort. A single-serving Cinnamon Roll in a Mug cooked in the microwave is the answer when you're not willing or able to put in the time and effort but still want a delicious sweet treat.
When I published this microwave cinnamon roll recipe many years ago I did not expect it to go viral. It has crashed my website several times because of the sheer volume of visitors, and the video on Facebook and Pinterest has been viewed and shared many millions of times. With a response like that and hundreds of five star reviews you know it's a tried and true recipe!
Ingredients
Here's what you need at a glance along with some important ingredients notes:
- Flour - I did experiment with different flour types while testing this recipe and all purpose white flour (plain flour in the UK) works the best. You will not get great results if you use wholewheat or spelt flour. This recipe has not been tested gluten-free, but many people in the comments have said they have made it with GF 1 to 1 baking flour with good results.
- Sugar - This should be brown sugar or coconut sugar for the best cinnamon roll flavor.
- Powdered sugar - Wholesome Sweeteners is my go-to vegan brand and is easily available in most big grocery stores in North America. If it's not available where you are and you're not sure if the others are vegan just buy an organic one. Organic sugars aren't allowed to use bone char.
Ad as it's a mug dessert you'll also need a microwave-safe mug that's about 11 or 12 oz in volume.
How To Make A Cinnamon Roll In A Mug
This Cinnamon Roll in a Mug is really easy to make. Here's a quick visual summary (also be sure to watch my recipe video):
- Make the frosting by mixing powdered sugar with a drop of water or plant-based milk.
- Mix the 4 dough ingredients together in a bowl.
- Roll the cinnamon roll dough out into a long strip, sprinkle over the cinnamon and sugar then fold the edges inwards to hold it all in.
- Roll up, plop into a greased mug, add a little water (important!)and microwave.
That's it, you're done. You have a perfect single-serving dessert, snack, or breakfast in minutes!
You can either eat it your microwave cinnamon roll from the mug, or turn it out onto a plate and admire its cinnamon roll beauty for a second, before anointing it with a generous dribble of frosting. Then tuck in immediately. Don't keep it hanging around. This cinnamon roll needs to be eaten while hot and freshly cooked for the best texture.
Just look at this inside shot!!! <double drool> Perfect for satisfying that sweet craving!
Please Read Prior To Making
I am adding this section post-publication due to feedback received and to help you get the very best results while keeping expectations in check.
The vast majority of people have been very pleased with the recipe, but some have not, and in almost all cases it is because they have had very unreal expectations of the outcome, or they have nuked the life out of the cinnamon roll in the microwave or tried to eat it once it's cold. Quite a few people have also stuck things in the middle of it before cooking, like a Kit Kat Chunky then complained it burned. I cannot be held responsible for this.
I highly recommend reading the thousands of comments and reviews under the recipe if you want a rollercoaster ride of experiences! 🤣
Regarding the unreal expectations - If you are expecting a Cinnabon type baked, yeasty, fatty, caramelized, cream cheese frosting topped, sickly sweet cinnamon roll you will be disappointed. This recipe is not like that. It is a very simplified, limited ingredient, quick and easy version. It is also microwaved. It will stay pale and it will not caramelize. That is not possible in a microwave. As long as you realize this and aren't expecting a miracle, then we are good. For a simple, very quick, microwaved cinnamon roll it is great and it needs to be enjoyed as such.
Regarding the overcooking issues - Please realize that if you cook this cinnamon roll for too long it will become tough, just as anything does in the microwave if you overcook it. I am only able to tell you how long it takes in my microwave. They are all very different and you need to adjust the cooking time to suit your microwave as per my directions. I can not be held responsible for you cooking it for so long it ends up like a hockey puck. As I explain in the directions it is better to slightly undercook then blast it in 5 second increments to finish it off. Microwaves are very powerful things and this is a very small item to be cooking. Even 10 seconds too long makes a huge difference.
And lastly - Some other recurring issues..Do not forget the baking powder and DO NOT use baking soda instead. If you do not use baking powder it will not work. Also this cinnamon roll must be eaten immediately. If you let it cool first or try to reheat it again it will become very tough.
Please know that all of my recipes are tested rigorously before publishing and if the directions are followed exactly, and cooking time is adjusted to suit your microwave, you will get a good result. Thank you and I will now get off my soap box. 😁
Recipe FAQs
The recipe hasn't been tested with self-raising flour because I can't buy it here. The amount of baking powder self-raising flour contains is very different to the amount in the recipe, so for the best results I recommend using plain flour with no raising agents added and then adding the measured amount of baking powder as per the recipe. This take any guess work out of the equation for the best results.
No. This recipe is prepared and cooked far too quickly for the yeast to be effective. That's why it uses baking powder. If you want to use yeast you will be better off following a traditional cinnamon roll recipe. There is a recipe in my cookbook!
No. This recipe needs to be eaten immediately and does not reheat well.
I have not tested this recipe in an oven.
Recipe
Cinnamon Roll in a Mug
Author:WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Ingredients
For the icing
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar , icing sugar in the UK
- about ¾ teaspoon water or dairy free milk
For the cinnamon roll
- a tiny dab oil , for greasing the mug (such as sunflower, canola, olive, or coconut oil)
- 9 tablespoons (70 grams) all purpose flour (plain flour in the UK)
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 small pinch fine sea salt
- about 4 tablespoons water
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar , or coconut sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make the icing. In a small bowl mix the powdered sugar with either plant-based milk or water. Add the liquid a really tiny bit at a time and mix really well after each addition. The most you will need is about ¾ teaspoon to get a thick, drippy consistency. Stir well until smooth then set aside.
- Grease a normal sized drinking mug (about 11 to 12 oz size) with a tiny dab of oil.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Stir in enough water to form a slightly tacky but not sticky dough (about 4 tablespoons but this will vary depending on the time of year and humidity), then use your hand to bring it together and knead a few times to bring it into a ball. Don't handle it any more than you need to. Overworking will make it tough.
- Dust a clean work surface with a little flour, then roll the dough out into a long strip about 4 inches wide and ⅛ inch (a few millimetres) thick.
- Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon evenly over the dough then fold the edges on the longest sides inwards so they meet each other in the middle. This helps to seal the cinnamon and sugar in and stop it dropping out when you lift it after rolling. See my video below for a full tutorial.
- Roll it up tightly and gently place in the greased mug. Pour over ½ teaspoon of water then place in the microwave. Don't skip this. It's important to create steam.
- Microwave uncovered on full power for about 50 seconds. My microwave is 1200 watts. You will need to adjust the time up or down if the wattage of yours is different but it shouldn't need longer than 1 minute 10 seconds max. It is better to slightly undercook it then blast in 5 second increments to finish it off than risk overcooking. Remember that microwaved food continues cooking once it's removed from the microwave.
- When you open the door it should have puffed up a lot and nearly reached the top of the mug. It will still look pale and a little damp as it's microwaved not baked, so don't think it's underdone and cook longer than you need to or it will overcook. You can check doneness with a toothpick or skewer. Stick into the roll and it should come out clean.
- Either spoon the icing over the cinnamon roll in the mug or turn out onto a plate then ice. Before turning out run a knife around the outside of the mug to loosen it. Eat immediately while warm.
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Tammy says
Sorry but it was bad it tasted just like flour, couldn't eat a single bite, I really had high hopes for this but I was so disappointed 😥 and no I followed this recipe completely didn't change a single thing it just was really bad.
Thanks anyways ❤️
Jacqui Clarke says
Incredible for a mug cake. People need to keep their expectations in check. It's a mug cake made in the microwave FGS. When you keep that in mind you can really appreciate how good it is.
Jill says
My partner, who is usually much pickier than me, ate up his cinnamon roll with no complaints. I, however, barely got through half of mine. Tough, dry, barely edible, and there was far too much dry cinnamon, which tasted bitter. Filling needed melted butter. For a mug cake it was messier and the clean-up was more time-consuming than most, because you have to roll out the dough and there’s no tidy way of doing that. If you’re prepared to do that you might as well roll dough into balls, pour over a quick treacle syrup, and bake them in the oven - and have moist, fluffy spicy dumplings in sauce half an hour later.
Caroline says
Just made it then made another right after. What can I say? I have a good appetite. For a microwave dessert it's really great. I'll be making them frequently.
Jenni Henner says
Unfortunately this was unedible!! It was so chewy and tasted like flour
Bev says
I used gluten free flour and it was awful. Lmao
A Virtual Vegan says
That's because you didn't follow the recipe. It calls for all purpose flour and not gluten-free flour. I even go as far as to say in the post that I tested it with gluten-free flour and it didn't work well and recommend not using it.
Sara says
Oh, hello! How have I never made a cinnamon roll in the microwave before?? It was DELICIOUS and super easy. Thanks for a great recipe. I can see myself making one of these to go along with my afternoon tea. Yum!
Kylie Smith says
Fantastic! Love everything about it especially how easy it is. I wouldn't usually make desserts but this is simple enough even for me.
Jane says
Wow! For a microwave roll this is amazing! We loved it. I made one for each of the kids then ended up having to make myself one. Ha!
Sarah says
Afraid the creator of this recipe would hunt me down if I posted a negative comment based on the laughable introduction and replies to other comments but here to say I followed the recipe to a T and came out with an inedible tire! Don’t waste your time.
Heather says
Make sure you read the reviews. The dough comes out touch and there is too much of the sugar/cinnamon powder. You can't really make a true cinnamon roll without letting the dough rise via using yeast. I'd suggest making a cinnamon cake mug cake, as this just comes out too chewy and overpowered with cinnamon.
飞飞 says
This my first vegan cinnamon roll and it's pretty good! Obviously it will be rubbery and pale, but I will say this was the best cinnamon roll I've ever had. The dough part took a while but it was worth it. The first time I tried making a mug cinnamon roll (not according to this recipe), it turned out horrendous like a toilet paper roll ? If you do it right it's actually a nice snack. Just take your time and really don't overcook it. My microwave is around 800-900 watts and definitely stay under 1min 10 sec. Thanks for a nice snack!!
Bec says
Not sure about the other negative reviews as this was perfect for me! Absolutely divine, food-coma worthy.
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm really pleased you enjoyed it Bec and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. It's much appreciated!
Zoe says
I'm a home baker and sell cinnamon rolls on a weekly basis. Tonight I had a craving for something sweet and wanted to try a mug cake like I always used to make in college. I find this to be a satisfying treat! As to the disappointed reviews, I think its definitely key not to overcook it. My microwave is 1000W output, and I cooked it for 50 seconds in a nice sturdy ceramic mug. I think I could have done even shorter time since mine had just a slight chew to it. I would definitely make this again when I need a quick fix for a sweet treat!
payton says
mine came out rubbery and dry sorry but it was disgusting
Brooklyn says
Hi! :) Am I able to prepare this tonight, refrigerate it and cook it in the morning? I’d love to make this tonight for a breakfast treat for myself in the morning.
A Virtual Vegan says
No I'm afraid it needs to be made fresh otherwise the baking powder will lose its power. It takes next to no time to throw together though!
Carlotta says
this was sooo good. I was carving smth sweet and it was perfect. I was worried it would be tough from the reviews, but it was soft and delicious