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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Keira says
Simply amazing! It tastes very much like a cake my mother used to make when I was a kid, only without the crust of course. I left out the frosting and just loved the pure roll. Thank you for this great recipe and greetings from Germany!
Gina says
The only problem about living alone is you can't make a batch of cinnamon buns and share them. Then you end up eating them all! So as soon as I'm off this liquid diet the doctor has me on until next week I will try this.
Liz says
Hi, as I don't have a microwave I was wondering if you think it would work in the air fryer or the oven?
May says
After the latest episode of Better Call Saul, I decided to finally make this. I was surprised how great it turned out! (I even messed up a bit - I forgot to roll it out and stretched it out instead, so it may be thicker than the recipe intended). Will also try adding some vegan butter to the filling next time.
Julie says
This looks delicious! Can it be made with gluten free flour please?
Lyn says
Made this EXACTLY as written and it was exactly what I was expecting having read the entire post. It was so delicious and satisfying despite taking under 10 minutes to make. Bravo Mel
Alie Paige says
Quick question, would bread flour work instead? That’s what my mom uses for her cinnamon rolls but I don’t know if it’s different for this
Melanie McDonald says
You don't need to use bread flour with this because it isn't a traditional cinnamon roll. Bread flour is used to give dough extra strength for kneading and rising. We aren't doing that with this recipe. You will get much better, lighter and more tender results with a regular white all purpose flour.
Rebecca Duckworth says
Can you use self rising flour? It has baking powder and salt already in it.
Melanie McDonald says
We don't have self-raising flour here so the recipe hasn't been tested with it. However, the amount of raising agent in self-raising flour is way less than is used in this recipe. Rather than risk getting the amount wrong, it would be much easier to just use plain flour and baking powder.
Meg says
I made it and enjoyed it. It's pretty much as good as one would expect from a microwave mug recipe. Thank you for the recipe.
melisa says
could one use almond flour or cocnut flour instead? These look so good!
Melanie McDonald says
No. This will only work with regular all purpose flour.
Pris says
Can I use a 1/2 tsp of melted butter instead of the 1/2 tspof water?
Melanie McDonald says
The water helps the roll steam in the microwave. I wouldn't recommend not using it. You could add some vegan butter to the inside of the roll before rolling though if you wanted to.
Becks says
I never leave reviews but this was so nice, didn't have coconut sugar so changed it slightly and used melted margarine, cinnamon and icing sugar as the filling. Was craving a donut and this was the perfect alternative, definitely gonna be making a lot
Melanie McDonald says
So pleased you enjoyed it Becks!
Mekayla says
I’m pregnant with a late night craving for cinnamon buns. As this is a microwaved mug-bun, I had little expectations. I was hoping for a cinnamon bun adjacent flavour, which is exactly what I got! Tastes like a cinnamon bun, but definitely had an unsurprisingly tough texture. I will definitely make these again when I am in a pinch!
Ginny says
So good! I had a huge cinnamon roll craving but was too lazy to go buy one (plus the nearest vegan one is $7!) This recipe totally took care of my craving and was so easy, unlike other single serving recipes I was looking at making.
Allison says
It turned out pretty good. Kind of reminds me of a cinnamon and sugar pretzel.
Pam says
I wanted a cinnamon bun right now, and this did the trick. I kept my expectations in check, based on the time/effort required, and the results are pretty decent! It’s even more impressive considering there’s no margarine or oil, either than a couple drops to grease the mug. I’ll definitely make this again. Thanks!
Liz says
Even after reading the poor reviews, I still made these. Now I bake the real deal cinnamon rolls, yeast and all and sell them weekly at our farmers market. I sell upwards of 20 dozen in three hours. So I know cinnamon rolls well.
Just like another review said, keep your expectations real, these are made in a microwave. Basically microwaves are simply for warming things up, that's it!! I made these and had real expectations. They were way better than I imagined! My husband couldn't eat his fast enough. I almost felt insulted that he liked these so much. They are good and gives me a break from making large batches of cinnamon rolls just for us. We make these together on Saturday morning and eat them out on our deck with coffee. What a great way to start a day! Thank you for these beauties.