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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A says
I saw this and just HAD to try it!! I found I'm out of flour but had barely enough bisquick and it tastes awesome!! I also used a little butter wrapped up in place of the extra tsp of water in the mug. Steamed in buttery juice!! Thank you!
Monica says
I tried this. I like having a single serving of any dessert the temptation for seconds is diminished.
I liked your recipe but changed it up slightly In spite of the low fat in your recipe.
I added one tablespoon sugar to the dry ingredients.
I used one tablespoon of low fat coconut milk and 2-1/2 tablespoons of water when mixing the dough.
I floured my board and kneeded it just a few times and then started to stretch the dough into a one inch wide strip about 10-12 inches long and brushed with melted butter and sprinkled cinnamon sugar mixture over the melted butter. I folded the strip in half length wise and brushed with melted butter and repeated the cinnamon sugar. Rolled it up and microwaved for 45 seconds.
The icing was made using coconut milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla & 3 tbl. Powdered sugar.
When finished it put Cinnabon to shame. Thanks!
Andy says
Hey there! Awesome recipe! I tried it and it totally worked! Thanks >< But I was wondering if I wanted to make it with yeast (I know I would have to omit the baking powder and also it would take longer to make), would the amount of flour change or would it be the same?
Sarah Whitbourn says
it looks great Im gone do my best to make this dish
Nathalie says
I loved this recipe, so easy and yummy. Thanks a lot for sharing it.
Regards from Venezuela
A Virtual Vegan says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Alice Fries says
I made the recipe today but instead of the powdered sugar frosting I used blue for my own Eclispe Version!
It was super yummy!
Alice Fries
A Virtual Vegan says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for letting me know!
Raewyn says
Thanks for this delicious treat. I have just made it using self-raising GF flour. I also added the baking powder just to be sure. I followed your measurements exactly and baked it for 40 seconds. It came out perfectly. So quick and yummy. As GF flour can be a bit dry and tasteless, I spread some melted butter on the dough before adding the sugar and cinnamon. I will definitely being making this again.
A Virtual Vegan says
That's great. I am so glad it worked out for you!
Stevie says
So...this took me 20 mins to make lol. It's pretty good, but there were a few things I had to double. The milk for the sugar was more like 4 teaspoons, and the water was more like 8 tablespoons. It turned out quite doughy. I put it in for 45 seconds and the toothpick came out clean, but I wish it wasn't so doughy. Any suggestions to change that?
A Virtual Vegan says
The liquid amounts will always vary depending on what flour/powdered sugar you use and the time of year/humidity where you live. That's why I only give rough amounts. It's impossible to know exactly and mention to add more if necessary. I'm glad it worked out ok for you though. 45 seconds might have been not quite long enough unless you have a super powerful microwave. That might be why it was a little doughy. Perhaps add 5 - 10 seconds on if you try it again. The outside will always be a little damp as it steams in the mug so bear that in mind. The first time with this recipe is always a little trial and error because everyones microwaves are so different. Hopefully next time you will get it spot on!
Holly says
Not sure what the problem was for the people who left those negative comments - this turned out delicious for me, and I'm definitely not the worlds best baker :) I used some regular butter, of course, to mix the cinnamon and sugar that I spread on the dough before rolling it up, and it came out amazing!
A Virtual Vegan says
So glad you enjoyed it Holly!
Marsia says
Everything went well but it tasted a little blaugh to me. I'm used to butter. So I put a plant. based butter flavor called Earth Balance on top and let it melt after coming out of the microwave. And wa-la great cinnamon roll! Tks for the recipe.
Taryn says
I just tried making this and it is really as easy as it looks. This is so much better than making a whole batch for just one person. Thanks for sharing! This rocks.
Linda says
Great idea!
I guess if someone wanted a bi of browning and is not in a hurry, they could put dough in an oven proof mug at 350. Keep up the great work!
Michelle says
This turned out very well. I substituted Splenda Brown Sugar on the inside. I also used prepared cream cheese frosting (I'm not vegan). I will definitely make this again. It hit the spot.
Linda says
Hello.
I added regular sugar and brown sugar instead of coconut and also cinnamon. I also used ready made cream cheese frosting and melted a few tablespoons in microwave to pour over bun. It was good,not great. For a fast snack when you don't have anything sweet in your house to eat.
Diane Ver says
I tried your recipe and three of us ate it! It was really yummy! Thank you and keep up the good work! As far as all the people who keep leaving negative feedback they want a Cinnabon - they can go to the mall then lol!
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm really glad you all enjoyed it Diane and thank you so much for stopping by to let me know! It means a lot! :)
Valerie says
This is such a good recipe! I've been searching for a mug cake recipe that doesn't use eggs and this one is so delicious! Thank you xx