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 flavour.
- 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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Sandie says
A very good cinnamon roll! I am not vegan so I brushed the dough with 1 teaspoon melted butter before sprinkling on the sugar and cinnamon. It only took 55 seconds in my standard size mug. It was the perfect consistency - doughy, warm, and flavorful. I will definitely make this again! Thank you so much for the recipe.
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm glad you enjoyed it Sandie!
She says
Hi! I came across your recipe because i have been wanting to make a single serve cinnamon roll. But i wanted to pop this in my oven instead of microwave. Do you think it will work and if yes, how long should i put the timer on it? And the temperature too? Thanks <3
Nancy says
I do Weight Watchers and they have a recipe for 2-ingredient fought using self rising flour and Greek plain low-fat yogurt. Your thoughts as do you think it would work with you cinnamon roll in a mug recipe?
A Virtual Vegan says
I don't know as I've never tried it. I'm not familiar with Weight Watchers recipes. Why not just make the dough as it is though? It would have less calories as it uses water instead of yogurt? And it's tried and true so you'll know it will turn out ok.
RJ says
This was delicious. I’m not vegan so I drizzled some melted butter on the dough before adding the cinnamon and sugar and then rolled it up. So delicious! Don’t know why it didn’t work for others
Hey Lemonade says
It didn't work at all! 1 STAR! I don't know what trick you did to make it look as if it worked, but it was REALLy bad tasting. It turned out raw.
Doorbell says
I don’t know if this has worked for other people but mine came and it was just hard dough and burnt filling. it tasted awfully bad and I would do this again.
A Virtual Vegan says
Sorry you weren't happy with it. If it was hard and burnt then you overcooked it. It takes less than a minute in most microwaves. It shouldn't burn in that time.
Amanda says
This was pretty good! I actually made the dough and mixed in the brown sugar and cinnamon into it, then cooked it in the waffle iron and it turned out really well! Def reccomend that!
A Virtual Vegan says
Oooo in the waffle iron? I love that idea!
Lilley says
Author states that this is not PERFECTION so I am rating it a 5 because it was exactly what she described and what I expected! Great in a pinch! I was so excited to make it. I’d give the flavor a 4/5. When you are craving sweets this gets the job done! And my kid loved it. Ofcourse, all the sugar! I will say though... 10 min to prep. 1 min to cook, 1 min to eat and 10 min to clean. I did the 45 seconds and then added 20 more seconds in 5 second increments. Thanks for the fun recipe!
Hayley says
The kid loved it as did I. So good for a super quick microwave version!
Melissa says
I wasn’t expecting something incredible considering the condensed amount of ingredients.... however this was terrible! Very disappointed... however it did smell delightful so I’ll give it that...
ew says
it didn’t work and it didn’t puff up or anything, it was very wet and gross
Denise says
I am going to try this tonight, as it's the closest thing I can get to making my very allergic son a birthday cake! I am excited to try but I am wondering, can this be rolled and ready in the mug and sit until I'm ready to microwave or does it all need to be done right away? I know you need to eat it right away but can it be prepared ahead? Can't wait.
A Virtual Vegan says
My fear would be that the baking powder would lose its ooomph if you prepare it in advance. I think it's best to do it when you want it. I have some other mug cakes that are quicker to mix up. If you haven't checked them one of those might be suitable too.
Rosita Thibodeaux says
Melanie I just discovered your website and I am in love with everything I have seen! I love fresh baked cinnamon rolls and I just made a small pan last evening! I shared with a dear friend bc tomorrow is Ash Wednesday so I don’t want any remaining temptations hanging around.
The mug cinnamon roll looks divine and I have made brownies and cc cookies in mugs that turned out great when I was desperate for a late night sweet treat.
I will give your cinnamon roll in a mug a try Sunday hopefully and I will let you know! You have some very ingenious ideas for recipes. Thank you for sharing!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Rosita! I hope you enjoy my recipes once you get a chance to try them.
Donna says
Wanted to take a picture but I ate it!! Wouldn't change a thing. This was delicious!
A Virtual Vegan says
Ha ha! Disappearing food is always a good sign. Glad you enjoyed it!
Leandré Theys says
It was delicious!
Jennifer says
I always make my own full on cinnamon buns and never considered stuff in a mug recipes. But today and this turned out very satisfactory considering there was no yeast, hours and hours of waiting, etc! I think my kids would be able to make their own and enjoy it. My microwave ran at 600W so my bun turned out nicely at one minute and 40 seconds. Thank you.
Horrible says
it was horrible I followed the recipe and it was just horrible
Linda says
I will have to try again. This came out in a hard lump that still somehow seemed like a silicone glob. After microwaving it, I had thoughts of space exploration when everything seems ok until that unknown alien life form reconstituted itself in the microwave eventually killing the whole crew
Coralie says
I dont think there was enough liquid in the dough, but overall it was really good!
Kia says
This was so good!! I haven’t had a cinnamon bun since I became vegan so this was definitely a joy even my non vegan little siblings (and they are so hard to please sometimes) loved it and asked for more! Thank you for the recipe <3
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Kia. I'm really pleased you all enjoyed it!
HI says
Good recipe love it!