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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Amber says
This recipe was amazing! My family loves this easy sweet treat, definitely something I recommend!!
Ams says
I can’t wait to try this! I also wanted to say that your addition to the bottom of this post is hilarious! I enjoyed the extra instructions and also your statement of not being responsible if someone nukes the heck out of their cinnamon roll. I was tempted to try doing it that way but I think I will just follow your suggestions instead as I don't like eating hockey pucks! I am a little disappointed that you won’t take responsibility for knowing the details of how my microwave works. I thought you were a telepathic microwave doctor. Alas, I will still try your recipe!
A Virtual Vegan says
Ha ha..This made my night! I hope yours doesn't turn out like my "before" pics, or like a hockey puck :P Thank you for making me smile. It's been a rough day and I needed it!
Hannah says
I have tried MANY mug cakes, cookies and cinnamon rolls and this one is THE BEST ONE OUT THERE I 100% reccommend making this, this is my new go to.
A Virtual Vegan says
Yay! That's awesome. Thanks Hannah!
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Can I make a few dough rolls and refrigerate them?
A Virtual Vegan says
I don't think they will work so well if they aren't cooked right away because the baking powder would lose its effectiveness.
Mykey says
Love the recipe, but you misspelled millimeters.
(Dust your work surface with a little flour, then roll your dough out into a long strip about 4 inches wide and a couple of millimetres thick)
A Virtual Vegan says
It's not misspelled. I am English. That is how we spell it.
Joe says
That comment must be a joke. If not, I apologize (or apologise ;)) on behalf of the US. PS great recipe!
Donna A says
I was very disappointed in this recipe. It looked ugly and tasted even uglier..... Would not make it again...... Sorry but it was just plain ugly!
Bridget says
I just have to say, even with the most finicky microwave (we rarely use it so haven't bothered replacing it in years) this turned out perfect. Thank you!
I will also note that at the 45-60 second mark the cinnamon roll does not look "done" at first glance and would recommend you touching it before adding more time.
Becky says
Incredible!
Speral says
Mine didn’t work it looks like a cockroach ate a piece of sugar and cinnamon, pooped it out and I put it in the microwave plus some frosting. No offense that’s just how mine turned out.
jacob says
I followed the exact recipe and it did not even turn out close to a cinnamon bun, I followed it step by step, unit by unit and it was disgusting. As I put it in the microwave the ball of dough did not want to expand or move at all, I will never make this ever again
kbmac says
This was incredible!!! I made myself one and then had to go back and make 3 more for my family. I added some vanilla extract to the dough just because I thought it would be yummy but I don't think there was much of a difference. Thank you so much for this!
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it! Watch out though, because now you know how it's dangerous! ;O)
Viv says
Can.this be made using all purpose gluten free flour?
Lisa says
Quick, simple and delicious. And sooooo filling! My ideal type of cooking. I made it exactly to the recipe and I have never had a dough come together so perfectly, ever, without having to keep messing with the water/flour ratios. I also appreciate your detailed instructions, perfect for a novice like me.
A Virtual Vegan says
That's great Lisa. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it!
Edna says
Can you use coconut or almond flour.
A Virtual Vegan says
No it won't work with either of those.
Luna says
Most of the microwave desserts I've tried haven't come out that great, so I didn't have very high hopes for this one, but it turned out absolutely amazing! So delicious, will definitely be making again. In fact, I'm currently having to exercise a lot of self-control not to make another one right now.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Luna. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. I know exactly what you mean about self control. It's a bit dangerous having the knowledge that you can make it so easily!
Alena says
Can this recipe be put in the oven? Will it turn out more Cinnabonny?
Catherine says
Tried this as I felt like a small treat. Very tasty and easy to make.