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    Home » Recipes » Pancakes & Waffles

    Published: May 12, 2023 by Melanie McDonald · This post contains affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 2 Comments

    Pancake in a Mug

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN WATCH VIDEO
    5 from 4 votes
    pancake in a mug

    Single-serve Pancake in a Mug made start to finish in just a couple of minutes with a handful of pantry staples. It's soft, fluffy, filling, and so easy!

    close up photo of a pancake in a mug topped with fresh blueberries, vegan butter, and maple syrup

    Pancake in a Mug! The perfect quick breakfast recipe for when:

    • You need an easy single-serve American style fluffy pancake recipe.
    • You are craving pancakes but have no time.
    • The kids want to make their own breakfast and you don't want them messing with hot pans and oil.
    • You need to satisfy late night cravings!

    Mix up the batter in the mug, microwave for about a minute, top with melty vegan butter, maple syrup, and any other toppings of choice, and dig in.

    It's cheap, quick, super basic, thick, soft, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth delish and all you have to wash up is a mug and a spoon!

    In this post:

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make A Pancake in a Mug
    • Important Tip
    • Flavour & Topping Ideas
    • Mug Pancake Recipe FAQs
    • More Mug Cakes
    • Recipe Video
    • Recipe
    • Reviews & Questions

    Ingredients

    All you need are a handful of pantry staples to make a Pancake in a Mug:

    flour. vanilla, milk, sugar, salt, oil, an baking powder

    All purpose flour, baking powder, milk, a bit of sugar, a pinch of salt, and oil (or applesauce if you want to make it oil-free).

    They are all the ingredients you would expect to find in regular pancake recipes, minus the egg of course. But even if you're not vegan it makes sense, because who wants to have to use ¼ or ½ an egg in a mug cake recipe when it can work perfectly without?

    Gluten-Free? I have tested this recipe with Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 gluten-free baking flour and it works perfectly.

    How To Make A Pancake in a Mug

    It's so quick and easy to make a pancake mug cake in a microwave that you'll be wanting to make this recipe on repeat!

    All you need to do is mix up the pancake batter in a 12 oz microwave-safe mug and microwave it for about one minute until puffy and just cooked through. Then top your fluffy pancake with melty vegan butter, maple syrup, and any other toppings of choice, and dig in!

    See my video for full visual instruction.

    a pancake in a blue and white mug, topped with blueberries, butter an syrup.

    Important Tip

    Every microwave is different so there will be a little trial and error when you make this recipe the first time. It is better to slightly undercook the pancake than over cook it.

    Remember that microwaved food continues to cook a little once you remove it from the microwave and once you've nailed it the first time you can make a note of exactly how long it takes for next time.

    So just for the first time, I recommend cooking on full power for 60 seconds then finishing it off in 10 second increments. Once done it should have puffed up to fill the mug and come away from the sides. If you poke it carefully it should spring back (like testing a cake). A skewer or toothpick inserted should emerge clean and if you break the centre open a little it should look fluffy. 

    Flavour & Topping Ideas

    Plain old life-changing Pancake in a Mug is perfect. Just add vegan butter and syrup to serve, along with your fave pancake toppings.

    You can also add mix-ins like fresh berries (I love blueberries & chopped strawberries), chopped fresh fruit like banana or peach, nuts, sprinkles, lemon zest, chocolate chips, or spices to the batter.

    My vegan chocolate syrup, frozen berry compote, air fryer apples, blueberry lavender sauce, and roasted strawberries all make great pancake toppings if you have some handy.

    pancake in a mug with a spoonful taken out so the fluffy interior is visible

    Mug Pancake Recipe FAQs

    What size mug should I use?

    You need a 12 oz (355ml) mug to make this recipe. It will fill the mug as it cooks, often rising a little over the top so don't use a smaller one. If you make it in a bigger mug or other type of container the cook time and results will differ.

    Can I make this in the oven?

    This recipe has not been tested in the oven. It is intended to be cooked in a microwave, and as it's supposed to resemble a pancake, if you don't own a microwave, you would be better off just making a regular stove top pancake recipe.

    Can I make/prep this in advance?

    Your microwave pancake needs to be made and eaten immediately. It isn't a recipe you can prep or make in advance and reheat. It takes just a couple of minutes start to finish anyway.

    Can I make an oil-free pancake in a mug?

    Yes! Replace the oil with the same amount of applesauce. You won't get quite as soft and fluffy a texture but it's still great!

    More Mug Cakes

    • Cinnamon Roll in a Mug
    • chocolate chip cookie in a mug
      Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug
    • a snickerdoodle mug cake on a yellow napkin
      Snickerdoodle Mug Cake
    • Strawberry Sweet Roll Vegan Mug Cake
      Strawberry Mug Cake

    If you try this recipe, let me know how you like it by leaving a comment and rating below! And be sure to join my mailing list for more deliciousness!

    Recipe Video

    Recipe

    a pancake in a mug topped with blueberries, syrup and vegan butter

    Pancake in a Mug

    Author: Melanie McDonald
    5 from 4 votes
    Single-serve Pancake in a Mug made start to finish in just a couple of minutes with a handful of pantry staples. It's soft, fluffy, filling, and so easy!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    PREP TIME: 2 minutes minutes
    COOK TIME: 1 minute minute
    TOTAL TIME: 3 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 serving

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 tablespoons all purpose flour , (plain flour in the UK), or 1 to 1 gluten-free baking flour that contains xanthan gum
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 pinch sea salt
    • 1 tablespoon liquid oil , such as vegetable, light olive, sunflower, canola oil (use applesauce for oil-free)
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 6 tablespoons milk of choice

    RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

    • Measuring Spoons
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    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • In a 12oz (355ml) microwave-safe mug, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
    • Add the oil, vanilla, and the milk and mix together really well until smooth, making sure to get right into the bottom edges of the mug where dry flour can hide out. Smush any floury lumps against the side of the mug with the spoon to break them up.
    • Microwave on full power. All microwaves are different. In mine it takes 80 seconds to cook. The first time you make it I recommend cooking for 60 seconds, then finishing off in 10 second increments. It is better for it to be very slightly underdone that overdone because it will continue to cook a bit once removed from the microwave.
    • While cooking it will rise up over the top of the mug by about ½ an inch. That's normal. It shouldn't overflow as long as you used a 12oz mug.
    • When ready the pancake will have puffed up and come away from the edges of the mug and if you poke it carefully it should spring back (like testing a cake). A skewer or toothpick inserted should emerge clean and if you break the centre open a little it should look fluffy. It is normal for it to deflate a bit once removed from the microwave.
    • Serve immediately with vegan butter, maple syrup, and other toppings of choice.
    • Make a note of how long it took in the microwave so you know for next time!

    NUTRITION

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 371kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 7gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gSodium: 75mgPotassium: 360mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 184IUCalcium: 204mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below!

    Hungry For More?

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      Vegan Chocolate Syrup
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      Vegan Pancakes - The Ultimate Guide
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tracie says

      May 21, 2023 at 5:13 am

      5 stars
      This was really yummy and scratched the pancake itch without having to make a whole batch.

      Reply
    2. May says

      May 13, 2023 at 8:17 pm

      5 stars
      This makes me so happy. Pancake recipes are never for one and this is just perfect plus I don’t have to go through all the tediousness of flipping pancakes.

      Reply

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    Melanie McDonald

    I'm Melanie McDonald (but you can call me Mel), best-selling cookbook author and creator of A Virtual Vegan. I share well-tested, flavour-packed vegan recipes with clear, step-by-step instructions. My goal is to give you the confidence to cook amazing vegan food from scratch.

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