Peanut Butter Mug Cake

By
Jessie Sheehan
Jessie Sheehan
Jessie Sheehan
Jessie Sheehan is a recipe developer, baker, food writer, and author of "The Vintage Baker" and "Icebox Cakes."
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/2/21
Peanut Butter Mug Cake

The Spruce / Julia Estrada

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 2 mins
Total: 7 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cake

If you have not yet discovered the joys that are mug cake, you are in for a super special treat. Not only are mug cakes incredibly easy to throw together—it will probably take you less than two minutes to prepare one—they're ready to eat in about the same time. They are delicious straight up in their ooey-gooey, yet cakey state right out of the microwave, but they are also fab with a scoop of ice cream or a generous dollop of softly whipped cream.

A peanut butter mug cake—with some dark chocolate chips thrown in for good measure—is one of the tastiest varieties in the book. A couple of tablespoons of creamy peanut butter is all that it takes to transform your little cake into something nutty, sweet and salty—and when you mix the dark chocolate chips in, each bite of cake is both perfectly peanut-y and perfectly chocolate-y. So next time an urgent craving for something sweet hits, consider making yourself a little cake. Not only is sharing unnecessary, it is actually ill advised. Treat yourself this time, okay? Serve with ice cream or whipped cream if desired.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar

  • 1 egg yolk

  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream

  • 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (not all natural)

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Peanut Butter Mug Cake ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  2. Combine the oil and sugar in a 12-ounce microwave safe mug and use a fork to combine.

    Combine the oil and sugar in a mug

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  3. Add the yolk and vanilla and mix again.

    Add the yolk and vanilla to the sugar mix

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  4. Add the heavy cream and mix again.

    add heavy cream to the mixture in the mug

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  5. Add the peanut butter and mix a final time.

    add peanut butter to the mixture in the mug

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  6. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the mug and again, using the fork, mix to combine.

    Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the mixture in the mug

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  7. Add the chocolate chips and mix again.

    Add the chocolate chips to the mixture in the mug

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

  8. Place the mug in the microwave and microwave on high for about 1 1/2 minutes. The cake is done when its top has risen and is lightly sticky, but not wet. The cake will sink as it cools. do not be alarmed.

    Peanut Butter Mug Cake

    The Spruce / Julia Estrada

Tips

  • All microwaves are different, so yours might require an extra few seconds to bake the cake properly or a few less.
  • A 12-ounce mug is important. Although the cake sinks, it does rise to the top when baking and if your mug is too small, you will have cake batter all over the inside of your microwave.
  • The cake will be quite hot when you remove it from the microwave. Be careful!
  • Don't skimp on the whipped cream or ice cream—or maybe use both.

Recipe Variations

  • Try adding milk chocolate chips instead of dark chocolate ones. Or use mini ones, instead of regular sized-ones. You can also add chopped chocolate, so you have different sized pieces of chocolate throughout the cake.
  • Use chunky peanut butter for a little nutty vibe or add a tablespoon of chopped roasted and salted peanuts.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1374 Calories
84g Fat
123g Carbs
31g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 1374
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 84g 108%
Saturated Fat 20g 101%
Cholesterol 406mg 135%
Sodium 1050mg 46%
Total Carbohydrate 123g 45%
Dietary Fiber 7g 24%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 391mg 30%
Iron 10mg 56%
Potassium 568mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)