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    Pancake in a Mug Recipe

    July 23, 2023 by Megan Porta Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This pancake in a mug recipe is ready to eat in less than 5 minutes from start to finish. Add extras of your choice to customize it! Prep the dry ingredients ahead of time so kids can easily make it themselves on busy mornings.

    Fork pulling a bite of pancake out of a mug.

    Why I Love This Recipe

    Everyone on the planet loves pancakes, right?! Every version of this favorite breakfast treat is delicious. Why is this particular recipe so spectacular, you might be wondering? Here's why:

    • It is such a quick breakfast, taking a couple of minutes to make from start to finish and using just a few simple ingredients.
    • The dry ingredients are super easy to prep ahead of time. Pour them into a small ziplog bag and write instructions on the bag so family members can easily make one in just a couple minutes.
    • This delicious breakfast is customizable! Add sugar if you want a sweeter cake. Or change up the extras to add flavor.
    • This easy breakfast is the perfect recipe for super busy mornings (or lazy weekend mornings) when you don't want to feed your kids another bowl of cereal, yet you don't want to make an elaborate meal.
    • Pancake mug cake is the perfect solution for a single serving cake for late night cravings or to satisfy your sweet tooth any time of the day.
    • It's a great way to limit yourself so you can avoid eating an entire batch of regular pancakes!

    Recipe Ingredients

    Ingredients for single-serve pancakes lined up on a white counter.

    Flour - All-purpose flour works perfectly for this recipe, but many different types of flours will work just as well. For a gluten-free pancake use your favorite variety of gluten free flour.

    Granulated sugar - You many increase or decrease the amount of sugar used, depending on how sweet you like your cakes.

    Baking powder - This is the only leavening agent used in the recipe and it gives your pancake some lift! Make sure your baking powder is in date and fresh in order to make a fluffy pancake.

    Milk - Any variety of milk works great for this recipe, including skim, 1%, 2%, whole or a non-dairy variety such as oat milk or almond milk.

    Vegetable oil - Canola oil can replace vegetable oil, as well.

    Vanilla extract - Vanilla tastes wonderful in this recipe, but if you'd like to experiment with flavors consider trying another type of extract such as caramel, almond or butter.

    Extras - Fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mulberries or strawberries will work great. Chocolate chips, butterscotch chips or mashed banana taste yummy, too. Do not exceed 1/4 cup total of extras!

    Prep Pancake in a Mug Ahead of Time

    • Combine the dry ingredients in quart-sized ziploc bags.
    • Write instructions with sharpie marker on the bag, including how to incorporate with wet ingredients and extras.
    Sharpie-written instructions on the outside of a single ziploc bag containing dry ingredients.
    Ziploc bags with dry ingredients, stacked, and with cooking instructions written on the outsides with sharpie.

    How to Make Pancakes In The Microwave

    Step 1

    In a microwave safe coffee mug combine flour, sugar and baking powder, milk and vanilla. Fold in chocolate chips or blueberries, if using, to create a creamy pancake batter. Microwave for 60-90 seconds.

    Pancake batter in a mug before cooking.
    Pancake in a mug after cooking.

    Step 2

    If pancake isn't cooked all the way through in the top center, place back in the microwave and cook at full power in 15-second increments until it is done.

    Remove from microwave and top with desired toppings.

    Recipe Notes

    • Use a wide microwavable mug when possible to make this single serving pancake. It will cook more evenly, providing less of a chance of the middle being gooey.
    • Keep in mind that cook time may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave. If you remove the mug from the microwave and notice that it hasn't cooked all the way through, no biggie! Place the coffee cup back in the micro and cook in 15-second intervals until it cooks through.
    • Add a dash of cinnamon to the dry ingredients for a fun flavor boost!
    • When you add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest to the batter, you'll taste a burst of freshness.
    • Add up to 1 tablespoon of protein powder to the dry ingredients for a protein boost.
    Close up of a blueberry pancake in a mug with a bite removed

    Best Pancake Toppings

    • Drizzle of maple syrup or agave
    • Butter and powdered sugar
    • Fresh fruit
    • Mulberry sauce or any berry sauce or compote
    • Peanut butter or almond butter
    • Whipped cream
    • Fresh berries
    • Nutella
    • Chocolate chips
    • Sprinkles

    Should I Add Egg To Pancake Mix

    No eggs are necessary in this mug cake recipe, but for traditional pancakes adding an egg will produce an added touch of deliciousness that screams "homemade!"

    The fat in the yolk provides a richness and flavor that cannot be replicated any other way. 

    Substitute for Milk in Pancakes

    Use any of the following substitutes for milk to make your next delicious batch of pancakes:

    • Water (easy peasy and works great!)
    • Heavy whipping cream
    • Half and half
    • Coconut milk
    • Almond milk
    • Oat milk
    Print Recipe

    Pancake in a Mug Recipe

    This pancake in a mug recipe is ready to eat in less than 5 minutes from start to finish. Add extras of your choice to customize it! Prep the dry ingredients ahead of time so kids can easily make it themselves on busy mornings.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time2 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: pancakes
    Servings: 1

    Ingredients

    • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
    • 1/2 tsp baking powder
    • 3 tbsp milk
    • 1 tbsp vegetable oil or canola oil
    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1/4 cup fresh blueberries or chocolate chips or other berries

    Instructions

    • In a microwave safe mug combine flour, sugar and baking powder, milk and vanilla. Fold in chocolate chips or blueberries, if using. Microwave for 60-90 seconds.
    • If pancake isn't cooked all the way through in the top center, place back in the microwave and cook in 15-second increments until it is done.
    • Remove from microwave and top with desired toppings.

    Notes

    • Use a wide microwavable mug when possible to make this single serving pancake. It will cook more evenly, providing less of a chance of the middle being gooey.
    • Keep in mind that cook time may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave. If you remove the mug from the microwave and notice that it hasn't cooked all the way through, no biggie! Place the coffee cup back in the micro and cook in 15-second intervals until it cooks through.
    • Add a dash of cinnamon to the dry ingredients for a fun flavor boost!
    • When you add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest to the batter, you'll taste a burst of freshness.
    • Add up to 1 tablespoon of protein powder to the dry ingredients for a protein boost.

    Filed Under: Pancakes Tagged With: 5 minutes or less

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