How to make a pancake in a mug ~ imagine a warm fluffy pancake topped with butter and maple syrup, made in your favorite mug in 60 seconds ~ right in the microwave!
This was a huge aha moment for me. This easy pancake takes 60 seconds in the microwave and the result? Absolute pancake perfection. The mug is a genius way to enjoy a pancake…it stays nice and hot, it’s moist, and the depth gives you the same effect as digging down through a stack of pancakes on a plate. Not to mention you can make yourself, or someone you love, pancakes in a jiffy without hauling out the skillet. Nothing to wash up but the mug itself. This is good, people!
what you’ll need for a pancake in a mug
You’ve got everything you need right in your kitchen, so nothing stands between you and your pancake in a mug (except 60 seconds in the microwave!)
- flour
- sugar
- milk
- oil
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- salt
- butter and syrup for serving
the right mug for a mug pancake
This is the only tricky part of the whole idea. You may need to try a couple of different mugs to come up with the one that works best for you.
- Your mug should have a capacity of 10-12 ounces for this recipe.
- It has to be microwave safe, but most stoneware, porcelain, and glass mugs are. Avoid antique mugs and cups, or anything with metal accents.
- A mug with a wide mouth is ideal because it’s easier to eat out of, and allows you to add toppings to your pancake. A wider surface allows the pancake to bake evenly. A taller narrower mug will also work but you’ll get the best results with a mug like the one pictured.
how do you know if a mug is microwave safe?
Check the bottom of your mug for information. There may be text or a microwave symbol. If not, you can do a self test. According to Today: “To make sure your coffee cup or mug won’t overheat in the microwave, put a half cup of water in the cup and microwave it for 30 seconds. If the cup is hotter than the water it contains, don’t microwave it.” Glass, stoneware, and porcelain are generally microwave safe.
how to make a pancake in a mug
These instructions are simple but there may be a short learning curve for you to fine tune what works best for your microwave and your favorite mug.
1. whisk together the dry ingredients
The beauty of this recipe is that you can make your pancake batter right in the mug. If you have one of those tiny mini-whisks, now’s the time to use it.
2. whisk in the wet ingredients
Whisk to combine and eliminate any large lumps. The texture will be runny.
3. microwave
Microwave on high for 60 seconds.
4. dig in!
I make sure to have my butter and syrup at the ready, I want to dig in asap. I can honestly say that I would prefer this to a stack of pancakes ~ it’s soft, warm, sweet, and satisfying.
is a pancake in a mug healthy?
It’s basically not much different than your toast with jam, nutrition-wise, but so much yummier. And it’s definitely doable with different types of flours…think whole grains. And then add fresh fruit on top ~ you’ve got a good start to your day.
how to change up your pancake in a mug
- Throw in some mini chocolate chips. I wish I’d known about this when my kids were little, my youngest used to beg me for chocolate chip pancakes all the time!
- Toss in some of your favorite granola to the batter and add a few berries after it comes out of the micro.
- Top with sliced bananas.
- Top with whipped cream and sprinkles for a birthday pancake in a mug!
why doesn’t my pancake in a mug get brown on top?
You don’t have direct contact with the heat source in this recipe, like you would on a griddle, so the surface of your pancake will remain paler. But, trust me, it doesn’t make one bit of difference to the taste.
why I’m a big fan of this recipe
This recipe thrills me because I’m a pancake lover who wouldn’t dream of making herself pancakes, almost ever ~ it’s too much work, too messy, and too many potential calories. This pancake in a mug is something I can definitely see treating myself to on a regular basis, and it’s perfect for kids or grandkids. This has got holiday morning written all over it 🙂
more microwave magic
- Instant Microwave Macaroni and Cheese
- Easy Microwave Potato Chips Recipe
- How to Make Homemade Magic Shell
- Easy Microwave Citrus Curd Recipe
- Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle
Pancake in a Mug
Equipment
- 10-12 ounce microwave safe mug
Ingredients
dry ingredients
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- pinch salt
wet ingredients
- 4 Tbsp whole milk
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 capful vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in your mug.
- Add the wet ingredients and whisk until combined, but don't over mix. Small lumps are fine.
- Microwave the mug at full power for one minute. Note: microwaves and mugs vary greatly, so you may need to play with this a bit to get the right time for your set up.
- Top with butter and maple syrup and enjoy.
Turned out great I had to go get an extra minute though.
I’m intolerant to dairy so I used oat milk. My vegetable oil was safflower. In my MW I cooked it 4 1/2 minutes but it was still a bit “liquidy,” due to the oat milk? I finally fried it on the stove. Tasted fine with a bit of a crunch. Someone tried coconut milk and I’ll try that next time.
Hi Bonnie ~ I’m confused about your 4 1/2 minute cooking time. It should only take a minute or so. Make sure you’re using full (high) power and remember, this is just for one serving, in a mug.
This was really good, I’d use less sugar next time; it was very sweet even before adding syrup.
Great recipe, but the vanilla cap usually being 1 tsp isn’t something I knew about. I had to look it up to make sure I was adding the correct amount, even though a recipe should provide all the info you need to make it. For those of you who, like me, didn’t know, if a recipe calls for “one capful” of vanilla, they probably mean a teaspoon because apparently most vanilla bottles (but not all!) have a cap with a 1 tsp volume. To the recipe author, please add the actual measurement to your recipes! Don’t assume these life hack-style measurements will be known by all readers.
Perfect recipe, not at all dense and very cake-like. I used coconut milk and a handful of chocolate chips. 1 min and 10 seconds was perfect in my microwave. thanks!
Great idea – I used less sugar and added an egg white.
Thank you for this! I’ve made this a number of times now and it always turns out great. As far as cooking time goes, the 1 minute leaves the pancake *ever-so-slightly* undercooked, and I love that. It’s still moist and has a cake-like texture. This is a great recipe to try if you’re tired of dry, dense, and chewy microwave pancakes.
The serving size is perfect, but doubling the recipe gives a nice sized portion too, just be sure to double the cooking time!
So happy you like this J. Now that berries are back in season I love to throw in a handful before I microwave.