This Cake Mix Mug Cake recipe isn’t really a recipe. It’s directions for magic. With just three ingredients, you can make an individual cake in a mug in only one minute using the microwave! This fluffy treat is instantly ready whenever a snack attack hits. Customize your cup of cake with some candy, chips, or fruit bits and the mug cake variations are endless!
When the directions for this 321 cake appeared in the food section of our newspaper seven years ago, I had to give it a try. I was amazed by the results and shared the fun recipe here on The Monday Box in March 2013.
I thought microwave cakes would be a onetime novelty, but I was wrong! This post has been wildly popular and inspired many additional popular recipes like Molten Lava Mug Cake and Piña Colada Mug Cake.
Mug cake recipes on The Monday Box are unique because they are made with only shelf stable ingredients. That means the ingredients can be sent in a care package (or kept on your kitchen shelf) for whenever a snack craving hits!
They are the perfect care package treat for anyone with a sweet tooth and access to a microwave, in other words, most college students and deployed military service members. Many of the recipes use add-ins that are safe to mail, even to hot desert deployment locations.
The numbers in the 321 mug cake name come from the proportions of ingredients used. All that you need is mug cake mix (made with one box of angel food cake mix combined with one box of flavored cake mix) and water. Combine 3 tablespoons of the mix and 2 tablespoons of water, then microwave for 1 minute. 3-2-1! That’s all!
Directions
- Use a permanent marker to label a gallon size ziplock bag with the name of the mix and the simple 3-2-1 directions.
- To make the mug cake mix, pour one package of flavored cake mix and one package of Angel Food cake mix into the prepared ziplock bag. Seal the bag and then shake until the two mixes are completely combined.
- To make a cake, use either a microwave safe paper cup or a mug. If using a mug, lightly coat the inside with non-stick spray. The spray makes clean-up easier.
- Add 3 tablespoons of mug cake mix and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir to combine.
- Mix in 1 tablespoon of add-ins, such as syrup, chips, or jam.
- Microwave on high for about 1 minute. Each microwave is different. Watch your cake carefully so that it doesn’t over cook.
- Remove from the microwave and allow the cake to cool for a few minutes before adding frosting and sprinkles.
Mug cake tips
- Add-ins provide additional flavor and moisture. Follow the directions for one of the many mug cake recipes here on The Monday Box, or make up your own!
- When sending mug cake mix in a care package, I highly recommend sending paper cups/snack bowls. College students don’t like to wash dishes and aerosol cans of nonstick spray can’t be sent in airmail military care packages.
- Using nonstick spray on reusable mugs will make them much easier to clean after cooking a mug cake.
- Don’t fill any mug more than half full to avoid overflowing. An 8 ounce cup is the smallest container for this recipe. Adding additional ingredients, like chips or syrup, increases the amount of batter and requires a bigger mug.
- Eliminate the spongy texture often found in microwave baking by adding extra moisture to your cake (and delicious flavor) with 1 tablespoon of syrup, jam or condensed milk.
- To make a cake more chocolaty add a tablespoon of chocolate syrup or a tablespoon of cocoa with an extra teaspoon of water.
- Watch your first mug cake carefully for doneness. Each microwave is different and your cake may take a bit more or less time than indicated on the recipe.
- Microwave cakes cook instantly and are meant to be eaten instantly. They are not meant to be stored and eaten later.
Care package tips
For a care package that is the answer to the midnight munchies, send a mug cake care package with these items.
- Bag of mug cake mix
- Measuring spoon
- Disposable paper cups and plastic spoons.
- Add-ins like candy, chocolate chips, and dried or canned fruit.
- Toppings like canned frosting, chocolate or caramel syrup, and sprinkles.
- Printed microwave mug cake recipes from The Monday Box.
Frequently asked questions
This recipe is made with cake mix and water. No egg is needed.
Add a tablespoon of syrup (chocolate, caramel, strawberry,etc.), condensed milk, or jam before cooking. Use additional syrup or frosting as a topping after cooking.
Mix in a tablespoon of chocolate syrup, or a tablespoon of baking cocoa with an extra teaspoon of water, before cooking.
Mix up some microwave magic! The ingredients for 3-2-1 cakes make a fabulous care package treat and a quick snack any time!
Cake Mix Mug Cake
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Ingredients
- 1 box Angel Food Cake mix 16 ounces
- 1 box flavored cake mix 15.25 ounces
- Water
- Non-stick spray
- 1 can Frosting optional
- Add-ins optional such as chocolate chips, coconut, candy bars, nuts, sprinkles
Directions
To make the Mug Cake Mix
- In a gallon sized ziplock bag, combine the two boxes of cake mix. Shake the bag to mix thoroughly.
To make the mug cake
- Use either a microwave safe paper cup or a mug. If using a mug, lightly coat the inside with non-stick spray. The spray makes clean-up easier.
- Into the mug, add 3 tablespoons of cake mix and 2 tablespoons of water. Add 1-2 tablespoons of add-ins, if using. Stir to combine.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute.
- If using frosting, allow the cake to cool for a few minutes before adding.
Carlee says
Such a fun and easy treat! I should make a few variations for family dinner!
Sue Crocker says
Mug cakes have become a go to for everyone of my Deployed Service Members with access to a microwave. Absolutely perfect to share with many of their buddies! Great idea!
Wendy Sondov says
Thanks, Sue!! You know how happy it makes my heart to hear that! 🙂
Laura Hanna says
I used 1 angel food cake mix and a sugar free chocolate cake mix but it was not chocolaty enough for me so I add a tablespoon of cocoa powder and, oh my yes!! try this I add a touch more water, but not much.
Wendy Sondov says
I’m glad you were able to tweak this basic mix to taste, Laura! I usually recommend adding a tablespoon of chocolate syrup, but as you were looking for a sugar free solution, the added cocoa powder was ideal! Thanks for sharing your idea!
Julie says
Great Recipe! May I print it with your image to give to the group of 7-11 year-old-boys that I do monthly activities for at church?
Wendy Sondov says
This recipe is so much fun, Julie! I think my son lived on it during late night study sessions his freshman year in college. You can absolutely print the recipe and give it to your church group boys! Just click on the print symbol under the photo on the recipe and you should be set to print as many as you need. 🙂 Thanks for reading The Monday Box and I do appreciate that you asked about printing!
saltandserenity says
Wendy, I have always seen these magic mug cake recipes and dismissed them because I just didn’t believe they would actually be any good. But if you tell me they are, then I must listen. You haven’t steered me wrong yet. I’m excited about adding mini Milky Way bars. What could be bad about that? (as Ina says!). I think the best thing about them is that they are built in portion control!!
Wendy Sondov says
Thanks, Cindy! Microwave cakes will never take the place of baked cakes, but they can be quite tasty, are immediate gratification, and (as you said) are ideal portion control. Plus, Monday Box mug cakes are all made with shelf stable ingredients that make them shippable in care packages (college dorms, military, etc.) I find that the trick to tastiness is to add additional moisture with syrups or evaporated milk.
Lynn P says
I am going to make you mug cake on Thursday with a 4 year old group. I couldn’t find any reg cake mixes that didn’t call for an egg and oil to mix w the angel food cake mix. Do I still follow your recipe to combine the dry mixes together and just add water?
Lynn from NY
Wendy Sondov says
Hi Lynn! That is the magic of 3-2-1 mug cake. You do NOT follow the directions on the box. No egg or oil is required. The Angel Food cake mix provides the dehydrated egg which is activated by the added water. So, in a large ziplock bag just combine well your box of regular flavored cake mix and a box of regular angel food cake mix. In your mug stir 3 tablespoons of the mixture, 2 tablespoons of water, and any add-ins like chocolate chips or chocolate syrup. Zap for one minute and you are done! I hope you and the kids have fun!
Morgan says
Does anyone know if you can make this with milk instead of water? Is it creamier? It’s just a little dry for me.
The Monday Box says
Hi, Morgan! I know a LOT about cake mix mug cakes. Though you definitely can use milk instead of water, I don’t believe it will give you the result you are looking for. I am guessing that you want the cake to be more moist, not necessarily creamy and mushy. Mixing in one tablespoon of chocolate syrup before microwaving should give you what you are looking for. This is the first 3-2-1 cake published on The Monday Box and is the basic mix only. I highly recommend that you take a look at the more than a dozen other variations. I think you will find that they are all a lot more moist and flavorful. For a moist chocolate cake I suggest starting with the 3-2-1 Hot Chocolate Mug Cake. Enjoy!
Laurie B. says
I tried this 3 2 1 cake mix but I guess my microwave is not high enough wattage it did not cook all the way. I tried it again (mixed up a fresh 321) and added 30 seconds it was better. -Any ideas?
themondaybox says
Hi, Laurie! I am sorry that your 3-2-1 cake didn’t work the first time. Until I got a new microwave recently, I had no idea how much the power can vary. My old microwave was definitely 1 minute. My new microwave is 40 seconds at the most. I really believe you can make 3-2-1 cakes in your microwave, but may have to sacrifice a few as you figure out the correct timing. Once you figure out the timing the variations of 3-2-1 cakes are infinite. 🙂
Nancy says
Hi Wendy! I have tried the 321 cake twice now. The flavor is good but it does not seem to rise. I’ve used a regular sized mug & an oversized mug. With both, the cake only takes up about 1\4 of the mug when baked. It seems to be cooked all the way, and it has a bit of a spongy texture. Any ideas? I used 1 box of spice cake & 1 box of angel food. They were two different brands.
The Monday Box says
Hi, Nancy! I have been trying to come up with some suggestions for your unsuccessful 3-2-1 cakes. First, the different brands shouldn’t make any difference. I do that all the time. The angle food is mostly egg white and that should give the rise. The flavored cake mix provides flavor and a more cake-like texture. (Just zapping angel food cake mix gets you an eggy sponge.) As long as your spice cake was cake mix not spice loaf (a heavier mixture for a loaf pan), I don’t know why your cake won’t rise. I used spice cake mix and gingerbread cake mix for 3-2-1 Gingerbread Cake and both types rose. That said, here are my thoughts. Perhaps your mugs are wider than the ones I use. Mine are 6 oz and are the width of a paper cup. If yours are wider, try doubling the recipe and see if that gives you more volume. In 3-2-1 Pumpkin Chai Latte Cake I had to use more mix and water (4 T mix and 2 1/2 T water) to get as much cake as I wanted in the mug I was using. Also, this post was my first 3-2-1 cake. Since then I have made many variations and I think the texture of 3-2-1 cake is improved tremendously when you add syrup to the ingredients. With your spice cake I would suggest trying first doubling the recipe, and then adding 1 tablespoon of caramel syrup or 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin. Play with the baking time. If the texture is rubbery, the cake cooked too long. Time in the microwave could be effecting your unrisen cakes too. I hope this helps and you figure out your 3-2-1 dilemma! I always feel like a mad scientist when I am trying out new variations. 🙂 Please let me know if you have any more questions or if I can help further.
Mary B says
Hi Wendy! Is it possible to microwave 2 or more cups of cake at the same time? I like to make them for my son & his girlfriend but don’t like making 1 at a time. Thx, Mary
The Monday Box says
Hi, Mary! It is definitely possible to make more than one cake at a time, but the timing in the microwave will increase. You will have to experiment a bit. Watch your first batch carefully as it rises. When it seems to stop growing, note the time and stop the microwave. It might take a few batches to get it right. 🙂 Have fun!
Sara says
Hi,
great recipe but just wanted to know if the angel food cake mix is necessary? Like can I just use one preferred cake mix? Thanks.
themondaybox says
Hi, Sara! Thanks for stopping by! The angel food cake seems to give the cake rise. I haven’t tried regular cake mix without the angel food BUT I have tried gluten free chocolate cake mix without any angel food mix and it worked just fine! Maybe it was a little less fluffy but it was definitely cake. If you try it, let me know if it works for you. 🙂
Sara says
Thanks
enchantedhomeschoolingmom says
Can’t talk right now, going to make my magic cake! 🙂 These are too cute and look delicious.
themondaybox says
Thanks, Jill! I hope you do get to make 3-2-1 cake. Its a fun way to satisfy a sweet craving! 🙂
Jana says
Awesome idea – I have someone heading off to college in a couple months, and this will make a great going away gift!
themondaybox says
Thanks, Jana! 3-2-1 is the perfect college dorm snack! It keeps well, feeds a crowd, and satisfies the late night munchies! 🙂 I recommend using microwave safe paper cups for college kids because then there are no dished to wash!