Warm Caramel Apple Mug Cake is a cozy treat that can be enjoyed literally at a moments notice! Moist vanilla cake is filled with spiced apple slices and melted caramel. This cake mix microwave mug cake can be ready to eat in just one minute!
Why you'll love this recipe
Caramel Apple Mug Cake is fall in a steamy mug of vanilla cake, gooey caramel, and spiced apples.
This sweet autumn treat goes from craving to reality in 1 microwave minute!
Add the ingredients and recipe to a fall care package that is perfect for anyone with access to a microwave.
Ingredients
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a gallon sized ziplock bag, combine the two boxes of cake mix. Shake the bag to mix thoroughly.
- Lightly coat the inside of a microwaveable mug with non-stick spray or use a disposable microwave safe paper cup. In the prepared mug, stir together 3 tablespoons of cake mix and 2 tablespoons of water. Cut a slice of canned apple in half and place on top of batter in cup. They will sink in. Gently press together three caramel squares one on top of the other forming a tower. Push the caramel squares down into the center of the batter.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute. Sprinkle the top of the cake with cinnamon sugar then eat it right out of the mug.
Tips
- Aerosol cans aren't allowed in overseas military care packages.
- Disposable microwave safe cups are perfect for military care packages to troops with access to a microwave.
- Disposable microwave safe cups are also ideal for care packages to college students, who don't have the time or interest to wash out mugs.
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3-2-1 Caramel Apple Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box Angel Food Cake mix
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- Non-stick spray if not using disposable cups
- Water
- 72 Caramel squares 3 per mug
- 1 can apple pie filling 1-2 slices of apple per mug (I used Duncan Hines Comstock/Wilderness)
- 1 jar cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- In a gallon sized ziplock bag, combine the two boxes of cake mix. Shake the bag to mix thoroughly.
- Lightly coat the inside of a microwaveable mug with non-stick spray or use a disposable microwave safe paper cup. (Without the spray the cake will not transfer out of the mug and the mug is harder to clean.)
- (Here comes the 3-2-1 part) Into the prepared mug, stir together 3 tablespoons of cake mix and 2 tablespoons of water. Cut a slice of canned apple in half and place on top of batter in cup. They will sink in. Gently press together three caramel squares one on top of the other forming a tower. Push the caramel squares down into the center of the batter. The cake will rise around the tower, so don’t worry if some of the caramel is not submerged.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle the top of the cake with cinnamon sugar then eat it right out of the mug. If you want to transfer the cake onto a plate, run a knife around the edge between the cake and the mug to loosen, dump out onto a plate, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Notes
- Combine the two cake mixes into a labeled gallon-size ziplock bag.
- Include a measuring spoon, bag of caramels, can of apple pie filling, and a jar of cinnamon sugar.
- If the care package is international, include microwave safe paper cups. If the care package is domestic, add either a can of non-stick spray (for use with a ceramic mug) or microwave safe paper cups.
- Write out directions on an index card or directly on the ziplock bag.
- For a special touch, include a mug and spoon.
Nutrition
First Published: October 27, 2013. Last Updated: February 27, 2023. Updated for more information and better reader experience.
Elva Roberts
This caramel apple cake looks like a very yummy cake for dessert or for snacking. It certainly would taste delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us.
The Monday Box
Thank you, Elva. Mug cakes are a fun way of enjoying a quick treat!
Emily @DomesticDeadline.com
I love mug cakes! This sounds amazing, I can't wait to try it. I'm going to share this in my fall recipe round up later this week. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMAttersParty
The Monday Box
Thank you, Emily! I agree, mug cakes are so much fun, especially when they are made completely with ingredients that are sitting in the cabinet waiting to be transformed! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing and for hosting Home Matters Party!
Debrashoppeno5
What a good recipe full of luscious flavor. And easy!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Debra! Mug cakes made with shelf-stable ingredients are SUPER easy and surprisingly good! 🙂
Sana
Do you think it is possible to make a bigger 3-2-1 cake by using the same proportions but bigger sizes? Ex: 6 tablespoons of mix, 4 of water with whatever time it cooks in?
The Monday Box
Hi, Sana! Yes! I have been able to adapt the proportions for different sized mugs. Sometimes it take a few trial runs to get the amounts and timing right. Have fun!
Reeni
This is such a great idea Wendy! Especially for sending overseas where they might not even have access to apples. They can have a taste of fall - and home. But I love this cake too! So many times I'm looking for a quick treat and I hate premade cookies and snacks.This is perfect.
themondaybox
Thanks, Reeni! 3-2-1 cakes are fun and this one is especially delicious with the warm apples and gooey caramel! Like you said, its great to be able to mail everything needed for a taste of home and the fall in a magical 1 minute cake. 🙂
shannon
okay, so it goes without saying that those little caramel apple cakes would make anyone happy; i love them. they would be dangerous here.
but your tip about sending along disposable mugs? that's the single best tip i've ever heard if you're sending these for care packages. BRILLIANT. i know from personal experience that cleaning cake mugs isn't always fun, AND that i actually tend to break mine after repeated use. obviously if you sent anyone this as a care package, there would be repeated mug use. 🙂 great tips, wendy, and a great recipe.
themondaybox
Thanks, Shannon! Isn't it funny how sometimes the most obvious thoughts escapes us while we ponder such involved solutions? I was trying to come up with an alternative to aerosol spray for military care packages. I looked all over for pump bottles. No supermarket near me carried them. You can buy and fill your own, but that was too involved. Suddenly, in a sleep deprived state the obvious became obvious. Just bake the silly cakes in disposable cups! Especially when the cakes include yummy gooey stuff, it is wonderful not to have to scrub anything clean! And, as a mom, it is wonderful to think there may not be a pile up of moldy mugs in your college student's bedroom! 🙂
BruCrew Life
I wish someone had sent me such loveliness when I was in college, back in the day! 😉 This sounds great!!
themondaybox
Thanks, Jocelyn! I am so old, there were no microwaves when I was in college! However, I agree, these are what I would have loved too if microwaves had been invented! 🙂
Malou Perez-Nievera (@malou_nievera)
reading this post makes me feel guilty. well as a mom, if eel like i've been amiss with my role for not being able to send care packages to my kids. its been almost a month since i came back and the stuff i got them from the Philippines aren't mailed yet. Also, baking is not my forte Wendy, I wish i had yours. But this morning after reading your post, I went to my kitchen and forced myself to bake. And i did bake... not just one, but 5 different kinds of goodies for my kids. Well it's not like your 3-2-1 cake but I'm sure my kids will love them. Thank you for the inspiration... and shh... i baked from a cake mix that Kursteaz sent me hahaha. but I know it won't matter right?
Thanks for your time last Friday I really enjoyed the breakfast we had together. I didn't realize how time flew by fast. A parking ticket was waiting for me by my windshield haha. But it's all worth it.. I hope to do it again sometime with you.
Take care!
Malou
themondaybox
Oh, Malou! I am so sorry you got a ticket! Time did fly by and I felt like we had only just scratched the surface of things to talk about! I had so much fun. Lets do it again soon...someplace with a free parking lot! 🙂 And as for guilt...throw it out the window. I want my blog and posts to serve as inspiration, not for them to be guilt causing. It makes absolutely no difference if a care package goodie is from scratch or a mix. Both include love and thats ALL that counts! Plus, I would believe that you prefer to cook savory foods over baking, but I happen to know that you are a very talented cook and you probably bake with equal amazing results!
Have a great end of the week and a wonderful weekend!
The Café Sucre Farine
Looks so fun and so good!
themondaybox
Thanks, Chris! Its not real baking, but it is fun and fast and surprisingly good!
Loretta
48 mugs of cake?! Sounds like a party waiting to happen! I love apple with a hint of caramel and I've always wanted to try a caramel apple pie 🙂
themondaybox
Ah, dorm/barracks life! A party waiting to happen is a great description! I was excited when this 3-2-1 Apple Caramel cake worked because so many people love this combination. I think a caramel apple pie sounds wonderful. I'll be watching your blog for the recipe! 😉
Ashley
I love that you were able to incorporate caramel apple fall flavors into this quick cake! I agree with Jess that I would have absolutely loved to have this back when I was in college! We didn't have an oven or anything like that ... so it was microwave or nothing! Well to be fair there was one oven in the dorm but it was so not convenient to use! haha
themondaybox
Thanks, Ashley! My son became more and more enthusiastic about 3-2-1 cakes as exam week wore on! He actually does quite a bit of cooking in an inconvenient basement kitchen, but not baking. A frying pan and a spatula work for a variety of dinner possibilities but you need all kinds of bowls and pans for baking. As you said, its not convenient. 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
Oh how I wish I had this recipe when I was back in college! I love these 3-2-1 cakes, all the decadence and deliciousness of cake in a matter of minutes! Wendy, I love all the fall flavors bursting out of this cake. Perfect for a chilly afternoon for sure. 😀
themondaybox
Thanks, Jess! I considered the original 3-2-1 cake to be a novelty, a quick sugar fix perfect for a starving, sleep deprived college student. The next two versions, however, actually taste like a real dessert that a non-college student might enjoy. I had no problem with quality control taste testing on this one! 🙂
Operation Gratitude
Oh. My. Yum! 🙂
themondaybox
Thanks! This is my favorite flavor of 3-2-1 cake so far!
Monica
Only kitchen sink is in the basement? Wow, I hadn't thought of that. I went to a commuter college so I have a lot to learn when my son goes to college one day (hopefully)! That is a great idea about the disposable cups...I think you've covered it all now. And kudos for managing to incorporate some Fall flavors into your care packages...that is not easy but I don't think anyone would complain about flavorful chips and such instead. Have a great week, Wendy. : )
themondaybox
Who knows what amazing things will be common place by the time your son is in college, Monica. 🙂 Though dorm life will, I think, always be unique in that dorms house large numbers of young people new to independent living. I don't think washing dishes, doing laundry, or changing sheets will ever be a priority! 🙂 I am glad I solved the 3-2-1 cake dirty mug dilemma.
These silly yet magical 3-2-1 cakes seem to appeal to a variety of people. They are the most popular "recipes" on my site! College students are high on the list but many 3-2-1 fans are people who want a quick snack without actually baking, or without needing lots of ingredients, or wanting a single portion.
I hope you have a great week too!