Mandarin Orange Mug Cake is a sweet treat full of sunshine, cooked to deliciousness in just one minute, without turning on the oven!
Why you'll love this recipe
- This delicious cake mix mug cake is made with just a handful of shelf safe ingredients.
- The simple recipe makes a single serving cake perfect for an easy dessert or midnight snack.
- The ingredients can be packed in a care package for college student or service members.
A box of Orangesicle cake mix combined with a box of Angel Food cake mix are the only basic ingredients needed for this summery treat.
White chocolate syrup adds creamy flavor and a moist texture to the cake.
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.
- Into a mug sprayed with nonstick spray or a microwave-safe papercup, stir together the cake mix and water. Add a rounded tablespoon of halved mandarin orange segments. Stir.
- Microwave on high for up to 1 minute until cooked.
- Add a few orange segments and a generous dousing of white chocolate sauce on top of the 3-2-1 cake.
Storage
Microwave cakes cook instantly and are meant to be eaten instantly. The mini cakes are not meant to be stored and eaten later.
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Tips
- If orange cake mix is not available, vanilla mix is an excellent substitute. The white chocolate chips in the photos are not included in the recipe.
- 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.
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3-2-1 Mandarin Orange Microwave Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box Angel Food Cake mix
- 1 box orange or vanilla cake mix
- Non-stick spray if not using disposable cups
- Water
- 4 cans mandarin oranges
- 1 bottle white chocolate sauce
Instructions
- In a gallon sized ziplock bag, combine the two boxes of cake mix. Shake the bag to mix thoroughly.
- If using a microwaveable mug, lightly coat the inside of a with non-stick spray. Without the spray the cake will not transfer out of the mug and the mug is harder to clean. If using a disposable, microwave safe paper cup, no non-stick spray is needed.
- (Here comes the 3-2-1 part) Into the prepared mug/cup, stir together 3 tablespoons of cake mix and 2 tablespoons of water. Add a rounded tablespoon of halved mandarin orange segments. Stir.
- Microwave on high for up to 1 minute until cooked. (My microwave takes 45 seconds.)
- Add a few orange segments and a generous dousing of white chocolate sauce on top of the 3-2-1 cake. 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 add the oranges and white chocolate sauce.
Notes
- Combine the two cake mixes into a gallon-size ziplock bag labeled with directions.
- Include a measuring spoon, a can of mandarin oranges, and a bottle of white chocolate sauce. 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.
- Don’t forget to include the “recipe”.
Nutrition
First Published: August 27, 2014. Last Updated: April 10, 2024. Updated for improved images, additional information and better user experience.
Jerri
Wow! You have so many 3-2-1 cakes! Love it! And I LOVE mandarin orange! Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites. I'm featuring you this week.
The Monday Box
Thanks, Jerri! I DO have a lot of 3-2-1 cakes! Thank you for hosting Friday Favorites and for the feature!