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.
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.
Related recipes
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Red, White, and Blue Cake in a mug is a delicious fruity desert that's perfect for patriotic celebrations.
Just like the baked version, Black Forest Mug Cake has chocolate, cherry, and almond flavor.
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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.
Christine @ Must Love Home
Love it! I have never seen a 3-2-1 before so I admit I was curious! Thee are awesome...I am pinning and saving this post just for me too! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Friday Favorites! I would love for you to join me at mustlovehome.com for the Wonderful Wednesday Link Party...and enter our $40 PayPal Cash Giveaway for May!! Hugs - Christine at Must Love Home
Frugal Hausfrau
What cute little cakes! I love that you made them in cups!! Thanks for linking up with us on Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Carlee
How fun are these?! I love orange desserts and can't wait to give these a try! Thanks for sharing at Throwback Thursday!
sandy ackerman
Hey Wendy! All of your 321 cake recipes are just delicious! My sister came to visit for a week and we had a blast trying all of them!!! I am wondering, could you replace the water with another liquid to aid in the flavors? Like lemonade, chocolate milk, orange juice, etc. Just thinking of new variations! Thanks for a great blog!
themondaybox
Thank you, Sandy! How fun to zap a 3-2-1 party with your sister! I really think that the more you add to a 3-2-1 cake the better it gets! Which variation was your favorite? The Caramel Apple may be my favorite combo... or maybe the Pina Colada. 🙂 Creative 3-2-1 minds must think alike. I tried subbing juice for the water and the cake didn't rise the same as it does with water. I then tried using 1 tablespoon of water and 1 of juice. It worked, but the flavor difference was minimal. If your experiments create something wonderful, please let me know! 🙂
Nickida
This looks so delicious. I just got a great book to review of Mug Cakes now I want to get ready to dig right in and give some a try. I'll have to try this one soon.
themondaybox
Thanks, Nickida! The magic in 3-2-1 mug cakes is the lack of perishable ingredients ; no milk, no butter, no eggs. The ingredients can sit on a shelf or be mailed in a care package. Then the actual cake only requires the magic mix, some water, and a microwave (perfect for college student or military with access to a microwave). They are so easy, kids can cook up dessert on their own. 🙂 Enjoy!
GrowingBookbyBook (@growingbbb)
Mandarin oranges take me back to being a kid. I love cake too so this sounds like a perfect combo!
themondaybox
Thanks, Jodie! Kids do love those little mandarin orange segments. They are tiny finger friendly. 🙂 The little orange pieces make these microwave cakes moist and fruity. Thanks for stopping by!
Crystal McWhirter-Lopez
Um. this looks awesome and easy! What a fun treat.
themondaybox
Thanks, Crystal! These 3-2-1 cakes are so easy they make a great kid project! Stir together a few things, zap, and you are ready to enjoy!
gottagetbaked
Wendy, what a cool cake! I love that you can make it in a mug and I'm a total sucker for the creamsicle flavour. I laughed when you talked about squealing in excitement over the white chocolate syrup. I totally do the same thing, even when I'm by myself.
themondaybox
Thanks, Nancy! These 3-2-1 cakes are so easy and fun with interchangeable flavors and add-ins and toppings. I do get caught up in my grocery store "ah-ha moments" ! 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
It's going to be in the 90s all week and I am NOT looking forward to it. >_< At least I can cheer myself up with this citrusy sweet cake! And the microwave sounds marvelous in this heat. 😀
themondaybox
Thanks, Jess! We had such a lovely mild summer and now it is going out with a bang! Ice cream may be what we need in the heat, but its nice to have a little cake on the side. 🙂 Stay cool.
Winnie
OH Wendy - mouth watering cake!
Mandarin orange is a great flavor not only for now, but for winter as well
If I could - believe me I'd grab a few cups and eat 🙂
themondaybox
Thanks, Winnie! I agree that orange is a flavor we eat in summer because it tastes like sunshine and we eat it in the winter because we crave sunshine! 🙂 When orange cake mix isn't available, the mandarin oranges work well in vanilla cake mix too.
Ashley
It cooled off for a few days here and now it's right back to over 90! I'm ready for fall 🙂
Love the flavors in this version Wendy! Especially that white chocolate sauce!
themondaybox
Thanks, Ashley! I think that white chocolate sauce was a find! I am imagining it paired with all kinds of flavors on a variety of desserts. It works paired with a spoon too. 🙂
Monica
Okay, I think we are ready for your cookbook now: 3-2-1 cakes and care packages!
I really adore this flavor combination. It's a great twist (not to mention looks great, too)!
themondaybox
🙂 From your mouth to the publishers ears, Monica! Thanks for the enthusiastic endorsement. These 3-2-1 cakes are fun to think up and so easy to make. It still amazes me when they actually taste good!
Reeni
I am loving this one! White chocolate and orange sounds like a dreamy combo! One I never had before but am clearly missing out on. That syrup. I could drink it. 🙂
themondaybox
Thanks, Reeni! Does sipping the syrup off a spoon count as drinking it? If so, I definitely drank it! 🙂 Sweet, creamy stuff! This combo is very creamsicle flavored.
Ilana
I definitely want to try these 3-2-1 cakes. What size paper cups do you use?
themondaybox
Hi Illana! I use 6-9 oz cups. The cups in these photos are 9 oz. Larger will work but the cake doesn't rise up to the top and you feel like you are eating half a cake! 🙂 I use paper (not wax coated) cups from Party City, Target, or the Dollar Store. 🙂 Enjoy!
Ilana
Thanks so much.
chrisscheuer
Hi Wendy! This looks like such a fun all-season cake. I love the flavor combinations you've put together. Also loved getting to meet you in person last week. Now I feel like I'm visiting an old friend when I come to your site 🙂
themondaybox
Hi Chris! Honestly, meeting and hanging out with you and Scott made the Forum for me! How to describe meeting a friend you have never met, yet felt you knew (at least a bit)? It was wonderful to share stories and experiences. Thank you for being so welcoming!
These 3-2-1 cakes are so silly, but they are the only "baked" item possible in this muggy heat! White chocolate and orange is good!