Piña Colada Mug Cake is amazing. Every spoonful of this moist, fluffy mug cake is full of coconut and pineapple flavor. Best of all, it cooks in the microwave in just one minute!
Why you'll love this recipe
This is a cup of instant sunshine in the form of a Piña Colada Mug Cake. Imagine fluffy vanilla cake speckled with shredded coconut and juicy bits of pineapple.
Topped with generous drizzles of sweet coconut cream and more sweet coconut, this instant dessert is a tropical treat that can be ready to eat in 1 microwave minute!
Quickly and easily mix up your own mug of sunshine or share the ingredients and recipe in your next care package !
Ingredients
- The magic mug cake mixture is made with one box of vanilla cake mix plus one box of angel food cake mix.
- Coconut cream, in cans or plastic bottles, can be found in the baking aisle or sometimes in the liquor aisle with ingredients for mixed drinks.I prefer the bottle for care packages because the bottle can be easily opened and then closed for storage.
Instructions
- Lightly coat the inside of a microwaveable mug with cooking spray or use a disposable microwave safe paper cup.
- In the mug, stir together 3 tablespoons of cake mix and 2 tablespoons of water. Mix in a tablespoon of coconut and a tablespoon of pineapple.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle the top of the cake with a little coconut, a few bits of pineapple, and a generous drizzle of coconut cream/syrup. Eat right out of the mug or transfer the cake onto a plate.
Storage
Microwave cakes should be enjoyed when cool enough to eat. The texture changes as they cool and are best eaten warm.
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Tips
- Plain microwaved cake can taste like a sponge. Adding syrup, or in this case adding coconut cream, moistens the cake and eliminates the spongy texture.
- For care package use, pour the two cake mixes into a gallon-size zip lock bag labeled with directions, add a bag of sweetened shredded coconut, a few small cans of pineapple tidbits, a measuring spoon and a package of microwave safe paper cups or a can of non-stick spray.
- Please note that aerosol cans are not allowed in international care packages. To mail internationally and/or for no clean-up, I highly recommend adding microwave safe paper cups to your military or college care packages.
- Microwave cakes CAN be made with gluten-free cake mix. The angel food cake mix is not necessary.
More microwave mug cakes
Make this mug cake recipe for fast, easy, and delicious cake in a mug from cake mix!
Looking for more ways to enjoy coconut? Coconut Snowball Mug Cakes combine marshmallow cream with coconut for chewy deliciousness!
Pineapple Upside Down Mug Cake looks and tastes like the oven baked version! There is even a cherry on top!
Microwave Peach Cobbler has all of the summery flavor you're craving in an individual serving ready in one minute!
You will find dozens of Mug Cake recipes in The Monday Box recipe index.
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Piña Colada Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box Angel Food Cake mix
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- Non-stick spray if not using disposable cups
- Water
- 24 tablespoons sweetened shredded coconut (1 bag)
- 1 can pineapple tidbits packed in pineapple juice, drained
- 1 bottle coconut cream or coconut syrup
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. Mix in a tablespoon of coconut and a tablespoon of pineapple.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle the top of the cake with a little coconut, a few bits of pineapple, and a generous drizzle of coconut cream/syrup. 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 coconut, pineapple, and coconut cream/syrup.
Notes
- Combine the two cake mixes into a labeled gallon-size ziplock bag.
- Include a measuring spoon, a bag of sweetened shredded coconut, a can of pineapple tidbits packed in juice, and a can/bottle of coconut cream/syrup.
- 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.
Nutrition
First Published: March 28, 2014. Last Updated: July 3, 2022. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.
BruCrew Life
I hope you had a lovely vacation! I will have to make one of these awesome piña colada cakes and then close my eyes and pretend I'm somewhere tropical! 😉 They sound delish!
themondaybox
We DID have a great vacation, Jocelyn! Thanks! A combination of much needed warmth, stress-free time, and together time made it great. 🙂 With a little imagination (and eyes closed), 3-2-1 Pina Colada cake is a mini tropical get-away! 🙂
Peggy
How many cups can you mic at the same time?
themondaybox
Hi, Peggy! I have only tried one cup at a time. The timing would probably be a tiny bit longer for more cups. You would have to experiment because the microwave strength, number of cups, and the shape of the cups can make a difference in the timing. If you try it, please let me know what your results are!
Julie Hatchett
I made the piña colada and needless to say it was all gone, I didn't get to try it. My guys said they loved it and it was really easy! Way to go! Julie
themondaybox
Thanks, Julie, for letting me know that your guys loved their 3-2-1 cake!! The Pina Colada version is so magic-easy that its hard to believe that it tastes soooo good until you try it! Of course you didn't get to try it, only your guys. I say, wait until they are all out of the house, then take 1 minute and make your very own! 🙂 There are a bunch of 3-2-1 flavors to pick from so that everyone can have their favorite!
Beth
This looks so pretty and festive. Enjoy your holiday!
themondaybox
Thank, Beth! We had a great holiday. 🙂 This tropical dessert tastes like a vacation!
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine
Oh my goodness, that Pina Colada cake is seriously making my mouth water! Hope you had fun on your little trip!
themondaybox
Thanks, Chris! We had a great trip with lots of needed R&R. 🙂 A Piña Colada tastes like sunshine to me!
irmina
Oh, muy rico todo lo de esta página.
Un saludo.
themondaybox
¡Gracias. Irmina! ¡Es un postre divertido, facil, Y rico! ¡Espero que te gusta! 🙂
¡Tus Galletas Puzzle de Animales de la Granja son tan encantadoras¡ 🙂 Estoy feliz que encontró mi blog porque ahora he encontrado la tuya.
Your Animal Puzzle Cookies are so adorable! 🙂
whatjessicabakednext...
Pina colada cake sounds amazing! Definitely a recipe to try out! 🙂
themondaybox
Thank you, Jessica! 3-2-1 cakes are instant gratification in a mug and this version is amazing! I hope you will try it and let me know what you think! 🙂
ashlyn16
This sounds so good and easy, and I’m excited because I actually already have almost all of these ingredients! I’m making a similar recipe for cupcakes later next week, but I only wish they were as easy to make as this! I think I will make this more often. 🙂 Hope you enjoyed your vacation and I love the theme of your blog. My hubby is in the army so I send care packages to him when he is away, and also to family and friends back home. Looking forward to getting some great ideas from you!
Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen
This sounds so good and easy, and I'm excited because I actually already have almost all of these ingredients! I'm making a similar recipe for cupcakes later next week, but I only wish they were as easy to make as this! I think I will make this more often. 🙂 Hope you enjoyed your vacation and I love the theme of your blog. My hubby is in the army so I send care packages to him when he is away, and also to family and friends back home. Looking forward to getting some great ideas from you! 🙂
themondaybox
Hi Ashlyn! Thank you for stopping by! Living in Hawaii, I bet you have many opportunities to enjoy pineapple and coconut treats! 3-2-1 cakes are fun and yummy but for The Monday Box they have to be care package-able! (The ingredients must be storable at room temperature, at least until opened.) As long as the recipient has access to a microwave, they (and quite a few of their nearest and dearest buddies) can enjoy a hot, gooey, sweet treat. 🙂 I am always open to advise and suggestions from experienced military care package senders. The military side of care packages is still new to me and I am trying to learn all I can. Hopefully, you will never need desert-safe recipes, but if you do, I have a bunch here. 🙂
Are you going to post your tropical cupcake recipe? I will be checking your blog to see!!
p.s. The photo of your family on your "about" page is great! I am guessing those two little ones keep you moving. 🙂
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
I hope you enjoyed your vacation, Wendy! In the meantime, I will definitely be enjoying this lovely tropical cake!!! The Spring doesn't know if it wants to stay yet, so until then, I can scarf down a few of these cakes. 😀
themondaybox
Thanks, Jess! We had a great vacation...everyone needed it! I don't think I would want tropical weather year round, but it did warm our frozen souls! 🙂 Tropical flavors, on the other hand, I will take any time. These cakes will make you think you are on vacation...if you close your eyes!
Devi McDonald @ Diddles and Dumplings
This looks outstanding! Yum!! Love pina colada anything 😉
themondaybox
Thanks, Devi! These 3-2-1 cakes are so magically fun and the pina colada version is especially delicious!
Monica
I hope you had a wonderfully relaxing time on vacation, Wendy! I love these quick mug/cup cakes. I made a chocolate mug cake with my son a month or so ago and he was so impressed with himself and thought it was so amazing. You have a slew of recipes for us to choose from here. You know I want that lava cake! Yum!
themondaybox
Thanks, Monica! We did have a relaxing time! There is something so soothing about the sound of a gentle surf lapping at the beach. 🙂 Even during Spring Break, Sanibel is a mellow sort of place. Dinner time restaurant waits were unpleasantly long, but the beaches were not crowded even at peak times of day and the shelling was so much fun!
I have to agree with your son. 🙂 I am amazed every time I make on of these microwave cakes! The lava cake is so fast and easy....you may not want me to tell you how good it is!
Ashley
I hope that you have a great time in Florida and get to soak up some sunshine! I love this spin on the 3-2-1 cake with pina colada! With the cream of coconut and pineapple I bet this is delicious!
themondaybox
We did have a great time, Ashley, thank you! The sunshine warmed us as the sound of the surf calmed us. Sanibel is such a wonderful place to unwind and recharge. I was especially happy because we were together as a family....something that is hard to do when your "kids" grow up and are working or going to school in different cities. If you like pineapple and coconut, this 3-2-1 cake is really good!
Christine
Sanibel Island is my favorite place on the planet. I have been going every year since I was a little girl. (I'm 45 now) I will be there in October, I, like you, have never been during the dreaded spring break. I will definitely be making this in our condo sometime this upcoming trip!!
themondaybox
Good news, Christine....even during Spring Break, Sanibel is amazing! Periwinkle was to be avoided when the day trip beach goers were arriving or leaving and also at dinner time, but the beaches were magnificent, the shelling was so much fun, and the aura of Sanibel was as peace-filled as usual! How wonderful that you get to look forward to a yearly Sanibel refill! 3-2-1 cakes are great for individual treats when you don't have tons of ingredients on hand and don't want to turn on the oven!
p.s. Jerry's carries the cream of coconut in a bottle.....I checked 🙂
NanaBread
Love this! Can't wait to try them all - especially the Pina Colada and Boston Cream versions.
themondaybox
Thanks, Jeanne! 3-2-1 cake is great for instantly satisfying a sweet craving. Piña Colada Cake is my favorite so far!
kerenbaker
Yum- looks awesome!
themondaybox
Thanks, Keren! So yummy,sooo easy! 🙂