Vegan Mug Brownie

This vegan mug brownie for one is the perfect dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth! It's ready in under 5 minutes and is soft, delicious and chocolatey. You can make it in the microwave or in the oven, and there are gluten free and refined sugar free options!

When I'm in the mood to bake a chocolate cake, I'll almost always go for something like my Vegan Chocolate Cake or Vegan Oreo Cake.

But whenever I want a single serving treat or if I'm just feeling a little bit lazy when that chocolate craving hits, this vegan mug brownie is there to save the day!

I love that I can whip this mug cake up in less than 5 minutes, and it calls for simple ingredients. It's like a cross between a brownie and a mug cake!

This recipe is dairy free, eggless, and nut free. It also tastes delicious when made gluten free and/or refined sugar free!

What is a mug cake?

A vegan mug cake is pretty much what it sounds like: a cake or brownie in a mug! Mug cakes are single serving cakes usually made in a medium sized coffee cup. They are often made in the microwave (the quickest way), but can also be made in the oven.

Why This Vegan Mug Brownie Works

• It's the perfect sized portion for one person!
• This mug cake is so easy and takes less than 5 minutes to make, so it's ideal for late night chocolate cravings.
• You don't need any fancy ingredients to make this mug cake - you probably have everything you need in your pantry already.
• This recipe can easily be made gluten free or refined sugar free!
• You don't have to have a microwave to make this cake, there's an oven method too!
• This vegan chocolate mug cake is delicious on it's own, but it's even better topped with vegan vanilla ice cream, vegan whipped cream (homemade or store-bought) or with a drizzle of peanut butter on top!

Ingredients Needed

• Flour: This mug brownie calls for all purpose flour, but you can also substitute it for whole wheat flour, oat flour, or gluten free 1-1 baking flour
• Cocoa powder: You can use any any kind of unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe
• Butter: This recipe uses vegan butter, but you can also use vegetable/canola oil or melted coconut oil (replace at 1-1 ratio)
• Granulated sugar and brown sugar: White/granulated sugar and light brown sugar are used in this recipe but you can also substitute coconut sugar or maple syrup for a healthy refined sugar free version!
• Vegan milk: You can use any kind of dairy free milk.

Step By Step Instructions

Note: Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

STEP ONE: If using butter, melt the butter in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. If using vegetable oil, you can just add the oil to the mug.

STEP TWO: Use a fork, spoon, or a mini whisk (definitely the cutest kitchen tool I own), to mix in both sugars. Add the vanilla extract.

STEP THREE: Add in all the dry ingredients and the milk. Mix until fully combined and be sure to mix all the way down to the bottom of the mug to incorporate everything well until the batter is smooth. Stir in chocolate chips if desired.

STEP FOUR: Microwave the mug cake for 45-65 seconds (depending on your microwave), or until the mug cake looks cooked but slightly under-done on the very top.

Oven Method

If you don't have a microwave, you can make this mug brownie in the oven! It will take longer than 5 minutes but will still be delicious. A few things to note:

• If you'd like to use butter, you can melt the butter on the stovetop first, but it will be easier (and less dishes) to just use oil instead.
• If using the oven method, you can use an oven-safe ramekin or small cup if you'd like. The microwave cooks the cake really fast, which can cause it to rise quickly and overflow if you use a smaller mug, but with the oven you won't have to worry about that.
• The oven method, although it takes longer, does provide a fluffier, moister cake since it cooks the mug cake slowly.

Topping Suggestions

I actually love eating this cake on it's own, but there are so many delicious add ins and toppings you can use too! Here are a few suggestions:

• Mix in vegan white chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, or chopped up pieces of your favorite vegan chocolate bar
• Add sprinkles just for fun!
• Drizzle peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter on top of the baked cake
• Top with whipped cream or vegan ice cream
• Drizzle with chocolate hazelnut spread or biscoff cookie butter spread
• Chocolate or vanilla frosting is delicious on the cake (especially if you have a pre-made store-bought vegan kind like this one already on hand!)

FAQs and Expert Tips

Storage and Freezing Instructions

This vegan mug brownie should be enjoyed immediately and shouldn't be frozen. This is especially true with the microwave method! As with almost anything that is heated in the microwave, the mug cake will be dry if you try to eat it a few hours later.

If you make the cake using the oven method, it's still best enjoyed right away but it can be covered tightly with plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to a full day.

More Vegan Recipes You'll Love

If you make this recipe, let me know how it went in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!

The calorie information provided for this recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the calories listed is not guaranteed.