Snickerdoodle Mug Cake

How many times have you had a sugar craving, only to discover that there aren't any cookies or cupcake or even a candy bar in the house?

Now that’s not always a bad thing, mind you…sometimes the only thing that prevents me from ingesting too much sugar is the fact that I made a point not to buy or make sweets in the first place.

But other times, IneedsomethingsweetandIneeditrightNOW! And in those instances, spending a few minutes throwing together a microwave mug cake seems a bit more refined than scarfing chocolate chips straight out of the bag.

Snickerdoodle Mug Cake bakes up in the microwave in just one minute, yielding a warm, cinnamon-sugary treat that will satisfy any sweet tooth!

Ingredients

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup milk, at room temperature
2 tablespoons salted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For layering/topping:

1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon until thoroughly, completely combined, with no streaks of any ingredients remaining. Blend in milk, butter, and vanilla until batter is smooth. Into a 14-ounce (or larger) microwave-safe mug with straight sides, scoop a big spoonful of batter, then sprinkle with a spoonful of cinnamon sugar. Alternate layers, ending with cinnamon sugar.
Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until cake is done to your liking. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before serving.

Tips, Tricks, & Variations

A tall, cylindrical mug with straight (not angled) sides will ensure that the cake bakes evenly. I found a 14-ounce mug to be the perfect size to allow the cake to rise up while baking without overflowing. (I filled my mug to the top with water and then transferred the water to a measuring cup to determine its capacity.) If you use a smaller mug, you may want to bake the cake on top of a plate or paper towel to catch any possible overflow.

The strength of individual microwaves can vary. The first time you make this recipe, be prepared to experiment a bit to make sure that 1 minute is the perfect length of baking time. The nice thing about this cake is that even if it is under cooked, you don't have to worry about raw eggs!

Unsalted butter will work just fine in this recipe, but I find that using salted butter adds a tiny flavor boost.