Easy & Simple Vegan Peanut Butter Mug Cake

This vegan peanut butter mug cake is ready in just a couple of minutes with only 8 simple ingredients! Topped with a sweet peanut butter maple frosting, it’s the perfect single-serving treat for peanut butter lovers.

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Got a peanut butter craving but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen? I got you! Say hello to your new best friend – easy, quick, and simple vegan peanut butter mug cake! Quick and simple doesn’t mean it’s boring, this peanut butter mug cake is absolutely tasty and made with less than 10 ingredients, 8 simple ingredients to be precise.

It’s ready in under 5 minutes from the start of preparation so it’s perfect for that sudden sweet craving you get after lunch or dinner, or have it for breakfast. Why not! This single-serving dessert is fluffy, moist, and packed with rich peanut butter flavour and I topped it with a sweet peanut butter-maple frosting which paired so nicely with the cake, it’s the ultimate treat for when you need something sweet right now!

Main ingredients and substitutions

*Use room temperature ingredients unless otherwise instructed.

Plain flour: The base of the mug cake is plain flour. Swap with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend if you want to make this gf.

Peanut butter: Use all-natural smooth peanut butter for the best texture. I love the one from Meridian. However, if you only have peanut butter like Skippy, you can use that too. You can swap the peanut butter with almond, or any seed butter for a nut-free option.

Caster sugar: I used caster sugar to add sweetness which helps create a soft tender crumb. Other sugar like granulated sugar or coconut sugar can be used for a less refined option.

Soy milk: Feel free to use other plant milk like almond or oat milk, they are great substitutes.

Vegetable oil: Use any neutral oil like vegetable oil, sunflower, canola, or melted coconut oil for this recipe!

Other ingredients: Maple syrup and baking powder

Note: Substitution may change the final taste and texture of this recipe.

*I use bone char-free sugars for all of my recipes. I cover the topic in my article Vegan Baking 101. Go to the “Is sugar vegan?” section to learn more!

Recommended equipment for this recipe

Microwave-safe mug: I used my coffee mug to make this cake and I think it’s about 12oz. So choose one that holds at least 12 oz to prevent overflow.

Whisk or fork: I have a small whisk for mixing the batter and frosting.

Measuring spoons: You can use measuring spoons for this recipe to measure all of your ingredients.

*The ingredient list and measurement for this recipe can be found in the recipe card at the bottom.

How to make vegan peanut butter mug cake

Step 1: Mix the Cake Batter

We only have 3 simple steps to make this delicious single-serve peanut butter mug cake! So let’s get started. In your mug, add all of the ingredients for the cake – plain flour, caster sugar, baking powder, soy milk, peanut butter, and vegetable oil. Whisk them all together until smooth. Ta-da, you now have your cake batter ready!

Step 2: Microwave

Microwave on high for 60 seconds until the cake has risen. Do a toothpick test now, insert a toothpick into the centre of the cake and if it comes out clean it is ready. Cooking times may vary depending on your microwave, so keep an eye on it! If it seems not ready yet, microwave for another 10 seconds and check again. Keep microwaving at 10-second intervals until the cake is cooked.

Step 3: Make the Frosting and Eat

In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter and maple syrup until smooth and creamy. Easy stuff! Drizzle the peanut butter frosting on top of the mug cake and sprinkle some crunchy peanuts. Grab a spoon and dig in!

Serving tips and ideas

• Drizzle some of my vegan chocolate sauce! Because peanut butter and chocolate are a match made in heaven.
• A scoop of vegan vanilla or chocolate ice cream pairs perfectly with the cake!
• Or simply add some whipped cream.

Expert tips and tricks

Adjust cooking time

Microwaves vary, so start with 60 seconds and add time as needed until the cake is cooked thoroughly inside.

Mix very well

I recommend using a small whisk to mix the batter because of the consistency of natural peanut butter. Natural peanut butter can be a bit tough to mix with other ingredients so make sure to mix thoroughly.

Recipe variations

• Chocolate peanut butter is always a good idea! Add a teaspoon of cocoa powder to the batter and make a peanut butter chocolate mug cake.
• Mash a few slices of banana into the batter to add delicious banana flavour and natural sweetness.
• If you are feeling something cosy then add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a nice and warm flavour!

Q and A

Want to master the basics of vegan baking?
Check out Vegan Baking 101 – the beginner’s guide to vegan baking for you to become an excellent vegan baker and familiar with the basics of vegan baking, ingredients, and techniques with useful tips!

You will LOVE this vegan peanut butter mug cake because it is:

• simple and easy!
• deliciously peanutty
• quick single-serve
• great for snack

Want more recipes like this?

Try my other delicious peanut butter recipes and dessert recipes you might enjoy!

• Biscoff mug cake
• Peanut butter cake
• Peanut butter frosting

Visit the dessert page and recipe page for more delicious recipes!

Please leave a comment and rate this recipe with 5 stars in the comment section below if you like the recipe! Let me know and tag me @thechestnutbakery on Instagram too. Thank you for making my recipe, friends!

Recipe Card

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