Sometimes it's the small things that mean the most, like a morning cup of coffee, a hug after a long day, or making this Red Velvet Mug Cake for someone you love on Valentine's Day. This easy red velvet mug cake is made in the microwave, uses simple pantry ingredients, and is ready in under 5 minutes - perfect for a last-minute dessert for two.
If recipes for two are what you're looking for, don't miss reading this roundup on Easy Valentine's Desserts for Two.
Why This Red Velvet Mug Cake Recipe Works
- Recipe name: Red Velvet Mug Cake
- Ready in: 15 minutes (less than 2 minutes to cook!)
- Serves: 2 mug cakes
- Main ingredients: Flour, cocoa, oil, eggs, red food colouring, butter, icing sugar, baking soda, and baking powder.
- Perfect for: Last-minute Valentine's Day dessert or a romantic Easy Valentine's Day Dessert for Two.
- Why I love it: This recipe is for a gooey red velvet mug cake with a fluffy texture that takes 10 minutes to prep and 1 minute and 30 seconds to cook!
- Calories: 788kcal
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If you love this mug cake recipe and are looking for other recipes to make for someone special, then have a look at this recipe for Espresso Panna Cotta or this recipe for Tiramisu Cups.
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Key Ingredients
- Flour - You can use self-raising flour instead of flour and baking powder.
- Red gel food colouring - This gives the mug cakes a classic red colour. You can use beetroot juice if you'd prefer not use food colouring.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
If you don't feel like making the frosting, you can serve this delicious red velvet mug cake with store-bought frosting or serve it with vanilla ice cream instead. You could also serve this easy mug cake with Homemade Vanilla Bean Custard.
You could also add a tablespoon of chocolate chips to the batter if you're feeling for something chocolatey!
How To Make Red Velvet Mug Cakes
- Step 1: Add the butter and powdered sugar to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat until combined.
- Step 2: Add the cream cheese to the mixer and beat again until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, then beat again.
- Step 3: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine using a small whisk.
- Step 4: Into a small bowl or jug, add the oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and vinegar. Whisk to combine.
- Step 5: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth, making sure there are no lumps. Add the food colouring to the smooth batter and stir to combine.
- Step 6: Divide the cake batter between the mugs and cook in the microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds. The cakes are cooked when the edges have pulled away slightly from the mugs and the centre is no longer runny. Spoon the frosting onto the hot mug cakes and decorate with sprinkles. Serve immediately.
Storage
This recipe makes 2 mug cakes, and the entire cake should be gone as soon as you serve it, they're that good! So storage shouldn't be an issue. This recipe is best eaten soon after cooking, so do not make it ahead of time. If you are looking for recipes you can make ahead of time, try this Baileys Panna Cotta recipe or these White Chocolate Crème Brûlées.
Expert tips
- Check the size of the mug or ramekins you're using; if they're too small, the batter will overflow, and you'll have a messy microwave.
- Make the frosting before cooking the cakes; this way, you'll get to serve the cakes as soon as they're done cooking.
- For a fluffy, smooth frosting, make sure you are using room-temperature butter.
Red Velvet Mug Cakes FAQs
As long as you're not overfilling the mugs and leaving space for the batter to rise, you should be ok. Remember, different-sized mugs will affect how this cake cooks, so check the centre to ensure it's baked through before serving.
I only recommend making frosting with room-temperature butter, especially for cream cheese frostings. Otherwise, you may end up with a lumpy frosting with bits of cold butter.
I recommend using red gel food colouring, as it gives the mug cakes an intense red colour. You can use other types of food colouring; you will just need to use a little more.
You will also need two small mugs or ramekins. For this recipe, I used heart-shaped ramekins; you can do the same or use mugs. Make sure you have chosen a microwave-safe mug or ramekin.
Easy Valentine's Day Recipes for Breakfast
This is the kind of mini dessert you make when you want something sweet and romantic without turning Valentine's Day into a full baking project.
Looking for more Easy Valentine's Day Desserts to make at Home for a family celebration? This full roundup has something for everyone.
Happy Baking, With Love, Kitty
Please leave a star rating and comment below if you tried this recipe! And if you're wondering what to try next, have a look at this Banana Bread with Streusel Topping!
📖 Recipe
Red Velvet Mug Cake
Equipment
- 2x microwave safe mugs
Ingredients
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 60 g powdered sugar
- 30 g unsalted butter
- 60 g cream cheese
Red Velvet Mug Cakes
- 80 g sugar white granulated
- 70 g cake flour
- 10 g cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 35 ml sunflower oil
- 70 ml buttermilk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon white vinegar
- red gel food coloring
Instructions
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Add the butter and powdered sugar to a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat until combined.
- Add the cream cheese to the mixer and beat again until light and fluffy, scrape down the sides of the bowl using a rubber spatula and beat again.
Red Velvet Mug Cake
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine using a small whisk.
- Into a small bowl or jug, add the oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and vinegar. Whisk to combine.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix them using a whisk making sure there are no lumps.
- Add two drops of red food coloring to the smooth batter and stir to combine. Adjust the quantity if needed.
- Divide the cake batter between the mugs and cook in the microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds. The cakes are cooked when the edges of the cake have pulled away slightly from the mugs and the center is no longer runny.
- Spoon the frosting onto the hot mug cakes and decorate with sprinkles, serve immediately.
Notes
- Start by making the super quick cream cheese frosting and then make the mug cake. This way you can spoon the frosting onto the cake while it's hot and eat them when they're at their best!
- Make sure you serve these mug cakes as soon as they are done cooking, this is when they're at their best!
Debbie says
I loved this recipe! Perfect for a quick spoil