Learn to make mug pancakes! This pancake in a mug recipe is the ultimate easy breakfast hack for lazy weekend mornings. Get tips on how to make pancakes in microwave that are vegan and gluten free, as well as a protein-packed Kodiak pancake in a mug. You’ll love this 1 minute, 1 cup pancake recipe that’s thick yet fluffy, and perfect with a variety of pancake toppings.
The mug pancake is currently all the rage, and it’s easy to understand why. These microwave pancakes are made and eaten in a mug for minimal clean up. It’s even easier than the Jamie Oliver one-cup pancakes, since you don’t need a frying pan to make them.
I love this pancake in a mug from scratch with some butter, maple syrup, and fresh fruit (especially strawberries and blueberries). Here are some other ideas for topping pancake in a cup:
- Chocolate chips
- Jam or jelly
- Peanut butter
- Whipped cream
- Cinnamon
- Lemon zest
- Banana slices
Really anything you’d put on regular flapjacks, you can put on these. Just make sure the mug you use for your 1 minute mug pancake has room to fit the toppings.
You can also make a pancake mix mug cake in the microwave, and I have directions for that too. Let this pancake cup recipe come to the rescue when you need to satisfy those carb cravings. This is some serious comfort food!
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⭐ Pancakes in a Mug Benefits
Why make mug pancakes? Here are a few reasons I know you’re going to love this recipe:
- Fast: Hungry right now? With mug pancakes, you get near instant gratification. Just mix the ingredients in a mug and microwave for 1 minute. It makes for a quick breakfast.
- No mess: No messing up the frying pan with this easy microwave pancake recipe. All you need is a big mug or ramekin.
- Inexpensive: This recipe uses cheap pantry ingredients that you probably already have in the house. It’s a great way to save money on breakfast.
- Vegan: These are vegan mug pancakes, because they are egg free and dairy free. I have tips on making them gluten free in the next section.
- Protein: You can also make these protein mug pancakes by using Kodiak Cakes mix or a little protein powder.
- Delicious: Plain mug pancakes are a hit with the whole family, including picky eaters. You can let each person top their pancake however they’d like to make the perfect breakfast.
🥣 Pancake in Mug Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make pancakes in a mug:
- White flour (AKA all-purpose flour)
- Whole wheat flour or spelt flour
- Swerve granular or sugar
- Baking powder
- Milk or unsweetened plant milk (I used soy milk)
- Neutral cooking oil (avocado oil, canola oil, etc.)
- Vanilla
- Cooking oil spray
Specific quantities of ingredients are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
The combination of white and whole grain flour in this recipe gives you a little more fiber without making the pancake taste too “healthy.” You can make 100% whole grain mug pancakes, but they will be more dense.
For gluten free mug pancakes use Bob’s Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour. Change the pancake recipe mug measurements so you’re using ¼ cup of GF flour instead of the white and wheat flours.
For protein mug pancakes, substitute 1 tablespoon of flour for protein powder. Alternatively, follow the directions for the Kodiak mug pancake below.
Swerve granular is one of my favorite ways to make mug pancakes without sugar. If you don’t mind the added sugar, you may use white sugar instead.
The only kitchen equipment you need for this recipe is an 8-ounce microwave-safe mug, a toothpick, and measuring spoons. You can also use a 7-ounce ramekin, but the pancake will rise all the way to the top. (It makes it harder to fit the toppings!)
🔪 How to Make Mug Pancakes
Here’s how to make pancakes in microwave! Begin by spraying the inside of a microwave safe mug or ramekin with cooking spray.
Put the dry ingredients (flours, Swerve, baking powder) in the mug and stir. Add the milk, oil, and vanilla and stir again. Scrape down sides of mug well with a spoon; you want to thoroughly moisten the dry ingredients.
Microwave the mug pancake for 1 minute on high. It will rise a bit, so I hope you remembered to use a big enough mug!
A toothpick inserted into the center of the mug pancake should come out clean or with small crumbs. If the pancake is still wet in the middle, microwave an additional 10-15 seconds.
Serve with butter, maple syrup, and other toppings while still warm. Yum!
🥞 Kodiak Cake Mug Cake
To make pancake in a mug with pancake mix, I recommend using a food scale. You need 40 grams of Kodiak Cakes Buttermilk Pancake Mix for this recipe. Other flavors may also work for pancake mix in a mug, but they may contain a lot more added sugar.
Begin by spraying an 8-ounce mug (1 cup) with cooking spray. Add the following:
- 40 grams Kodiak Cakes Buttermilk Pancake Mix
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Stir the dry ingredients together, then add the wet ingredients to your mug pancake mix:
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened soy milk or dairy milk
- 1 teaspoon oil
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
Stir well, scraping down the sides of the mug to thoroughly moisten the dry ingredients. Microwave for 1 minute on high.
A toothpick inserted into the center of your mug cake using pancake mix should come out clean or with small crumbs. If the pancake is still soggy, add 10-15 seconds of microwave time. Serve with your favorite pancake toppings, and enjoy.
How to make mug pancakes with pancake mix?
Making Hungry Jack pancake in a mug, Aunt Jemima pancake in a mug, or pancakes in a mug with Bisquick is easy. Mix ⅓ cup pancake mix, 3 tablespoons water, and 1 teaspoon oil, and microwave one minute. Birch Benders mug cake provides directions for microwaving on the back of their packaging.
🌡️ Will pancakes keep in the fridge?
You can keep cooked pancakes in fridge for up to 3-4 days. Cover them with plastic wrap so they don’t dry out.
For the best taste and texture, I recommend only making what you’ll eat that day. (This is a single-serving mug pancake recipe, after all!)
📋 Calories, Net Carbs, Protein
One mug pancake has 161 calories, 21.8 grams net carbs, and 4.2 grams protein. This is for a plain pancake without any toppings.
One Kodiak Cakes mug pancake has 200 calories, 19.8 grams net carbs, and 11.9 grams protein. Again, this nutrition information does not include pancake toppings.
💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Pancakes are typically high in white flour, added sugar, and added oil with little protein. The most common pancake toppings (butter and syrup) add additional fat and sugar.
Foods that are high in fat and carbs and low protein tend to be easy to overeat. I can name many examples of foods that fit this pattern besides pancakes. Cookies, chocolate bars, doughnuts, cupcakes, chips, pizza, waffles, and buttery bread, to name just a few.
Luckily, there are several ways to improve the macros and volume of pancakes to help you feel full. First, consider adding more protein. You can either make the Kodiak Cakes mug cakes described above, or add sides like Greek yogurt or hard-boiled eggs.
Another thing you can do to make mug pancakes more filling without adding a lot of calories is to add fruit. Berries, including strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, add a lot of fiber and volume to meals. They are also low carb fruits, if that is your preference.
Speaking of low carb, you can make this a recipe for low carb or keto mug pancakes by swapping out the flour. Instead of white flour and whole wheat flour, experiment with using your favorite 1:1 low carb flour substitute. If you use Swerve and unsweetened soy milk, your mug pancakes will have no added sugar.
FAQs
There’s more than one way to make a protein mug pancake! Either follow the recipe for the Kodiak mug pancake above, or substitute 1 tablespoon protein powder for whole grain flour in the recipe below.
To fix too thick pancake batter, simply add a little more milk or water. You can see what the pancake batter should look like in the video in the recipe card below.
Yes, if you put your mug cake ingredients in a small ramekin, you can bake it in a regular oven. Preheat the oven to 450F (230C) and prepare the mug pancake. Bake for 7-10 minutes until it puffs up and passes the toothpick test.
There are a few things that can make mug pancakes gooey. One thing is adding too much liquid, which is easily corrected by adding more flour to the batter. Another potential issue is that the pancake may be undercooked. Add 10-15 seconds to the microwaving time and see if that resolves the issue.
Mug pancakes are typically (mostly) made of white flour, added sugar, and added oil. On top of that, they’re usually used as a vehicle for maple syrup (added sugar) and butter (added fat). They don’t tend to be the most nutritious option. However, it’s not too difficult to give mug pancakes a healthy boost by adding fruit or protein powder.
👩🏻🍳 Other Easy Breakfast Recipes
Want more easy breakfast ideas? After making this microwave pancake cup recipe, try one of these:
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The Disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don't sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to my overnight oats no sugar post. Let's get cooking!
📖 Recipe
Mug Pancakes (Pancake in a Mug Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons white flour
- 2 tablespoons whole wheat or spelt flour
- 1 teaspoon Swerve, granular
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons milk (unsweetened soymilk or dairy milk)
- 1 teaspoon oil
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- cooking oil spray of choice
Instructions
- Spray the inside of a microwave safe mug or ramekin with cooking spray.
- Put the dry ingredients (flours, Swerve, baking powder) in the mug and stir. Add the milk, oil, and vanilla and stir again. Scrape down sides of mug well with a spoon; you want to thoroughly moisten the dry ingredients.
- Microwave the mug pancake for 1 minute on high. It will rise a bit, so I hope you remembered to use a big enough mug!
- A toothpick inserted into the center of the mug pancake should come out clean or with small crumbs. If the pancake is still wet in the middle, microwave an additional 10-15 seconds.
- Serve with butter, maple syrup, and other toppings while still warm. Enjoy!
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