Chocolate banana mug cake recipe

When I’m craving a quick dessert, mug cakes are my go-to. These single-serving cakes are baked in a mug in the microwave in minutes. In the end, you always have a moist and fluffy homemade cake! I’m a big fan of chocolate cake and banana bread, so meshing the two into a Chocolate Banana Mug Cake was a no-brainer. Imagine spoonfuls of warm chocolate banana bread with an ooey-gooey chocolate center.  I usually grab a spoon and dig in, but when I’m feeling fancy, I’ll transfer it to a plate and enjoy it à la mode for breakfast, a quick snack, or as an after-dinner dessert. You can also serve these adorable cakes as a romantic Valentine’s Day or date night dessert or when you need an elegant dessert to impress guests. Besides, who doesn’t love a chocolate cake you don’t have to share?  Mug cakes are so quick and flexible too! Throw a few different mug cake flavors together easily, like Blueberry Mug Cake and French toast in a mug. Always ready to eat in a pinch, drizzle your cakes with melted chocolate, white chocolate, or caramel to make each bite extra special.

What’s in a mug cake?

These mug cakes are made with simple ingredients you may already have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need to make a chocolate banana mug cake in the microwave:

Banana Peanut butter Egg Honey Cocoa powder Chocolate chips

How to make chocolate banana mug cakes

These easy-to-follow instructions will show you how to make gooey chocolate mug cakes in a pinch. Here’s how it’s done: Place the banana in a small bowl and mash with a fork. Mix in the peanut butter, egg, and honey. Then add the cocoa and stir until smooth. To finish, fold in the chocolate chips.  Divide the chocolate-banana cake batter between two microwave-safe mugs or ramekins.  One at a time, microwave the cakes until they’ve risen.  Grab a spoon and enjoy your cake straight out of the mug or transfer it to a plate and top with ice cream or whipped cream. Personally, I love adding sprinkles on top of mine – tastes just like chocolate birthday cake!

Tips for the best banana mug cake

Use the right bananas – Your bananas do not necessarily have to be overripe, however, brown and spotty bananas will help your cakes taste much sweeter. It’s also a great recipe to make when you have overripe bananas to use up!  Oven-safe mugs – Please be sure to use an oven-safe mug or ramekin! If you don’t the mug could crack in the heat.

Variations 

This simple recipe leaves plenty of room for customizations and tasty mix-ins. These are some of my favorite ways to make chocolate mug cakes even better:

Top with nut butter – While your mug cake is still warm, top it with a dollop of Nutella, peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc. Frosting – Spread a spoonful of chocolate brownie frosting, cream cheese frosting or peanut butter frosting on top of the warm chocolate cakes.  Mix-ins – You aren’t limited to chocolate chips. Feel free to mix in chocolate chunks, chopped nuts, or dried fruit. You can also fold in sprinkles, white chocolate chips, caramel chips, or peanut butter chips. Make it a sundae – These individual chocolate cakes are perfect for hot fudge ice cream sundaes. They’re delicious when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, hot fudge sauce, and a cherry!

Storing

You’re probably used to letting your cakes cool completely, but these gooey chocolate mug cakes are best enjoyed straight from the microwave. The mug cakes will begin to harden the longer as they cool to room temperature. To store: If you do end up with leftover cake, you can cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Reheat for 15 to 20 seconds in the microwave.

Frequently asked questions

Why are my mug cakes rubbery? If your cakes turned out chewy and rubbery tasting, you might have overmixed the batter or overcooked them. Microwaves warm food differently, so be careful not to leave them in too long. Once the cakes rise, remove them from the microwave immediately.  How do you make a fluffy mug cake? The key to making a fluffy mug cake is using room-temperature ingredients and not overmixing the batter.  Can I bake a mug cake in the oven? No. The batter is meant to be microwaved as single-servings in mugs or ramekins. For safety purposes and to achieve the right texture, it’s best to leave this recipe as-is. If you’d prefer to bake a cake, check out this chocolate banana cake with peanut butter frosting. 

More chocolate-banana desserts you’ll love

Chocolate Soft Serve Ice Cream Chocolate Banana Bread Muffins Nutella Swirled Banana Coconut Bread Banana White Chocolate Chip Muffins Chocolate Banana Smoothie

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