Dare I say this banana bread mug cake recipe is even better than my one bowl banana bread?! You don't need eggs, an oven, or more than 5 minutes to make it and it's super soft and flavorful!
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This quick and easy mug cake is perfect for when you're craving something warm and comforting but don't want to wait an hour for an entire loaf of banana bread to bake.
Don't get me wrong, a big ol' banana bundt cake is amazing when you have a group to share it with, but this is perfect when you only want a single serving for yourself!
This recipe is sponsored by my friends at Lifeway Foods. Make it for a breakfast treat (like my blueberry mug muffin), or toss in some chocolate chips and enjoy it as an afternoon snack or late-night dessert (like my fudgy mug brownie)!
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Recipe Ingredients
You'll need the following ingredients to make a delicious single-serving banana bread:
Ingredient Notes:
- You'll only need half of one overripe banana, so that sad brown banana on your counter can be turned into 2 delicious mug cakes!
- This recipe is sweetened with brown sugar for a deeper, caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with the banana. Use light or dark - whichever you have in your pantry!
- Lifeway plain lowfat kefir is my secret ingredient! I tried making it with milk and it was good, but the kefir really levels up the texture!
- Sprinkle in a dash of ground cinnamon for extra flavor, or leave it out if you're not a fan of the spice.
- Make it extra special by adding a tablespoon or two of your favorite mix-ins! I recommend mini chocolate chips or blueberries (I love this combination of fruits in my blueberry banana muffins).
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Banana Bread in a Mug
Step 1: Grab your favorite microwave-safe mug (at least 12 oz capacity) and melt the butter in the microwave.
Step 2: Mix the brown sugar, vanilla extract, and kefir into the melted butter really well.
Step 3: Using a fork, mash the banana right into the mug and mix it into the wet ingredients.
Step 4: Stir in the pinch of salt, cinnamon, and baking soda. The baking soda might fizz a bit - that means it's active 😊.
Step 5: Mix in the flour until no dry streaks remain (scrape the sides & bottom as needed), but be careful not to over-mix. If adding any mix-ins like chocolate chips or blueberries, gently fold them in now.
Step 6: Microwave for 30 seconds, rotate the mug, and then continue microwaving in 5-10 second intervals until the top and sides look baked.
Let the mug cake cool for 2-3 minutes before digging in. It will continue to bake during this time, and I don't want you to burn your mouth!
Expert Baking Tips
- Use a mug that's at least 12 ounces in capacity to prevent overflow. The banana bread will rise quite a bit in the microwave!
- When mixing in the flour, scrape the sides and bottom of the mug to make sure there aren't any flour streaks or pockets.
- Don't mix too much after adding the flour or it might turn out tough instead of tender.
- Keep a close eye on it while microwaving. The total time in the microwave can vary depending on your microwave's power, but it should take about 1-2 minutes.
- Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top while it's still warm out of the microwave!
Common Questions
You can, but kefir will produce the best fluffy crumb. Check out your grocery store's refrigerated dairy aisle, or head over to lifewaykefir.com to find it near you! If you can't find it, I recommend substituting an equal amount of buttermilk or whole milk.
Regular granulated sugar will work, but brown sugar adds extra moisture and a deeper flavor that really makes this taste like classic banana bread, like in my cinnamon banana muffins!
You can, but it takes a lot longer to bake in the oven. I test-baked it in a 3-inch round pan and the flavor and texture turned out great! Just grease the pan with baking spray, pour in the batter, and bake at 325F until a toothpick comes out clean (about 25-30 minutes).
I haven't tried all vegan ingredients, but since there aren't any eggs in this recipe it should be pretty easy to veganize! Try replacing the kefir with a dairy-free "milk", use vegan butter, and let us know how it turns out in the comments below!
If you happen to have leftovers or want to save a few bites for later, wrap it up (make sure it's cooled completely first!) and store it at room temperature for a day or two.
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Thank you!
-Kayla
📖 Recipe
5-Minute Banana Bread Mug Cake (No Eggs!)
Equipment
- Coffee mug microwave-safe
- Fork
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) brown sugar light or dark, packed
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon (14.79 ml) Lifeway Lowfat Plain Kefir or buttermilk
- ½ medium (55 g) banana overripe
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon optional
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons (23 g) all-purpose flour
- 1-2 tablespoons optional mix-ins chocolate chips or blueberries
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a coffee mug in the microwave.1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Use a fork to mix in the brown sugar, vanilla extract, and kefir really well.2 tablespoons brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon Lifeway Lowfat Plain Kefir
- Add the overripe banana and mash it into the wet ingredients with the fork.½ medium banana
- Stir in the cinnamon, salt, and baking soda (the baking soda should fizz a bit).1 pinch ground cinnamon, 1 pinch salt, ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- Mix in the flour so that all dry streaks are incorporated (scrape the sides of the mug if needed). Be careful not to over-mix.3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Optional: add mix-ins like chocolate chips or blueberries!
- Microwave the banana bread in the mug for 30 seconds. Rotate the mug and continue microwaving in 10-second intervals until the top looks baked.
- Let it cool for a few minutes so you don't burn your mouth. Enjoy!
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Chris says
An instant favorite! Banana bread is one of my favorite sweet treats and this one delivers. Perfect texture and sweetness.
- Chris (Kayla's husband)
Ilene says
I had 1 sad, overripe banana and remembered this recipe Kayla posted not too long ago. I also had kefir in the fridge I forgot about (purchased specifically for this recipe) so I decided to make this Banana Bread Mug Cake. Super easy to put together (I added 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips to it) and, within minutes, I was enjoying this very tasty treat. I’ve had mug cakes that were rubbery and not very good but not the case here. I’ll definitely make this again. Thank you, Kayla, for another great recipe!