2 Minute Sweet and Tangy Lemon Mug Cake That Tastes Like Sunshine

1 serving
3 min

Sweet and tangy and only takes a couple minutes to make, you will fall for this easy lemon mug cake! There are sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan mug cake options too. I am in love with this quick lemon cake (and I’m usually a chocoholic!)


Lemon Cake (in a Mug!)

Lemon desserts for me were an acquired taste.

I mean why would I choose lemon cake when I could have chocolate cake?

(Can you tell I’m really natural at sales and promoting things??! Lol)

But then something happened and it’s like my lemon taste buds turned on.

And now I LOVE lemon bars, lemon tarts, lemon loaf, you name it!

And of course this lemon mug cake. 🙂

I definitely have days where I just want chocolate.

If you’re having a day like that today, then check out these chocolate mug cake recipes.

But some days I want something a little sweet but light-tasting and not rich. I completely LOVE the tangy sweet taste of lemon in this easy mug cake recipe.

It’s the perfect little snack in the summer months too (I’m not a big fan of chocolate when the weather is hot!)


Lemon Mug Cake Ingredients


All-purpose flour (you can sub gluten-free flour mix)

Granulated sugar (white, brown, coconut, monk fruit or erythritol for sugar-free)

A lemon!

Baking powder

Oil or melted butter or vegan butter

Any milk you like (cow, oat, soy, almond, cashew, etc.)

For the lemon, I prefer to use an organic lemon since we’ll be grated the zest to use in the recipe, but you can use any lemon.

This is my absolute favorite zester; it’s super cheap and I have been using the same one for years. I used it when I had my catering business too and it held up to lots of grating!

You can even make this a lime mug cake by substituting with a lime (and keeping all other ingredients the same).


Quick Lemon Mug Cake Tips


You can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour mix (like this one) instead of the regular flour in this mug cake recipe. Coconut flour will not work as a sub in this recipe; I haven’t tried with almond flour. Almond flour might work, but you might need to adjust the microwave time a little. You can also try these almond flour mug cake recipes.

You can make this microwave lemon cake into a vegan lemon cake by choosing vegan milk and vegan butter or oil. It’s already an egg-free mug cake.

For the cooking time – this can vary with different microwaves and also with different mug sizes. It took my microwave 60 seconds to cook perfectly. The first time you make this mug bread, watch your microwave. Test doneness, and if it needs a bit more time, add on 15 seconds at a time until it’s fully cooked. The next time you make it, you’ll know exactly how long it takes in your microwave!

I topped this mug cake with whipped cream and more lemon zest. If you are dairy-free you can use coconut whipped cream if you like!

This lemon mug cake got the highest compliments from my taste testers. One person said it tasted like a regular fluffy cake from the oven – that’s what I was going for!

Ready, citrus lovers? Let’s make this super yummy and quick lemon snack!

Also try the ever-popular chocolate chip banana bread mug cake – we have it every week over here!

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I hope you love this lemon mug cake!
2 Minute Sweet and Tangy Lemon Mug Cake That Tastes Like Sunshine
Recipe details
  • 1  serving
  • Prep time: 2 Minutes Cook time: 1 Minutes Total time: 3 min
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Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour mix)
  • 2 tbsp sugar any kind: white, brown, coconut, erythritol or monk fruit for sugar-free
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 ½ tbsp oil or melted butter I used olive oil, any oil works
  • 2 tbsp milk any kind
  • Zest from ½ lemon
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions

Mix the flour, sugar, and baking powder in a small bowl.
Using a fine grater or zester, grate the peel of half a lemon right over the bowl.
Measure out oil (or melted butter/melted vegan butter/melted coconut oil), milk, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice; pour into dry ingredients.
Stir until all mixed together.
Pour the batter into a sprayed microwave-safe mug or ramekin.
Microwave on high for 1 minute; if not fully cooked, add 15 second increments until a toothpick comes out clean.
Top with ice cream, whipped cream, coconut whipped cream, or just get a fork and dig in!
Suchot Sunday | Best Mug Cakes
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Comments
  • Sarinasala1 Sarinasala1 on Jul 25, 2022

    Looks delicious

  • Laura McMillian Laura McMillian on Jul 25, 2022

    If using the oven instead of microwave, which I prefer, how long should the cook time be?

    • See 3 previous
    • GammyJo GammyJo on Jul 26, 2022

      350 degrees F for 15-25min (start checking at 15) - can use regular oven, or toaster oven (Love baking in the toaster oven - and it saves $$)

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