Simple Sundays | Banana Caramel Mug Cake
A recipe for Banana Caramel Mug Cake! Two minutes, two mugs, a ripe banana and basic ingredients is all it takes for a delicious dessert.
A recipe for Banana Caramel Mug Cake! Two minutes, two mugs, a ripe banana and basic ingredients is all it takes for a delicious dessert.
I woke up from the best night of sleep I have had in weeks. My pillow, my blankets…my bed…slumber so satisfying, I opened my eyes to my new bedroom ceiling, the soft light streaming in through the bare windows, and I grinned.
We started our adventure just about a month ago. What started as a whim – “let’s look at houses!” – resulted in a whirlwind response to a recurring desire that used to arise every couple of months. Those periodic impulses to solve our shrinking house, full cabinets, and growing family used to be satisfied with a simple purge and deep clean. But this time, the stars aligned. There was a house. Just five minutes away. And we fell in love.
It took a weekend to embrace the idea of moving, and within two weeks, our house was cleaned up, partially packed, on the market, sold and closed. And then there were the mishaps. The stress of things moving too quickly on one end and too slow on the other, documents, too many documents, broken items, a hotel stay in a too tiny spot with children and pets, uncertainty — the casualties of moving took its toll.
Who would have thought that a “simple” move five minutes away would prove more demanding than all of our cross country and interstate moves combined?
But once we had the keys, things turned. As we opened the door to our new home, our hearts settled, before the boxes and the furniture even arrived.
It feels like home.
With half my kitchen in boxes, and just a few ingredients from the pantry unpacked, I turned to the mug cake. Call me late to the party, but it was necessity that gave me the invitation. I’ve always wanted to try Julie’s Chocolate Mug Cake and Christina’s version for two. But it wasn’t chocolate that my heart was after (shocking, I know).
It was banana bread, but in cake form. My father in law’s banana bread is what will make this kitchen mine, and I wanted to make it into a mug cake that we could dig into in mere minutes. With mugs at the ready, ripe bananas and barebones ingredients, the Banana Caramel Mug Cakes turned out even better than I imagined. Who knew that something so delicious could come out of the microwave?
How to Make Banana Caramel Mug Cake
This easy microwave cake in a mug is a quick way to serve up a delicious treat. Start by mixing up the dry ingredients in a small bowl. In another small bowl, mash a very ripe banana into buttermilk, and then add caramel and vanilla.
Combine the banana mixture into the dry ingredients and add some melted butter. Stir together and then grab two mugs (7.5 oz each) and divide the cake batter between them.
Microwave following the guidelines in the recipe, let cool, and enjoy with extra caramel sauce and a healthy dollop of whipped cream.
More Banana Recipes
Sheet Pan Banana Pancakes
Chocolate Banana Fig Bread
Nutella-Dipped Frozen Bananas
Banana Cream Pie with Greek Yogurt Cream
Banana Bread French Toast
Banana Caramel Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 very ripe banana
- 1 tablespoon caramel plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- whipped cream for serving
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another small bowl, mash the banana into the buttermilk with a fork, then stir in the caramel and vanilla until blended. Mix the mashed bananas into the flour mixture, and add the melted butter. Stir until just combined, then divide into two 7.5 oz mugs. If you use a different sized mug, make sure to leave room for the cakes to rise.
- Place the mugs on a paper towel inside the microwave, and cook for about 120 seconds on high, then continue cooking in 20 second increments until the cake has risen, is fluffy and firm, and fully baked. The cook time will vary depending on the wattage of your microwave. For my 1200W microwave, two mug cakes cooked at the same time took about 200 seconds total (working in shorter increments towards the end really helps you fine tune the bake). Please keep in mind that your microwave may take less or more time.
- Let the cakes cool for several minutes, then serve with whipped cream and additional caramel sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Comments
COOKBOOK
A very simple recipe turns into a very classic mug cake. I would like to suggest this recipe to my cousin who owns a restaurant. Is that okay?
Congratulations on the move! Isn’t it ironic that “simple” sometimes isn’t so simple? Glad that’s behind you and you are settling in – what a perfect cake to start with. Nothing could be better than banana and caramel!
Oh Liren, you’re really wicked to post such a fab combo. I looooove the idea of banana and caramel!! Thanks for sharing!
And don’t worry, you’re not the only one late to the party – I just posted a Thermomix adaptation for my Magic Minute Microwave Mug Cake ;-) We can rejoice in arriving late to this party together!
So glad you’re settling in to your new home. We moved this summer for the second time in less than a year and I am only now getting around to the nitty gritty of emptying boxes. So it’s lots of comforting mug cakes for me, and your banana and caramel version will certainly appease my unpacking woes. Thanks again!
I’m so glad to finally have made it to the mug cake party, and thank goodness I’m not alone. I’ll have to check yours out :) I can’t imagine moving again anytime in the near future – good luck with the getting through those boxes!
I just saw just saw a recipe for chocolate souffle this morning and now this… and it’s only 8am. I’m going to need something sweet for breakfast, I think.
I’m a big fan of banana desserts. Always grew up with banana bread and banana’s foster. So, yeah, this is right up my alley.
Those are two of my favorite banana treats of all time, Brian! Yes, you will love these indeed. And I love how you think – this would be great for breakfast!
A perfect little treat for a after dinner dessert.
Congrats on the new house and that banana mug cake will happen soon in my kitchen. These days I look for instant recipes and I am loving the sound of this cake :)
Thank you so much, Kankana! I can only imagine how your move to India must have been even more stressful – moving is never easy, but between continents surely presents even more challenges. Here’s to easy recipes that get us through those moments!
What a wonderful way to begin your journey in your new kitchen! A fabulous recipe, easy and comforting, just what we all need as we descend into the flurry of the busy holiday season.
Deb, it’s so true. These mugs cakes for two are a cozy way to sneak a little quiet time as we head into these crazy holidays!
Love this idea! Banana and caramel are such a classic combination too!
Don’t they always play so nicely together, Milie? Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend :)
Wow that looks delish! I love mug cakes, they’re just so enticing.
Thanks! i have finally been christened into the world of mug cakes! Who knew they were really THAT wonderful!?