Pumpkin Mug Cake (Easy Microwave Recipe)
Sometimes I just want to curl up with a mug and something sweet… and this Pumpkin Mug Cake is made for those moments. A little boxed cake mix and a scoop of pumpkin, plus a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, deliver a warm fall treat with just two minutes in the microwave standing between you and your first bite.
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Full disclosure from your friendly dietitian: boxed cake mix is not a health food by any stretch. But it’s wonderfully convenient… and when I stir in good-for-you pumpkin, I can talk myself into it every time. 😉 Here, canned pumpkin earns its keep, adding natural sweetness and moisture, plus beta-carotene, which our bodies convert to vitamin A. The result is rich and pleasantly dense…think chewy brownie texture with pumpkin-cake flavor. So if you’re expecting a light, fluffy bakery cake—consider this your friendly heads-up!
A few sweet perks
- A shortcut worth keeping. Boxed spice cake mix gets things moving (vanilla or yellow works, too!), so there’s no need to haul out the flour and mixer.
- One mug, one happy dessert eater. Mix and microwave in the same mug (or a microwave-safe ramekin) for a single serving with very little cleanup.
- A chance to dress it up. I’m partial to a swoop of whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. Toasted pecans add crunch, and dark chocolate chips get wonderfully melty over the warm cake.
Once I open a can of pumpkin, I’m finding all sorts of cozy places to tuck it! A scoop goes into my Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats for a little pie-for-breakfast energy, and another gets stirred into my Pumpkin Peanut Butter Spread. Swipe it onto warm toast and crisp apple slices, or sneak a spoonful while you’re standing at the fridge… you know I’m joining you for that last one, haha.
And when your next cake craving demands chocolate, grab your favorite mug and try my Chocolate Mug Cake next!
Pumpkin Mug Cake (Easy Microwave Recipe)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup boxed spiced, vanilla or yellow cake mix
- 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons water
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice blend, toasted pecans, dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add the cake mix, pumpkin puree, water and pumpkin pie spice to a small to medium microwave-safe mug, and stir until everything is well combined. Microwave for about 2 minutes.
- Let slightly cool. Garnish with optional toppings and enjoy.
Do you think a boxed gf cake mix would work?
Hi Tracy! I haven’t tested it with a gluten-free mix, so I can’t say for certain, but it’s a simple recipe and worth a try. King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Classic Yellow mix is a well-loved pick if you need one. Gluten-free batters can cook up a little differently, so keep an eye on it in the microwave and check it near the 2-minute mark. If you give it a go, I’d love to hear how it turns out! xx