When you’re looking for something sweet, but you still need something healthy and quick to bake up? Make these cute little mug cakes. Look, I’m well aware that a mug cake might not be all that exciting. But you guys, please hear me out. If you’re on the healthy January trend and you still want something sweet to enjoy on a Friday night or over the weekend, this is 100% your recipe. Typically I’m all about a real deal baked dessert. I tend to avoid microwaving anything, but I make an exception for a mug cake. The inspiration? Well, it came from a few sources. First and foremost, my go-to banana bread recipe. I made it a few years back and it’s one of the handfuls of recipes I actually make on repeat. Of course, I love all the recipes I share with you guys, but because I’m cooking and baking so many new recipes day in and day out, I rarely find the time to come back to older recipes…no matter how delicious they are. But this banana bread is different. I make it so often and so does everyone else in the family.
My second source came from the mug cakes I shared years and years ago that I brought back to life when everything went into lockdown. I’d forgotten what a fun and easy recipe they were. It’s actually a recipe I make on occasion every now and then when I just need something warm and sweet to enjoy, but I have no time to actually bake up a cake. And finally, my third source of inspiration? No one other than my mom. She’s all about a low sugar, healthified dessert. And she loves nothing more than an EASY peasy recipe, so mug cakes just seemed fitting. With brown bananas on the counter and my favorite banana bread recipe in the back of my head, a banana bread mug cake was the obvious choice. So, here we are, and the verdict? Better than I’d pictured in my head. The banana within these cakes is the real secret. Wel…the banana and all those chocolate chunks. Obviously.
The quick details.
This banana bread cake comes together in five minutes tops, so the details are pretty darn quick. Start with your wet ingredients. I like to use coconut oil for these cakes. Melt it in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. Once melted, add a very overripe banana and give it a good mashing with a fork. The key to any sweet banana recipe is to use bananas that are way past their prime and pretty black all over. Black bananas create the best sweet recipes due to their natural amount of sweetness. When you have the banana all mashed up, whisk in a squeeze of honey, a single egg, and a splash of vanilla. I personally like to use honey as my sweetener as I’ve found it creates a perfectly soft, tender, and moist banana bread cake. But maple syrup works well too. Once the wet ingredients are combined. Stir in the flour, baking soda, a pinch of cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. At this point, the cake is almost ready for “baking”.
But I have a couple of secrets.
First, chocolate chunks…and a generous helping too. The chunks are a must and create the most luscious banana mug cake. You will fold them into the batter as the final ingredient. As the cake bakes, the chocolate sinks in, melting as it sinks. It leaves you with a puddle of warm melted chocolate throughout your cake. And with every bite, a little of that melted chocolate is scooped up. And it is delicious. Second, instead of mixing the batter in the mug you plan to “bake” in, mix the batter up in a small bowl, then transfer to a microwave-safe mug. Yes, it’s one additional dish to dirty. However, I found this ensures that the batter is more easily mixed up and in turn bakes up nicer too.
But the real KEY to success?
Eat this mug of banana bread warm, just after cooking. This isn’t a cake you want to eat leftover, it’s meant as a quick chocolate fix. It should be eaten right away and preferably with a small pat of butter, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkling of sea salt on top. Nothing is better. I will say that that every microwave is different, so the cooking time is a little tricky. That said, I tested this on two different microwaves and found two minutes to be just the right amount of time. You may need to adjust slightly by fifteen seconds, give or take. Soo, have I convinced you that you need a banana bread mug cake in your life tonight? This is the best afternoon pick me up…warm after-dinner dessert…or late-night treat while cozied up by the fire. It’s Friday, live a little. AND if you happen to have a snowy weekend in the forecast, you really need to bake this up. It’s great any day, but it’s best enjoyed on the coldest of days.
Looking for more simple, healthy dessert recipes to bake? Here are a few favorites: One Bowl Chocolate Chunk Chai Banana Muffins Salted Tahini Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies 5 Minute Molten Chocolate Mug Cake Lastly, if you make this 5 Minute Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Mug Cake, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
