Lemon Mug Cake with Lemon Glaze (2025)

In the mood for dessert? Right away! Just whip up this sweet & slightly tart lemon mug cake. This easy recipe uses simple ingredients and takes only 4 minutes from start to finish & voila - instant dessert!

Quick Dessert to Enjoy Anytime

Sometimes you just want dessert and you want it right away! The problem is that most desserts take a while to either bake or chill, so what does one do when craving something sweet?

I'll tell you what I do. I make this easy Lemon Mug Cake dessert. It's the best of all lemon desserts and so easy that anyone can make it. It takes just minutes from start to finish and has just the right amount of tangy flavor! How can you beat that?!

Of course, if you're a lemon lover I've got you covered with more sweet treats. Try my Lemon Brownies, Lemon Shortbread Cookies, or Lemon Chiffon Cake to satisfy all your sweet cravings.

Why You'll Love This Lemon Mug Cake Recipe

Bright Flavor: It makes a mug cake with a deep lemon flavor because it's made with fresh lemon juice, curd, and zest.

Easy to Customize: You can easily customize it by adding or substituting ingredients. See the recipe variations section below.

Perfect Size: This lemon cake in a mug recipe makes enough to split between two people and there are no leftovers to worry about. (or keep it all for yourself - no judgement here!)

Portion Control: It's a great portion control dessert without the reminder of a whole cake sitting on the counter and tempting you for days.

Egg Allergy Friendly: This lemon mug cake no egg recipe is great for those with an egg allergy! Most mug cakes use an egg in their batter but this one is made without it. I feel that the addition of an egg makes the cake too spongey. Without the egg, it is still moist and has a cakier texture.

Ingredients

Here's what you need to make this lemon curd mug cake. The exact measurements are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

For the lemon cake:

• All-purpose flour
• White granulated sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Lemon curd - either store-bought or homemade lemon curd
• Lemon juice - fresh is best!
• Lemon zest
• Milk - regular, almond, or other plant-based milks can be substituted
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract

For the lemon drizzle:

• Powdered sugar
• Lemon juice

How to Make Lemon Mug Cake

Here are the simple steps for making lemon cake in a mug:

1. Place the dry ingredients for the mug cake - flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large microwave-safe mug. Whisk together
2. Mix the wet ingredients in a small bowl - lemon juice, milk, vegetable oil, lemon curd, vanilla extract, and fresh lemon zest.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
4. Whisk until smooth.
5. Just like that your mug cake is ready for the microwave.
6. Microwave for 2 minutes 15 seconds and then remove it from the microwave.

Note: Be aware that microwave times will vary depending on the wattage of your microwave.

For the lemon glaze:

Make the lemon drizzle while your mug cake is baking. It's a quick glaze that adds just the right zip to this easy treat.

1. Whisk lemon juice with powdered sugar.
2. Ready to drizzle on your warm lemon mug cake.

As soon as the mug cake is done, drizzle the sweet-tart lemon glaze over the warm lemon cake. It's the perfect finishing touch for this lemony dessert.

Now take a bite and enjoy the deliciously tangy lemon flavor perfectly balanced with a little sweet. It's a moist cake, slightly different than a normal baked cake, but carries a wonderful lemon flavor that will make you think of summer and sunshine. Enjoy!

Optional Toppings

Add a little decadence to this easy dessert by topping it with:

• Lemon Greek Yogurt
• Lemon Zest
• Mini White Chocolate Chips
• Ice Cream
• Whipped Cream

Recipe Variations

Here are some different ways to make the cake:

• Gluten Free Lemon Mug Cake - Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free 1 to 1 baking flour.
• Honey Lemon Mug Cake - Substitute 1 tablespoon of sugar with honey.
• Lemon Blueberry Mug Cake - Add a few fresh blueberries to the batter.
• Lemon Poppyseed Mug Cake - Add ½ teaspoon of poppy seeds.
• Meyer Lemon Mug Cake - Use Meyer lemon juice, curd, and zest.
• Sugar Free Lemon Mug Cake - Substitute sugar with Swerve or Lakanto.
• Vegan Lemon Mug Cake - Use dairy-free milk and vegan lemon curd.

Tips for Making the Best Mug Cakes

• Make sure to use a large enough mug so there is no overflow to mess up your microwave. The mug should only be half full before baking.
• To check for doneness, just touch the top, It should be firm and bounce back slightly. If it appears doughy put it back in the microwave for another 5-10 seconds.
• Know that your mug cake will sink after it is taken out of the microwave oven. It is supposed to do that!

Frequently Asked Questions about Mug Cakes

What is a mug cake?

It is exactly what it says, it's literally a cake made in a mug.

What is the best container to bake a mug cake in?

Anything microwaveable works - mugs, ceramic ramekins, glasses, jars, and even paper cups.

Why doesn't my mug cake get brown on top like a regular cake?

The brown on a traditional cake is caused by the caramelization of sugar which occurs at 320°F. A microwave usually reaches a high temperature of 212°F.

Can I bake this mug cake in a regular oven?

Yes, you can bake a mug cake in the oven. However. be aware that timing will be affected and a few additional steps should be taken.

Mug cakes cook best in a microwave but the next best thing is a convection oven. It will work in a regular oven as well but make sure that the mug or container is oven-safe.

Next, remember to use an extra tall mug or cake pan and place in a pan with enough water to cover halfway up the mug. Sprinkle a little granulated sugar on top to prevent them from rising too much. This will also add that nice browned top similar to a regular baked cake.

So next time you get a craving for something sweet and need it quick, grab a mug, mix, and microwave. Voila! Instant cake in 3 minutes! Enjoy!

More Quick and Easy Mug Cake Recipes for Your Sweet Tooth

Chocolate Lava Mug Cake

Almond Butter Mug Cake

Strawberry Mug Cake with Chocolate Ganache

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This post has been updated with a new improved recipe and step-by-step photos. It was first published on April 23, 2017.