Pumpkin Mug Cake

This healthy pumpkin mug cake recipe is quick, easy, and delicious! Every spoonful is packed with warm, fluffy, perfect bites of pumpkin goodness.

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What is a mug cake?

A mug cake is exactly what it sounds like: a mini cake made in a mug. It is typically cooked in the microwave. They are popular because they’re a single-serving, easy-to-make treat!

Mug cakes are sweet, delicious, and satisfy the cake craving you might have while avoiding baking an entire cake. There are several easy mug cake recipes online with varying flavor options.

Healthy pumpkin mug cake

This healthy pumpkin mug cake is a warm, fluffy cinnamon and pumpkin treat that is perfect for fall.

This recipe requires fewer than 10 ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry. This version is healthier than a standard mug cake recipe and does not use butter, cake mix, or extra sugar.

To make this healthy mug cake, it is as easy as combining all of the ingredients and cooking in the microwave for 1 minute.

This recipe is a spin-off of my healthy double chocolate mug cake and cinnamon roll mug cake recipes.

What ingredients do I need?

I love recipes that require under 10 ingredients. Not only does this recipe have minimal ingredients, but everything on this list are ingredients you probably already have in the pantry.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Mix – I love to use Kodiak Cakes mix for the awesome flavor, nutritional components, and how easy it makes this recipe. The classic Buttermilk flavor is what I use for this recipe but any mix flavor would work well!
• Baking powder – Adding in a little bit of baking powder will increase the volume and lighten the texture of this mug cake.
• Cinnamon – Because this is mimicking a cinnamon and pumpkin flavor, adding cinnamon is important! Cinnamon has a strong flavor so you won’t need a lot.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice – This will be mixed into the batter to give us some of the extra pumpkin flavor we're hoping for!
• Vanilla – I’m a firm believe that every recipe is better with vanilla. Adding a little bit will sweeten the cake and add some yummy flavor.
• Pumpkin Puree - This ingredient is KEY for the pumpkin flavor! Adding a little bit of pumpkin gives us great flavor and a fluffy, moist piece of cake.
• Syrup – Using syrup will also serve as a natural sweetener and oil substitute for the mug cake.
• Water – This is added to create the correct cake batter consistency before placing the mug into the microwave.
• Cool Whip - Adding a little bit of cool, creamy cool whip on the top of your warm mug cake will give you full pumpkin pie vibes!

Can I make substitutions to this recipe?

Yes! Definitely. I haven’t tested all of the ingredient swaps, but I would be you can make the necessary changes based on your dietary needs and available ingredients.

• Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Mix – I love to use Kodiak Cakes mix instead of flour because it’s packed with extra protein and makes the mug cake extra fluffy. Instead of Kodiak Cakes mix, you could use a different pancake mix, a cake mix, or even a flour. If you used a flour, you might need to add sugar and a little bit more baking powder so it will rise.
• Baking powder – Using this will increase the volume of the mug cake and create an extra fluffy texture. However, the taste will still be great if you don’t use it.
• Cinnamon and Pumpkin Pie Spice– These will add the fall flavors to the cake so I would definitely keep these! You could add more or less depending on your preferences.
• Pumpkin Puree - If you're going for a pumpkin cake, you need to keep this!
• Vanilla – I think this adds some great flavor, but it would still taste okay without it.
• Syrup – This will make the cake sweeter, but you could also use a similar natural sweetener like honey.
• Water – Instead of water, you could swap another liquid like almond milk.
• Cool whip - This isn't necessary, but really adds to the recipe!

Is this recipe healthy?

Each person has their own definition of healthy, and this recipe absolutely is healthy for me!

Kodiak Cakes does a really great job of creating nutritious mixes so they make it easy to add protein and keep recipes healthy. Instead of high-fat ingredients like butter and eggs, this recipe uses healthier alternatives like syrup, spices and vanilla, which lower the amount of sugar in the recipe.

With 180 calories per serving of warm, fluffy pumpkin goodness, this recipe makes the perfect afternoon or late-night sweet treat!

What equipment do I need for this recipe?

One of the awesome parts of the recipe is that is can be made at home, in a dorm room, or even in most hotel rooms! The recipe requires:

• A 12-ounce microwave-safe ceramic mug
• Microwave

What's the process for this recipe?

The process to make this recipe is very easy! Here's what you'll do:

• Gather all ingredients.
• Mix all the dry ingredients together (Kodiak Cakes mix, baking powder, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice).
• Add the wet ingredients (pumpkin, syrup, vanilla, and water) and combine.
• Place the mug into the microwave.
• Microwave on high for 1 minute.
• Add 2 tbsp of cool whip for the topping.
• Let the mug cake cool and enjoy!

Helpful tips for this recipe

• Add and mix together all of the dry ingredients into the mug before adding the wet ingredients.
• Don't overcook (more than 90 seconds) or the cake will be dry.
• Let the mug cake cool for 2-3 minutes before enjoying.

Looking for more recipes?

If you want more healthy dessert recipes, try these popular recipes:

• Healthy Double Chocolate Mug Cake
• Healthy Cinnamon Roll Mug Cake
• Protein Pancake Pops

If you're looking for more pumpkin recipes:

• Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Protein Bars
• Healthy Pumpkin Dip

Can I have the recipe?

If you try this recipe and love it, please rate it and me know your thoughts!