Eggless Matcha Mug Cake in the Microwave

A craving for something sweet doesn't require a cake pan. Single-serving matcha cakes can also be made without one: mix this mug cake in a microwave-safe mug holding at least 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) with about 2 tsp (4 g) matcha, then cook it in short bursts. Allow no more than nine minutes, including the rest.

• Preparation 5 minutes
• Cooking 2 minutes maximum
• Cooling 2 minutes
• Total 9 minutes maximum
• Yield 1 mug cake
• Equipment microwave-safe 1 1/4 cup (300 ml) mug, fork, spoon and microwave set to 800 W

The mug needs room for the batter to rise.

Matcha mug cake ingredients

• 1.9 oz (55 g) wheat flour
• About 2 tsp (4 g) matcha
• 0.88 oz (25 g) sugar
• About 1/2 tsp (2 g) baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) neutral oil
• About 1/3 cup (75 ml) oat drink

How to make a matcha mug cake

1. Check that the mug holds at least 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) and is microwave-safe.
2. Put the 1.9 oz (55 g) flour, about 2 tsp (4 g) matcha, 0.88 oz (25 g) sugar, about 1/2 tsp (2 g) baking powder and salt in the mug.
3. Mix the dry ingredients with a fork to distribute the matcha.
4. Add the 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil and about 1/3 cup (75 ml) oat drink.
5. Stir right down to the bottom of the mug so no pockets of dry flour remain.
6. Microwave for 1 minute 20 seconds at 800 W.
7. Check the center. If it's still liquid, cook in bursts of 10 seconds, without going over 2 minutes of total cooking time.
8. Let the cake rest in the mug for 2 minutes before eating.

We prefer stopping as soon as the center is no longer liquid, since too long in the microwave makes this little cake tough. If your microwave can't be set to 800 W, watch for the center to set rather than following the same time without checking.

Which tea works in a mug cake?

For this sweet batter, we choose our Essence matcha for mug cakes. Mix about 2 tsp (4 g) with the dry ingredients before the oat drink; adding the powder at the end would leave concentrated green spots. This cake leaves little room for the nuances of matcha intended for drinking.

How do you keep the mug cake soft?

The mug's size and the microwave's power change how high the batter rises. We use a mug holding at least 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) to leave room for it. A smaller mug risks overflowing. The two-minute rest finishes setting the cake without extending the cooking time.

Our tip. Scrape the bottom thoroughly before cooking. A pocket of dry flour stays floury even if the top looks set.

Allergens. Wheat and oats, depending on the drink used; check its label.