Need a sweet hit and need it now? Make yourself and a friend or loved one a microwave banana mug cake with a saucy white chocolate surprise inside! Ready in only 5 minutes, and it just happens to be gluten free.
When you need a little treat, and you need it now, there’s nothing that hits the spot better than a mug cake.
This 2-minute peanut butter mug cake (that happens to be pretty healthy) is already quite popular around here. So I thought it was time to add another quick and easy mug cake – this time a version of a banana bread mug cake!
What’s so great about it
- Got 5 minutes and a microwave? You need just a few minutes to make the batter right in the mug and around 2 minutes to cook in the microwave.
- It’s dessert for two! Grab two spoons and dive in. Alternatively, eat half and save the rest for later.
- It tastes like a slightly nuttier version of a classic banana bread. But a classic banana cake takes around an hour to make…
- It’s made with almond flour, making it gluten free.
- It tastes very yummy eaten on its own straight out of the mug (while curled up on the sofa with a good movie, of course). The melted white chocolate tastes almost like a sweet, creamy sauce. Add a scoop of ice cream and you’ll be in quick and easy banana bread heaven!
- It’s pretty healthy, really. Apart from a little bit of brown sugar and white chocolate, it’s made with pretty good stuff!
What you need
You’re only 1 small banana and 6 pantry ingredients away from a very yummy (almost instant) microwave banana cake for two!
You need just half a small banana, as well as:
- a small egg
- a bit of brown sugar
- almond butter (peanut butter works too, of course)
- almond flour mixed with a tiny bit of baking soda
No oil or butter is necessary as there’s enough fat in the almond butter already.
How to make it
The great thing about this mug cake is that you mix up the ingredients directly in the mug.
Step 1: Grab a mug – the largest one you have. Or a very small baking dish – let’s say 5 to 6 square inches.
Step 2: Mash up half a banana with a fork. Make it a small one, and the riper the better.
Step 3: Whisk in a small egg, followed by sugar, almond butter, milk, and almond flour mixed with a little baking soda.
Step 4: Stir in a handful or two of white chocolate chips. I like to be quite generous with myself and save a few to sprinkle on the top!
Step 5: Microwave for 2 minutes. Let cool a little and enjoy!
Pro tip 1: It’s fun to watch the mug cake rise up outside of the mug at an alarming rate! Don’t panic! It actually doesn’t usually overflow, but put a small plate under the mug just in case.
Pro tip 2: The cake is VERY hot when it comes out of the microwave. I’ve burnt my tongue a couple of times! I know it’s hard, but wait a few minutes before you tuck in.
FAQs
Yes, absolutely! Brown sugar gives the cake a slight caramel-y taste, but ordinary sugar is fine.
Yes again. With the addition of the white chocolate 1.5 tablespoons is about right for me, but make it 2 tablespoons if you have a sweeter tooth.
The cake will taste almost the same if you use a different nut butter such as peanut butter. If you like, you can even make a nut free mug cake by replacing the 2 tablespoons of almond butter with 2 tablespoons of oil.
If you like you can replace the almond flour with plain flour – gluten free or ordinary. Other types of flour should work too. You can even use coconut flour, but use 1.5 tablespoons only.
Yes, they’re virtually interchangeable. The only difference is that almond flour is a bit finer. In theory this makes it a better substitute for regular flour, but almond meal works in this recipe too.
Yes, you can! Try a 5 inch by 5 inch baking dish or similar.
How to serve it
You might think this is a silly question. It’s a microwave mug cake, right? Don’t you just make it in a sweet snack attack emergency? Then you grab a spoon and eat it all to yourself on the couch.
You can do that if you like. The melted white chocolate makes it almost like a self-saucing pudding!
But this banana mug cake is a bit of a monster. Feel free to grab 2 spoons, add a scoop of ice cream and share with a loved one. If you prefer, empty the cake out onto two plates. It won’t be the prettiest dessert you’ve ever seen, but hey, it’s a dessert emergency. Do you care? 😉
I’ve also been known to put plastic wrap over the top of the mug and save half until the next day. It still tastes pretty good!
More ridiculously quick and easy desserts
- 5-minute chocolate banana ice cream (healthy nice cream!)
- 6-ingredient gooey Swedish chocolate cake (you’ve got to try this!)
- Easy magic lemon pudding (the most controversial recipe on my blog!)
- No bowl chocolate pecan bars (magic bars!)
- 5-minute chocolate pots (only 4 ingredients!)
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Gluten free mug cake for two (with banana, almond and white chocolate!)
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
- ½ small banana (ripe is best)
- 1 small egg
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
- 2 tablespoons milk (any kind including non dairy)
- ⅓ cup almond flour (or almond meal/ground almonds)
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ tablespoons white chocolate chips (or to taste!)
Instructions
- Mash the banana in a very large mug or small baking dish with a fork. Whisk in the egg.
- Stir in the sugar, almond butter, and milk.
- Stir in the almond flour/meal, the baking soda, and most of the chocolate chips. Sprinkle the remainder of the chocolate chips on the top.
- Microwave on full power for 2 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then enjoy either plain or with a scoop of ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Note: I first published this recipe in 2014 as an individual banana and peanut butter pudding. I updated it in February 2021 as a gluten free banana mug cake however as I felt that the original recipe was a bit hit and miss (sometimes it worked and other times it was a disaster!). If you happen to have been a fan of that original recipe, however, I have a fairly similar one on the blog which I call a peanut butter healthy mug cake. There’s no banana, but strangely it tastes pretty similar to the original recipe I published here!
Mira says
Hi Helen! You really got some wonderful flavors in this simple dessert (not weird to me at all) ! I love peanut butter and bananas 🙂 Cooking it in the microwave to save some time is a great idea! Will definitely try it!
Helen says
So happy you like this, Mira. It’s so delicious for the amount of effort it takes (really not very much). I hope you try it some time!
Mary Frances says
A mug cake + pudding cake + healthy?? Helen, you are speaking my language! I love how fudgy this is. The combo of flours added to the banana and the peanut butter is genius. I cannot wait to give this a go!
Helen says
Hi, Mary Frances! You’re right that this ends up really ‘fudgy’ – that’s what I love about it. I am honestly quite addicted to it at the moment – thank goodness it isn’t too unhealthy! 🙂
[email protected] Eats says
You rock! My blog is all about fast food so I’m constantly after inspiration for new ideas! I’ve seen a lot of chocolate mug cakes in microwaves so this is a refreshing change. And what an awesome combo of flavours. I highly approve of the addition of almond meal! That’s my secret ingredient in sweet treats 🙂 Thanks for sharing! I’m going to make this for dessert tonight! I made some dulce de leche yesterday and I’m thinking that is perfect to dollop on top!
Helen says
Hi, Nagi! I’ll have to check your blog out – a blog all about fast foods sounds just up my alley! I’m so happy you like this dessert and really hope that ‘the proof was in the pudding’ (sorry for the lame joke) and it tasted great when you made it. I agree that almond meal is a great ‘secret ingredient’. Add s a little more goodness than regular flour 😉
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
5 minutes until heaven! I cannot wait! <3
Helen says
Haha … yup, you got it! 🙂
Jessica @ Jessica in the Kitchen says
Love this pudding Helen and that it comes together so quickly. I just found out I could eat bananas again so I’m making EVERYTHING with bananas! Haha
Helen says
Oooh … congratulations! Bananas are such a great food and I can’t imagine not being able to eat them. 🙂
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
The way you feel about your husbands toast is exactly how I feel about people who put mayo on their grilled cheese! Just yuck. This pudding, on the other hand, looks delicious! Love that it’s ready in 5 minutes!
Helen says
So glad you like it, Denise. Yup, I think I have to agree with you about the mayo on toast!
Culinary Ginger says
The perfect pairing, banana and peanut butter. I also love the use of almond milk and almond meal. This must be so tasty.
Helen says
Hello … and thank you! I guess I felt like the almond theme added a little more goodness. So glad you like it!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
5 minute desserts are the best! I like that you have used almond meal too.
Helen says
Thanks so much, Dannii … I know, aren’t 5 minute desserts just great? I’ve been discovering loads of them lately, too!
Kathleen @ hapanom says
Delicious looking dish AND only 5 minutes? What could be better than that!?
Helen says
Hi, Kathleen. Thanks so much for passing by and so happy you like the pudding!
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
5 minutes, I mean, anyone and everyone has 5 minutes to make something tasty and (nutritious) like this. And as much as I love the white chocolate chips in this recipe, I love how your gonna add ice cream next time. And it looks so cute too. That banana/peanut butter combo gets me every time. And here I thought it was tough to get your hands on P.B. outside the U.S.! Silly me.
Helen says
Oh nooo, it’s not tough at all to get peanut butter. Although it is tough to get peanut buttter flavoured things … like peanut butter m&m’s, for example. 🙁
So glad you like the pudding, Laura. Honestly, this was the tastiest dessert I’ve had in a long time – I keep dreaming about it! I really hope you give it a go some time!
Isadora says
Although I would happily eat both of your breakfasts, I would have to side with you! You really can’t argue with bread and cheese! However, I’m kind of feeling sick thinking of what your old roommate used to eat! I love this 5 minute pudding and what I love even more is that I think I have all the ingredients on hand right now! Peanut butter banana pudding here I come 🙂
Helen says
Yay, another for team Helen! I really hope you did try this recipe, Isadora … I’ve been craving it every day since I first made it. In fact, I’m craving it again right now!
Isadora says
I just made it for breakfast and am actually eating it as I type this! It’s so good and so easy!! Thanks for the awesome recipe, Helen 🙂
Helen says
Yay! I’m so impressed that you made this (for breakfast no less!) and liked it. You’ve put the idea in my head now to make it this morning for breakfast! 🙂
Susan says
Helen, your husband’s breakfast is definitely weird – even my husband thinks so… 🙂
This pudding sounds great, and worth trying. However, I would sub dark chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate) for the white, as I do not like white chocolate at all (too sweet and it doesn’t taste like chocolate to me).
Thanks for a great snack idea.
Helen says
Hahaha, Susan … I’ll pass the message on that it isn’t just me that thinks Mr. Scrummy’s brekky is weird! Or maybe I shouldn’t tell him … poor guy!
It’s no problem to sub in milk or dark chocolate for the white … in fact you can miss out the chocolate altogether if you like. The pudding will still be delicious! 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I am totally on your breakfast side. I like to go for the salty and savory things. This pudding sounds delicious!
Helen says
Yay, thanks, Natalie! So glad you like the pudding!
Meggan | Culinary Hill says
THIS is an amazing recipe! An individual portion of yummy, delicious banana peanut butter pudding! I enjoyed reading about your weird food cravings… which BTW your croissant sandwich sounds mouth-watering and not weird at all! I’m in your camp! But then again it is common around here to dip grilled cheese sandwiches in ketchup so… your husband would probably think I’m weird too. 🙂
Helen says
Ooh, grilled cheese sandwiches in ketchup sounds lovely … I could definitely get into that! 🙂
lori @ TheHealthMinded.com says
Helen – you sound so happy here! Isn’t it wonderful that the small things in life can give us such joy? This is great – so simple and quick. Sometimes I want a sweet something but too lazy to put it together. I think I can handle this and not feel guilty about it! Great job!
Helen says
Hi, Lori, and thanks so much for another lovely comment. You’re always so encouraging! I guess I am feeling happy right now … the Australian Spring is marvellous, which helps of course. You’re right that this is the perfect dessert for lazy people with a sweet tooth – people just like me!
marcie says
You got my attention — 5 minutes?! And peanut butter and banana? I’m sold. This looks heavenly and I love that I can have a dessert without much effort! 🙂
Helen says
Yeah, it’s pretty cool, isn’t it? And not even that unhealthy = bonus! Thanks, Marcie!
Allison says
Aren’t food preferences funny? I’m always amazed at what some people put together and to me, it doesn’t look all that good. But then I do things that make people “heave” too 😉 I’ve always wanted to try one of the mug cake thingys and now I have the perfect excuse. Anything with pb and banana is good in my books–it can’t be beat!
Helen says
You got me, Allison … basically this is a ‘mug cake’. I have to say though it’s a good one … It tastes like a really decadent dessert but as it’s fairly healthy you don’t even have to feel guilty about eating it. 🙂
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
There is nothing I don’t love about this recipe. I mean it takes 5 mins.
Helen says
Haha … yes, what’s not to love, hey? Thanks, Bintu!
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
I’m not sure what I love more – the actual pudding or the fact that it can be whipped up in 5 minutes. I know what I’m making the next time I have a sweet craving!
Helen says
Hi, Amanda! So glad you like this! I’ve been craving it all week but have managed to (mostly) resist … at least it’s not too unhealthy!
Eva says
Je ne peut pas croire que Mr. Scrummy ne soit pas content avec tes croissants. Tu est une magnifique cuisinière. 😉
J’aime beaucoup cet idée pour le petit déjeuner, ça change de l’ordinaire !
Helen says
haha … merci, Eva! 🙂