This soft and fluffy banana bread mug cake is gluten-free, vegan, and requires only 5 minutes and 5 ingredients to make! A quick and healthy way to satisfy a banana bread craving.
I’m a huge fan of banana bread — huge fan — but there are a few instances where I’m not such a huge fan of making it. These instances include, but are not limited to:
a. when I’m extremely busy, and/or
b. when it’s hot as hell outside.
You can imagine, then, my displeasure when I found myself craving banana bread the other day with both of those nasty conditions looming over my head. Oh, and I should probably explain that my idea of “hot as hell” is anything above 20ĀŗC (70ĀŗF), which I know is laughable to some of you that live further south/east, but I’m from Alberta — I’m not made for the heat. And I know I spend a good amount of time complaining about the cold, but in all honesty… I’d take that over the heat since it basically renders me useless.
But I digress. The point is… I wanted banana bread, but I was too hot and bothered busy to make it. Enter a banana bread mug cake…
You guys… YOU GUYS. You’re gonna have to give me a moment here because I literally have no words for how much I love this little bowl mug of heaven. I mean, just look at how doughy, moist, and fluffy it is!
I credit the coconut flour for that one. It may be a little temperamental and difficult to work with, but it’s absolute perfection in mug cakes. In fact, I find it so above and beyond regular flour, that I’m going to go ahead and suggest that you go out and buy a bag just so you can personally experience the best mug cakes of your life. I’m serious. But back to this banana bread mug cake right here…
I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m kind of in love with it. It’s incredibly soft and fluffy, and literally tastes just like a piece of day old banana bread — you know, the best kind where the flavours have a chance to intensify a lot better? It also happens to be both gluten-free and vegan. I wanted to experiment to see if I could make an egg-less mug cake, and I actually think I prefer it to the ones I’ve made with eggs. Oh! And you only need 5 minutes and 5 ingredients to whip it up — technically 7, but baking powder and [optional] chocolate chips don’t count.
So yeah! If you ever find yourself craving banana bread without the time to make one or desire to turn your kitchen into an oven, then this mug cake is perfect for you. Or, if you just want a quick and easy delicious dessert, then this recipe fits the bill for that as well!
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Banana Bread Mug Cake
- Total Time: 7 mins
- Yield: 1 mug cake 1x
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. coconut flour
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
- 1/4 cup almond milk (any kind will do)
- 1/2 ripe banana, mashed
- 1 Tbsp. nut butter*
- sprinkle of chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Add coconut flour and baking powder to a microwave-safe mug or bowl. Stir until well combined.
- Add in brown sugar and milk, stirring until no clumps remain. Add mashed banana and nut butter, mixing well to ensure that everything is fully incorporated. Sprinkle with chocolate chips, if desired.
- Microwave on high for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, depending on microwave strength and thickness of mug.
- Remove from microwave, grab a spoon, and enjoy!
Notes
* I used almond, but any nut butter should do. And if you want to make this nut-free, sub in an equal amount of soy nut or sunflower seed butter.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 2 mins
Looking for more gluten-free banana dessert recipes? Try one of these!
Banana Oat Greek Yogurt Muffins
Flourless Banana Bread Muffins
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Energy Bites
Yum!!! Can you believe I have yet to try mug cakes? I am seriously slacking š Somebody MAKE ME make one!!! š
oh.em.gee.
i need this now. totally making it tomorrow morning – definitely with chocolate chips.
i’ve had hits & misses with coconut flour – i’m actually not crazy on the flavor, the texture doesn’t bother me too bad.
oh and cold vs heat!? ill take either. by the time summer is done, i’m ready for cooler weather. i mostly just look forward to new seasons!
You’ll be happy to know that you can’t taste the coconut at all in this — it’s all banana and chocolate š
Hello Amanda,
Yes! It’s pretty hot here (but that’s actually one of the reasons I moved here. I love the heat!) But it’s been really humid here lately, which we aren’t used to…although we are smack-dab in the beginning of monsoon season (which I actually love…the rain is so refreshing and the lightening storms are so exciting).
This banana bread in a mug is excellent! Like you, sometimes I don’t want to make a whole loaf of something due to time…or perhaps just getting out all the ingredients, etc. I love this recipe (easy, just a few ingredients) and am going to try it (WITH the chocolate chips…I mean…banana + chocolate go beautifully together!)
Have a great day, Amanda!
~Amy š
I’ve always wanted to perfect the banana mug cake (never did š ) Thank you so much for this recipe! I never want an entire loaf lying around because I WILL eat it – all. Coconut flour is the key to mug cakes, other wise you end up using 1/3 cup flour. Cannot wait to try! Your chocolate mug cake was fantastic and I can only imagine how good this will be! Pinning!
I’ve been craving banana bread lately, but I keep eating all my bananas before I have the chance to make it…perfect solution right here š
I agree that coconut flour can be a pain in the ass sometimes, but it seems to work well for mug cakes and waffles, in my experience.
It’s currently feeling like 26 right now, but it’s pouring rain and there’s a a severe thunderstorm/possible tornado warning. I’d take extreme heat over this…
The texture on this looks so good! I’ve never cooked with coconut flour before. Can you find it at any grocery store, or do you think my luck would be better at a specialty-ish place?
I find it in my regular grocery store, so it wouldn’t hurt to check there first š And if not, then most specialty places should have it since coconut is kind of all the rage these days.
You are officially the queen of mug cakes. I love the way you describe it so lovingly too. Makes me want to run and get some coconut flour ASAP!!
I love how this is so easy to make! It looks delicious!
As much as i would love for you to visit, you might want to stay away from Mumbai- 20*C is considered cool here! This sounds delicious, you can’t go wrong with warmed up bananas in any form! I have never cooked with coconut flour but I just forwarded this recipe to my sister who has a bag of the stuff lying in her pantry!
I haven’t baked with coconut flour but I do think it is something that I should pick up next time I am in the store…It’s super hot and humid here but I am currently in long sleeves because air conditioning makes me cold. Lately I find myself wearing long sleeves and shorts and people must think I am insane when I walk around in the 90 degree weather without a tank top on lol.
That’s actually how I walk around all the time because some places are just a little too liberal with the AC… But I probably shouldn’t complain too much since it lets me enjoy my hot coffee without feeling like I’m going to overheat, and I much prefer hot coffee to cold.
Think I can bribe you to move here? I’ll take care the bites, you can make all the mugs and muffins. That would be a fun small-business!! Yumo friend
OMG šÆ . YES PLEASE. Banana bread is probably my favorite sweet treat to have in the morning with coffee, but something called baking time and laziness usually keep me from getting my fix. Making a big mug of this once the weekend hits!
Haha, you’re so funny how you complain about both the heat and the cold. I’m the exact same way. I live in LA, where the weather is never as extreme as it is on sayyy…the east coast. So if I’m complaining, I’m definitely being a wuss. (You’re much worse than I am, though. 70F is perfection, you psycho!)
Your mug cake looks amazing, by the way. Is it crazy that I’ve never made a mug cake before? I’m always a fan of baking with bananas, so I should definitely give this a try.
Wow you really go to town with the bananas. They all look really good and I don’t even care for bananas.
Erm, I’m gonna go buy some coconut flour TODAY. Like, now, just to make this beauty. I can tell by the awesome photos that the texture is just calling to me. I ā„ doughy.
I used to hate the heat, but ever since I lived in Florida one summer, I’ve been a little more tolerant of it. My inner {past} figure skater still kinda prefers it to be cooler though š 70F is actually PERFECT temperature!
I kid you not…I have a banana in its last days just begging to be used in banana bread! But…so much effort…so expect a follow up in a few hours telling you how wonderful this is. š
I prefer the 70 degree temperature with a slight breeze. Nottttt that I’m picky or anything ;o) Personally, I love any weather where I can be outside because I have ADD and winter makes me extremely antsy.
I am with you as far as turning on the oven. You should invest in a toaster oven! This way the whole damn house doesn’t feel like an oven as soon as the actual oven is turned on!
I actually have one and do most of my baking in it in the summertime š The only thing it’s not good for is when I’m making recipes for the blog since it doesn’t cook the same as a regular oven and times/temps are usually different.
I’m so freakin excited to try out this mug cake recipe! I’ve always loved banana bread and would always prefer to have a healthy option for it. Can’t wait to break out my coconut flour and give this a try!
Looks so yummy!
YES! It’s crazy hot here… Blah. And we still have a few more long months of it.
1. Thanks for letting me know I’m not the only one who a) considers anything above 20 [okay, let’s say 26] hot and b) would rather not experience those kind of hot days too often. Warm yes but hot? Granted, right now I could do without the rain the last hot days suddenly turned into. Always what you don’t have…
2. It’s official: I need to go mug-shopping. I own a single mug-cake appropriate one and I don’t feel that’s enough.
3. Coconut flour: the best. I’m not looking forward to the fact it’s not available where I’m about to move because I use it every day.
Oh man — anything above 70 feels hot to you? I’m moving to Alberta ASAP in that case! I would LOVE for 70 to feel hot instead of pleasantly cool during the summer. Cold weather 4 lyfe!
Also, you’ve pretty much convinced me I need to go buy coconut flour ASAP. I’ve never tried it, but I’m so intrigued!
It’s so, so, SO good. Kind of a pain in the butt to learn how to work with at first, but it’s pretty much fool proof in mug cakes, and you can even add it to things like oatmeal and yogurt to give things a cake battery feel.
Yum yum yum! Yeah I’m used to the heat but even still I eat much less in the summer. I have no had any desire to bake lately. I don’t want to turn the oven on and heat the house more. I love that you used coconut flour and but butter in this guy. I can only imagine the yum!
I’m in Hawaii where coconut flour is not plentiful (although coconuts are) — so can I use wheat flour or regular flour???
Unfortunately not š There are lots of mug cake recipes out there that use regular flour, but the ingredients are a little different.
That looks delicious!! Don’t come to the south anytime soon š It’s going to be over 100 degrees here today!
Quick and easy dessert? How about quick and easy breakfast? LOL
This looks too yummy NOT to have for breakfast at least once in my life š
Thanks for sharing!
Love coconut flour! I’ve made both donuts and pancakes with it, and both were so light and fluffy! I can only imagine how tasty this banana mug cake is š
Ahhh bananas+chocolate=my favorite combo as of late. I think we have that in common? Probs making this tonight since I happen to have some bananas going bad š
I am really excited that I have all these ingredients…. š
Thank you thank you thank you!!! I feel like you read my mind! I have been looking for a good mug cake/bread!
I have not baked with coconut flour yet, but really want to… I think this will be the recipe that I start using it, though! Can’t wait to try it out!
Annnnd… It’s starting to get hot in chicago and I prefer hot to cold weather because I am always cold.
Baking with coconut flour is a bit tricky when you’re first learning about what kind of ratios you have to use, but mug cakes are pretty much fool proof!
NOM NOM NOM. I might have to make this tonight for pretty little liars. The texture looks totally amazing.
OMG, this looks really good!! Drooling over here… š
I LOVE coconut flour – I totally agree that it just makes everything so nicely cakey. And since I have a new microwave now this needs to happen!
It’s cold here right now, 14CĀ° and rain…..which is NOT ok with me (it would, if I could cozy up at home) – I am definitely not made for the cold – I guess I’d die in Canada!
love that this is eggless! Making asap!
I’ve never successfully made a mug cake but ohemgee I NEEEED to make this! Please don’t let me forget!!!
Yummy! I do not have coconut flour, but I am seeing more and more recipes with it, so may have to invest soon….but should use up some of my other flours I bought for this reason; spelt, brown rice, corn….THEN i can, but I could try this with almond flour maybe? That could be good right?
I’ve never tried making a mug cake with almond flour, but it’s always worth a shot! I definitely recommend investing in some coconut flour, though — it’s seriously like nothing else.
OMG how do you think of these delicious creations? š Can’t wait to try this one out!!
Yum! Those pictures showing the texture of it look awesome! An easy sub for raw honey would make it paleo too š
I used to make coconut flour waffles aaaaalll the time, but that ship has sailed. I really need to pick up coconut flour again though!
HI I’M BACK
Okay, what kind of wizardry is going on in your kitchen? An awesome banana bread…IN A MUG? I live in FL, and turning on my oven is a death sentence so this? Obsessed. Pinned!
Thanks girl! All I can say is that necessity [and desperation] is the mother of all invention š
Woa- this is egg-less banana bread ??? It’s so fluffy – how???? AWESOME recipe! Love that nutbutter made it’s way into your version š
If you ere in Atlanta yesterday, you might have melted – it was a balmy 89 degrees and we spent it touring the Swan house which was President Snow’s home in the Hunger Games. Hope your week is wonderful!