Pancake In a Mug is a fun and quick breakfast hack for busy mornings. With just 2 ingredients and 90 seconds, you can make a microwave pancake that's actually light and fluffy.
This easy breakfast is perfect for busy mornings, lazy weekend mornings, and late night cravings. Add your favorite stir-ins and toppings to concoct your own pancake creations.
These mug pancakes are perfect on their own, or alongside Egg & Sausage Biscuit Muffins, Crock Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, or a Strawberry Smoothie Bowl.
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Easy recipe... or breakfast hack. Ok, let’s just call a spade a spade here. This mug cake recipe is really more of a breakfast food hack to show you how to make fluffy pancakes in the microwave in 90 seconds. Because, let's face it, the "recipe" is just mixing together pancake mix and milk.
Pancakes for one or two. If you have a small household like I do, sometimes you just need one or two pancakes. Well, here you go. This mug pancake recipe is perfect for whipping up a quick breakfast for one or two without hauling out the griddle.
Light and fluffy pancake. If you like your pancakes thick, but still light and fluffy, a pancake in a mug delivers on all fronts. Because you make the pancake in a microwave-safe mug, it puffs up super high until it’s almost like a muffin, but still light and fluffy like a pancake.
Choose your toppings and stir-ins. When you make pancakes in a mug, it is completely doable to make plain pancakes, blueberry pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, AND banana pancakes in about 10 minutes. Just mix up the batter, spoon pancake mix between the mugs and add your stir-ins. So easy and fun!
Ingredients
There are just two ingredients in this super-cinchy recipe. But the options for stir-ins and toppings are endless.
Pancake mix. I have used both Bisquick (I always get the Heart Smart one) and Kodiak Cakes mix and both work equally well. If you use Kodiak Cakes mix, add 2 more tablespoons of milk and about 30 seconds more cooking time.
Milk or almond milk. Almond milk is all we keep in the house, so it’s what I always use, but you can use regular milk.
Optional stir-ins. Blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, nuts, lemon zest, a dash of cinnamon — whatever you would normally put in your pancakes, you can absolutely put into a mug pancake recipe.
Toppings. Top your breakfast mug cake with butter, maple syrup, fruit, nuts, a handful of chocolate chips, a dusting of powdered sugar, whipped cream…
Instructions
Ready for this easy breakfast hack? It’s so simple.
Step 1
Mix ⅓ cup pancake mix and 3 tablespoons milk in a microwave-safe mug. Stir.
Step 2
Microwave at 50% power for 90 seconds.
Note: these times may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave. For reference, mine is 1000 watts.
Step 3
Top with butter, maple syrup, fruit, nuts -- whatever you love. And that's it!
3 Easy Variations
Whether you're craving blueberry pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, banana pancakes, or something else, you can absolutely stir it up in a coffee mug. Here's how to make a few basic variations... just to get you started thinking about how you can mix up your own flavors!
Blueberry Pancake
Kind of like a blueberry muffin!
Stir together ⅓ cup pancake mix and 3 tablespoons milk.
Gently fold in 1 tablespoon of blueberries to the pancake batter. If using frozen, quickly rinse them under cold water.
Microwave at 50% power for 90 seconds.
Top with more blueberries and maple syrup.
Chocolate Chip Pancake
Stir together ⅓ cup pancake mix and 3 tablespoons milk.
Add ½ tablespoon mini chocolate chips.
Heat at 50% power for 90 seconds.
Top with butter, a handful of chocolate chips, and maple syrup.
Banana Bread Pancake (my favorite!!)
Combine ⅓ cup pancake mix and 3 tablespoons milk.
Stir in:
3-4 slices of mashed banana, fresh or frozen and thawed (I keep a bag of sliced bananas in my freezer — they’re perfect for making smoothies, dairy-free nice cream, and these mug pancakes!)
½ tablespoon walnuts
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Heat at 50% power for 90 seconds.
Top with butter, maple syrup, and more walnuts
Expert Tips
Cooking time may vary, depending on your microwave. This recipe was tested in a 1000 watt microwave.
Add your favorite stir-ins to the batter before microwaving.
Frozen blueberries work great! Give them a quick rinse in cold water before adding them to the batter.
Make double chocolate chip pancakes by mixing the pancake batter with chocolate milk!
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Pancake in a Mug Breakfast Hack
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Bisquick Heart Smart (or any pancake mix)
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk or milk
Stir-ins
- Blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, nuts, lemon zest, a dash of cinnamon...
Toppings
- Butter, maple syrup, fruit, nuts, a handful of chocolate chips, a dusting of powdered sugar, whipped cream…
Instructions
- Mix ⅓ cup pancake mix and 3 tablespoons milk in a microwave-safe mug. Stir.
- If desired, add blueberries, chocolate chips, mashed banana, cinnamon — whatever you love.
- Microwave at 50% power for 90 seconds. Note: these times may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave. For reference, mine is 1000 watts.
- Top with butter, maple syrup, fruit, powdered sugar, whipped cream...
Video
Notes
3 Fun and Easy Pancake Ideas
Blueberry Pancake
Stir together ⅓ cup pancake mix and 3 tablespoons milk. Add 1 tablespoon of blueberries to the pancake batter. If using frozen, quickly rinse them under cold water. Microwave at 50% power for 90 seconds. Top with more blueberries and maple syrup.Chocolate Chip Pancake
Stir together ⅓ cup pancake mix and 3 tablespoons milk.
Add ½ tablespoon mini chocolate chips.
Heat at 50% power for 90 seconds.
Top with butter, a handful of chocolate chips, and maple syrup.
Banana Bread Pancake (my favorite!!)
Combine ⅓ cup pancake mix and 3 tablespoons milk. Stir in:- 3-4 slices of mashed banana, fresh or frozen and thawed
- ½ tablespoon walnuts
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
I’ve added more and more time but my center isn’t cooking only the sides
Well, shoot. When a microwave cooks something quickly on the outside, but not the inside, it can mean the power is too high. I would try adjusting the power down. I hope that helps!
Is it okay to still be doughy on top? I did 90 seconds at half power for the blueberry recipe, found the top very sticky, so did another 45 seconds at half power. The top is still tacky but the rest seems to be cooked through…maybe a result from using generic pancake mix?
Hi, Sarah, it isn't usually doughy or tacky on top -- it should resemble a baked muffin. It may have just needed a touch longer to cook, as it sounds like your microwave cooks at a different rate than mine. Or, as you mentioned, the pancake batter could be to blame for a different texture.
Just tried this recipe! Omg. Yummy. I heated at 50% for 90 seconds, a tad wet/sticky result. Then, I added 20 seconds at 100% . Perfect!!!! Thanks for this idea.
Hi, Kathi, thanks for trying this! Every microwave is a bit different, I'm so glad you found the magic formula to cook yours perfectly :). Cara
I can't believe it took just 90 seconds! Perfect for lazy weekend mornings, and weekdays too! I love the chocolate chip variation - my fave!
I know -- crazy you can make a pancake in so little time! I'm with you, chocolate chip pancakes will always have my heart :). Thanks! Cara
What's better than a pancake? A pancake you can cozy up on the couch with! This recipe is stellar.
Right? Curling up with a pancake in a mug is never a bad idea :). Thanks so much!
A convenient and easy breakfast! Perfect for those busy mornings!
Thanks, Jamie! Yes, great for busy mornings -- and lazy ones, too :).
Pancake in mug sounds is interesting. I have never tried something like this before. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you enjoy it -- it's such a quick and easy way to make one or two pancakes!
Perfect quick and easy recipe for Saturday morning - thanks!
You're welcome, I'm so glad you enjoyed this quick breakfast!
Not sure why I have to search through a small books worth of BS to find a generic bisquick recipe.
If you’re not interested in reading the instructions, tips, and recipe variations, many blogs, including mine, have a “jump to recipe” button at the top that will take you right to the recipe card.
Not sure why you didn't just use the "Jump to Recipe" button instead of leaving a snarky comment on someone's blog. Maybe look at your own stupidity instead of blaming someone else? 🙂
The 90 seconds worked great for me. My microwave is 1200 watts
Hi, Greta! Thank you for sharing, this will be so helpful for others!! I'm glad it worked for you :). Cara
I made the banana nut one and also made plain with sausage links (pigs in a blanket!) they were great. The one note is I added an extra 30 seconds full power for both, could just be my microwave. Tasty easy treat when craving pancakes but don’t want the hassle and mess on the griddle. Thanks!
Hi, Lauren, I'm so glad you enjoyed these quick and easy pancakes. The pigs in a blanket version sounds positively divine -- I'll have to try that one! Yes, you're right, the time will vary from microwave to microwave depending on the power. Like you, I also love the convenience of being able to have pancakes without actually making pancakes, haha! Thank you again for your nice note!