Craving a warm cinnamon roll, but don't have hours to spend in the kitchen? Enter this Vegan Cinnamon Roll in a Mug: a soft, cinnamon-swirled bun that cooks in the microwave in under a minute and gets a simple sweet glaze on top. It's the ultimate vegan dessert for one!
You may have seen these cinnamon bun mug cakes making the rounds on TikTok. So of course I had to try my hand at creating a vegan version of this tasty little treat, and I am totally in love with the results! This Vegan Cinnamon Roll in a Mug is:
- Quick and easy to make in just minutes.
- Made with simple pantry ingredients, no yeast and no rising time.
- Perfect for just one person (or two, if you're feeling generous).
- 100% vegan: no butter, eggs, or dairy milk.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- All-purpose flour. Regular unbleached all-purpose flour gives the softest, most bread-like texture. If you follow a gluten-free diet, a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour is the easiest swap. Almond or coconut flour can also work, but they absorb liquid very differently, so add the milk a little at a time until the dough comes together.
- Plant-based milk. I used oat milk, which is naturally a little sweet and creamy. Cashew, almond, or soy milk all work fine too. Unsweetened is best, since the filling and glaze bring plenty of sugar.
- Organic cane sugar. Note that I specify organic sugar in the recipe. This is because many brands of non-organic white sugar are processed with bone char, so they aren't actually vegan! Choosing sugar marked organic ensures no bone char was used. Light brown sugar (also organic) gives the filling a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.
- Cinnamon. This is the star, so use a jar that's fresh and fragrant. I like Simply Organic Ceylon cinnamon, which is sweet and mellow. Cassia (the common supermarket cinnamon) is spicier and bolder; either one works.
- Coconut oil. Coconut oil takes the place of butter in the filling and greases the mug so the roll slides out easily. Melted vegan butter is a great substitute if you want a more classic buttery flavor.
- Baking powder. Since there's no yeast, baking powder is what makes the roll rise and turn fluffy in the microwave. Make sure yours isn't expired, or the roll will be dense.
- Powdered sugar. Stirred together with a splash of plant-based milk, organic powdered sugar makes the quick glaze. As with granulated sugar, organic guarantees it's vegan.
Helpful Tips
Use an oversized mug. The roll puffs up as it cooks, so a standard 8-ounce coffee cup can overflow. A large microwave-safe ceramic mug (at least 12 ounces, ideally wider than it is tall) gives the dough room to rise and cook evenly.
Don't overwork the dough. Stir just until a soft ball forms. Kneading or mixing for too long develops the gluten and makes the roll chewy instead of tender.
Roll it up snugly. Roll the dough into a tight log before coiling it into the mug, so the cinnamon sugar stays tucked inside and you get those classic swirls.
Microwave in short bursts. Microwaves vary a lot in power. Start with 50 seconds, then add 5 seconds at a time until the top no longer looks wet. Overcooking is the fastest way to a tough, rubbery roll, and it will keep setting for a moment after you take it out.
Glaze it while it's warm. Pouring the glaze over the hot roll lets it melt into all the nooks. Give it 30 seconds to sink in before you dig in.
Variations
Add new flavors or mix-ins for a completely new spin on the cinnamon roll. Some ideas include:
- Chocolate chip. Scatter a few dark chocolate chips over the cinnamon sugar before rolling.
- Chocolate cinnamon. Add a dash of cocoa powder to the filling.
- Nutty. Sprinkle on chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch.
- Coconut. Add a spoonful of shredded coconut to the filling.
- Fruity. Tuck in raisins or dried cherries for a fruity spin.
- Maple glaze. Swap the milk in the glaze for a little maple or agave syrup.
Serving Ideas
This cinnamon roll is best eaten warm, straight from the mug with a spoon. For a cozy treat, pair it with a hot drink, such as a homemade vegan pumpkin spice latte in the fall or one of these vegan hot beverages for cold weather when the temperature drops.
To make it more of a dessert, run a knife around the inside of the mug and tip the roll onto a small plate, then top it with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or a spoonful of strawberry nice cream so it melts into the warm swirls. It also makes a fun, quick weekend breakfast alongside fresh berries or sliced apples.
Storing & Freezing
A mug cinnamon roll is really meant to be enjoyed fresh, since microwaved dough firms up as it cools. If you do have leftovers, cover the mug and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Reheat it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds, just until warm, to soften it again. If you want to prep ahead, you can mix the dry ingredients and store them in a small airtight container for up to a month, so all you need to do is add the milk.
We don't recommend freezing the finished roll: the glaze weeps as it thaws and the texture turns tough and dry. Since it only takes about 6 minutes from start to finish, it's much better to make a fresh one whenever the craving hits.
More Quick Vegan Treats
If you love this vegan cinnamon roll in a mug, be sure to check out these other tasty treats:
- Vegan Sweet Potato Mug Cake
- Vegan Mug Brownies
- Cinnamon Apple Chickpea Cake
- Vegan Sweet Potato Brownies
- Fudgy Avocado Brownies
Recipe
Vegan Cinnamon Roll in a Mug
Equipment
- large microwave-safe mug at least 12 oz
Ingredients
Dough
- 9 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoon plant based milk I used oat milk
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted, divided
- 1 ½ tablespoon organic cane sugar
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
Frosting
- 4 tablespoon organic powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon plant based milk I used oat milk
Instructions
- Make the dough. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add 4 tablespoon of plant-based milk and stir just until a soft dough ball forms. If it's sticky, add a little more flour; if it seems dry, add a little more milk.
- Lightly flour your counter and roll out the dough into a square about ¼ inch thick, with each side about the height of your mug.
- Brush about half of the melted coconut oil over the top of the dough, then sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon evenly over it. Roll the dough up tightly into a log.
- Brush the remaining coconut oil on the inside of a large microwave-safe mug. Coil the rolled dough into the mug, swirl side up.
- Microwave on high for 50 seconds. If the top still looks wet, continue cooking in 5-second increments until it's just set. Don't overcook, or the roll will turn tough.
- In a separate small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of plant-based milk until smooth and pourable. Pour the glaze over the warm cinnamon roll and let it sit for 30 seconds before serving.
Notes
- Use a large microwave-safe mug (at least 12 oz) so the roll has room to rise.
- Microwaves vary in power. Start with 50 seconds and add 5 seconds at a time; overcooking makes the roll tough.
- Gluten-free: swap in a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour.
- Use organic sugar and organic powdered sugar to be sure they are vegan (not processed with bone char).
- Best eaten warm, right away.
joe says
How can you tell when it is cooked? Mine was like rubber with sugar all over the place.