This single-serve microwave carrot cake is the perfect solution to those late-night sweet tooth cravings. This quick and easy one-minute carrot mug cake has all the flavors of the traditional carrot cake without the work.
There is no compromise on the flavors and this carrot mug cake has the perfect cream cheese frosting to give it the traditional taste. We could make it as simple as we want or make it fancy by making it a double-layer cake.
Desserts are my weakness and as much as I try to make them less often, that is one thing I can't stay away from. When choosing my Blogging Marathon themes for July, my husband requested I choose more savory themes and stay away from sweet ones.
I was quite late to register for the month due to our travel and vacations and turned out that I did not have many options left to choose from. When I saw the theme for Single serve desserts was still open, it was too good for me to pass. My first recipe under the Single serve dessert theme is this quick and easy to make Single Serve Microwave Carrot Mug Cake.
We all love carrot cake and I make it quite often as cupcakes for my boy's school snack or when having company over. Loaded with juicy carrots, pineapples, and crunchy nuts, it is a joy to bake it.
The best part about the carrot cake for me is, I have a jackpot recipe from my husband's colleague and it is one of the best-tasting carrot cakes I have eaten.
I stuck to the same line when making this quick and easy version of Single Serve Carrot Cake. I used almost the same spices and made a few changes to make it work in the microwave. The end result for perfect spongy cake with beautiful crumbs and all it took was about a minute to bake.
I used small clear ramekins to bake the Microwave Carrot Cake. Initially, I was planning to make it in a mug but then thought what is carrot cake without frosting?
Then there was a change of plan to bake the Single Serve Microwave Carrot Cake in small clear glass ramekins. This was the perfect size to slice in between and smear with some quick cream cheese frosting.
The quantity I made was supposed to be for 2 carrot mug cakes but turned out that I was able to make 4 with the smaller bowls that I chose. So, we each had a piece of our own to enjoy.
Ingredients Needed for Single-Serve Microwave Carrot Cake
For the cake
- All Purpose flour - ½ cup
- Cinnamon - 1 tsp
- Allspice - a big pinch
- Ground cloves - a big pinch
- Baking soda - ¼ tsp
- Baking powder - ½ tsp
- Flax meal - 2 tsp
- Carrot - ½ cup (finely grated)
- Brown sugar - 4 TBSP
- Milk - 4 TBSP
- Sour Cream - 1 TBSP
- Butter - 1 tablespoon (melted)
- Vanilla extract - ½ tsp
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream cheese - 3 TBSP
- Butter - ½ tsp
- Vanilla - ½ tsp
- Powdered sugar - ¾ cup
Step-by-step process
- In a bowl, combine all the wet ingredients along with the grated carrots. Make sure that you grate the carrots really fine as we are going to use the microwave to bake them quickly. Large chunks of carrot might taste very raw.
- In another bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Mix them to combine using a wire whisk.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix gently to combine. Do not over mix as the cake will turn out hard.
- Grease a couple of ramekins well with butter. Add the prepared batter to the bowl. Make sure that you fill it less than halfway through as it will rise during cooking in the microwave. My ramekins were quite small and it was scary to watch them when cooking as I was constantly worried that they would spill out.
- Microwave for a minute at 50% Power. The batter did rise quite a bit, so make sure that you are cooking it at low power. After a minute, cook it further for about 15 more seconds at full power to complete the baking.
- Remove the ramekins from the microwave and set it to cool. Remember that the bowls will be quite hot to handle. So remove it carefully.
- Once they cool down, run a knife along the edges of the bowl and remove the cake. Slice the cake in between and spread the cream cheese frosting in between the layers. Spread some frosting on the top as well and serve the delicious single-serve microwave carrot cake.
How to make cream cheese frosting
- Soften cream cheese in the microwave and whisk it well. Add the vanilla and the butter and combine.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar and mix well to combine.
- The frosting is ready to use now.
Expert Tips
- Make sure to grate the carrots finely. Since we bake the cake in the microwave and in a short time, big chunks do not cook well.
- Use a ramekin or a mug tall enough for the cake to rise. The cake does rise almost twice the initial size.
- I like to bake them in smaller ramekins rather than in the mug, but it will work in a mug as well.
- If using cream cheese frosting, I would suggest baking these quick carrot cakes in small ramekins, so we can take them out easily to frost.
- Grease the ramekins well if planning to take them out and frost them.
Frequently asked questions
I will stick to the specific recipe of carrot cake to bake a traditional cake in the oven. This recipe works for the microwave.
Yes, instead of baking the cake in ramekins, bake it in a shallow pan. The timing might vary and would need more time when baking in a pan.
Yes, you can make this carrot mug cake without frosting. Increase the sugar slightly if not using frosting.
More single-serve desserts
Recipe
Single Serve Microwave Carrot Cake
Equipment
- 4 ramekins
- microwave
- bowl
- grater
- spatula
Ingredients
- ½ cup All Purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon All spice
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon Baking soda
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- 2 teaspoon Flax meal
- ½ cup Carrot finely grated
- 4 Tablespoon Brown sugar
- 4 Tablespoon Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Sour Cream
- 1 Tablespoon Butter melted
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting -
- 3 Tablespoon Cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon Butter
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla
- ¾ cup Powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all the wet ingredients along with the grated carrots. Make sure that you grate the carrots really fine as we are going to use the microwave to bake them quickly. Large chunks of carrot might taste very raw.
- In another bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. Mix them to combine using a wire whisk.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix gently to combine. Do not over mix as the cake will turn our hard.
- Grease a couple of ramekins well with butter. Add the prepared batter to the bowl. Make sure that you fill it less than half way through as it will rise during cooking in the microwave. My ramekins were quite small and it was scary to watch them when cooking as I was constantly worried that they would spill out.
- Microwave for a minute in 50% Power. The batter did rise quite a bit, so make sure that you are cooking it in low power. After a minute, cook it further for about 15 more seconds in full power to complete the baking.
- Remove the ramekins from the microwave and set it to cool. Remember that the bowls will be quite hot to handle. So remove it carefully.
- Once they cool down, run a knife along the edges of the bowl and remove the cake. Slice the cake in between and spread the cream cheese frosting in between the layers. Spread some frosting on the top as well and serve.
Procedure to make the Cream Cheese Frosting -
- Soften a cream cheese in the microwave and whisk it well. Add the vanilla and the butter and combine.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar and mix well to combine.
- The frosting is ready to use now.
Notes
- Make sure to grate the carrots fine. Since we bake the cake in the microwave and in a short time, big chunks do not cook well.
- Use a ramekin or a mug tall enough for the cake to rise. The cake does rise almost twice the initial size.
- I like to bake them in smaller ramekins rather than in the mug, but it will work in a mug as well.
- If using cream cheese frosting, I would suggest baking these quick carrot cakes in small ramekins, so we can take them out easily to frost.
- Grease the ramekins well if planning to take it out and frost.
Freya says
I love the idea of this! Sometimes a whole cake is too much as I am but a small family, so this is perfect!
Liz says
Oh my, this little cake looks heavenly! I love carrot cake, and this single serve recipe is perfect! I am making this tonight after my kids go to bed, so I don't have to share!
Jere says
Since I am the only one who likes carrot cake I never make it, until now with your one serving recipe. Thanks for sharing this recipe, it's easy to make and tastes delicious.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Thanks a lot!
Bernice says
This recipe is very dangerous for me because carrot cake is my favourite! The texture looks so great and I'm craving the combination of spices and cream cheese!
Allyssa says
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing carrot cake recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Subhashini says
This looks so tempting to me. Single serve carrot cake definitely makes it a lot more easier to control portions especially when trying to limit indulgence.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I agree Subhashini! Thank you.
Veena Krishnakumar says
You are tempting me Sandhya!!This looks too too good
chef Mireille says
I love how you presented a simple mug cake as a pretty layer cake
Stephanie Simmons says
I love making little single-serve desserts in the microwave! Carrot cake means it's healthy, too - right?! 🙂
Marisa Franca says
What a great idea. Hubby here doesn't want me making desserts unless we have some kind of gathering. We are watching our weight and having sweets around is a temptation. Now your single serve microwave carrot cake is a terrific idea. You can satisfy the sweet tooth and then not have any left over. Saving this recipe.
Adriana Lopez Martin says
What a great idea for a single serving =) I love carrot cake but having just one single serve allows for portion control thanks for the inspiration
Blogtastic Food says
Nice!! This is very clever. The texture looks unexpectedly great for a microwave cake. Thanks so much for sharing (:
Lauren Vavala says
These are so cute! I love single serve desserts like this! I haven't had carrot cake in forever, but need to try it again!
Noel Lizotte says
Single serving desserts ... perfect when you have a craving, or when you're baking for one or two people. This is a classic flavor combination! Thanks for sharing!
Veena Azmanov says
This would be perfect for those times when you need a carrot cake and no time to make a whole cake or no one to eat the whole cake. Carrot cake is not the most popular with my kids. So often I'm the only one that craves carrot cake. Now I know where to look for when I need a single serve carrot cake. Saving this for later.
Gloria says
I know it may sound totally weird, but I am the ONLY person that likes carrot cake in my family. Can you believe it?? I never make it because I would have to eat the whole cake. Hmmmm...on the other hand that might be a good idea LOL. This is the perfect recipe for me....I can make cake FOR JUST ME!!
Sally Humeniuk says
I love carrot cake and being able to make a single serve cake in a flash sounds right up my alley. Thanks for sharing!
Claudia Lamascolo says
you are seriously brilliant! I love carrot cake and no one else does! I cant wait to make this for myself its perfect!
Alexis says
I'm teaching my oldest son a few more recipes this year before he heads off on his own. This will be a great one to teach him.
Ritu Tangri says
Wonderful cake Sandhya. Normally, when I think of mug cake, only chocolate cake comes to mind.
Sandhiya ThirumalaiKumar says
Wow, Single serving carrot cheese cake looks amazing, Sandhya. The cake looks soft and turned out perfect.
sapana says
Omg how cute those single serve chocolate cake looks and the cream cheese frosting is to die for.
code2cook says
Single serve carrot cake looking so tempting and delicious. Love the way you have created it. Beautiful presentation.
harini says
Such a pretty looking cake, Sandhya. I loved the use of sour cream.
Priya Suresh says
Such a pretty looking microwave carrot cake, easy to dish out to serve as a dessert after a heavy meal na. Lovely presentation.
Gayathri Kumar says
That is an awesome looking carrot cake Sandhya. It has turned out so good and with the cream cheese frosting, it must be so yum. Love this instant version which gets ready in one minute..
Preeti says
Carrot cake looks so sinful and moist.. love it.
Srivalli says
Excellent choice Sandhya. Making in one bowl and serve is such an easy and looks great to present as well!..love carrot cake with all its spice. Nice to know you could make it for a single serve as well.
Varada says
Beautifully baked. I love the color of the cake contrasting with the frosting and the carrot garnish.