Banana Muffin Mug: One-Banana Microwave Muffin in 8 Minutes

This is one muffin, in one mug, in about five minutes. You mash a banana into oat flour, honey, cinnamon and an egg white, then microwave it for 90 seconds. No mixer, no muffin tin, no waiting for the oven to heat.

The texture is closer to a soft steamed muffin than a bakery one, and that's the honest trade for the speed. It's moist, it's banana-forward, and it's best eaten warm with a spoon while the middle is still tender.

One thing to know before you start: use the biggest mug you own. The batter rises a lot in the microwave, and a small mug will send it over the rim onto the turntable.

Tips & Tricks

• Grease the inside of the mug with butter or oil before you add anything. Egg white sticks badly to bare ceramic.
• Use a mug that holds at least 12 ounces. The batter roughly doubles as it cooks.
• Mash the banana separately first, then stir it in. Adding whole chunks at the end leaves wet pockets in the middle.
• Let the mug sit on the counter for a minute after microwaving. It's extremely hot straight out.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Grease the mug

Butter or oil the inside of a large microwave-safe mug, all the way up the sides. This is what lets the muffin slide out and keeps cleanup easy.

2. Mix the wet base

Crack the egg white into the mug and add the honey. Whisk with a fork until it's smooth and slightly frothy, about 30 seconds.

3. Stir in the dry ingredients

Add the oat flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Stir until no dry streaks remain. The batter will be thick at this point, thicker than pancake batter.

4. Add the banana

Mash the banana in a small bowl until mostly smooth, then fold it into the mug. Stop stirring once it's combined so the batter doesn't toughen.

5. Microwave on high

Cook on high for 90 seconds. The muffin should rise well above the batter line and the top should look set and slightly glossy. If the center still looks wet, add 15 seconds at a time.

6. Rest and eat

Let the mug stand for a minute so it stops steaming, then eat it straight from the mug or tip it onto a plate. Warm is when it tastes best.

Variations

• Add 1 teaspoon of butter or oil to the batter for a richer, less dry crumb. This is a taste adjustment, not part of the original method.
• Swap the honey for maple syrup in the same 2 tablespoon amount.
• Fold in a tablespoon of chocolate chips or chopped walnuts just before microwaving.

How to Store Banana Muffin Mug

Frequently Asked Questions

Banana Muffin Mug: One-Banana Microwave Muffin in 8 Minutes

A single banana muffin made in a mug with oat flour, honey, cinnamon and egg white. Microwave it for 90 seconds and breakfast is done.

5 minPrep time2 minCook time8 minTotal1Servings

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Ingredients

• 1 banana
• ¼ cup oat flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 egg white
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. 1Grease the mug — Butter or oil the inside of a large microwave-safe mug, all the way up the sides. This is what lets the muffin slide out and keeps cleanup easy.
2. 2Mix the wet base — Crack the egg white into the mug and add the honey. Whisk with a fork until it's smooth and slightly frothy, about 30 seconds.
3. 3Stir in the dry ingredients — Add the oat flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Stir until no dry streaks remain. The batter will be thick at this point, thicker than pancake batter.
4. 4Add the banana — Mash the banana in a small bowl until mostly smooth, then fold it into the mug. Stop stirring once it's combined so the batter doesn't toughen.
5. 5Microwave on high — Cook on high for 90 seconds. The muffin should rise well above the batter line and the top should look set and slightly glossy. If the center still looks wet, add 15 seconds at a time.
6. 6Rest and eat — Let the mug stand for a minute so it stops steaming, then eat it straight from the mug or tip it onto a plate. Warm is when it tastes best.

Cook's note: Microwave wattage is the biggest variable here, so treat 90 seconds as a starting point and check the center with your finger. One substitution to keep in mind: maple syrup can replace the honey one for one.

Servings: 1

Cuisine: American

Course: Breakfast

RecipesCooker5 minutes2 minutes8 minutes