Strawberry Shortcake Mug Cake

Quick, sweet, and hits the spot every time. That’s how I describe this strawberry shortcake mug cake recipe – it can be ready in less than 5 minutes, it’s gorgeous to look at, and even better to eat.

this recipe

Mug cakes recipes on the internet tend to be a gamble. A lot of them result in a dry sponge, which is covered over with way too much cream. And other times, you get promised something lifechanging, and the recipe will never live up to that.  

And that’s a real shame because I believe that mug cakes provide real value – they’re there to satisfy those small cravings that don’t really warrant a full-blown cake. They’re there when you need a quick hit of cake-y sweetness before you get on with your day. And they’re there for whenever you feel like having them.

This strawberry shortcake mug cake is one of my favourite mug cakes to make on a weekend afternoon, and have alongside a cup of tea. I’ve actually served it to guests who weren’t able to tell that it wasn’t bought from a bakery!

Is it as good as a proper strawberry shortcake? Probably not. But with a some clever plating, a solid mug cake recipe, and just the right amount of cream and fruit, the sum of this quick dessert is certainly more than its parts.

Jump to:

• How to make a strawberry shortcake in a mug
• Mug cake tips
• How to store mug cake
• More easy cake recipes to check out
• Helpful tools
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

How to make a strawberry shortcake in a mug

Making any mug cake is a simple affair – it’s a matter of mixing all the ingredients together in a suitable microwave-safe mug, microwaving it, and then digging in.

In the case of this particular strawberry mug cake, there are a few extra steps for optimal results. The extra steps are in the assembly stage (that is, after you’ve already made the mug cake), and while they do affect the way the final recipe looks, the impact on the actual taste is fairly small (but not nonexistent).

If you’d prefer to watch this on YouTube, here’s the link to my Strawberry Shortcake Mug Cake recipe video.

Mug cake tips

There’s not much technique involved in creating a perfect mug cake, so the tips below are all pretty simple to execute.

• Use an appropriate mug – it needs to be microwave-safe, and well…not tiny. You don’t need a gigantic mug. But avoid using one of those teeny tiny weirdly shaped niche interest mugs. In the photos, I’ve just used a standard tea cup!
• Don’t overfill – only fill up to half of your mug as the cake will expand as it cooks. Overflowing cake does look nice in photos…but it’s really not much fun to eat off the floor of your microwave.
• Whipped cream is wonderful just as it is – you don’t need any fancy whipped cream here. Any simple whipped cream/Chantilly cream will do, and store-bought whipped cream will work perfectly fine too.
• You don’t need to use a mug – if you don’t have an appropriate mug, go ahead and use any microwaveable bowl or ramekin instead.
• If you find that you have a particular powerful microwave and that consistently burns the top of your mug cakes, you can add a teaspoon of water to counteract that. (Every microwave is a little different, so be prepared to adjust cooking times as suited to your microwave!)

How to store mug cake

Mug cakes are best eaten fresh, and unfortunately do not store well at all. Do yourself a favour, and finish it off soon after its made.

(If you really want to make this recipe ahead of time, the cake can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 1-2 days, and the whipped cream can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Keep the different components separate, and assemble once you’re ready to eat.)

More easy cake recipes to check out

I love cake. You love cake. We all love cake! And here are some recipes for different types of cakes for you:

• 5-minute Chocolate Mug Cake
• Honey Mug Cake
• Lemon Curd Cake with White Chocolate Swiss Buttercream (this is the most popular cake recipe on my site!)
• Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cocoa Buttercream

Helpful tools

The link below is an affiliate link. This means that if you choose to purchase using it, I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). These small commissions help keep Chocolates & Chai going. Thank you.

You will need a microwave-safe mug. Ideally something cute and talk-worthy, like this pretty floral mug.

Or if you, like me, plan your weekend around activities with your cat, then this mug is perfect for you. Actually, it’s perfect for me too. Hold on. I’m ordering it for myself.

And that’s it. Did you try making this strawberry shortcake mug cake? What did you think? Drop me a comment below, and let me know.

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