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Hi Bold Bakers!
WHAT YOU GET: A recipe that makes an irresistibly tender and flavorful Banana Cake Bowl in just minutes, using only the microwave!
Homemade banana bread can take over an hour to bake, but this microwave Banana Cake Bowl comes together in just minutes using every chef’s favorite appliance — the microwave! (If you do feel like spending the time, here are my favorite banana bread recipes!)
If you have a couple of over-ripe bananas on your counter but no time to whip up any banana bread, don’t let them go to waste! Give this microwavable cake a try. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a warm, super soft, banana-packed cake.
The ingredients in this recipe are super simple, so if you have the banana, you likely have everything you need for this quick, delicious banana mug cake.
What Is A Microwave Cake Bowl?
If you’ve been with me on this ride for a while, you know that I love mug cakes — so much so that I have 100+ Mug Cake & Mug Meal recipes! As a pro chef, I love spending hours working on my craft — but as a mum with a life, I also love easy quick mug cake recipes. A microwave cake bowl is the evolution of this idea and a larger portion, made in a similarly fast fashion.
Mug cakes and microwave cake bowls are cakes baked in a cup or bowl with a microwave, but they taste a lot fancier than they sound. These single-serving cakes are steamed in the microwave — which means you’ll never get a dried-out cake.
They’re the perfect dessert for when you don’t want to make a whole batch or a family-sized serving. I highly recommend bookmarking this recipe for midnight snack cravings.

Can I Bake A Cake Bowl In The Oven Instead Of A Microwave?
This recipe is perfect for the microwave as all the ingredients get steamed, resulting in a super moist cake. However, if you do wish to make this in the oven, bake this recipe at 350 °F (180°C) for around 10 minutes — just make sure your bowl is rated for that temperature.
Tools You Need To Make Microwave Banana Cake
Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Microwave Banana Cake Bowls
Honestly, mug cakes, or now cake bowls, couldn’t be easier to make — but that doesn’t mean there can’t be some helpful tips to give you the best microwave cake experience possible!
- The riper, the better, when it comes to baking with bananas. They impart more flavor and sweetness to baked goods.
- Even with a simple microwave cake, room temperature ingredients are always best!
- Every microwave is different, so your cooking times may be a bit different. The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and when the cake springs back when gently pressed.
- You can add mix-ins just after the flour: a ¼ cup (1¼ oz/35 g) of chopped nuts or ¼ cup (1½ oz/43 g) of chopped chocolate of your choice.
- Some simple topping ideas are sliced bananas and a drizzle of microwave salted caramel sauce or a dollop of whipped cream, homemade Nutella, or cream cheese frosting.
My Best Mug Cake Recipes
If you like this new Microwave Cake Bowl, you’ll love my Mug Cakes. Try these fan favorites:
