Name: Microwave Banana Cake Bowl Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Ingredients: 1 medium (4oz/115g) overripe banana; ⅓ cup (2 oz/57 g) dark brown sugar; 2 tablespoons whole milk ((at room temperature)); 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 large egg ((at room temperature)); 6 tablespoons (1 ¾oz/ 50g) all-purpose flour; ½ teaspoon baking powder; pinch of salt; whipped cream, caramel sauce and nuts ((for garnish))

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for details.

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

Measuring cups and spoons
Medium microwaveable bowl
Small mixing bowl

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:

Watch The Recipe Video!

Microwave Banana Cake Bowl Recipe

4.67 from 12 votes

Print Recipe

My 2-Minute Microwave Banana Cake Bowl recipe gives you a soft, sweet, and absolutely legit banana cake made in just minutes!

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: person

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 2 mins

My 2-Minute Microwave Banana Cake Bowl recipe gives you a soft, sweet, and absolutely legit banana cake made in just minutes!

Author: Gemma Stafford

Servings: person

Ingredients

1 medium (4oz/115g) overripe banana
⅓ cup (2 oz/57 g) dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk (at room temperature)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg (at room temperature)
6 tablespoons (1 ¾oz/ 50g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
whipped cream, caramel sauce and nuts (for garnish)

Instructions

In a medium, microwavable bowl, mash the banana with a fork until almost smooth.
Whisk in the brown sugar, milk, oil, vanilla extract, and egg until well blended.
In a separate small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt.
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until the batter is smooth.
Microwave on high for 90 seconds. Check for doneness and continue to cook in 20-second increments, until cooked through. (It will most likely be done in about 2 minutes.) This timing is based on a 1200WATT microwave so check your wattage.
Decorate with cream, caramel sauce and chopped toasted nuts. Enjoy straight away!

58 Comments

most useful

newest oldest

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Jean Uhrich

9 months ago

Can you use self rising flour in place of the all purpose flour, baking powder and salt?

View Replies (1)

Sheila Lawrence

6 months ago

Hi – I made a keto version of this for myself and the original recipe for my husband. It is much easier to put these in the microwave in individual silicone cup cake cases. In a bowl, the middle was soggy.

Sue Alders

8 months ago

Beautiful is all I can say don’t think I’ll ever bake a loaf again thank you so much Gemma bring me more

Kathy

Wow great for sharing without having to make a huge cake, It would be great to see a chocolate cake and your best ever Blondies !

Kyia

Made this with self rising flour and it turned out fantastic. Might use two overripe bananas for extra flavor next time.

KC O'Connell

I had this for breakfast and it was delish.

Adina

2 months ago

Will be trying this recipe, very pregnant and looking for simple portioned foods that won’t lead to over indulging! Hope to see more bowl cakes i.e., sour cream coffee cake, simple vanilla cake or even a apple crisp with pieces of apples (not just apple sauce)!

Nettie

5 months ago

LOL I made two of these last night in cups!!! I used very large cups and was wondering how one was supposed to make this recipe in a regular cup or mug as Gemma does. I didn’t know until I went to post this review that it was supposed to be made in a bowl. The only change I made to the recipe was I added pecans to the batter. I topped each with salted caramel sauce, pecans, Cool Whip (yes, I know) and they were wonderful. One recipe can easily serve two. Highly recommend if you like bananas.

Christine

can I use extra virgin olive oil instead of vegetable oil?

Charles

Ghastly. It came out as a heavy gloopy stodge. The flour measurement is out 6 tablespoons is considerably more than one and three quarter ounces! I’ll try my oven recipe in the microwave.

2-Minute Microwave Banana Cake Bowl

What Is A Microwave Cake Bowl?

Can I Bake A Cake Bowl In The Oven Instead Of A Microwave?

Tools You Need To Make Microwave Banana Cake

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Microwave Banana Cake Bowls

My Best Mug Cake Recipes

Watch The Recipe Video!

Microwave Banana Cake Bowl Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Meet Gemma

Meet Gemma

What Is A Microwave Cake Bowl?

Can I Bake A Cake Bowl In The Oven Instead Of A Microwave?

Tools You Need To Make Microwave Banana Cake

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Microwave Banana Cake Bowls

My Best Mug Cake Recipes

Try These Recipes!

Classic Victoria Sponge Cake Recipe

O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Cake Recipe

Microwave Chocolate Lava Cake Bowl Recipe For Two

One Bowl Applesauce Cake Recipe

Watch The Recipe Video!

Microwave Banana Cake Bowl Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Meet Gemma

Meet Gemma