23 Microwave Desserts For When You’re Craving Something Sweet

When it comes to making quick dinners, we all love to use the microwave. In just a few minutes, you can have something delicious and satisfying, ready to go!

But when it comes to sweet treats, we tend to overlook this handy appliance.

But the microwave can actually be used to create fantastic desserts. From muffins to fudge to apple crisps, the microwave can do almost anything. And it’s particularly good when you only want a single serving!

Read on for microwave recipes to satisfy a sweet tooth. 

23 Simple Microwave Desserts

1. How To Melt Chocolate In The Microwave

Learn how to melt chocolate in the microwave, and you can have an easy dessert on hand for whenever you get a sugar craving.

Melted chocolate is an excellent addition to all kinds of foods. You can use it as a dip for strawberries and apple slices, smother banana or pretzel in it, or use it to bring life back to some slightly stale pastries. 

It takes just minutes, and requires very little work to melt chocolate in the microwave. Learn this method, and ditch the double-boiler.

2. Chocolate Mug Cake

You know the phrase “selling like hot cakes”? Well, this is the cake they were talking about. Rich, chocolaty, and ready in just a few minutes.

Once you’ve learned how to make a chocolate mug cake, you might never want to use your microwave for anything else. 

Chocolate mug cake doesn’t need eggs, which makes it easy to get right, and very hard to get wrong. Finish with a scoop of ice cream, or a spoonful of chocolate spread.

3. 5-Minute Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Mug Cake

Craving something sweet, comforting, healthy, and easy to make? It might sound like an impossible combination, but this 5-minute chocolate banana bread mug cake has it all.

Using an overly ripe banana to provide sweetness and texture, this microwave recipe can be eaten for breakfast, dinner, or as a late night snack!

Mug cake is best enjoyed fresh from the microwave, so make this when you need a pick-me-up on a cold day.

4. Fudgy Mug Brownie

Grab yourself a spoon and tuck into this fudgy mug brownie straight from the microwave.

Without eggs, it has a looser texture than the traditional brownie, but it’s also much easier to make. And with the rich and dense chocolate flavor, you won’t miss the egg binder at all.

Once you’ve made a pan of brownies, it’s almost impossible to resist eating that pan of brownies! Fight temptation, and try a single serving mug cake instead.

5. Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle

Making candy used to be hard work. Used to, because with this microwave peanut brittle 

recipe, you can get everything ready in minutes. 

Peanut brittle is a delicious treat, and an excellent holiday gift. Normally, making peanut brittle requires a delicate touch and some patience. Not anymore! This recipe comes together really quickly, and is as tasty as ever.

One tip: have your ingredients ready to go before you start!

6. 1-Minute Microwave Rice Krispie Treats

When you want something that tastes just like your childhood, try making microwave rice krispie treats! 

You need just a few ingredients to put these rice krispie treats together, and you might have them all in your kitchen.

To make these rice krispie treats, simply melt butter in the microwave, then melt marshmallows in the same mug, and then stir through your rice krispies. Got some candy hanging around? Throw that in as well!

7. Cinnamon Roll Microwave Mug Cake

Your favorite breakfast, cooked in a mug — how good does that sound? Using pancake mix as the base for a light and delicious cinnamon roll, this microwave dessert is perfect for cold fall mornings.

Cinnamon rolls are delightful, but they aren’t always easy to make, especially if you’re cooking for one. Indulge in your favorite dessert with no effort using this microwave recipe.

8. 5-Minute Microwave Apple Cinnamon Crisp

On a cold and damp fall day, sometimes you just want to curl up with a bowl of something sweet and warm, which requires just 5-minutes of work.

Microwave cinnamon apple crisp is filled with fall spice, and tastes like a hug in a bowl. Finish with a scoop of ice cream.

This does make quite a large one-person portion, or a smaller two-person portion. If you find you can’t finish it – and don’t want to share – then the leftovers should keep for around 3 days in an airtight container.

9. Microwave Popcorn (3 Ways)

Once you’ve started making your own microwave popcorn, you will never go back to the prepackaged stuff. When you make it yourself, you have total control over the flavors. No more too salty and too oily popcorn!

You don’t need any special ingredients to make your own microwave popcorn. If you have a tempered glass bowl, you can do it! Finish by adding your favorite toppings, or keep things simple with just a sprinkle of salt.

10. Blueberry Mug Muffin

Fast, easy, and lightly sweetened, blueberry mug muffins are an excellent treat for a busy morning or an afternoon pick-me-up. 

The muffin batter turns surprisingly fluffy in the microwave, with the occasional fun burst of blueberry.

You can experiment with the ingredients level to create a muffin batter just right for your tastes. Add a handful of blueberries and a drizzle of maple syrup for a perfect finish.

11. 5-Minute Microwave Cheesecake

Baked cheesecake is delicious, but it’s also a lot of hard work. Instead of struggling with a water bath and careful timings, try this microwave cheesecake instead!

Once you’ve made your cheesecake, you can experiment with different toppings. Try some fresh berries, or add a sprinkle of crushed cookies. 

This recipe will transform the way you think about cheesecake! 

12. Carrot Cake Mug Cake

The hardest part of making carrot cake in the mug is the 30 seconds required to shred your carrots. Other than that, this recipe is delightfully simple.

We do recommend taking that moment to shred the carrots! Pre-shredded carrots lack the flavor and moisture that you get fresh, and you might find your microwave mug cake lacks some sparkle. Fresh carrots will take your cake to a whole new level.

13. Easy 3 Ingredient Chocolate Orange Fudge

When the holiday seasons are coming and you realize you might have forgotten to buy a few presents, whip up a batch of microwave fudge! 

You need just three ingredients to make the basic recipe, and chocolate orange is amazing for the holiday season. To make them extra special, decorate with a few dried orange slices!

Once you’ve mastered this basic recipe, then you can experiment with different flavorings to make all kinds of fudge!

14. 10-Minute Gooey Vanilla Peach Mug Cake

Vanilla peach mug cake is a recipe for all those people who buy fresh fruits with the best intentions, and then default to their favorite snacks!

If the peaches you bought last week are looking a little worse for wear, transform them into this delicious microwave dessert.

If you don’t have any peaches, try experimenting with other stone fruits! 

15. 2 Ingredient Birthday Mug Cake

Even the laziest home cook can get on board with 2-ingredient microwave cake, a recipe so easy you just might find yourself making it every day. 

This recipe is for everyone who’s ever looked at box mix, and decided that it’s too much effort.

It’s also a birthday cake recipe, so if you’ve had to delay celebrations for whatever reason, you can use this mug cake to sweeten the day.

16. Lemon Mug Cake

The combination of tangy lemon and sweetness makes the lemon cake a classic dessert. It’s refreshingly light, and goes wonderfully with a mug of coffee or tea. 

Treat yourself to a single serving of lemon cake with a lemon mug cake recipe! You can eat it straight from the mug, or tip it onto a plate. Don’t forget the lemon glaze!

17. Chocolate Chip Cookie In A Mug

If you made an entire batch of cookies, it’s almost inevitable that you’re going to eat an entire batch of cookies. And although that might seem like a good idea at the time, hindsight begs to differ.

So, what to do instead? Try a chocolate chip cookie in a mug! This one-serving delight is easy to make, and still super yummy.

18. 3 Ingredient Caramel Fondue

Microwave desserts are about more than just mug cakes! Next time you’re craving something sweet, try making a batch of caramel fondue. 

You need just 3 ingredients, and then whatever you want for dipping. It’s a simple dessert, but the smooth and creamy texture from the caramels and the marshmallows tastes absolutely decadent. 

If you need an easy dessert for a party, serve this dip with a selection of fruits and pretzels.

19. Microwave Jelly Donut

You don’t need a fryer to make these jelly donuts! Instead, the only equipment you need is a mug, a fork, and a microwave!

Mix a simple batter in your mug, and add a spoonful of your favorite jam. This recipe uses strawberry, but you can experiment with all kinds of fillings. After just 45 seconds in the microwave and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, your donut is ready to go.

20. Microwave Bread Pudding

Sometimes all you want is something sweet, and the only food you have in the house are some old slices of bread. You know you should do a proper grocery shop, but you really don’t want to. Do you make a sad sandwich of leftovers, or do you guiltily head to the store and buy a chocolate bar?

Not anymore! Instead, you make this excellent microwave bread pudding! It works best with brioche, but any bread will do. 

21. Cinnamon Sugar Mug Muffin

Make your mornings a little brighter with a cinnamon sugar mug muffin! 

If your standard breakfast is whatever you can grab on the go, you’ll love this mug muffin. It all comes together in less than five minutes, and the recipe is super adaptable. Throw in a handful of fresh berries, or a sprinkle of chocolate chips.

22. Microwave S’mores

Don’t have a handy campfire? Microwave s’mores are gooey and chocolatey, and don’t require an open flame! This is a great recipe for children.

Be careful with marshmallows in the microwave, as they tend to expand. But once the power is cut, they sink back down. Cook in short bursts, and don’t look away. The heat from the marshmallow will melt the chocolate, smooshing your s’mores together!

23. Microwave Berry Crumble

Although many microwave dessert recipes use chocolate, there are plenty of ways to cook fruit in the microwave as well.

Like this berry crumble recipe. It uses fresh or defrosted frozen berries to create a tart, spiced base, with a crunchy topping of oats and flour.

Making just enough for one person, experiment with your favorite fruit fillings, and top with a scoop of ice cream.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Bake A Cake In The Microwave?

Yes, you can bake a cake in the microwave! But for full-sized cakes, it tends to be better to use an oven.

If you do want to try microwave baking, start small with single serving mug cakes. When you know your microwave a little better, you can think about scaling up.

Can I Make Dessert In The Microwave?

There are plenty of ways to make desserts in the microwave. For single servings, mug cakes and muffins are easy and adaptable, and often require ingredients you probably have on hand.

For simple crowd pleasers, melt chocolate and make a dipping sauce, and serve with a selection of fresh fruit. 

How Long Does It Take To Microwave A Mug Cake?

Mug cakes can often be cooked in less than 2 minutes, but the exact cooking time will depend on your microwave power. It can take from 45 seconds to 120 seconds.

Keep a close eye on how it’s cooking, and stop the power if the cake is expanding out of the mug. With practice, you should be able to get your timing perfect.

Microwave desserts are a quick way to satisfy a sweet craving. There are a surprising number of things you can make in the microwave, so break out your microwave safe mugs, and get cooking!