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Craving cake but don’t want a whole one sitting on the counter? This quick microwave (affiliate link) mug cake is the perfect fix—warm, fluffy, and ready in minutes.
Made with just two ingredients, a mug, and a microwave (affiliate link), it’s an easy, portion-controlled treat with about 105 calories and 5 WW Points. Perfect for those moments when you want something sweet without overdoing it.
This simple “3-2-1” method lets you mix up a batch of dry cake mix ahead of time so you’re always just a minute away from cake.
Table of Contents
- Ingredients
- How Do You Make Low Calorie 3-2-1 Cake in a Mug with a Microwave – Step By Step
- Calories and WW Points
- How Are the Calories Calculated?
- WW Points Notes
- Microwave Mug Cake Variations
- Tips for Success
- Weight Watchers 3 2 1 Microwave Mug Cake Recipe
- Microwave Mug Cake Variations
- More Easy WW-Friendly Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 box (16 ounces) angel food cake mix (the 1-step kind that only needs water)
- 1 box (15.25) cake mix (any flavor)
For the Mug Cake
- 3 tablespoons 3-2-1 cake mix
- 2 tablespoons water
How Do You Make Low Calorie 3-2-1 Cake in a Mug with a Microwave – Step By Step
Step 1 – Make the Cake Mix Base
You’ll need a box of angel food cake mix and a box of another cake mix of your choice. Since I love chocolate I chose Devil’s food. But you can use whatever flavor you like best.
Whisk the two dry mixes together until they are free of lumps and well combined. You now have enough “321 cake mix” for about 31 little microwave mug cakes.
Store your 3-2-1 microwave cake mix in an airtight container. I prefer a one gallon zipper lock plastic bag. Be sure to label your container with what it is and the instructions so you are ready the next time a cake craving strikes.
Step 2 – Making a Mug Cake
You’ll need a mug that holds at least 10 ounces, measuring spoons, nonstick cooking spray and your dry 3-2-1 cake mix. Coat you mug with nonstick spray. Then add to it 3 level tablespoons of dry cake mix and 2 level tablespoons of water.
Stir together with a fork (which acts like a little whisk) until the mixture is well combined. It will bubble up which is fine.
Microwave your mug cake for approximately one (1) minute and voila – you have cake!
The actual time will vary a little depending on the wattage of your microwave. My microwave is 900 watts and takes 50-60 seconds. If your microwave has higher wattage set your time for a little less.
It may not be fancy, but it’s warm, soft, and really satisfying—especially fresh from the microwave. A dusting of powdered sugar or a dollop of light whipped topping makes it feel a little more special.
Calories and WW Points
According to my calculations, each 3-2-1 microwave mug cake has just 105 calories and 5 WW Points.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
3 PointsPlus (Old plan)
How Are the Calories Calculated?
The full batch of combined dry mix contains approximately 3,280 calories.
Each mug cake uses about 1 ounce (3 level tablespoons) of mix, yielding roughly 31 servings.
That works out to about 105 calories per serving.
WW Points Notes
Using standard cake mixes, each serving comes to about 5 WW Points.
Using sugar-free cake mix can lower the Points slightly. As always, your Points may vary depending on the brands you use.
Microwave Mug Cake Variations
This is a fun recipe to customize. Try different flavors and add-ins to make it your own:
- Use any cake mix flavor you like: chocolate, lemon, spice, funfetti, carrot, strawberry, and more
- Stir in mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or sprinkles
- Add a small piece of chocolate in the center for a molten-style cake
- Mix in chopped dried apples and top with a drizzle of caramel for a caramel apple version
- Add cranberries, nuts, and orange zest for a cranberry-orange twist
- Top with fruit and whipped cream for a quick “shortcake”
- Drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce or spread with a thin layer of frosting
Tips for Success
- Use a mug large enough to allow the cake to rise (at least 10 ounces)
- Spray the mug to prevent sticking
- Stir thoroughly so the batter is smooth
- Adjust cook time based on your microwave wattage
Enjoy right from the mug, or let cool slightly and turn out onto a plate.
If you’ve made this low fat 3-2-1 mug cake, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Weight Watchers 3 2 1 Microwave Mug Cake Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cake Mix
- 1 box (16 ounces) angel food cake mix (the 1-step kind that only needs water)
- 1 box (15.25) cake mix (any flavor)
For the Mug Cake
- 3 tablespoons 3-2-1 cake mix
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
First, prepare the 3-2-1 cake mix
- In a large airtight container or sealable plastic bag, whisk the two dry cake mixes until blended and free of lumps.
Then prepare mug cake
- To make an individual cake: in a mug coated with nonstick spray, use a fork to combine the 3-2-1 cake mix and water until blended and smooth.
- Microwave on HIGH for about 1 minute, or until the center is just set. (The time will depend on the wattage of your microwave).
- Let cool slightly or entirely in the mug.
- Eat directly from the mug or gently remove onto a small plate.
- Serve plain or with desired accompaniments (frosting, whipped cream, confectioners sugar, ice cream, frozen yogurt).
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)3 PointsPlus (Old plan) Servings: The two mixes combine to make enough 3-2-1 cake mix for about 31 individual mug cakes.
Microwave Mug Cake Variations
This is a fun recipe to customize. Try different flavors and add-ins to make it your own:- Use any cake mix flavor you like: chocolate, lemon, spice, funfetti, carrot, strawberry, and more
- Stir in mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or sprinkles
- Add a small piece of chocolate in the center for a molten-style cake
- Mix in chopped dried apples and top with a drizzle of caramel for a caramel apple version
- Add cranberries, nuts, and orange zest for a cranberry-orange twist
- Top with fruit and whipped cream for a quick “shortcake”
- Drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce or spread with a thin layer of frosting
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Here is a video showing how to make 3-2-1 cake mix with angel food cake mix and devil’s food cake mix:
More Easy WW-Friendly Cakes
Here are more of my favorite WW Friendly Mug Cakes & Desserts and easy 2-Ingredient cakes and muffins:
- WW No Cake Mix Microwave Cake
- Easy Low Calorie Chocolate Mocha Mug Cake
- Banana Cocoa Pudding Mug Cake
- Jello Microwave Mug Cake
- Microwave Mug Pineapple Cake
- Black Forest Microwave Cake
- 2-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake
- 2-Ingredient Funfetti Mug Cake
- 2-Ingredient Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins
- Love easy WW desserts? Don’t miss this WW-friendly Depression Cake — moist, chocolatey, and made with pantry basics!
Am I doing something wrong? I get 8 smart points per serving. I added the grams for each of the cake mixes together for a total of 885gm. I then used an online conversion calculator and converted grams to tablespoons (59.851). Then I divided by three (for the number of tablespoons in each mug cake) and I come up with 20 servings in the recipe and 8 smart points when putting the ingredients and servings into the recipe builder on the WW site.
The recipe is delicious and I look forward to it in the evening or when I need a quick sweet fix.
Hi Pam, I calculated this a very long time ago and actually weighed out the ingredients with my kitchen scale. I guess there could be some variation depending on how much you scoop up in a tablespoon. I think the variation you are experiencing is in the conversion of grams to tablespoons. I think the online calculator gave you a conversion based on volume not weight. To double check the math I think you would need to weigh out your 3 tablespoons of cake mix to see how many grams it weighs. Since this cake is only 80 calories, I can’t imagine the SP would be 8. In my experience most sweet treats at worst doubled in points in the conversion from PP to SP so something that was 4PP might have gone to 7 or 8SP. Because this was only 2PP I think at worst it would be 4SP. But again, this is only my best guess. Hope it helps.
When I add my cake mix I get 2 sp. in the weight watchers app.
Hello! Can you tell me how you got the 3 Smart Points without adding the amount of sugar in grams to your calculations? I do not see sugar in your nutritional facts at all and that needs to be calculated in the total of calories, fat and protein to get the correct Smart Point value.
Thanks for clearing this up for us!
Hi Linda, I’m a Weight Watchers member. I use the Weight Watchers Recipe Builder to calculate the SmartPoints values of my recipes. Hope this helps.
The regular cake mix does not have oil in it. The instructions say you have to add oil is that right?
Hi Kelly. No you just stir/whisk together the two dry cake mixes. Then you take 3 tablespoons of this dry mix and the 2 tablespoons water specified in my recipe and microwave it for 1 minute. Then just store the dry cake mix mixture in an airtight container so it’s ready and waiting whenever you want to make a little mug cake. Hope this helps.
I’m confused.
Angel food box cake mix ,you say use the one that you just add water type box mix.
Now the any flavor cake mix ,you say has oil in it already? I thought you add oil when you make it the traditional baked cake.Do you have to use an just add water type regular cake box mix also?
Thank you
HI Susan,
Sorry for your confusion. No, just a regular cake mix. Hope this helps. – Martha
I have a question… i am the overthinking type. S looking at the recipe i really needed to know how many servings were in this. I counted out 93 tablespoons which would be 31 servings and would make it 5 smartpoints per serving and not 3…? Could you tell me how you got to the 46 servings and 3 smartpoints??
I think it was divided by the water and not the mix which would make it 46 servings…
Hi Heather, To be honest, I don’t really remember but I probably used my scale, which I tend to use a lot for baking. I think I combined the two cake mixes – 18.25 ounces plus 16 ounces = 34.25 ounces. Then I probably weighed out 3 tablespoons of the mix to determine the weight per serving and then divided the total of 34.25 by that number to come up with 46. Of course, you need to do what works best for you. If you came up with 31 servings and 5 SP, of course go with your number to be safe. Hope this helps.
Thank you for the clarification!
Mine calculated to 5 smartpoints as well.
🙁
Thanks for this recipe! I just used a Devil’s Food cake mix (no angel food mix) and instead of water, I used 2 T of unsweetened applesauce. It fluffed up just as well without the angel food mix. I threw in 10 milk chocolate chips when it was done so they could get melty, then added sliced banana. It was GREAT! (And only 3 points!)
Does anyone know how long the balance of the batter can safely stay in the fridge?
Hi Joy, I wouldn’t suggest making the batter ahead. What I did was just mix the two dry cake mixes together and store them in a plastic container in the pantry. Then I just stir together the dry mix and water right before I want to make a little cake. Hope this helps.
Could you use a larger container other than a coffee cup? If so, would you just increase time by the amount of TBSP used?
Hi Renee, yes I imagine you can use a larger container than a coffee mug, but I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure how much extra time would be required. I would say add less time and go up incrementally to prevent overcooking. Hope this helps.
am trying to figure the smart points for this too! Anyone have any success with this?
Hi Karrie, I get 3 SmartPoints. Hope this helps.
LOVE this recipe! It’s a staple for me…chocolate chips and marshmallow cream are two of my favorite additions. 🙂
With the new Smart Points (Beyond the Scale) WW plan, any idea how many points this would be? TIA!
Hi Sarah, I’m not sure how many points this will be with SmartPoints, but more for sure given the reality that foods with added sugars are now higher!!
I think it is 6 or 7 I really loved this with old point system but can not use that many points now.
3 Smart Points
I put this recipe into the WW app recipe builder and came up with 5 smart points per serving. I used angel food cake mix and red velvet cake mis.
I don’t know who or how they calculated the points on this, but it comes out to 7 smart points every time I calculate it. I’ve also seen it listed on other sites as 7 points also.
I get 7 smart points