I am so excited about this Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake! It’s the first one that I’ve created myself and it’s so good. You get all the flavours of a Hot Cross Bun in a matter of minutes.
Hot Cross Buns are a sweet and spicy yeasted bun traditionally served on Good Friday. They appear in the shops shortly after the Christmas holidays along with Easter Eggs!
Sometimes I really want to enjoy a special sweet treat. This recipe means there is, no need to nip out to the shops because I can mix up a few ingredients and make my own in your microwave in minutes.
This little cake has a great texture and, although it took me a few trials I’ve finally cracked it and got the right balance of fruit, spice, and sugar, so it really tastes just like a Hot Cross Bun.
How to make the cross on the Mug Cake
Here’s how I made the cross on the top of the Mug Cake, this video was made during my testing of the recipe which is why there is a different mug.
Perfect for one
A real indulgence when you are on your own, but if you want more you can easily double up the recipe and make two mug cakes, you will have to cook each one separately though.
Like all mug cakes, it’s best eaten soon after it has been cooked. Just run your knife around the edge of the mug cake and you can take it out of the mug, split and butter it, just like a proper Hot Cross Bun. This is my favourite way to eat this special treat.
I’m adding this Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake to a couple of link-ups. Simply Eggcellent – the Linky Party run by Belleau Kitchen where all things eggy are welcome.
We Should Cocoa – okay, I know there is only a dusting of cocoa on top of my Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake, but it is there!
We Should Cocoa is run by Choclette at Tin and Thyme and hosted this month by Lancashire Food who has chosen eggs as the theme.
More Easter Recipes from Farmersgirl Kitchen
How to make Easter Simnel Cake Easter Simnel Cake is a traditional fruit cake featuring a layer of marzipan inside and on top of the cake. It makes a perfect centrepiece for your Easter table.
Hot Cross Shortbread Cookies are shortbread cookies with all the citrus and spicy flavours of a Hot Cross Bun. It’s the perfect recipe for your cookie jar all year round, but when you dress up these cookies with a piped cross, they make a great addition to your Easter tea table.
How to make Hot Cross Bun Waffles all the flavours of a hot cross bun in a delicious Easter breakfast waffle.
Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast combines sweet and spicy Hot Cross Buns with a sweet egg mixture that is toasted until golden in your air fryer. Serve with your favourite toppings and for an easy and delicious breakfast or brunch.
Simnel Traybake Cake (Slice) is a quick and easy traybake adapted from the traditional marzipan topped Simnel Cake. It is easy to slice and perfect to serve for Mother’s Day or at Easter.
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Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 15 grams butter
- 1/2 medium egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 3 tablespoon soft light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
- 2 tablespoon mixed dried fruit the kind with mixed peel in it
- 3 tablespoon self-raising flour
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
Instructions
- Put the butter into a large mug and microwave for 20 – 30 seconds
- Add the egg, milk and sugar and whisk to combine
- Add the mixed spice, flour and salt and mix until the batter is smooth
- Add the mixed dried fruit and orange zest and mix into the batter
- Microwave the mug cake for 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes 30 seconds, depending on the rating of your microwave.
- While you leave the cake to cool slightly, make a cross with two strips of foil or paper, lay these over the mug and using a sieve or tea strainer to dust the top of the mug with cocoa. Remove the strips of foil or paper and you will reveal your cross.
Notes
- When microwaving your mug cake, start with 1 minute 30 seconds, then if still wet on top cook for a further 20 seconds at a time until it is just firm on top.
- Try not to overcook or your cake may be dry.
- You can make any shape for the top of your Hot Cross Bun, the cross is traditional but if you have other stencils or shapes, you can use those, a heart would be fun.
- Or simply dust all of the bun with cocoa or as an alternative to cocoa you could use cinnamon
Lancashire Food says
Ooh I love mug cakes and so clever of you to get the cross on the top, thanks for linking to We should cocoa.
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Lindsey, I was pretty pleased with that cross myself!
Stuart says
Sounds absolutely scrummy Janice! Happy Easter X
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Stuart, you too!
Lucy @ BakingQueen74 says
I love the sound of this and will be trying it this weekend!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Lucy, let me know how you get on.
Helen at Casa Costello says
Janice, you are a genius! This is so clever – I may treat my girls.
Chris @thinlyspread says
Oh my! I am a new microwave user, I think this will be my first mug cake, how fab!
Janice Pattie says
Oh I’m so pleased Chris. I use my microwave a lot but mainly for reheating and defrosting, it’s a whole different thing baking in it, but a bit of perseverance and I was pleased with how it came out.
Corina says
I love the fact you can still butter it like a ‘real’ hot cross bun! It looks like the texture is good too.
Heidi Roberts says
This looks amazing! I must try it over the weekend!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Heidi, let me know how you get on.
Jo of Jo's Kitchen says
This looks delicious! The perfect quick treat for Easter weekend
kellie@foodtoglow says
SO CUTE!! Great idea. Can I ask you Janice how you achieve your half an egg, or do you make two? Pinning, etc :_
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Kellie, you could make two, I just guessed half the egg after beating it, but I suppose you could weigh it if you wanted to be accurate, I made I
The mug cake three times and it didn’t seem to matter if the egg amount was accurate.
Katy says
Absolutely love this idea. So clever and sounds delicious x
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Katy, it was fun to make
Sammie says
This is such a brilliant idea. Shame on me that I’ve not yet made a mug cake. Love this and love hot cross buns so perfect combination. Great post. Sammie X.
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Sammie, hope this has inspired you to have a go at making a mug cake.
Dom says
oh my word! What a genius idea. I love how it still looks quite bready too. I’ve yet to make a mug cake… well, I made one once but it wasn’t very nice so I need to try again. Thanks so much for linking to Simply Eggcellent xx
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Dom, my previous mug cake experience wasn’t good either, so I worked hard on this one to get the texture and flavour right.
[email protected] says
Wow… I love this. It is so cool and cute, and it is quick and easy, looks delicious. I can’t wait to try this and share with my family. I am also thinking to use cheese to make the cross on top. 🙂
Janice Pattie says
Thanks yung, I guess cheese would work, although it is quite a sweet cake.
[email protected] says
I tried it twice. It is delicious, but quite difficult to maintain the shape when takes it out from the mug. Also, when adding in the flour, it forms lots of lumps, take me some efforts to make the batter smooth. I have reduced the sugar added when trying for the second time, it is too sweet for me. 🙂
Janice Pattie says
Thanks for letting me know how you got on. Perhaps a little oil or butter around the mug might help get it out in one piece. The sweetness is a matter of taste I guess.
Glamorous Glutton says
What a great idea, very clever. I’ve bought a couple of mug cake books but not actually made any. I love hot cross buns so this would be a great last minute treat. GG
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Amanda, you should get those books out and try some recipes!
Emma @ Adventures of a London Kiwi says
Get in mah belly *insert proper comment here after mouth stops watering*.
Such a clever idea to use the tea bag strainer!
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Emma, it’s just a tiny sieve really, I use it quite a lot!
Choclette says
I’m super impressed, your cake really looks like a hot cross bun when you slice into it. Also impressed with your video. As the cocoa features in that so strongly, I’m so glad you shared it with We Should Cocoa.
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Choclette. I was so pleased with the result and it simply wouldn’t have looked so good without the dusting of cocoa to make the cross. Hoping practice makes perfect with the videos!