Salted Caramel Coffee Cake Mug Cake

If coffee cake and molten caramel cake had a baby, it would be this Salted Caramel Coffee Cake Mug Cake.

This cozy single-serve dessert starts with a soft vanilla cake, hides a gooey salted caramel center, and gets topped with a buttery cinnamon crumb topping that bakes into golden perfection. Finish it with a simple vanilla glaze, an extra drizzle of warm salted caramel, and a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt, and you've got a bakery-worthy dessert made in one ramekin.

It's everything you love about classic coffee cake, but with a rich caramel surprise tucked inside.

Whether you're enjoying it with your morning coffee, serving it as an easy dessert, or curling up on the couch with a spoon after dinner, this mug cake is guaranteed to hit the spot.

What Makes this Mug Cake So Special

Unlike a traditional mug cake that's made in the microwave, this recipe is baked in the oven.

Baking it in a ramekin gives you:

• a softer, fluffier cake
• a crisp, buttery crumb topping
• a gooey caramel center
• room for plenty of glaze and caramel

The result feels much more like a mini bakery cake than a quick dessert.

Salted Caramel Coffee Cake Ingredients

All-Purpose Flour: Creates the base for thick, buttery crumbs.

Brown Sugar: Adds caramel-like sweetness and helps the crumbs stay soft.

Cinnamon: The signature coffee cake flavor.

Salt: Balances the sweetness.

Melted Butter: Brings everything together into those irresistible bakery-style crumbs.

For the Vanilla Cake

All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure while keeping the cake soft and tender.

Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel flavor.

Granulated Sugar: Balances sweetness and creates a light crumb.

Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise beautifully.

Salt: Enhances all the flavors.

Cinnamon: Just enough to tie the cake to the crumb topping.

Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cake incredibly moist.

Greek Yogurt: Adds richness and creates a soft, tender texture.

Milk: Helps bring the batter together.

Vanilla Extract: Adds warm vanilla flavor throughout the cake.

For the Salted Caramel Center

Salted Caramel Sauce

A thick caramel sauce creates a gooey surprise in the middle of the cake.

For an even more dramatic molten center, freeze small dollops of caramel for about 15–20 minutes before adding them to the batter.

Or try this little trick: Instead of caramel sauce, use 3–4 soft caramel candies (like Kraft caramels), cut into quarters. As they bake, they melt into thick, gooey caramel pockets that stay concentrated in the center instead of soaking into the cake. It's my favorite way to make this recipe!

How to Make a Salted Caramel Coffee Cake Mug Cake

Step 1: Prep the Ramekin

Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 10 to 12-ounce oven-safe ramekin.

Step 2: Make the Crumb Topping

In a small bowl, combine:

• flour
• brown sugar
• cinnamon
• salt

Pour in the melted butter and stir until large crumbs form.

Set aside while you prepare the cake batter.

Step 3: Make the Cake Batter

In a medium bowl, whisk together:

• flour
• brown sugar
• granulated sugar
• baking powder
• salt
• cinnamon

Add:

• vegetable oil
• Greek yogurt
• milk
• vanilla extract

Mix just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 4: Assemble

Pour half of the batter into the prepared ramekin.

Dollop the salted caramel (or caramel candy pieces) into the center.

Cover with the remaining batter.

Sprinkle the crumb topping generously over the top.

Don't press the crumbs into the batter. Leaving them loose creates that classic bakery-style crumb topping.

Step 5: Bake

Bake for 20–24 minutes, or until:

• the crumb topping is lightly golden
• the cake is set around the edges
• a toothpick inserted near the edge comes out with a few moist crumbs

Step 6: Finish

Allow the mug cake to cool for about 10 minutes.

Whisk together the glaze ingredients until smooth.

Drizzle the glaze over the cake, followed by warm salted caramel and a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

Grab a spoon and enjoy while it's still warm.

Tips for the Best Coffee Cake Mug Cake

Use Thick Caramel: A thicker caramel sauce creates a better molten center.

Don't Overmix: Mix the batter only until the flour disappears to keep the cake tender.

Leave the Crumb Topping Loose: Don't pack the crumbs down. This helps create that bakery-style crumb topping everyone loves.

Let It Cool Slightly: Giving the cake a few minutes to cool helps the caramel settle without losing that gooey center.

Fun Variations

Apple Coffee Cake Mug Cake

Add a few small diced apples to the batter.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake Mug Cake

Replace a tablespoon of milk with pumpkin purée and add extra cinnamon.

Chocolate Caramel Coffee Cake

Fold mini chocolate chips into the batter.

Pecan Coffee Cake

Sprinkle chopped pecans over the crumb topping before baking.

Storage

This mug cake is best enjoyed fresh from the oven.

If you have leftovers, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Warm in the microwave for about 20 seconds before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use caramel candies instead of caramel sauce?

Yes! In fact, I highly recommend it. Soft caramel candies create thicker, gooier caramel pockets that stay concentrated in the center of the cake.

Can I make this ahead of time?

This recipe is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers reheat well.

Can I skip the glaze?

Absolutely. The cake is still delicious with just the caramel drizzle.

Can I bake this in a mug?

As long as your mug is oven-safe and large enough to allow the cake to rise, yes.

If you make this Salted Caramel Coffee Cake Mug Cake I would really appreciate a comment and rating down below, under the recipe card. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me over on Instagram, Tik Tok, or Pinterest. For more ideas, check out my Dessert Recipes page.