With Fathers Day just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to create Coffee Mug Cake tutorial! This cake is so simple to create and can be personalized to fit all sorts of themes!
(Keep this in mind for winter months also & throw a few “marshmallows” in the mug for a sweet hot chocolate cake theme!)
*Update 1/9/20: We now have a free cake video tutorial for a very similar mug cake design for Valentines Day! If youd like to see it, you can find it here: I Love You a Latte- A Free Cake Video Tutorial for Coffee Mug Cake!
Looking for Even More Father’s Day Cake Ideas?
If youre looking for even more fun and simple Fathers Day cake ideas, we have you covered. Make sure to stop by our Roundup of Favorite Fathers Day Cakes (after finishing this mug cake post of course!). Have fun scrolling through!
How to Make a Coffee Mug Cake
If the dad in your life loves coffee (or hot chocolate), he needs this cake for Fathers Day!
First step…the handle~
To be on the safe side, youll want to start out at least a few days in advance. This will ensure that it has enough time to dry. I created my “snake” of gum paste, formed it into the handle shape, and pushed a lollipop stick into each end.
If you dont have gum paste, you can knead tylose into your fondant until it takes on a more elastic (gum-paste-like) consistency.
(If you are in a time crunch, you could use sturdy floral wire to drive all the way through your soft gum paste handle. You would just need to cover the exposed wire anchors with a plastic stir straw.)
I started with a six inch round cake. My three layers topped out at approximately five inches tall. This seemed to be a good height for me, but mugs come in all shapes and sizes so go with whatever youd like!
As usual, after filling and stacking my layers, I did just a small amount of trimming to even up the sides. (This is an optional step and one that you wouldnt want to do with a super soft cake.)
Next, I frosted my cake with a crusting vanilla buttercream and gave it a twirl on my turntable, using a bench scraper to smooth the sides as I spun.
I briefly chilled my frosted cake in the freezer (10 minutes or until frosting firms up) and then smoothed over everything with a spatula that had been dipped in very hot water.
(This is known as the “hot knife” method of smoothing. Use whatever your preferred method is!)
Next, I made an impression using a circle cutter that was a little smaller than the top of my cake. This was my guide for the opening of my mug. Make sure that you dont make the “inner circle” too close to the edge of the cake, otherwise that little ledge will be fragile.
Following my circle impression, I made my way around the cake with a sharp knife. You can tell by the photo that I didnt insert the knife very far…maybe a ½ inch or so.
Then, it was time to remove a little cake! I find it easiest to divide the top of that inner circle into halves or fourths. Just angle your knife and slice into the cake. As you can see, I did not go very deep.
After removing the center of the cake, I used a piping bag filled with buttercream (no tip) to pipe over the little inner “wall” of cake.
Now, coffee time! I used a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 12 round tip and filled with “Chocolate Brown”- tinted buttercream to cover the remaining bit of exposed cake. (I started in the center and spiraled outward until everything was covered.)
A little finishing touch for the top of the mug… I used a small piece of a Viva brand paper towel to smooth over my crusted buttercream.
Next, its time to think about the design on our mug cake!
Since we are making a Fathers Day themed mug, I wanted a fun design fitting for the dads out there. A good place to find Fathers Day inspiration is T-shirt websites, greeting cards, and of course, a google search for Fathers Day mugs!
For my design, I rolled out some fondant (tinted Lemon Yellow) and used a homemade template to cut out my shape. Let your fondant sit out several minutes after rolling if it seems very soft so that you can handle it more easily.
I used my pre-colored red fondant for my letters. (I kneaded in a bit of tylose powder to help things along.) You can see that I also outlined my yellow cut-out with my black food coloring pen.
Hooray, time to make our mug really look like a mug with the addition of our dried gum paste handle. Here I am, pushing it straight into the side.
As an optional step, I decided to make a little steam. This was done with a piping bag (minus tip) filled with melted white candy coating. Keep in mind that youll be using the bottom of the “steam” as an anchor into the cake and so you will be losing a bit of length.
I couldnt decide…wavy steam or curled? I made lots of steam options, popped my parchment lined cookie sheet in the freezer for about five minutes and they were ready.
Thats all there is to it!
I LOVE how this Super Dad mug came out, and as someone who can never get enough coffee, I wish it was real! This would also be so cute for your winter or snowy day themed parties as a hot chocolate cake too…just needs a few marshmallows! File it away in your list of cakes to try–youll love it!
Making a REALISTIC Coffee Mug CAKE
FAQ
Why is my mug cake not fluffy?
Why are mug cakes so dense?
Why is coffee cake coffee cake?
How do you make a coffee mug cake?
If you like coffee, but you just are not in the mood for an entire cup of it, and cake sounds real good, then an easy coffee mug cake is perfect! Mix flour, coffee, creamer, and sugar together in a microwave-safe mug. Microwave on high power until cake looks done in the middle, about 3 minutes. Let stand for 1 minute before serving.
Can You microwave coffee mug cake?
Short Microwave Burst: Return the mug cake to the microwave and nuke on HIGH for 30 seconds. Carefully remove the mug cake from the microwave. Add Crumb Topping, Microwave Again: Finally, sprinkle all but 1 tablespoon of the crumb topping all over the top of the partially cooked coffee mug cake.
How do you make a streusel mug cake?
Make the streusel. In a small bowl, add your streusel ingredients and mix until combined. Microwave the mug cake. Transfer the cake batter into a mug and spoon the streusel topping over it and microwave for 1-2 minutes or until cooked. Allow cooling for 1-2 minutes before enjoying! Microwaves differ based on make and model.
How do you eat a coffee mug cake?
Garnish and Serve: Let the coffee mug cake cool on the counter for at least 1 minute before topping with the remaining crumbles, cinnamon sugar, drizzling with icing or dessert sauces, and a dolloping with whipped cream, if using. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.