Quick & Easy Chocolate Mug Cake (Single-Serve)
I remember my mom coming home from a trip once with a gift for me of a bowl and spoon. At first, I was like “…weird but thanks?” until I realized there was a recipe card attached to the bowl for making a cake in the microwave. Color me fascinated.
As someone with a massive sweet tooth (if you couldn’t tell) I know firsthand that sometimes you just need a quick fix. That’s where a mug cake comes perfectly into play.
This chocolate mug cake gives you a healthy serving of rich cake with ribbons of melted chocolate throughout. I love to dust the top of mine with powdered sugar but it pairs beautifully with whipped cream or even a scoop of ice cream!
WHAT IS A MUG CAKE?
Well, my friends, it’s a cake that is baked inside of one of your favorite coffee mugs. It’s often a delicious quick fix for when you have the insatiable craving for something sweet, without wanting the hassle of too much baking. The cake itself is baked inside your microwave making it quick and easy! There are also very few dishes as most mug cakes come together all inside the mug itself! Mug cakes tend to be a little more dense but are still delightfully yum and perfect for curing a sweet tooth!
What size mug do I need for this cake? Your cake will rise a little as it cooks in the microwave so you want one that leaves a little room for growth. An 8-ounce mug should do the trick (or anything larger)!
INGREDIENTS
- Flour – Necessary to bind the ingredients together and help your cake’s structure
- Sugar – Brings the sweetness to this treat
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – The key chocolate flavor in your cake
- Baking Powder – Gives your tiny cake a little rise
- Salt – Just a pinch is all you need to maximize the flavors in this cake
- Milk – Loosens up your batter while providing a little bit of fat
- Canola Oil – Brings moisture and fat to each bite of cake
- Beaten Egg – You need a little egg for binding, just not a whole egg for a single-serve cake
- Vanilla Extract – Rounds out the flavors in this mug cake
- Hot Water – Adds moisture to your cake while also activating the flavor of the cocoa powder
- Chocolate Chips – Provides a ribbon of melted chocolate in every bite
There is only a tablespoon of egg in this cake? Yep! This is a single serving of cake so a whole egg would be too much and likely result in an eggy flavor. Just crack an egg into a container, whisk it together, and measure. You can use the rest in another recipe (like this Mini Key Lime Cheesecake) or make an egg sandwich with it!
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
This cake comes together all in an 8 oz mug! Grab your favorite one and add in your flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, stirring together with a fork until well combined.
To your mug, add in your wet ingredients: milk, oil, beaten egg, and vanilla extract, and stir to combine. Pour in your hot water, whisking everything together with your fork until smooth and well combined. Then fold in your chocolate chips and pop them in the microwave.
Cook on high in the microwave for 70 seconds. Then, allow your cake to set for 1 minute before checking with a toothpick to see if it’s done. If your cake is too wet in the center, microwave an additional 10-20 seconds.
Your cake will be hot so let it cool for a few minutes and then enjoy! It’s delicious on its own or dusted with powdered sugar, whipped cream, or with a scoop of ice cream.
3 reasons you’ll love this mug cake
TIPS & VARIATIONS
- Microwave times and temperatures do vary. After the initial 70 seconds of cook and cool time, use a toothpick to test your mug cake for doneness to see if it needs to bake for more time
- If you prefer milk, white, or a combination of chocolate flavors, feel free to substitute the semi-sweet chocolate for different flavors for that gooey deliciousness you’re looking for
HOW DO I STORE THIS?
In your belly. If you can’t finish it, simply cover it tightly with foil. The cake will keep at room temperature for up to two days or in the fridge for a week. Mug cakes are really best eaten right away though, so keep that in mind ahead of storing it.
MORE CHOCOLATE RECIPES
This Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread makes for a decadent treat that *sneaky sneaky* hides 2 cups of veggies inside! If you’re looking for a little more mug action, my Single-Serve S’mores Hot Chocolate is thick, creamy, and just da bomb.
Equipment
- 8oz microwave-safe mug
- Fork
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/8 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp canola oil
- 1 tbsp beaten egg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp hot water
- 1 tbsp chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe mug (about 8 oz), whisk together with a fork your flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until well combined
- To your mug, add the milk, oil, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Pour in your hot water and stir everything until smooth and well combined. Lastly, fold in your chocolate chips.
- Place your mug in the microwave and cook on high for 70 seconds, allowing it to set for 1 minute. Check your cake, if it is too wet in the center, microwave for an additional 10-20 seconds.
- Let it cool for a few minutes (it will be very hot!) and then enjoy as is or dusted with powdered sugar or whipped cream (or both, you do you!). This also pairs deliciously with a scoop of ice cream
