Most people call it chocolate cake in a mug. Here at Maplewood Road, we call it the 4 C's...Comfort Chocolate Cake in a Cup. It's definitely comfort food.
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You know sometimes how you've craving something sweet? But baking an entire cake seems like way too much work...and anyway, it would be sitting there, tempting you to eat the entire thing...for a week. I don't know about you, but I have no self-control when it comes to sweets, especially chocolate (including my chocolate orange cake)!
The easy solution is to make a single-serving Chocolate Cake in a Mug recipe. You'll satisfy that craving without ruining your diet for the week. It's also an easy and fun dessert to make with kids!
I scoured the internet looking for a recipe, but none of them really piqued my interest...some were way too dry and others too fudgy. So I created my own, taking the best parts of each recipe I found online, and made my own Chocolate Cake in a Mug.
Off to the kitchen I went, like a mad scientist on a mission for CHOCOLATE! I warned you...my chocolate cravings are not pretty. π I got busy mixing and stirring and cooking, and then trying again.
Erich and I taste tested them all...it was a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it, right?! After several attempts, I had a winner! It has a moist yet soft, fluffy consistency and a sweet chocolate-y richness.
My easy recipe takes less than five minutes...about two minutes to mix the ingredients and 90 seconds in the microwave! Seriously, this could not be easier...or more satisfying. And you likely already have all the ingredients in your baking pantry. And there's no need to get all your fancy kitchen equipment out. The only tools you'll need are a few measuring spoons, a fork, a mug, and a microwave.
That's right! No getting your stand mixer dirty, no turning on the oven. And I still get chocolate cake?! What more could a girl ask for?
I'm letting you know now...bookmark this page, save this recipe, because it will be a dessert staple in your house!
And if you want to take it up another notch...scroll down for lots of creative toppings you can add to this dessert, to really make it your own.
π©π»βπ³ Expert tips
- Use a 12 ounce microwave safe mug. The batter will rise as it cooks, then will settle down as it's cooling, but will need the room to expand in the meantime.
- Don't overcook this recipe, or it may become dry. Ninety seconds should be just right for most microwaves...the cake should be moist on top.
π§Ύ Ingredients
- Salted butter
- Egg
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- All purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Baking powder
See the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and their measurements.
π₯£ How to make chocolate cake in a mug
In a 12 ounce microwave safe mug, melt butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Then, crack an egg into the mug, along with the milk and vanilla extract. Whisk all together with a fork.
In a separate bowl, stir together all dry ingredients until well mixed. I found that doing this in a large measuring cup was helpful, so that when I poured it into the mug (the next step), it didn't spill all over.
Add dry ingredients to the mug and mix everything together with a fork, until all ingredients are well blended.
Microwave for 90 seconds. The cake batter will rise and expand as it cooks, then will settle down as it's cooling. The top of the cake should be moist to touch.
Serve warm, but let cool for several minutes before enjoying.
π« Creative variations
- Chocolate Lava Cake in a Mug - After mixing the batter, place 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips or a chunk of chocolate in the top center, along with 1 teaspoon of water. The chocolate will melt into chocolate lava sauce. If the water rolls off the top, the sauce may sink to the bottom, so dig in!
- Caramel Delight - Instead of chocolate chips (as above), use caramel chips instead.
- Coffee Lovers Chocolate Cake - Add a bit of instant espresso powder to the batter or sprinkled on top, for a hint of coffee flavor.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake in a Mug - Spread some peanut butter on top of your cake, or layer it...mix the batter in a separate container, then pour half in the mug, then a layer of PB, then the rest of the batter, then PB again.
- Nutella - Follow the same directions as above for peanut butter, but using Nutella instead.
- Bananas for Bananas - A few slices of banana on top of chocolate cake...or mixed with peanut butter.
- Vanilla Ice Cream - A scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of warm chocolate cake...a classic.
- Homemade Whipped Cream - Whip up some homemade whipped cream for the top of your cake.
- Powdered Sugar - A little powdered sugar sprinkled on top adds just an additional hint of sweetness.
Love desserts? Check out a few more of our dessert recipes:
- Chocolate Orange Cake
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake Bars
- Irish Coffee Chocolate Mousse
- Mint Chocolate Cheesecake
- The Best Banana Nut Bread
- Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Quick & Easy Blueberry Crisp
- Mom's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Strawberry Shortcake Waffles with Nutella
Did you make this Chocolate Cake in a Mug recipe? Did you use one of the creative variations? Let us know in the comments below!
π Recipe
Chocolate Cake in a Mug
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons milk
- ΒΌ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ΒΌ teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- In a 12-oz microwave-safe mug, melt butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
- Then, crack an egg into the mug, along with the milk and vanilla extract. Whisk all together with a fork.
- In a separate bowl, stir together all dry ingredients until well mixed.
- Add dry ingredients to the mug and mix everything together with a fork, until all ingredients are well blended.
- Microwave for 90 seconds. The cake batter will rise and expand as it cooks, then will settle down as itβs cooling. The top of the cake should be moist to touch.Β
- Serve warm, but let cool for several minutes before enjoying.
Notes
- Mug size:Β Use a 12 ounce microwave safe mug. The batter will rise as it cooks, then will settle down as it's cooling, but will need the room to expand in the meantime.
- Don't overcook: Don't overcook this recipe, or it may become dry. Ninety seconds should be just right for most microwaves...the cake should be moist on top.
-
Creative variations
- Chocolate Lava Cake in a Mug -Β After mixing the batter, place 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips or a chunk of chocolate in the top center, along with 1 teaspoon water. The chocolate will melt into chocolate lava sauce. If the water rolls off the top, the sauce may sink to the bottom, so dig in!
- Caramel Delight -Β Instead of chocolate chips (as above), use caramel chips instead.
- Coffee Lovers Chocolate Cake -Β Add a bit of instant espresso powder to the batter or sprinkled on top, for a hint of coffee flavor.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake in a Mug -Β Spread some peanut butter on top of your cake, or layer it...mix the batter in a separate container, then pour half in the mug, then a layer of PB, then the rest of the batter, then PB again.
- Nutella -Β Follow the same directions as above for peanut butter, but using Nutella instead.
- Bananas for Bananas -Β A few slices of banana on top of chocolate cake...or mixed with peanut butter.
- Vanilla Ice Cream -Β A scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of warm chocolate cake...a classic.
- Homemade Whipped Cream -Β Whip up someΒ homemade whipped creamΒ for the top of your cake.
- Powdered Sugar -Β A little powdered sugar sprinkled on top adds just an additional hint of sweetness.
- Suggestion: If you enjoy this cake, you're gonna love our chocolate orange cake!
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Donna
OMG, this is my new favorite quick dessert, thank you!
maplewoodroad
Awesome, thanks! π