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This Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe is made in the microwave and is nearly an instant way to get your chocolate fix.

An Easy Mug Cake uses basic ingredients you probably have at home: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, milk, oil, eggs, and chocolate chips. Stir together in a mug, microwave for less than a minute, and voila! Sweet, warm cake.

     

Table of Contents hide
1 Why You Must Make
2 How to Make
3 Expert Tips
4 Frequently Asked Questions
5 You May Also Like:
6 Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe

Why You Must Make

  • This recipe makes just one small-sized cake. It will be slightly larger than an ordinary cupcake.
  • It takes a minute or less to cook, satisfying those chocolate cravings in no time!
  • Making these from scratch saves you money and guarantees they’re made with quality, wholesome ingredients.
3 process shots of mixing mug cake ingreients

Whisk together dry ingredients – Add wet ingredients – Whisk until the batter is smooth

How to Make

  1. Whisk your egg and measure out 3 tablespoons.
  2. In a one-cup capacity, microwave-safe mug, whisk together the dry ingredients.
  3. Whisk in the wet ingredients, then the chocolate chips.
  4. Microwave for about 45 seconds or until risen and the top is firm, though it’s OK to have the very center look underdone.
  5. Remove and let cool a minute or two before topping with ice cream, whipped cream, berries, etc.

Expert Tips

  • Always make sure your mugs are microwave-safe and hold a cup or more of liquid.
  • Check to see if your baking powder (different from baking soda) is active. Spoon some into a cup of hot water and stir. It should bubble vigorously. If it does not, replace it before proceeding with the recipe.
  • Do not overfill your mugs.
  • Do not overcook or the cake will be dry and/or spongy.
  • Test with the least amount of time if given a range. You can always cook a few seconds longer.
  • Make sure to garnish with ice cream or sweetened whipped cream for the ultimate mug cake experience!
Chocolate Mug Cake garnished with cream, mint and berries with a spoonful removed

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Mug Cakes Really Work?

Yes! Though they will never be quite the same as a great homemade cake recipe made from scratch. As long as you measure correctly and use fresh baking powder, they work well. The timing may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave.

Are Mug Cakes Bad for You?

As long as they’re properly cooked so any possible bacteria in the flour or eggs is rendered harmless, mug cakes are no worse for you than any other cake.

How Do You Make Mug Cakes Better?

If you have not liked previous mug cake recipes you’ve tried, try one with egg and chocolate chips. Both add some fat which provides richness. Also, don’t overcook. Try the lower value in the range of times. You can always cook longer.

You May Also Like:

Stay in touch through social media @ Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes! And if you love the results, please give it a 5-star rating in the recipe card.

Overhead view of chocolate mug cake with a spoonful removed
The Recipe:

Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 1 minute
Yield 1

A quick fix for your chocolate cravings, this mug cake is ready in minutes!!

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ tablespoons of flour
  • 1 ½ tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons of milk
  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons beaten egg (or 1 small egg)
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. In a 1 cup capacity (or larger) microwave-safe mug, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, and baking powder.
  2. Mix in the rest of the ingredients until smooth.
  3. Microwave for 45-60 seconds depending on the power of your microwave oven (mine is 1200 watts and took 45 seconds).
  4. Cool for a few minutes, and serve topped with a dollop of whipped cream, a small scoop of ice cream, berries, fudge sauce, caramel sauce, or chocolate shavings, if desired.

Notes

Adpated from Gemma's Bigger Bolder Baking. Gemma used a small egg, but I didn't want to purchase a whole carton. You may use a small egg, whisked, instead of 3 tablespoons.

Check the expiration date on your baking powder. It often expires before you can use it all. To test, put a spoonful in a cup of very hot water. If fresh, it will bubble vigorously.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 390Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 172mgSodium: 204mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 3gSugar: 32gProtein: 11g

Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information obtained is accurate.

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© Liz Berg
Cuisine: American / Category: Cakes