This chocolate mug cake recipe is a complete game changer, bestie! Ready in less than 5 minutes, super simple, and made in a microwave (that's right, you don't need to heat up the oven) andโฆwait for itโฆit's moist and delicious too! None of that dry pseudo chocolate cake in a mug business here.
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A chocolate mug cake recipe is one of those super simple desserts that everyone needs to have in their back pocketโฆjust in case a situation arises. And in the case of my recipe below, you can certainly have it all by yourself, but I think mug cakes are best eaten with a scoop of ice cream, and someone you care about.
My quest for the best Chocolate Mug Cake recipe
The very first time I made a chocolate mug cake was at the end of 2013. I remember it quite clearly. I had landed in Canada just a couple of months before, and the temperature shock (there was an ice storm. AN ICE STORM! WHAT. IS. AN. ICE. STORM?!) had confined me to the home.
One night, while watching an episode of Say Yes to the Dress, I decided I wanted chocolate cake. Which I believe is a completely natural impulse when watching Say Yes to the Dress.
(Honestly, I'm actually surprised they don't have more chocolate cake and ice cream ads during that show.)
Of course, as the fates would have it, we didn't have any cake - chocolate or otherwise - at home. And I only had a few minutes before the ads would end, and the show would resume. Mug cake was my only hope.
I had never made it before. I went ahead without a recipe.
What? I'm a maverick like that. It's one of my most moderately tolerable qualities.
Besides, all you need is some eggs, flour, cocoa powder, maybe a little milk, some oil. Toss it together in a cup, and throw it in a microwave. And you get chocolate cake in a microwave. It's like magic!
Except…my results were not magical, bestie. It was awful. It was a steaming, brown, mildly chocolate-flavoured sponge, stuck inside a cup. And once my cousins were done mocking me for the aforementioned steaming, brown, mildly chocolate-flavoured sponge I was forcing myself to eat, they told me that microwaveable mug cake was actually a product you could buy at the supermarket; something that I should pick up next time I went out.
So, of course I promised myself there and then that I'd learn how to make a mug cake without having to resort to buying the premix. I scoured the internet for recipes, and I just couldn't find one that I was happy with.
Sometimes the mug cake was too crumbly, sometimes it was too spongy. Sometimes it tasted terrible. Other times, it tasted worse than terrible. And then I finally began experimenting, and this glorious recipe for 5-minute chocolate mug cake was born.
(Okay, it didn't happen quickly. I experimented for months with many very disappointing results. But after adapting this microwave mug cake recipe, I finally found what I believe to be the best chocolate mug cake recipe.)
3 Reasons this is the perfect Chocolate Mug Cake recipe
- It's quick. Not kidding, you're going to be eating it within 5 minutes!
- It's easy. Doesn't require any fancy ingredients, and though whipped cream and ice cream are excellent alongside this recipe, it does not require either to turn it into a delicious moist chocolate mug cake recipe.
- And it's made in a freakin' mug! Don't even get me started on mug cake recipes that need to be made in gigantic bowl size batches using electric whisks and what have you. (Suffice to say, I think having to do all that goes against the point of making a basic mug cake recipe like that.)
3 things you should know before making Chocolate Cake in a Mug
How does mug cake compare to real cake?
Here's the honest truth, bestie: Mug cakes (chocolate, or otherwise) are not the same as real cakes. However, they are beautiful and delicious in their own way. They exist to satisfy a very special craving.
You know the one I'm talking about, that sudden need for chocolate cake; the feeling that if you don't get a slice of cake in the next 5 minutes your soul will remove itself from your body to forever haunt the corridors of your apartment building while looking for an unattended slice of cake to make itself whole once more.
Trust me, bestie. Nobody wants a hungry ghostie looming their corridors. Have you ever heard your stomach rumble? Imagine how scary that would sound if that rumbling was coming from a hollow-bellied apparition in your corridor.
Exactly.
And if you happen to be looking for a real honest-to-goodness chocolate cake recipe, check out this Two-Layer Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cocoa Buttercream Frosting.
Don't overfill, otherwise it will spill.
We all want a lot of cake. And seeing cake burst out of the top of a cup can be quite a sight too. But please refrain from overfilling your mug (your cup should be halfway filled, two-thirds full at the most!). You'll save yourself from cleaning up a sticky mess in your microwave!
Enjoy immediately
We've established that a chocolate mug cake is not exactly the same as chocolate cake that you bake in the oven. And to that effect, your mug cake does not need to be cooled for a long time. It won't take long for a mug cake to lose its flavour and texture. So, once it’s ready, grab your spoon and any toppings you'd like and dig in!
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Variation ideas
So, you’ve made this chocolate cake in a mug a thousand times, and now you’re looking for ways to mix it up a little. Don’t worry, bestie. I got you:
- Peanut butter is wonderful with chocolate. Warm a tablespoon of it and use it like a frosting.
- Go playful with sprinkles on top!
- Nutella is…well, Nutella. Grab a spoonful of chocolate cake, and scoop up a little Nutella too.
- If you like darker, more caramelized flavours, try swapping out the white granulated sugar for brown sugar.
- Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of your chocolate mug cake.
More mug cake recipes
Here are a few more simple mug cake recipes that you’re sure to love!
Helpful Tools
The links below are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase using them, I will receive a small commission. And that would be lovely of you. Thank you.
- You will need a microwave-safe mug. Ideally something cute and talk-worthy, like this Flamingo Mug.
- Or if you, like me, feel like a lazy elephant that always misses your morning yoga routine…then this Namast’ay in Bed mug is perfect for you. Actually, it’s perfect for me too. Hold on. I’m ordering it for myself.
That's all for today! If you tried this recipe, please do comment below and let me know what you think!
๐ Recipe
5-Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 mug cake 1x
Description
Ready in less than 5 minutes, this delicious chocolate mug cake recipe is made using the microwave. A complete game changer!
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp cake flour
- 4 tbsp white sugar
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 medium or small egg
- 3 tbsp milk
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- ยฝ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips (I prefer dark chocolate)
Instructions
- Mix flour, sugar, and cocoa powder in a large cup. Add egg and mix into the flour mixture (don't worry if it doesn't mix in completely).
- Pour in the milk, oil, and vanilla extract. And mix well.
- Add chocolate chips, mixing a few in the middle/bottom of the cup, while letting a few stay near the top of the mixture.
- Place the cup in the centre of your microwave, cook on high for 1 ยฝ – 2 minutes (depending on your microwave). Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use All-Purpose flour too.
- Best served with ice cream or whipped cream.
- In many cases, this will rise out of the top of cup or mug. So be sure to use a large one, or a microwaveable bowl if you don't want that to happen!
Pro Tip - for super easy clean-up, butter the inside of your mug before starting.
Super Pro Tip - if you want to go for a slightly more crumbly cake, use a small egg instead.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Microwave
- Cuisine: American
Katelyn
Question about this recipe.
My super market only has large, extra large and jumbo eggs, not medium or small. Would a large egg work in this recipe?
Riz
Hi Katelyn,
Yes! Or rather, yes in the sense that you will get a slightly denser cake. But you should still get a quick and delicious chocolate mug cake. For a crumblier cake, a smaller egg is the way to go. Alternatively, if you want to experiment – you could opt for the largest egg, and use 1.5x-double portions of everything else (though I’ve not tried that personally).Hope that helps!
Riz
Ari
One thing we’ve often done to scale recipes up or down is whisk the egg thoroughly first… then you can just use 1/2 to 2/3 of it and save the rest for a future scramble/omelet/whatever ๐
Riz
That’s a great way to go about it! Thanks for chiming it!
Colleen
OK, I’m trying this, next time I have a late night craving! It sounds so crazily simple and delicious. I’ve never seen a mug cake in the store, and I know that if I did, I would never buy it, but this looks perfect. Bring on the next chocolate cake craving!
Riz
Thanks for commenting, Colleen! And yes – perfect for late night cravings!
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I’ve never made a mug cake!! But this looks delicious, and what better way to satisfy a chocolate craving quickly than with a 5-minute mug cake!
Riz
Hey Leanne! You’ve never made a mug cake?? You have to give it a try! Even if its just to know how they differ from regular cakes!
Kristen
Oh my, this sounds incredible – perfect for this chilly weather we’re having. Can’t wait to give these a try.
Riz
Thanks Kristen! I hope you enjoy them! Keep warm ๐
Lindsay S
Okay. This was just perfect. I had it with ice cream and chopped walnuts. Heaven!
Riz
Hi there, Lindsay! Thank you for commenting…Ice cream and chopped walnuts..mmmm! Sounds fantastic!
Savannah H
Can you use coconut oil?
Riz
Hey Savannah, I’ve not tried this myself…but I think it should be okay! Let me know how it goes ๐
Edith
Hello! This sounds like a yummy recipe. I was wondering if it is possible to omit sugar altogether or reducing it?
Riz
Hi Edith! Yes, you can reduce/omit the sugar for this recipe (though the recipe is not super sweet as is, so you’ll need to make a judgement call based on what sort of sweetness you enjoy). Best of luck! And let me know how it goes ๐
Amina
This recipe sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try it because I’ve got everything! Could I use All purpose flour instead of cake flour?
Riz
Hi Amina! Yes, you should be fine with all-purpose flour for this one ๐
Noah
It sucked!!!! Did not work at all!!!!!!
Riz
Oh no…what went wrong, Noah? (I’ve made this dozens of times without any issues!)
Claycomb
Does it need any leavening agent such as Baking Powder or Baking Soda to make it rise and a less dense?
Riz
Hi there! This recipe doesn’t use a leavening agent, but you can add one if you prefer. I avoided it here as mug cakes are so small, it would be a pretty tiny amount of baking powder (meaning it would be easy for beginners to make mistakes) – I’d start with around 1/8 tsp.
Hope that helps!