Mug Cake
on Apr 01, 2024
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Our quick and easy Mug Cake recipe is the perfect fix for when you are needing a warm, sweet treat in just under 10 minutes. This cake is rich, moist, fluffy, and the perfect size for when you need a little treat!
Sometimes you want to have dessert without going through all the effort of getting out your hand held mixer, heating up the oven, and waiting 40 minutes for the dessert to cook. This mug cake is the perfect alternative! The cake is incredibly easy to make, and tastes just as amazing as a layered cake. All you have to do is whisk your ingredients together and throw the batter in the microwave for about a minute.
I like to add extra chocolate chips and chopped nuts to the cake batter for more texture and flavor. To take your mug cake to the next level, try adding a few scoops of vanilla ice cream. Whether you doctor up your cake or eat it plain, you will find yourself running back to the kitchen to make another as soon as it’s gone.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is the perfect size for when you need a little treat.
- Can be prepared and cooked in the same mug, making for an easy clean up.
- Only uses a handful of ingredients that you likely already have.
- Creates a perfectly moist and fluffy cake each time!
Recipe Ingredients
- Flour—Will give your cake a firm structure while keeping it light and airy.
- Sugar—To sweeten the cake.
- Butter—Helps melt the chocolate and incorporate it into the batter.
- Milk—Moistens the cake so it doesn’t dry out. We prefer to use whole milk.
- Chocolate Chips—Try switching up the kind of chocolate for a different flavor!
- Baking Powder—Contributes to the fluffy structure of the cake and prevents it from caving in on itself.
- Cocoa Powder—Enhances the chocolatey flavor of your cake.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Mug Cake
Step #1. Split the butter and chocolate chips between two mugs. Melt the butter and chocolate chips in the microwave.
Step #2. Heat the mixture in short increments, stirring in between each time until the chocolate is completely melted.
Step #3. Whisk in the remaining ingredients with a fork. Once the batter is homogenous, cook the cake in the microwave until the center is fully cooked.
Step #4. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
A mug cake is exactly what it sounds like; a single serving cake that is prepared and baked in the same mug. If you have ever wanted a sweet treat, but didn’t want to take the time to make a whole cake and have tons of leftovers, then this is the perfect solution! With a mug cake, you can satisfy that sweet craving without having to make a whole cake and waste time.
The most common cause of a dry mug cake is overcooking it. The butter and milk will naturally moisten your cake, but that can be easily undone when you overcook your cake. Start with just a minute, and then continue adding 20-30 seconds until the middle is cooked all the way through. You can make sure your cake is cooked through all the way by poking it with a toothpick. The toothpick should come out mostly clean.
You can grease the mug or coat it with cooking spray before you pour in the batter. This will ensure that the cake does not stick to the mug as well as make it easier for you to remove the cake. You can also rub the inside of your mug down with butter.
How to Serve and Store Mug Cake
A mug cake is the perfect single serving cake! I love to top the mug cake with vanilla ice cream or this easy homemade cake batter ice cream to contrast the rich chocolate flavor. You can use any toppings to customize it, or eat it plain. Other flavors like red velvet cake or funfetti cake would taste delicious too.
This cake is best served fresh, however you can cover your cake with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Enjoy the cake cold or reheat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. It is important to note that reheating your cake can cause it to dry out a little bit.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to get a mug that is big enough for the cake! If there is no space at the top of the mug, it will most likely overflow in the microwave as it cooks.
- You can ensure your cake is cooked all the way through by poking it with a fork or knife. As long as the utensil comes out mostly clean then you are good to go.
- For some extra flavor, you can add 2 tablespoons of peanut butter to your cake batter. You can also use white chocolate or butterscotch chips to modify the flavor of the cake.
- It is also easy to customize the intensity of the chocolate in this recipe. You can use dark chocolate chips and Dutch processed cocoa powder if you want a richer cake! For a lighter cake, you can use milk chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder.
More Cake Recipes To Consider
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Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- Melt the butter and chocolate chips butter in a 16 ounce mug. Start with 30 seconds and continue heating the mixture for 30 seconds at a time until the chocolate is completely melted. Stir the mixture after each interval.
- Whisk in the remaining ingredients with a fork. Once the batter is homogenous, cook the cake in the microwave for 1 minute. If the center of the cake is not fully cooked then you can add an additional 30 seconds.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If you have an 8 ounce mug you can divide this recipe in half!
- It is very easy to customize the intensity of chocolate in this recipe. You can use dark chocolate chips and Dutch process cocoa powder for a richer cake. You can use milk chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder for a lighter cake.
- This cake is best served fresh; however you can cover your cake with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Enjoy your cake cold or reheat it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
- We like to top our mug cake with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream.
- For some extra flavor, try adding 2 tablespoons of peanut butter to your cake batter. You can also use peanut butter, white chocolate, or butterscotch chips to modify the flavor of the cake.
- You can ensure your cake is cooked through all the way by poking it with a toothpick or knife. As long as the utensil comes out mostly clean then you are good to go.
