This 5-minute Chocolate Brownie Mug Cake is a rich and decadent dessert with such an incredibly soft and moist texture, that you'll be surprised it was made in a microwave!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
These Microwave Mug Cakes are the easiest and fastest cake you'll ever make. In just 5 minutes, you can enjoy the warmth of a freshly baked cake bursting with rich, chocolate flavour – all without the hassle of firing up the oven. This has become my go-to choice for satisfying those sweet cravings when I don't have the time or energy to bake. Why are mug cakes such a hit?
- Easy, fast, and family-friendly - with just a handful of simple ingredients, a mug, and a microwave, these cakes are so easy to make that even kids can join in the fun of creating their own sweet treats.
- Effortless cleanup - say goodbye to kitchen chaos – with these mug cakes, everything is mixed and cooked directly in the coffee mug, eliminating the need for messy cleanup. Enjoy your cake straight from the mug for a hassle-free dessert.
- Endless customization - experiment with a variety of flavour combinations and toppings to create a mug cake that perfectly suits your taste buds.
- Basic pantry staples - no need for fancy ingredients. This recipe uses everyday essentials like flour, milk, vegetable oil, and a few extras. You'll have everything you need to whip up a delightful mug cake whenever the craving strikes.
- Vegan-friendly adaptability - making these mug cakes suitable for a vegan diet is a breeze with simple ingredient choices like plant-based milk and a vegan sweetener like maple syrup.
Ingredients
Please see recipe card below for exact quantities.
- Flour - while I typically opt for all-purpose flour, feel free to swap it out with cake flour if you prefer.
- Maple syrup - I like the natural sweetness of maple syrup, but honey, agave nectar, or granulated sugar are fine alternatives to use instead to sweeten your mug cake.
- Unsweetened almond milk - I prefer unsweetened almond milk for its low-calorie content and absence of added sugars, but any milk you have on hand will work just as well in this recipe.
- Vegetable oil - I prefer vegetable oil but canola oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil will also provide the necessary moisture and richness to your mug cake.
- Baking powder - essential for achieving that delightful rise and fluffy texture in your mug cake.
- Vanilla extract - add a splash of delicious vanilla flavour.
- Cocoa powder - unsweetened cocoa powder for a rich, chocolatey taste.
- Dark chocolate chunks - break a couple pieces off of a bar of dark chocolate, and insert it into the middle of the mug cake for an irresistibly gooey melted chocolate centre.
- Powdered sugar - for our delicious lemon glaze topping!
Instructions
STEP 1: Into a mug, combine and stir the dry ingredients.
STEP 2: Pour in wet ingredients, and mix with dry ingredients until mixture turns into a smooth batter.
STEP 3: Add 2-3 pieces of dark chocolate into the middle of the cake batter. Microwave for 80 seconds or until cooked (cooking times may vary depending on your microwave).
STEP 4: When the cake is ready, take it out and let it cool down for a minute. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top if you like (totally optional). Enjoy!
Equipment
For this recipe, all you need is a microwave oven and a coffee mug! Make sure to choose a mug that's large enough in size, as the cake batter will rise and expand during cooking. I recommend opting for a mug with a capacity of at least 10 ounces (283 ml) to ensure it can comfortably contain the cake once it fully expands.
Toasty's Tips
- Microwave ovens vary in power, so it's important to adjust cooking times accordingly. I recommend starting with microwaving for 80 seconds, then checking its doneness. If it needs more time, continue cooking in 15-second increments until it reaches the desired consistency.
- To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the centre of the mug cake. If it comes out clean, indicating no batter residue, the cake is ready to be enjoyed. If batter clings to the toothpick, it needs a bit more cooking time.
- As for toppings, choose what you like! For this recipe, you can use chocolate chips as a mix-in (in place of the dark chocolate pieces), coconut flakes, chopped nuts, seeds, even a few fresh raspberries as a topping. It's totally up to you!
FAQ
Can I add protein powder to my mug cake?
For sure! Adding protein powder into this recipe is a great way to boost its nutritional content with an extra protein kick. However, when integrating protein powder (or any dry ingredients like powdered supplements), make sure to add a splash of milk or another liquid into the mixture. This ensures that your mug cake retains its desired texture and moisture level, resulting in a delightful treat every time.
Do I have to use a coffee mug? Can I use something else?
Great question! Although "mug cake" suggests the use of a traditional coffee mug, you can opt to use any type of microwave-safe container, as long as it's roughly the size of a standard mug (and at least 10 ounces in capacity). Ramekins or microwave-safe glass/ceramic bowls work just as well.
Other Mug Cake Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe Card
Chocolate Brownie Mug Cake
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- salt - pinch
Wet Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
- 1.5 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1.5 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Toppings
- 1 tablespoon dark chocolate
Instructions
- Into a mug, combine and stir the dry ingredients.
- Pour in wet ingredients, and mix with dry ingredients until mixture turns into a smooth batter.
- Add 2-3 pieces of dark chocolate into the middle of the cake batter.
- Microwave for 80 seconds or until cooked (cooking times may vary depending on your microwave).
- When the cake is ready, take it out and let it cool down for a minute. Sprinkle some powdered sugar on top if you like (totally optional). Enjoy!
Notes
- Video: Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here.
- Microwave ovens vary in power, so it's important to adjust cooking times accordingly. I recommend starting with microwaving for 80 seconds, then checking its doneness. If it needs more time, continue cooking in 15-second increments until it reaches the desired consistency.
- To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the centre of the mug cake. If it comes out clean, indicating no batter residue, the cake is ready to be enjoyed. If batter clings to the toothpick, it needs a bit more cooking time.
- I recommend opting for a mug with a capacity of at least 10 ounces (283 ml) to ensure it can comfortably contain the cake once it fully expands.
- As for toppings, choose what you like! For this recipe, you can use chocolate chips as a mix-in (in place of the dark chocolate pieces), coconut flakes, chopped nuts, seeds, even a few fresh raspberries as a topping. It's totally up to you!
STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO
You can find step-by-step video tutorials for all of my recipes on my YouTube Channel. There you'll find many more tips and tricks to help you along!
Nutrition
Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tish says
Unbelievably chocholatey and gooey. Delicious and a quick hit of yummy without having to bake and eat an entire cake.
Toasty says
Thanks so much for the comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!