Chocolate Mug Cakes!
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Easy and delicious chocolate mug cakes with a gooey centre that are ready in minutes!
Chocolate mug cakes
Hello chocolate mug cakes! So it’s an obvious thing if you read my blog, or look for recipes on here, that I adore chocolate… and cake. To be fair, I prefer cookies or brownies over cake in general, but sometimes thats just down to the fact that they’re easier to make. Therefore, I wanted to finally publish a recipe that is SO EASY that it’ll be rude for you guys to not try it. Honestly, six ingredients, no butter or eggs, and ready in less than five minutes.
I’ve tried several mug cake recipes over my time, as they’re just so easy. When you want a slice of chocolate cake, and you either don’t want to bake an entire one yourself, or you don’t want to buy one. Literally, whisking together some ingredients together and microwaving the mug cake, and huzzah you have a fudgey, chocolatey and delicious treat. I went for chocolate for my first mug cake recipe, but don’t worry… I will be posting plenty more as the time passes!
Serves one
I decided to make two of them for the photos to have a little more impact than just one.. but the recipe is designed for just one mug. Obviously, you have to make sure that the mug you use, that it can actually go in a microwave. I once tried to use one of my favourite mugs… but that went a little wrong. Let’s just say it had to go straight in the bin. But anyway, I used these cute mugs that I got from my local Starbucks, and they were the perfect size!
Raising agent
I tried this recipe with some baking powder, and it does work and make it more fluffy, but personally I wanted a denser and more gooey cake. You can add in 1/2 tsp of baking powder, but its entirely optional. I used self raising flour as I preferred it to plain, and then thats enough raising agent for me. The measurements are a difficult thing I find because peoples versions of ‘one tablespoon’ can vary in weight SO VERY MUCH so I have put weights as well. 15g is typically a level tablespoon weight, so don’t do heaped.. it might not turn out as good!
More chocolate?!
I did think that even though these cakes are so gooey already, that they needed a little more oomph. One of my favourite things at Easter was to add a frozen creme egg in the middle of the mug and it was so ridiculously yummy I couldn’t cope, but I never got round to posting it in time. So, as Easter is now long gone and all the treats are out of the shops again… I thought why not just use some actual chocolate?!
I thought I would make mine triple chocolate style by using a couple of chunks of milk chocolate, and then also some white chocolate chunks. When microwaving the cake, these melt as well, and it forms a gooey molten centre that you can devour.
Recipe adaptations
One of the best things about this recipe? It can so easily be made dairy free, and vegan. Honestly, I’ve tried several vegan versions, and they’re just as good. The first time I started making these I was attempting to be dairy free to see if I had an intolerance, and I was heartbroken I couldn’t have one. However, soon after realising I already didn’t include butter, and my cocoa powder is dairy free… why not try a different milk?!
I used almond milk and it heated up and ‘baked’ in the exact same way as the whole milk. Also, the chocolate chunks in the centre can easily be made vegan by using dairy free dark chocolate (which to be honest is most dark chocolates these days!)
Top tips!
Be careful when making these with your microwave as well. Microwaves can vary in power, so my guides for timing can be different for your own. It’s worth giving one a go, and you’ll be able to adjust yourself from there. If you’re doing more than one at once, they will take longer than just one on its own, so be wary of that as well! For the two in these photos, it took 100 seconds. For just one, it took 60 seconds. I hope you love these as much as I do! Enjoy! x
Chocolate Mug Cakes!
Ingredients
- 45 g self raising flour (3 tbsp)
- 30 g caster sugar (2 tbsp)
- 15 g cocoa powder (1 tbsp)
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 4 tbsp whole milk (Or almond milk)
- Chunks of chocolate
Instructions
- In a mug, add all the ingredients, apart from the chunks of chocolate.
- Add in a few chunks of chocolate into the middle. I used two pieces of white, and two pieces of milk chocolate.
- Microwave for 60-90 seconds. And enjoy!
Notes
- My microwave is an 1000watt microwave, and my mug cake only took one minute to do on full power.
- If you want to do more than one, add on 30 seconds or so if microwaving at the same time. Mine took about 100 seconds to do two.
- You can EASILY make this vegan, by using dairy free dark chocolate in the middle, and using almond milk.
- Sometimes it can look a little gooey on top, or round the edges, but it is done!
- You can easily mix everything in a bowl, and simply pour into a mug to bake in the oven.
- You can add in 1/2tsp baking powder if you want it to be more light and fluffy, but it can raise up a lot more and explode over the edges!
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J x
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First attempt was okay. Used dark chocolate in the middle. The cake seemed cooked and the chocolate melted but the cake itself was only just warm. Not hot. Was expecting it to be hot. It was nice though. I think i might replace some of the milk with some amaretti next time
Easily the best mug cake recipe out there
worked great with gluten free self raising flour & oat milk substitutes… I timed the quantities by 3 and cooked in a bowl, for roughly 3 times the stated cooking time….. but I must admit I think it gives you more like 4-5 portions than 3
Ran out of milk! Can I sub milk with water?
Yes, that should be fine! x
This was the best chocolate mug cake I’ve ever tried! I have deleted all of the other ones I had saved as I don’t need any other. I love how it has a deep cocoa flavour and isn’t too sweet.
I did have to add a about 2 tbsps more milk to the mixture as it wouldn’t mix with being too dry, my scales are accurate so not sure why this was. I also added a little vanilla essence and a tiny sprinkle of salt into the mixture. I used nutella in the middle which worked beautifully. I may try biscoff/golden blonde/oreo cookie spread etc the next time I make it for my children. The possibilities are endless!
My microwave is only 800w and this was fully baked through at 1 minute 30; I suspected I’d have gotten away with 1 minute 15/20 though for a slightly moister cake.
Love this recipe….but my microwave has given up! Any chance this could be made in the airfryer?!! I know you have other recipes for that section…but I love the quick & simplicity of this mug cake…!! 🤞🏻
try adding half tea spoon baking powder and nutella if u want it tastes amazing
and also add more milk 1 or 2 more tb
Great recipe, easy and extremely tasty, we add square of dark chocolate to the middle before putting in the microwave, delicious!
I bought your book for a friend and then found your website, tried this mug cake recipe, made it in ramekins with crunched walnuts and Terry’s chocolate orange chunks and OMG this is amazing! When it’s just two of us making a whole cake is wasteful but this is definitely going to be my weekly treat for dessert! Lovely thank you so much for sharing! Xx
Tried this with semi skimmed milk and used mild (cooking) extra virgin olive oil and milk chocolate chips. I have a 900w microwave and cooked it for 1 min 20 and it was a little dry but I added whipped cream on top after to help. Maybe I cooked it too long?
Yes I would say it was just too long! Changing up the ingredients slightly can cause a difference, so just go for more 1 minute instead or a lower oven power x
Made this because I was craving something sweet & being 15 weeks pregnant, decided to make it at 11pm.
Absolutely wonderful recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Hi, I’ve been recommended this recipe – do you think I could swap the flour for coconut or almond flour?
Hiya! I personally have not tried this – but its definitely worth a go! Let me know! x
Best Chocolate Mug Cake recipe ever xxx
Omg just made this , it’s the best thing ever
Perfect for a quick desert. I used 1tbsp sugar and it was sweet enough. I added an After Eight mint to the bottom. It took 100 seconds to cook at 600 watts.
First time make mug cake I wanted a cake (but didn’t wanna share with the bf a 11 yr n a 15month old mummy wanted something that she didn’t wanna share lol) I loved it next time tho I’ll only put it in for 60second not 90 seconds I also but milk chocolate white chocolate n caramilk chocolate it was so good n top with fresh raspberries… will make again maybe even share (only if there nice to me lol) 5* from this Aussie!!! Thanks
Hi! I made the recipe but I must have made a mistake since everyone has left incredible reviews.
I decided to make this with brown graduated sugar as I didn’t have caster sugar at home and followed the recipe exactly and left it in the microwave for 60 secs.
The mug cake still looked like the flour as opposed to a cake sadly and tasted like it had bits within it, I’m not sure whether the granulated sugar caused it or maybe I left it in the microwave longer than I should have.
This will have happened due to the sugar – granulated has much larger crystals than caster, and a microwave won’t ‘cook’ the cakes for long enough.
This is the best mug cake recipe I’ve seen so far! Absolutely delicious. It goes very well with vanilla ice cream or nutella! Definitely using this recipe again. Thank you so much for this recipe!❤️
Hey! Aw I am so pleased you love it as much as I do. You are very welcome xx
I made this just now to fix my chocolate craving. Using baking powder as you mentioned in the notes. And the taste is AMAZING! Not too sweet and super soft chocolate cake texture. Thank you Jane ❤️
Ahh yayy this makes me so happy! I am so so glad you loved them as much as I do!xx
Super! Just like the recipe says. Mine came out great and it’s the first time I baked a mug cake in the microwave. I added some vanilla essence for taste.
Didn’t have any chocolate to put in so I just ate it with vanilla ice cream.
So glad you enjoyed!xx
I made it exactly as described, amazing.. how many calories would it be?