Chocolate Mug Cake

Have you ever had a day when nothing but a piece of cake would do? (My hand is raised high!) Maybe it was too late to swing by a bakery or you weren’t in the mood to tackle a baking project, but still you needed that cake. This is where mug cake recipes can come into play.

Mug cakes are anytime cakes. They’re beyond easy to whip up, and because they’re single servings, they cook in just a couple of minutes in the microwave. You read that right: You don’t even have to turn on the oven.

This chocolate mug cake recipe is rich, fudgy and studded with melty chocolate chips for extra decadence in every bite. To make it, you need just a few baking staples, including all-purpose flour, sugar and cocoa powder. The process is as simple as mixing the batter, pouring it into a mug and pressing a few buttons on your microwave. Within minutes, you’ll be spooning bites of warm chocolate cake out of your favorite mug.

Ingredients for Chocolate Mug Cake

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• Milk: Milk provides moisture for the cake batter and hydrates the dry ingredients. This chocolate cake in the mug recipe calls for 2% milk, but feel free to use whatever type of milk you have on hand or substitute with a dairy-free alternative.
• Oil: Adding a bit of fat to the cake batter is essential to moisten the cake and prevent dryness. This recipe uses canola oil, but you could also use vegetable, avocado or melted coconut oil.
• Vanilla: Vanilla in a chocolate cake? Yes! As in other baking recipes, vanilla extract enhances the flavor.
• All-purpose flour: You’ll need just 5 tablespoons of flour to make this mug cake with chocolate. Be sure to level each tablespoon of flour with the flat side of a knife so you don’t add too much.
• Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder gives this chocolate mug cake recipe its chocolaty color and flavor.
• Sugar: Use regular granulated sugar to sweeten the cake and create a soft crumb.
• Baking powder: Baking powder is a leavening agent that helps the cake rise during cooking.
• Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sugar in the cake and enhances the chocolate flavor.
• Chocolate chips: Semisweet chocolate chips make this mug cake extra chocolaty without being overly sweet. Stir the chocolate chips directly into the cake batter to create pockets of melty chocolate throughout the cake.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the mug

Spray a 16-ounce microwave-safe coffee mug with cooking spray.

Editor’s Tip: If you don’t have cooking spray, brush the inside of the mug with melted butter or coconut oil.

Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients

Whisk the milk, oil and vanilla extract in a small bowl until combined.

Editor’s Tip: You can dirty one less dish by mixing the cake batter ingredients in the mug, but it can be messy and there’s less room to ensure the ingredients are mixed thoroughly.

Step 3: Add the dry ingredients

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Add the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder and salt, and stir to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared mug. Sprinkle in the chocolate chips.

Step 4: Cook the mug cake

Microwave on high for 2 minutes and 30 seconds or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean (the mug will be hot). Serve immediately.

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Chocolate Mug Cake Variations

• Make a dairy-free cake: Substitute an equal amount of your favorite nondairy milk for the cow’s milk, and look for dairy-free chocolate chips (or try a different mix-in mentioned below).
• Go gluten-free: Replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
• Change the chips: This may be a chocolate mug cake recipe, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited to chocolate chips. Swapping in another baking chip is the easiest way to add a flavor twist. Try white chocolate chips for added sweetness and visual interest, peanut butter chips for a peanut butter cup-inspired cake or peppermint chips for a minty chocolate treat.
• Try another mix-in: Add flavor and chewy texture to your mug cake by replacing the chocolate chips with chopped nuts, shredded coconut or candy-coated chocolates, such as M&M’s.
• Add a topping: Make your chocolate cake in the mug extra indulgent with a dollop of whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate sauce, a scoop of peanut butter frosting or a handful of fresh berries.

How to Store Chocolate Mug Cake

Mug cakes are meant to be enjoyed warm, and since they’re single-serving sweets, you shouldn’t have to worry about leftovers. If you really need to store this chocolate cake in a mug for later, let it cool completely and wrap it tightly with storage wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Store the cake at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to two days.

How do you reheat a chocolate mug cake?

Reheat the mug cake with chocolate by microwaving it in 10-second intervals until warmed through. Mug cakes can get tough as they sit, but reheating will improve the texture. Reheating leftover mug cake will also melt the chocolate chips again, resulting in ooey-gooey bites of chocolate throughout the cake.

Chocolate Mug Cake Tips

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How do you know when the mug cake is cooked?

The toothpick test is the easiest way to check the mug cake with chocolate for doneness. Insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the mug cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is cooked. If it comes out with wet batter sticking to it, the cake needs to cook for longer. The edges of the cake should start to pull away from the mug, and the top should be set, not wet, and bounce back when you lightly press on it.

Why is my chocolate mug cake not spongy?

If your mug cake isn’t spongy, it’s likely overcooked. Mug cakes cook fast; even a few seconds too long in the microwave can produce a tough and rubbery texture.

Your cake can also turn out dry and dense if you overmixed the batter. For the best texture, mix until the wet and dry ingredients are just combined, and keep an eye on the cake while it’s in the microwave. Stop cooking and do the toothpick test when the top of the cake puffs up and the edges start to pull away from the mug.

What’s the best way to serve chocolate mug cake?

Serve the chocolate cake in the mug or on a plate. Enjoy the cake while it’s warm for the best taste and texture. For an extra-special treat, top the cake with frosting, whipped cream, a scoop of ice cream, sprinkles or a drizzle of chocolate sauce.