Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (2024)

Craving a sweet treat? This easy chocolate mug cake is made with ingredients you probably already have. Bakes up perfectly in the microwave!

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (1)

Hey there!

Have you ever found yourself with a powerful chocolate craving but not a lot of time to make something? Well, today I’ve got the perfect solution: chocolate mug cake!

I crave chocolate pretty much every day, and I’ve got plenty of chocolate recipes here to prove it! Just take a look at my chocolate banana bread, flourless chocolate cake, and brownies from scratch recipes and you’ll see what I mean. They’re all A++ and for serious chocolate lovers only!

But sometimes I’m just too laaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzyyyyyy!

Chocolate mug cake to the rescue. This is so easy to make, it literally takes less than 5 minutes. And I bet you already have all the ingredients on hand!

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (2)

WHAT IS CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE?

This recipe is exactly what it sounds like: chocolate cake baked in a mug.

You’ll need a 12-ounce mug to make this recipe and it yields one perfect serving.

It bakes up in the microwave in just about a minute, and it has a deep, dark, rich chocolate flavor and the most wonderful texture. The top and sides are fluffy and soft, and the middle is super moist, almost like pudding.

It’s exactly what you need to satisfy your sweet tooth!

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

To make this chocolate mug cake recipe, start by lightly misting the inside of your mug with non-stick spray.

If you aren’t sure if you have the right size mug, just fill it to the rim with water and then pour the water into a liquid measuring cup. It should come at least up to the 12-ounce mark.

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (3)

Next, drop in a hunk of butter. Place a paper towel on top, and microwave it in 30-second intervals, until the butter is melted.

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (4)

Then add the dry ingredients:

  • flour
  • sugar
  • cocoa powder (either natural or Dutched is fine, just make sure it’s unsweetened!)
  • baking powder
  • salt

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (5)

Start stirring everything together. It will seem really dry at first, but that’s ok because you’re going to moisten it all up with a little bit of milk.

Stir in the milk in 2 separate additions, adding the vanilla extract as well.

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (6)

Once the batter is nice and smooth, sprinkle the top with chocolate chips. I like to use mini chocolate chips, but any size will work. If you like, use the spoon to “bury” a few of them down deeper into the mug, so you get melty chocolate in every bite!

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (7)

Then pop that paper towel back on and microwave until the edges look springy and set but the middle is still very moist.

Every microwave is different, but in mine this takes anywhere from 1 minute to 1 minute 15 seconds.

It’s ok if it still looks a little wet towards the center when you take it out. It will continue to set up as it cools. And besides, chocolate cake in a mug is meant to be a little gooey 😉

ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS

You may notice this recipe does not call for any eggs. That’s not a misprint!

For a quantity this small, it’s really not necessary. The cake bakes up just perfectly without any egg, and that just makes this even better for those with dietary restrictions.

If you have an egg allergy, this is the recipe for you!

For gluten-free chocolate mug cake, look for a gluten-free flour blend that subs 1:1 for regular flour.

If you’d like to make this dairy-free and vegan, use dairy-free butter and milk products that sub 1:1 for regular dairy. And don’t forget to get dairy-free chocolate chips!

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (8)

HOW TO SERVE

This cake is just heavenly served warm from the microwave. It’s moist and a little gooey and so, so chocolate-y. Let it cool for just a minute or so, so you don’t scorch your mouth, and then dig in.

It really doesn’t need a thing. But if you want to get fancy, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar.

HOW TO STORE

If you have any leftovers, cover them tightly with plastic wrap so they don’t get dried out or stale. They’ll keep for a day or so at room temp, or for several days in the fridge.

Rewarm for 10 seconds or so in the microwave, and enjoy!

Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (9)

A FEW MORE OF MY FAVORITE EASY DESSERT RECIPES:

  • Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • S’mores Dip
  • Scotcheroos
  • Easy Chocolate Mousse Recipe

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Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (10)

5 stars (2 ratings)

Chocolate Mug Cake

Servings: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 minute min

Cooling Time:: 1 minute min

Total Time: 7 minutes mins

Craving a sweet treat? This easy chocolate mug cake is made with ingredients you probably already have. Bakes up perfectly in the microwave!

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Lightly mist the inside of a 12-ounce microwave safe mug with non-stick spray.

  • Place the butter in the mug and microwave (covered) in 30-second increments until melted.

  • Add the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt to the mug and stir to combine (mixture will be very dry at first).

  • Stir in half the milk, until smooth.

  • Stir in the remaining milk and the vanilla extract, then top with chocolate chips.

  • Microwave (covered) until fluffy and set around the edges and still very moist in the center (approx. 50 to 75 seconds).

  • Let cool for 1 minute before serving.

Serving: 1g, Calories: 570kcal, Carbohydrates: 73g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 69mg, Sodium: 334mg, Potassium: 376mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 43g, Vitamin A: 832IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 154mg, Iron: 3mg

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert, Snack

Tried this recipe?Mention @bakingamoment on Instagram or tag #bakingamoment.

  • Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (11)

    Allie

    Allie is the creator and owner of Baking a Moment. She has been developing, photographing, videographing, and writing and sharing recipes here since 2012.

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Easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake: Moist & chocolatey! Baking a Moment (2024)

FAQs

Why did my mug cake turn out rubbery? ›

A rubbery mug cake is indicative of being overcooked, or incorrect measurements. Please be precise with the measurements and stop cooking once the cake is soft but not wet on the top.

Why is my mug cake chewy? ›

Just don't add too much; you might think more baking powder would produce a taller, fluffier cake, but the ones I made with extra baking powder rose far over the edge of the mug and then sank back into it, giving the dessert an undesirably dense, chewy texture.

Why did my mug cake fail? ›

Don't overfill your mug with ingredients

Even with the perfect mini whisk, things can still go wrong when making a mug cake. One big mistake involves overfilling the mug. Just like with any other baked good, mug cakes rise during the cooking process.

Why is my mug cake rock hard? ›

If your mug cake is rock hard, it has been over-baked! Next time, lower the amount of time it cooks, because microwaves vary in wattage, causing some to cook faster than others. Also, be sure to use a standard-size regular coffee cup, not a deep mug.

Why are my mug cakes dry? ›

Many protein mug cake recipes suffer from dryness because they don't contain enough fat. They use wheat or oat flour, protein powder, and no eggs or oils. Naturally, it's going to be very dry with these ingredients.

Can you eat undercooked mug cake? ›

Undercooked cake can make you sick and according to the FDA, the highest risk does not come from eggs like people might believe, but rather from flour. Grains can be contaminated by bacteria from animal droppings, which are harvested and turned into flour. The cooking process kills the bacteria.

How do you keep a cake soft and moist? ›

ADD SOUR CREAM

Adding a tablespoon or two of sour cream to your cake batter can help make it more moist. Sour cream's creamy and light texture can help keep your cake from becoming dense and dry. Sour Cream Coffee Cake is a great example of how sour cream can enhance the flavor, texture and moisture of a cake.

Are microwave mug cakes safe? ›

Are microwave mug cakes safe to eat? Yes! Mug cakes are completely safe to consume. Just make sure to microwave them long enough for the cake batter to cook completely!

Why is my chocolate cake gummy? ›

Why does my cake have a gummy streak in the center? Developing too much of the flour's gluten can make the cake rise beautifully in the oven, but sink as soon as you pull it out. The sinking part is what makes the dense and gluey streaks. This can be result of over-creaming the eggs, butter and sugar.

Why isn't my mug cake fluffy? ›

Eggs tend to make mug cakes have a bit of a rubbery texture, so bye-bye eggs and hello tender, fluffy cake. As a bonus, it's now vegetarian and can easily be made vegan too. I developed this recipe from wacky cake, a cake that has no eggs in it. I kept it pretty similar but switched out the water for milk.

How do you know if your mug cake is done? ›

Microwave for 5-8 minutes (start with 5 minutes and increase the time if the cake isn't done after 5). A toothpick inserted should come out clean.

Why does my mug cake taste bitter? ›

Using too much baking soda or baking powder is one of the most frequent mistakes made by bakers. Be aware that using too much baking soda or baking powder will cause cakes to rise above their intended height, which can cause a big mess in the oven as well as a metallic, bitter taste.

Why did my cake come out rubbery? ›

Over mixing cake batter can result in a heavy, closed rubbery texture.

What causes a cake to be gummy? ›

Why does my cake have a gummy streak in the center? Developing too much of the flour's gluten can make the cake rise beautifully in the oven, but sink as soon as you pull it out. The sinking part is what makes the dense and gluey streaks. This can be result of over-creaming the eggs, butter and sugar.

Why does my cake feel chewy? ›

So, what really happens when you over-beat a cake a batter? You actually end up forcing the air out so the cake will be too dense and it will stick to your palette. Not only this, your cake becomes chewy because you are over-working the gluten in your dough.

Why did my cupcakes come out chewy? ›

This is because brown sugar is more hygroscopic than white sugar. Both sugars will draw water molecules to themselves, but brown sugar does so more readily. It holds onto those water molecules even during baking and leads to that chewy texture that we love so much in cookies.

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