Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe - Live Well Bake Often (2024)

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by Danielle on Oct 14, 2019 (updated Aug 31, 2020) 176 comments »

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4.94 from 106 ratings

This Chocolate Mug Cake is incredibly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and made right in the microwave. Perfect for an easy chocolate dessert!

One of the most common recipe requests I receive is for small batch desserts. Over the years, I’ve shared a few of my favorites like mysmall-batch chocolate chip cookies andsmall-batch peanut butter cookies. But today I wanted to share one that’s even easier — this simple chocolate mug cake recipe.

Unlike most of my other small-batch desserts, this microwave mug cake doesn’t require an oven. All you have to do is mix up the batter, pour it into a mug, and pop it into the microwave for a little over a minute. That’s it!

Another great thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t require any eggs and uses simple ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand. This simple cake is perfect on its own, but I love to add a scoop of ice cream on top. I’ve included a few different topping options you can try with this cake too!

Recipe Ingredients

When I say this recipe is simple, I really mean it! Here’s what we’ll need to make this microwave cake in a cup:

All-purpose flour:Be sure to spoon and level the flour when measuring it, otherwise you’ll wind up with a dense microwave mug cake.
Unsweetened cocoa powder:You can use either natural unsweetened cocoa powder or dutch-processed cocoa powder. I’ve tried it with both and they each work just fine!
Granulated sugar:Sweetens the microwave cake without making it too sweet.
Baking powder:Helps the cake rise as it cooks.
Salt:You only need a tiny pinch to enhance the chocolate flavor.
Milk:I always use whole milk because it’s what I keep on hand and gives baked goods a richer taste. That being said, 2%, 1%, skim, or even almond milk would work fine too.
Oil:You can use canola, vegetable, or melted coconut oil.
Vanilla extract:Use pure vanilla extract, if possible.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: I love the extra chocolate flavor they add, so I highly recommend using some if you have them on hand.

How to Make a Mug Cake

To start, you’ll need at least a 12-ounce mug. Isuggestspraying the mug with nonstick cooking spray or greasing it with some butter so the cake doesn’t stick.

Then, you’ll whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, and a tiny pinch of salt.Next, add the milk, oil, and vanilla extract and stir until just combined.

Once you’ve mixed up the cake batter, you’ll pour it into your greased mug. At this point, you can add some chocolate chips for a chocolate chip mug cake. This step is optional, but I love them!

Lastly, you’ll want to microwave the cake until the center is just set. Mine is usually perfect right at 1 minute and 15 seconds, but the cooking time will vary slightly depending on the mug you use and your microwave.

I also suggest keeping an eye on the mug cake as it’s cooking and stopping the microwave as soon as the center looks done. I’ve found that even an extra 15 seconds in the microwave can lead to a cake that’s really dry.

FAQ’s

How Long Do You Need To Cook It?

The cook time will vary slightly based on the mug that you use and your microwave. I use a 12-ounce mug and a 1200-watt microwave and find that 1 minute and 15 seconds is the perfect amount of time.

What Are Some Different Topping Options?

If you really want to take this recipe to the next level, here are some different topping options that would pair great with this cake!

Salted Caramel Sauce
Homemade Whipped Cream
Vanilla Ice Cream
Dulce de Leche
Nutella

Baking Tips

Make sure to use a mug that is big enough as the batter will rise quite a bit in the microwave. I suggest using at least a 12-ounce mug for this recipe.
When measuring your flour, make sure to spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off with the back of a knife.
Keep a close eye on the cake as it’s in the microwave andcook it until the center is just set. I find that 1 minute and 15 seconds is perfect, but the amount of time may vary slightly for you.

More Small Batch Desserts to Try!

Small Batch Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Small Batch Peanut Butter Cookies
Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Mug Cake

4.94 from 106 ratings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 minute min

Total Time: 11 minutes mins

This Chocolate Mug Cake is incredibly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and made right in the microwave. Perfect for an easy chocolate dessert!

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Ingredients

Servings: 1 mug cake

1/4 cup (31 grams) all-purpose flour ()
2 tablespoons (10 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons (40 grams) granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Tiny pinch of salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk
2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil (canola, vegetable, or melted coconut oil)
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon (14 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

Grease a 12-ounce (or larger) mug with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Add the milk, oil, and pure vanilla extract and continue mixing until fully combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared mug and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.
Transfer the mug with the batter to the microwave and microwave for 60-90 seconds or until the center of the cake is just set.
Carefully remove from the microwave (the mug will be hot!) and allow to cool slightly, then top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

Notes

This cake is best served right after you make it, but it may be covered tightly and stored at room temperature for 1-2 days.

Cooking Time: The cook time will vary slightly based on the mug that you use and your microwave. I use a 12-ounce mug and a 1200-watt microwave and find that 1 minute and 15 seconds is the perfect amount of time.

Cocoa Powder: Natural unsweetened cocoa powder or dutch-processed cocoa powder. Both work fine in this recipe!

Milk: I prefer to use whole milk, but 2%, 1%, skim, or even almond milk should work fine too.

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Author: Danielle

Did you make this recipe?Mention @livewellbakeoften on Instagram or tag #livewellbakeoften.

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originally published on Oct 14, 2019 (last updated Aug 31, 2020)

176 commentsLeave a comment »

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176 comments on “Chocolate Mug Cake”

Miles —November 4, 2022 @ 7:32 pm Reply
I just want to recommend trying this recipe with whole wheat flour instead of AP, I’ve made it this way a few times and love the texture it i you ves the bake. I really appreciate how easy this recipe is to adapt to fit your own preferences.
- Katie —December 11, 2022 @ 1:22 pm Reply
  How many calories – with no toppings
  - See Also
    Easy Keto Custard Recipe - How to Make The Best Low-Carb & Healthy Dessert at Home
    Danielle —December 12, 2022 @ 10:05 am Reply
    I’m not sure on the nutritional information, but you can plug everything into an online calculator to get an estimate.
Rachel N. —November 21, 2022 @ 5:43 pm Reply
So Delicious and very fun to make with my kids. MY husband thought it was a bit too sweet but I thought it was wonderful.
lizzie —November 29, 2022 @ 3:11 pm Reply
overall this is a good recipe for mug cake, a lot of the ones I’ve made didn’t taste very pleasant so this one is good. Its nearing Christmas so i swapped coco powder for a hot chocolate mix and used less sugar. I also added in crushed candy canes, it tasted good and was nice and festive 😀
noelle —December 28, 2022 @ 9:17 pm Reply
holy cow, this recipe is incredible. first mug cake I’ve ever had. satisfy the craving for making a whole cake.
Stephanie —January 13, 2023 @ 2:15 pm Reply
Perfect! And easy to make vegan 🙂
Jamie —January 15, 2023 @ 2:41 pm Reply
Very good and easy. Perfect for kids who want to bake.
CajunGrans —January 18, 2023 @ 5:24 pm Reply
My husband is diabetic so I used Allulose sugar (same amount) in this recipe for a birthday treat. He gave it two thumbs up!!
Paula —February 9, 2023 @ 2:35 am Reply
This is the best chocolate mug cake recipe I have tried, and I have tried A lot! For me, I think it’s the process of mixing the batter in a separate bowl, then adding to the mug. Most recipes have you mix all in the mug then microwave. I have found that some of the ingredients, namely the baking powder, are sitting at the bottom of the mug, waiting for you to take a mouthful, which doesn’t taste nice at all. This way, of mixing all separately, then putting in the mug, ensures that all ingredients are combined. I added some chocolate chips on top, and added some more after it came out hot from the microwave. Super good and not dry.
LINDA —February 15, 2023 @ 9:58 am Reply
I made this for valentines day-delicious!
Anne-Sophie —March 2, 2023 @ 5:54 pm Reply
This is definitely the best recipe I’ve ever tried. Until I followed yours, I didn’t like mug cakes at all because I thought the problem was the microwave (the texture was always weird) but now I know it was just about the recipes ❤️
Delphine —May 17, 2023 @ 11:34 am Reply
Great quick and easy recipe! I put a spoon of blueberry marmalade in the middle and it turned out perfect
Hannah —June 3, 2023 @ 7:50 pm Reply
Best one I’ve found 100% 10/10
Farrukh Altaf —June 13, 2023 @ 9:01 am Reply
Hi! I have loved your carrot cake and tried this mugcake today. It took quite a while like 25 min, to bake, i am surprised at the one minute time you have mentioned… Please confirm the time once again for me. Thanks.
- Danielle —June 14, 2023 @ 8:21 am Reply
  Did you bake it in the oven? This recipe is meant to be made in the microwave and only takes about one minute.
  - Farrukh Altaf —June 23, 2023 @ 7:27 am Reply
    Ah! True… I bakes in Oven. Thanks for clarifying. ☺
Diana —July 7, 2023 @ 10:25 pm Reply
This is an easy, flavorful, and decadent treat. I make it often for my family and have added protein powder to give it a bit of a healthy twist. I have to admit this recipe is the best!
Al —September 1, 2023 @ 11:33 pm Reply
I’m an avid baker and was skeptical about mug cakes being any good, but wow this came out delicious! The only issue I ran into is cooking time. I cooked mine for 90 sec but the sides of the cake were still gooey. I was afraid to overbake it and didn’t add anymore time. Maybe my mug was too thick and didn’t conduct heat well. I’ll experiment with another mug. Will definitely make this again. Thank you for the recipe.
Al —September 6, 2023 @ 12:29 am Reply
Made this again, used a different mug and still ended up with slightly gooey sides. I ended up cooking this one for nearly 2 minutes (1000W microwave) and it seemed to help. I recommend mini chocolate chips, if you’re adding any. Fold some in the batter and the rest on top. This is a thin batter and regular chips will sink to the bottom.
Mel —September 17, 2023 @ 8:19 pm Reply
I want to be able to make a large batch of the dry mix so I can even more quickly make a mug as needed. How can I scale this so I can have a mason jar size of dry ingredients already mixed up to make a mug at a whim?
- Danielle —September 18, 2023 @ 9:18 am Reply
  I haven’t tried it, so it’s hard to say. Mason jars also come in a variety of different sizes, so it really depends on the size of your jar too.
Stacy —October 9, 2023 @ 8:57 pm Reply
Tastes fantastic! I used Trader Joe’s gluten free flour, Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa powder, and almond milk and it tasted wonderful. I didn’t find mine too sweet at all. Thanks for the recipe! Yum.
Brian Myers —December 31, 2023 @ 6:23 pm Reply
If I wanted to use heavy whipping cream instead of whole milk, should I use less of it? Or the same weight?
- Danielle —January 2, 2024 @ 10:40 am Reply
  I’m not sure that heavy cream would be a good substitute for the milk in this recipe.

Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe - Live Well Bake Often (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.

Know More ›

Why did my mug cake not work? ›

You didn't use self-rising flour

This one isn't necessarily a deal breaker, but it could help save time and ensure proper texture in your mug cake. Self-rising flour is a flour mixture that includes salt and baking powder, two ingredients that help cake become cake.

Discover More Details ›

Why is my mug cake hard? ›

Excessive whipping after adding flour - After adding the dry ingredients, just avoid too much whipping, especially when you have added the flour. It can result in activated gluten because when you beat the flour too much with a certain speed, the gluten gets activated, which forms a dry and hard cake.

Explore More ›

How to bake cake in the microwave? ›

Set your cake

Place the mug inside the microwave and set the cooking time to around 2 to 3 minutes. Start with 2 minutes, after which check the cake. To check if the cake is done, put a toothpick or a knife into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean or with a few wet crumbs, the cake is ready.

Keep Reading ›

Do you put eggs in mug cake? ›

So for a single-serving mug cake, just skip the egg; a whole egg will overpower the small amount of batter (and it's pretty tough to divide an egg in quarters). Luckily, you don't need the egg—a pinch of baking powder is enough to help the batter rise up the sides of the mug.

Why does my mug cake taste bitter? ›

One of the most common misfortunes among bakers is that they are using too much baking soda or baking powder. Know that too much baking soda or baking powder in cakes will not just lead to a metallic and bitter taste, but it can also make a big mess in the oven as it will rise beyond expectations.

Can you eat undercooked mug cake? ›

undercooked cake can and do make peolpe sick. reason being that it is not well cooked and the mixture of the raw ingredient can be very harmful to the body. Depending on the kind of system you have.

View Details ›

Why is my mug cake gooey? ›

Longer answer: Just like regular sized cakes baked in an oven, the center should be cooked. Gooey in general means undercooked. Not only does that not taste that great in my opinion, it's also safer to fully cook your batter.

Get More Info Here ›

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

Touch the centre and if it's firm then your cakes are done. Try not to overcook these or they will go rubbery (the perils of the microwave!) 6/ Serve with a generous dollop of ice cream or whipped cream and maybe some chocolate sauce!

What can I use instead of baking powder in mug cake? ›

Substitute each teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder in the recipe with 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) vinegar. Summary: Each teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder can be replaced with a 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) baking soda and a 1/2 teaspoon vinegar.

Know More ›

Are mug cakes fully cooked? ›

The microwaving times included in the instructions left the cake completely cooked, although the melted chocolate made it difficult to tell. If anything, the mug cake may have been slightly overcooked. Panelists reported that the texture was just a little bit dry, leaving the cake to coat the insides of one's mouth.

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Why does my mug cake overflow? ›

If your mug cake overflowed then you are using a mug which is too small. Use a mug which is at least 350 mL (12.5 oz) or use a small microwave-safe bowl. If your cake starts to overflow, stop the microwave and let the cake sink down then resume cooking. Adjust the amount of sugar according to your preference.

Find Out More ›

Why is my cake hard and not fluffy? ›

Over mixing acts on the gluten in flour and will make cakes hard instead of the lovely soft spongy texture we associate with a good cake. Insufficient creaming of sugar and eggs will also make a tight texture because there isn't enough air trapped in the mix to give it a lift.

Get More Info ›

Can you bake cake in a glass mug? ›

Yes, as long as the mug is oven-proof. They were called cup cakes because, first, they were made with the cup as a unit of measurement, instead of the pound, as in pound cake. Then second, for fun, as a play on words, a cup-cake could be baked in a cup.

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Can you bake things in a mug? ›

Mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large microwave-safe mug; stir in milk, canola oil, water, and vanilla extract. Cook in the microwave until cake is done in the middle, about 1 minute 45 seconds. Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake.