This Chocolate mug cake is moist and makes a wonderful dessert for 1! This cake requires no eggs, and it's so easy to make. You just combine the ingredients and pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes!
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Easy Chocolate Cake For One
Of all my mug cake recipes, this rich and fluffy chocolate mug cake is one of my favorites. It's a just-sweet-enough treat that always satisfies a chocolate craving without leaving you feeling guilty.
This 2-minute chocolate dessert has practically no prep or cleanup. You can even add a bit of Nutella or some mini chocolate chips for a little something special!
Take a look at all my mug cakes!
🥘 Ingredients
This delicious chocolate cake results from mixing just a few standard baking ingredients, and there are no eggs!
The Nutella or mini chocolate chips are 100% optional, but they do add an extra creamy melted chocolate center, which never hurts.
- All-Purpose Flour - ¼ cup of all-purpose flour.
- Cocoa Powder - 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Baking Powder - ¼ teaspoon of baking powder (not baking soda).
- Sugar - 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar (add an extra tablespoon if you like your cake sweeter).
- Salt - Just a pinch of salt (*see note).
- Vegetable Oil - 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
- Milk - ¼ cup of milk; any percentage will work. Plus 1 additional tablespoon.
- Nutella (optional) - 1 tablespoon of Nutella or mini chocolate chips.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 How To Make A Chocolate Mug Cake
This recipe is pretty straightforward. Grab a small mixing bowl, a whisk, and a coffee mug.
- Mix. In a small mixing bowl, add ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, and ⅛ teaspoon Kosher salt. Whisk to combine.
- Add remaining ingredients. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and ¼ cup of milk until the batter is smooth and there are no lumps. If you're adding mini or regular chocolate chips, mix them in, too.
- Add batter to the mug. Pour the cake batter into a mug. Make sure there is enough room for the batter to rise. (Optional). Add 1 tablespoon of Nutella to the center top of your mug cake batter, if using. It will sink on its own as the mug cake bakes.
- Bake. Place the mug on a paper towel in the microwave, then cook on high for 1 ½ minutes or until baked through. Check to see if the top of your mug cake is springy; if not, heat in additional 15-second increments on high until done.
- Set. Let your mug cake sit in the microwave to cool and set for 1 minute before you eat.
Add a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of toffee sauce if you're craving something extra sweet. It would also be delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Microwave Cooking Time: Note that the cooking time for your mug cake may vary based on your microwave's model. Adjust the time as needed to achieve the perfect texture.
- Vegan Adaptation: To make this mug cake vegan-friendly, replace the milk with a non-dairy alternative and skip the Nutella or substitute with vegan chocolate chips. The texture might slightly differ, but it will remain a delightful treat.
- Sweetness Adjustment: Feel free to add up to 1 tablespoon of extra sugar if you prefer a sweeter cake. However, the base recipe is designed to satisfy without additional sweetness.
- Easy Cleanup: Place a paper towel under your mug in the microwave to catch any spills, making cleanup effortless if the cake overflows.
- Checking Doneness: The cake is ready when it springs back to a gentle touch. Alternatively, a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean, indicating it's fully cooked.
- Salt Measurement: Remember, a pinch of salt is about 1/16th of a teaspoon, perfect for subtly enhancing the flavors in your mug cake.
- Storing Leftovers: If you have leftover cake, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Enjoy it cold as a quick and tasty snack without reheating.
🍫 Recipes For Chocoholics!
- Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispies Treats
- Godiva Chocolate Martini
- Chocolate Maraschino Cherry Brownies
- Mary Berry Chocolate Cupcakes
- Chocolate Macaroons
- Chocolate Pancakes
Be sure to check out even more chocolate dessert recipes in this great collection!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Chocolate Mug Cake
Ingredients
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 5 tablespoon milk
- ¼ teaspoon espresso powder (recommended)
- 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Nutella (optional)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, add all dry ingredients (plus optional but highly recommended espresso powder). Whisk to combine.
- Whisk in the vegetable oil and milk until the batter is smooth and there are no lumps. Add optional chocolate chips if desired and stir to mix.
- Pour the cake batter into a mug, there should be enough room for it to rise a bit as it bakes. If adding Nutella, place it in the middle top of the batter in your mug.
- Place the mug on a paper towel in the microwave then cook on high for 1 ½ minutes, or until baked through. The top of the cake should spring back to the touch, if not heat in additional 15 second increments.
- Let your chocolate mug cake set for 1 minute in the microwave before serving.
Notes
- The cooking time may vary depending on the model of your microwave.
- To make this chocolate mug cake vegan, simply swap the milk for your favorite non-dairy milk alternative and omit the Nutella (or use vegan chocolate chips). It may slightly change the texture, but it will still be delicious.
- The cake is done when it feels springy to the touch, or you can insert a toothpick in the center and pull it out with no wet batter present.
- A pinch of salt is the equivalent of about 1/16th of a teaspoon.
- You can add up to 1 tablespoon additional sugar to make your cake sweeter if desired (but it's totally not needed).
- Microwave the mug cake on a paper towel to make cleanup a snap in case of an overflowing cake.
Chey says
This was excellent! I followed exactly the 2nd time. 🙂 I accidentally put in 1/4 cup oil instead of 2 TBS - it worked both ways with espresso addition. I know 2 TBS though is healthier and if I'm adding peanut butter or other add ins, the original recipe would be succcessful. Truly a delicious treat! It was quick and prevented me from baking a whole cake that I really don't need in the house for just me. Thanks SO much for sharing.
Janine says
Wow this was amazing. I have zero junk food in the house and when my grandaughter stays for the weekend I always make her a mug cake. This is the best one yet, we both agree. I didn't have nutella I used natural peanut butter and I think that was the ingredient that pushed it over the top. This is now our go to mug cake, thanks so much!
Anonymous says
This was an awesome recipe and the cake came out perfectly.
Dee Dee says
Just made this. It’s really good and simple. I don’t like Nutella so I used hot fudge sauce you use for ice cream. I also used it as frosting.
Thank you for the easy delicious recipe. Perfect amount when you need that moment to yourself.
Robin Danford says
Delish! I also added a little shredded unsweetened coconut too. Really good.
Anonymous says
Really the best mug cake. So soft and cakey.