Chocolate Mug Cake
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 my small-batch chocolate chip cookies and small-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. I suggest spraying 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 and cook 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
![A chocolate mug cake with a scoop of ice cream on top.](https://i0.wp.com/www.livewellbakeoften.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Chocolate-Mug-Cake-5.jpg?fit=200%2C200&ssl=1)
Chocolate Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (31 grams) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 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!
Very indulgent and delicious, more satisfying than I thought it might be. Truth be told, I could have gotten away with 1/2 the mug full — shh! As with most chocolate recipes, I added a pinch each of espresso powder and cinnamon; I will most definitely make this again and again! Thank you, Danielle. {:~) Be well.
Delicious. I did not have chocolate chips, and it was stilly yummy!
This is my favorite mug cake recipe! I split this recipe in half and just make it for my boyfriend and I. I also use 2 TBSP of sugar instead of 3 and it’s so smooth and such a moist cake! Perfect for when you want something sweet in a pinch.
This is a great cake but I agree with Amanda! 2 tablespoons of sugar would be perfect
I’m so sorry! I just realized I miss read the recipe and only put in 1 tablespoon of sugar. I still loved the cake but thought it needed 2 tablespoons full! I’m sure this is delicious with the 3 tablespoons of sugar than it called for and I’m sorry I commented before realizing I had made the mistake.
No worries, Joan! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Worked well with gluten-free flour
Just tried it and was delicious. I’m going to try cutting recipe in half like someone above did as its too much for just me.
Delicious! My favorite chocolate mug cake recipe yet. Made it without the chocolate chips and topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce. “Baked” for 1 min 15 sec. Amazing!
I’ve made this many times. I’m a chocoholic and like it best with special dark cocoa and I double the chocolate chips… and I sometimes add a dollop of sour cream.
I always bake with a scale to weigh ingredients and for this I make it right in the cup (I don’t grease or spray it). Add all the dry ingredients, stir with spoon, add everything else, stir again and bake… 1:15 is perfect. In the end, I use one mug, one spoon, and the ¼ tsp measuring spoon!
I’ve made this 3 times in the past 2 days! It’s so good and the only thing getting me through the week!
so, i made a mug cake from a diff recipe and it came out bad. but i tried this one and it was so good. family approved.
Amazing! I’ve made this twice this week and both times it was great. For me it’s more of a brownie texture(which I loved), and was dense yet fluffy.
I substituted regular milk for almond milk, and used coconut oil. Also used 100% Hersheys Cacao which gave it an extremely rich and decadent taste (perfect for the brownie-cake texture). This is my first and only cake in a cup and I’m so grateful!
I did this in a pinch used almond milk guessed a cup amount based on a mug and a real table spoon to measure everything did four pinches of baking powder I was at my boyfriend’s no measuring cups but I had a few baking things over and it was perfect ❤️
Yes! I’ve tried a few mug cake recipes like these from online before, some were good some were eh. I’m very much a chocolate lover. I just finished eating it and it is a generous amount so if you don’t want an almost full mug of cake then maybe cut the recipe in half. If you have some ice cream that goes well with chocolate definitely add that! makes it so much better. Next time I make it I’ll only be adding 2 tbsp of sugar or so, it was a liiil sweet for me but that of course depends on the person! Overall really good, especially for a quick dessert. My sweet tooth is satisfied.
Loved it with some vanilla ice cream!
I did add a wee bit of expresso powder into the wet, and next time, I might add more chips. OH! and an oops – I added the chips to the batter, not onto the top. Only comment is that it felt like a large serving 🙂
I just made this and the Only negative thing I can say is that I really wish I had some vanilla ice cream to go with this DELICIOUS chocolate cake! I used Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder and added both mini semisweet chips and some milk chocolate chips. Omgoodness this is SO good. Next time I might add a sprinkle of instant coffee to the batter to see if it deepens the chocolate flavor a bit, but it’s perfect as is.
My latest addiction is mug cakes and I’ve tried a lot of them. This one for sure is the best one I’ve made! Not too sweet, a great texture and super easy. Make this cake for a quick sweet tooth indulgence!
Yum! Just what I needed and I’m glad it’s small because I would have eaten more if I had more. I used 2Tblsp melted unsalted butter instead of oil. It worked great.
thanks so much!
Definitely my favorite go to cup dessert 🙂
We are on week two of a kitchen remodel. Tried this and surprised how tasty even without any toppings. Will make again even when we have our oven back.
I don’t know if I did something wrong but I honestly didn’t like it.I think I would’ve liked it more if I had put chocolate chips.But it was still smooth and rich.I would recommend but it’s not for me but my friends loved it.It’s just not for everybody.The texture honestly was the best part.It wasn’t the best one I’ve made but still would recommend so you get a 5 star.I am a really picky eater so I have so change some stuff here and there but I would definitely try this again if it was tweaked a bit! Just little changes not ones that will change the texture of the cake.Like instead of oil, unsalted butter. Still alright!
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the mug cake, Anaya. You could certainly use melted butter in place of the oil. The chocolate chips add more chocolate flavor as well.
1 min 15 sec made a perfect mug cake for me! So moist and delicious. Really hit a spot when I’m craving dessert after dinner! I’ll definitely make this again!
This was so good! I can’t wait to make it again lol
honestly this mug cake is reallyyyy good and easy to make. i made this for me, my sister and grandparents and we all really liked it. it’s not really dry or hard, it is soft and doesn’t taste too much like vanilla flavoring like other ones i tried. i will for sure be making this again when my cousins come over and have a sleepover.
I didn’t have cocoa powder so I used hot chocolate mix and cut the sugar in half and it still came out delicious! Thanks so much for the great recipe
So So So Delicious!
This is so amazing I added white chocolate chips so delicious, just one side note we had to put it in the microwave for about 3 mins until it was not batter
My mug cake turned out superb. I had made it for my granddaughter. She loved it n wants me to make more n more??
So glad I found this! I was craving a choc cake and didn’t want to make an entire box cake. So, I read it, ran to my kitchen to make it and realized there was no egg in the recipe? I wondered if it was right or an omission and was very tempted to add an egg but decided to trust the recipe and good thing I did! This is the most amazing light yet perfectly filling chocolate mug cake I have ever made! Thanks to you! I also added a scoop of vanilla ice cream-Heaven!
Smooth moist and and chocolatey! Love it, and i love that it’s enough for 2 servings
This is a really good recipe for a rich (with no eggs) chocolate mug cake. My husband even requests it! I make it with the dietary changes I require..I use gluten free King Arthur Measure to Measure flour, Lankanto Monk Fruit blend for sugar, and almond milk for milk. Due to flour difference, I have to add 1-2 T more almond milk to get to cake batter consistency. It turns out great!
Hope this helps if you, too, have special diet needs. Thank you for sharing this!
This was a absolute best mug cake!