Everyone is trying new things this week, so I did too! It's an easy microwave chocolate mug cake recipe. Until yesterday I was resistant to the idea of microwave chocolate mug cake, but lately I've had trouble finding ingredients for baking projects, and they just made sense. So mug cake it is, and a 5 minute one at that! This recipe is about as easy as they come. It cooks in less than a minute and is perfect for topping with ice cream.
This recipe is based on one from 5-Minute Mug Cakes. It's a fun little book with loads of recipes that take around 5 minutes to make.
Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake Texture
And this is one of the most simple chocolate mug cakes recipes out there. After making this mug cake, I browsed through other recipes on the Internet and found many had the same number of ingredients as a full cake!
Applesauce Makes Chocolate Mug Cake Better!
I love this particular chocolate mug cake recipe because it comes together so seamlessly with the melted chocolate chips. But unfortunately I had issue with dryness. The book calls for a microwave time of 1 minute to 75 seconds, but at 1 minute my cake was kind of dry. Adding a little unsweetened applesauce really helped. The applesauce does not make the cake taste like apple, but rather curbs the dryness. Theoretically mug cakes are supposed to be served fairly quickly, but with the applesauce the cake stays soft for hours.
Before discovering the applesauce trick I came up with a quick stir-together icing to curb the dryness. I'm leaving the icing recipe in the notes, but if you add the applesauce and maybe throw a few chocolate chips on top, you shouldn't need it.
Hot Chocolate Mug Cake Climbs!
By the way, mug cake will have you looking at mugs in a new light. There are many mugs I'd be scared to put in the microwave, but since most mug cakes bake in a minute, it's easy to find a mug that can withstand 50 to 60 seconds of microwaving. You may want to use an oversize mug the first time so that the batter doesn't rise and possibly spill all over the place. This batter, especially with the applesauce, does climb! For this chocolate mug cake you should use a mug that is at least 12 oz. If you halve the recipe, you can go as low as an 8 oz.
In my opinion, the best way to serve mug cake is with ice cream. I did some experiments with halving and found a half version was perfectly cooked in 50 seconds. If you halve the recipe, you also have the option of using an 8 oz custard cup. It doesn't look so nice here, but it was pretty with whipped cream and ice cream on top.
100 Calorie Chocolate Cake Variation
This mug cake has melted chocolate chips and a bit of oil so it's more like actual chocolate cake than a low calorie dessert. For a low calorie treat, use a custard cup or ramekin. Mix 1 tablespoon (8 grams) flour, 1 tablespoon (12 grams) sugar and 1 tablespoon (5 grams) cocoa powder, plus a tiny pinch of salt and baking soda. Mix very well and add 2 tablespoons (28 grams) of applesauce or prune baby food. Heat in microwave for 1 minute. If you have a high power microwave you may need to use 80% power or even lower, but start with high until the brownie bakes just right. With applesauce it's about 100 calories and with prunes it's 120. I like the prune variation best. A few chocolate chips are optional.
More Easy Cakes (and a Brownie Cookie)
Recipe
Basic Chocolate Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips 45 grams (Ghirardelli)
- 3 tablespoons milk, 2% 45 ml
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour 16 grams, stir it and don't pack
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons unsweetened applesauce applesauce
Instructions
- Combine milk and chips in a 12 oz mug. Microwave for 25-30 seconds (keep an eye on it). Stir until chips melt and mixture is smooth.
- Add the flour, baking powder and oil and stir until smooth. Stir in the applesauce. If you want, you can also stir in a tiny pinch of salt.
- Microwave for 55 seconds. If cake is not done (which may happen in less powerful microwaves), heat for 10 to 15 seconds more. Scatter a few chocolate chips across the top and let stand for 5 minutes before eating..
- Top with ice cream or whipped cream.
Anna says
Sue, I'm glad you had fun with the recipe.
Sue says
This was super easy and very much enjoyed by my husband! I had a taste but made it for him. I have this feeling I’ll be making it again soon for him.
Anna says
Rhonda, that's right. All the sugar comes from the chocolate chips.
RHONDA Oliver says
No sugar? I’m guessing the choc chips add enough sweetness.
I’ll try this soon.
Sue says
That looks like fun. It seems like these were a thing 8-10 years ago? I didn’t try them then because I was into other kinds of baking. I’ll keep this in mind for when this stupid nutrition challenge is over at my gym.