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This 5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake will finally convince you that a mug cake can actually be good! Unlike most mug cakes that turn out dry, rubbery or muddy, this one is as good as the real thing. It is so soft, moist, gooey and chocolatey that it is hard to believe it’s made in the microwave in just 5 minutes start to finish. All you need is 7 basic ingredients (no eggs), a mug, a fork, and some measuring spoons. It is truly the perfect quick sweet treat for your late night cravings – and with 20M+ views and 1000s of remakes, I know many of you agree!
This was THE best mug cake I’ve ever had! Legit tastes like a fresh chocolate cake! The texture was perfect – not rubbery and didn’t taste off at all. Highly recommend.
– Ushna, ★★★★★
Moist and soft, NOT rubbery!
Developing a good mug cake recipe is surprisingly tricky. We have a very few ingredients and little room for error – so everything needs to be just right. After a ton of testing, here are 3 things I learned and why this recipe works:
- Eggs are the enemy of mug cakes. Yup, you heard me right! Not only is it annoying to have to use a quarter of an egg or half of an egg yolk, eggs cook fast in the microwave and are usually the culprit behind rubbery, spongey mug cakes. Not to mention, eggs provide structural integrity to baked cakes, but we don’t really need that in a small mug cake. So no eggs in this one!
- Butter is not worth the trouble. Some mug cakes use butter, which adds an additional melting step and is just not worth it. Just like my Easy Chocolate Cake, I opt for oil only in this mug cake to achieve the moistest texture that stays moist
- A little baking powder goes a long way. Microwave cakes rise a lot from the quick heat burst they get, so we don’t need to add too much raising agent. This recipe uses just 1/4 tsp. Any more, and the cake will explode and overflow
The result? A moist, soft, chocolatey cake that feels like a baked cake. If you want to make it even more indulgent, try covering it with hot chocolate like I do in my Hot Chocolate Mug Cake!
This was the only mug cake recipe I’ve found that isn’t leathery and oily. It’s SO moist and spongy and delicious!
– Dhaya, ★★★★★
Step by step photos
Here are some quick photos for you to visualize this recipe:
Start by whisking the milk, oil and sugar in a mug.
Sift in the dry ingredients (sifting is NOT optional!).
Stir or whisk until the ingredients are combined and no lumps remain. Clean the edges of the mug.
Microwave for 60-90 seconds until the cake is just cooked!
How to tell when it’s cooked
It is hard to give a precise amount of time for microwaving a mug cake, since different microwaves have different power settings, and the time also depends on how large or wide your mug is. This cake can take anywhere between 60-90s – and the best way to tell whether it’s done is by looking at it! A microwave cake cooks in 3 stages:
- Heat up: This is the longest stage that takes ~50-60 seconds. During this time, the batter is heating up and slowly rising, but the rise is not very quick
- Quick rise: Once the batter has heated up, you will notice the cake starts rising very rapidly. This is where the majority of the cooking happens. This stage takes only 10-20 seconds
- Slow sink: After the quick rise phase, the cake starts sinking again. At this point, it should be fully cooked. Stop cooking and remove from the microwave
The mug cake will have a wet looking patch on top but it should actually be cooked and spongy when you press on it. You can also check with a toothpick to ensure it’s done. If there’s any wet batter, give it another ~10 seconds.
A few more tips to get it right
Before I get into the quick recipe, let me share my best tips to get this mug cake right:
- Choose the right kind of mug. It should be microwave safe, and have at least 12oz of capacity. The cake won’t take up the full mug, but can rise quite a bit in the microwave, and using a big enough mug will help ensure the batter does not spill over
- Measure accurately. Instead of using random spoons, use proper measuring spoons to get the quantities right. For flour, make sure to first fluff it up and then add to the spoon, swiping off any excess. My recipe has also been updated with grams, so I highly recommend a scale for the most accurate results!
- Sift the dry ingredients. Since we are pretty much dumping everything into the mug, I recommend sifting the dry ingredients to minimize any lumps. This is especially important for the cocoa powder
- Ensure there are no lumps. When mixing the dry ingredients into the wet, they can form lumps. Use a spoon/fork or mini whisk to gently mix and break these lumps. Stop mixing as soon as a homogenous batter forms – overmixing can cause it to become rubbery
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Ingredients
- 4 tbsp whole milk (60g)
- 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil (20g)
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar (37g)
- 4 tbsp all purpose flour (32g)
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder (12g)
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- Optional: 2-3 tbsp chocolate chips to mix in, and a chocolate spread like Nutella to serve
Instructions
- To a 12oz microwave safe mug, add the milk, oil and sugar. Use a fork or mini whisk to mix well until combined
- Sift in the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt), and gently stir with the same fork or mini-whisk. Scrape the fork along the edges to ensure everything is well combined. The dry ingredients can float on top of the wet, so take your time to properly mix them in and ensure there are no lumps. Stop mixing as soon as everything is combined (over-mixing can result in a rubbery texture)
- If using, add in the chocolate chips and stir until just combined
- Clean the edges of the mug with a paper towel, and microwave on high for 60-90s. The cake will heat up, then rise rapidly and start to sink again – at this point it’s usually cooked! I usually check with a toothpick around the 70s mark and give it another 10-20 seconds if there’s still wet batter inside. If in doubt, lean towards undercooking rather than overcooking, as overcooking in the microwave can result in a tough, rubbery texture
- Optionally, spread on some Nutella or chocolate ganache. Serve and enjoy!
Video Tutorial
Notes
- Optional add-ins: I like to add chocolate chips to my mug cake, but you can add any kind of chocolate candy you like, as long as it’s chopped into chunks! Serve the cake as it is, or spread some Nutella or chocolate ganache on top. You can also serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Storage: This is a single serve cake meant to be eaten in one sitting. If you have leftovers, cover the mug with a coaster or cling wrap, and keep at room temperature for up to 1 day
More mug cake recipes
After the warm response to this mug cake, I have turned midnight mug cakes into a series! Check out the rest of them, and let me know what I should turn into a mug cake next:
Comments
Zaina banu
It is so quick and easy it’s sooooo good and I’ll make sure that I will send this recipe to my whole fam. Thank you zoha⁽⁽ଘ( ˊᵕˋ )ଓ⁾⁾＼(°o°)／
Zoha Malik
Thank you so much, Zaina!!
M. Hart
I dont have a microwave. How long could I bake in the oven?
Zoha Malik
Try my easy chocolate cake instead: https://bakewithzoha.com/easy-chocolate-cake/
Fathima Azha
Can we make this on normal oven? Instead if microwave oven, If same ingredients and 20 minutes is okay? Also what if I don’t have a mug to put it on oven? A stainless steel mug?
Zoha Malik
Hi Fathima! No, this recipe is designed for the microwave. For an easy oven recipe, try https://bakewithzoha.com/easy-chocolate-cake/
Sucharita Jyothula
OMG such a good moist and chocolaty cake! JUST DELICIOUS.. one quick question though.. all my chocolate chips sunk to the bottom anyway I could prevent this?
Thank youuu
Zoha Malik
WOO thank you! Honestly I am not entirely sure why – maybe skip the chips and just put the chocolate on top!
Priyanka Mahajan
The recipe is spot on!!
Zoha Malik
Yay glad you agree!!
Aminah
Was craving a chocolate brownie/cake since the last two days but didn’t want to make a whole cake! This was SO yum! And just enough to fulfil those night cravings! So moist and yum!!!!
Zoha Malik
WOOO glad to hear it!!
Ayesha Jameel
It was amazing!! Loved it.
Zoha Malik
YAY!
Saba
The best mug cake ever!!!!
Zoha Malik
I AGREEEE!
R
Best chocolate mug cake I’ve ever made
Zoha Malik
I agree!
Ayesha
Loved the recipe! followed it to a T except we microwaved it for 60 seconds in a bowl. Perfection!
Zoha Malik
YAY thank you so much!
Shaista Abbas
I made it just now and it turned out to be the most soft mug cake ever. Timings were perfect. I took it out on 70s and let it rest for a minute. It was just perrrrrrfect.
Zoha Malik
Yay thank you so much, Shaista! Glad it turned out well!
Safa Aurangzeb
On my GOD!! This is heavenly!! It is sooo moist and quick and easy to make. One of the best options if you are craving for something sweet. Can’t say enough of how good this mug cake turned out to be. Thank you Zoha for this
Zoha Malik
Thank you for the love! It’s so great, I am obsessed too 🙂
aiman anees
Loved the mug cake, so easy and quick even my husband could make it
Zoha Malik
Yay!
Asma Nagi
Zoha this is the first time I’ve made your recipe. Only because my oven’s not working. This mug cake was excellent. Thanks for helping satisfy an old lady’s chocolate cravings.
Zoha Malik
Thank you Asma! So glad you made this and liked it! <3
Zainab
Best everug cake of my life✨😋. I was making one for myself then my sister came then I had to make 1 for her. After that I was about to eat mine then my brother came to ask for mug cake. It’s super delicious, chocolatey 😭😭✨
Zoha Malik
AWW thank you zainab!!
Sienna
This is the first mug cake that has actually worked for me! It tastes really nice and I will be making it again.
Zoha Malik
Yay!!
rida
the best ever single serve cake you will get to eat. It’s so yummyy
Zoha Malik
I’m glad you think so!! <3
Bhargavi Kannan
Incredible ! The best mug cake I’ve ever tasted. Tastes like actual cake 🙂 my husband who hates mug cakes loved this one!!!
Zoha Malik
YAY I agree! it tastes so good
Azeema
It’s perfect
Ushna Hassan
This was THE best mug cake I’ve ever had! Legit tastes like a fresh chocolate cake! The texture was perfect it wasn’t rubbery and didn’t taste off at all! Highly recommend ❤️
Zoha
This makes me SO happy!! The mug cake holds such a special place for me 😍 Thank you Ushna! 🙏