The chocolate mug cake recipe needs 1 minute to cook in the microwave! The cake is moist and fudgy and it’s the perfect last-minute single-serving dessert! Dump all ingredients into a microwavable mug, whisk, and cook!

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Why does this recipe work?
- Easiest and fastest chocolate dessert you’ll ever make!
- Ready in a minute!
- You’ll likely have all the pantry ingredients ready.
- Perfect for sudden sweet-tooth cravings or last-minute Valentine’s Day desserts.
- The recipe can be easily doubled to make two mug cakes.
- Top with cake with delicious toppings such as chocolate frosting, peanut butter frosting, or Nutella on top, or simply add confectionery sugar dusting on top and a few Choco chips. Feeling fancy? Top with a scoop of ice cream and drizzle hot chocolate fudge sauce and caramel syrup.
Ingredients
Ingredients notes
- All-purpose flour – all-purpose plain flour is what you need. Make sure to sift the flour before you use it. If you use self-rising flour, you should leave out baking powder from the recipe; also your cake will turn out very moist.
- Cocoa powder – make sure to use unsweetened quality cocoa powder. Cheap ones won’t make the best-tasting mug cake.
- White sugar – white granulated sugar gives a better texture. Do not use powdered or caster sugar. If you want to make a healthier mug cake – swap white granulated sugar with natural sweeteners like honey or even apple sauce.
- Baking powder – baking powder will make the mug cake rise turning it into light, airy, and moist cake.
- Salt – a pinch of salt added to any sweet dish elevates the taste.
- Vanilla extract – use pure vanilla extract. Vanilla bean paste may not work best for this cake.
- Oil – flavorless oils work best. Vegetable oil canola oil. For a richer taste, you may use melted butter.
- Milk – I’d like to use whole milk as it gives a richer taste. You can use skim milk or any other kind of milk – for a dairy-free option use almond milk or soy milk.
- Semi-sweet choco chips – ensure to use the baking purpose choco chips. Feel free to swap semi-sweet choco chips with peanut butter choco chips, butternut scotch, or chocolate or chocolate chunks.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Grease your microwaveable mug with cooking oil, alternatively you can spray it with oil.
Step 2: Sift together all purpose flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder directly into the mug. Add in rest of the ingredients – granulated white sugar, oil, vanilla extract and milk.
Step 3: Whisk everything until smooth. Sprinkle a few Choco chips on tip, this step is optional, but I highly recommend you don’t skip it.
Note: if the cake mix is too thick add an extra teaspoon (or more) of milk to adjust the consistency to make it into a smooth mix.
Step 4: Cook in microwave for about a minute.
Note: All microwaves are different. Keep close eye on the mug cake. You want to cook until the center is just set. Start with 60 seconds and if center is still sticky, place it back into microwave and cook for addition 10 to 15 seconds. Keep checking for the center to be just set, when tooth pick tester comes out dry and clean, stop cooking and remove mug from the microwave.
Serve as it is or dust the top with confectionery sugar and add a few Choco chips or top with a scoop of ice cream and drizzle hot chocolate fudge sauce and caramel syrup.
Serving suggestions
Serve this chocolate mug cake right away, it’s going to be fudgy, warm, and delicious! You can add your favorite toppings or frost it to your choice.
- Vanilla Ice Cream – the best compliment for warm fudgy desserts is vanilla ice cream. To make it utterly delicious drizzle hot chocolate fudge sauce and caramel syrup on top.
- Powdered sugar – dust confectioners sugar, drizzle hot chocolate fudge sauce while the mug cake is still warm, enjoy! For a touch of freshness and brightness, add a sprig of fresh mint leaves.
- Fresh berries – top warm cake with fresh berries like strawberries, raspberries can be added on top. Serve immediately.
- Whipped cream – A dollop of whipped cream, sprinkle cocoa powder on top. You can also use chocolate vermicelli or Choco chips.
- Peanut butter – drizzle sweetened creamy peanut butter on top, serve.
Tips to make moist chocolate mug cake
- Measure all ingredients accurately.
- Use the best quality fresh ingredients. Use good quality unsweetened cocoa powder, whole milk, and pure vanilla extract.
- Don’t skip greasing the mug (brush/spray with oil). This prevents the cake from sticking to the mug.
- White granulated sugar gives a better texture. Do not use powdered or caster sugar in place of granulated white sugar.
- Flavorless oils work best. Vegetable oil canola oil or melted butter for a richer taste can be used. Olive oil or other strong flavored oil should be avoided.
- Use whole milk as it gives a richer taste to the cake.
- Every microwave is different. Depending on your microwave you may have to adjust the cooking time. Start with 60 seconds and if the center is still sticky, place it back into the microwave and cook for an additional 10 to 15 seconds. Stop cooking and remove the mug from the microwave as soon as the toothpick inserted at the center of the cake comes out clean.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can. You’ll have to swap a couple of ingredients from the recipe with keto-friendly ingredients.
Swap these –
All-purpose flour with almond flour.
Diary cow’s milk with soy milk.
And use erythritol instead of granulated white sugar.
To make a dairy-free chocolate mug cake replace diary milk with non-dairy milk like soy milk or almond milk. Do not use any butter, use only vegetable oil. And use diary-free choco chips.
Using vegan milk like almond milk or soy milk and replacing choco chops with vegan-friendly choco chips will turn this cake into vegan vegan-friendly cake. Try it.
Measure everything precisely. Adding too much baking powder will make the cake rise on the edges and sink back into it. It will make the cake dense and chewy.
It’s crucial to measure everything accurately. Using a small mug will make the cake rubbery. Overcooking the cake in the microwave will also make it rubbery. Stop cooking and remove the mug from the microwave as soon as the toothpick inserter at the center of the cake comes out clean.
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1 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 ½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon granulated white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon oil vegetable oil or canola oil
- 2 tablespoon whole milk + extra few teaspoons if needed to adjust the texture of cake mix if too thick
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon semi sweet choco chips
Instructions
- Grease your microwaveable mug with cooking oil, alternatively, you can spray it with oil.
- Sift together all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder directly into the mug. Add in the rest of the ingredients – granulated white sugar, oil, vanilla extract, and milk.
- Whisk everything until smooth. Sprinkle a few choco chips on tip, this step is optional, but I highly recommend you don’t skip it.Note: if the cake mix is too thick add an extra teaspoon of milk to adjust the consistency to make it into a smooth mix.
- Cook in the microwave for about a minute.
- Keep a close eye on the mug cake. Test it after it’s cooked in the microwave for 60 seconds. If the toothpick tester comes out dry, remove the mug from the microwave. If the toothpick tester comes out wet with cake batter stuck to it, place it back into the microwave cook for an additional 10 to 15 seconds, and test again.
- Let it rest on the counter for a few seconds. Serve immediately with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge sauce, and caramel syrup drizzled on top.
Video
Notes
- Measure all ingredients accurately.
- Use the best quality fresh ingredients. Use good quality unsweetened cocoa powder, whole milk, and pure vanilla extract.
- Don’t skip greasing the mug (brush/spray with oil). This prevents the cake from sticking to the mug.
- White granulated sugar gives a better texture. Do not use powdered or caster sugar in place of granulated white sugar.
- Flavorless oils work best. Vegetable oil canola oil or melted butter for a richer taste can be used. Olive oil or other strong flavored oil should be avoided.
- Use whole milk as it gives a richer taste to the cake.
- Every microwave is different. Depending on your microwave you may have to adjust the cooking time. Start with 60 seconds and if the center is still sticky, place it back into the microwave and cook for an additional 10 to 15 seconds. Stop cooking and remove the mug from the microwave as soon as the toothpick inserted at the center of the cake comes out clean.
Nutrition
Created by Jyothi Rajesh
Thank you for stopping by.
I’m Jyothi Rajesh (Jo for short) and i’m the founder of the food blog, Curry Trail where I share my culinary Adventures. I live in Bangalore, India. I’m a mom of two beautiful kids. My passion is creating and sharing delicious and easy recipes for the home cook. I have been blogging since 2014 and many of my recipes have appeared in both online and print publications over the years. Learn more about Jyothi Rajesh.
Comments & Reviews
Jacque Hastert says
This mug cake sounds like a deliciously quick way to satisfy my sweet tooth!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Glad you liked it
Kacey Perez says
Totally needed this recipe this weekend after we finished our Easter meal and I had no sweet made for the family! Saving this for when I run into a time like that again!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you Kacey
Natalie says
Mug cakes are such a treat. Such an quick and easy way to satisfy sweet tooth, I love how your cake turned out. Looks delicious!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you Natalie
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
Yum! I am definitely a mug cake addict! And this Chocolate mug cake recipe of yours is really mouthwatering that I am drooling right now!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you
Danielle says
It is amazing that you only need a minute to make this delicious cake. It certainly look amazing and sounds like the recipe that I definitely need to have in my collection!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you
Sharon says
When you’re looking for a sweet treat without lots of work or ingredients, this chocolate mug cake is the perfect recipe.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you
Paige says
I am a huge fan of mug cakes and this one looks super easy and delish!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you
Bernice Hill says
ooooh what a perfectly dangerous recipe to have! Having an easy dessert recipe like this is way too convenient…it’s a must try.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Do give it a try Bernice, you’ll love it