Make Cake in a Mug

Craving a cake, but don't have enough time, energy, or ingredients to make one? Why not make a mug cake? Most mug cakes are large enough to serve just one or two people. Best of all, they are ready in minutes! Once you know the basics of making one, you can experiment with your own twists and variations. This article will show you lots of different ways of making one.

Ingredients

Lemon Cake Recipe

  • 2 tablespoons butter (melted)
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons flour

Hot Cocoa Chocolate Cake Recipe

  • 9 tablespoons hot chocolate powder mix
  • 4 tablespoons self-rising flour
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons oil

Chocolate Cake Recipe[1]

  • 4 tablespoons cake flour (if you don't have cake flour, sift 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour and 2 Tbsp cornstarch)
    • Other kinds of flour will work as well, but the cake will be heavier
  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons milk (any kind)
  • 3 tablespoons oil (any kind but peanut)
  • Splash of vanilla extract

Honeybun Coffee Cake Recipe

  • 1/3 cup (75g) yellow cake mix
  • 1 egg white
  • 2 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Topping mix (optional):
    • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon finely-chopped pecans
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Chocolate Chip Cookie

  • 1 tablespoon of butter (whipped butter or margarine works well)
  • 1 tablespoon of white granulated sugar (any white sugar)
  • 1 tablespoon of light brown sugar (this is necessary to keep it moist)
  • 1 egg yolk (STOP: No egg whites in here! It makes it very dry)
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons of self rising flour (all-purpose is fine)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2-3 tablespoons of chocolate (who said you have to use a chip, ehh?)

Steps

  1. Grease the inside of the mug with cooking spray.
  2. Measure and pour the dry ingredients into the mug. Stir ingredients with a spoon.
  3. Crack the egg and add it to the mug. Stir well to get the egg incorporated in the dry ingredients.
  4. Measure and pour the wet ingredients into the mug.
  5. Stir and beat everything together. Use your spoon to scrape the bottom. Fold the bottom mixture onto the top a few times to get all of the dry ingredients (chocolate powder and flour) moistened and incorporated with the wet ingredients (water, egg, and oil).
  6. Microwave the mug on high for 1 minutes and 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Timing may be different for various types of microwaves due to the heat.
  7. Watch as the cake starts to rise while in the microwave.
  8. Use a potholder or oven mitt to remove the mug from the microwave.
  9. Remove the cake from the mug. Take a fork and cut the cake into 4 pieces (quarters). Cutting the cake will help it cool down faster.
  10. Garnish the cake (optional). Use ice cream, whipped cream, glaze, syrup, or another topping of your choice.

Tips

  • When it starts to bubble over, do not open the microwave. It is rising, just let it, and put a plate under it to catch the batter that foams over like stated above. If you open the microwave when it's rising and spilling over, it will sink and be like a cracker at the bottom.
  • After the mug has cooled down, soak it in water to loosen and remove cake residue. It will be harder to clean it if not taken care of or tossed into the dishwasher as-is. Be sure the mug has cooled down. A hot ceramic mug may crack violently if placed in cool water.
  • For an extra treat, add a few mini marshmallows (you can learn how to make marshmallows from scratch!) or chocolate chips before you put the mug into the microwave. If you're using marshmallows, be sure to "protect" your microwave tray by lining the bottom with paper towels.
  • It is best to set the mug on a microwave-safe plate, as the mixture seems to love to boil over like a volcano.
  • You can add 1/2 Tbsp. of sodium bi-carbonate in the mixture for getting a more spongy and fluffy cake.
  • For a more uniform baking double the time, add 35 seconds and set your microwave to half power.

Warnings

  • Never use a cracked or chipped mug in the microwave, or a handmade stoneware one, or one with gilding or other metallic decoration; mugs with these characteristics can break or cause arcing or sparking in the microwave and should be avoided. Also, do not use handmade ceramics unless you know that the clay body it was made from does not contain iron, as microwaves will weaken and eventually break the mug.
  • When you remove the cake from the mug, the bottom may still be in a liquid form. This is okay, and if you wish to, place the cake back in the microwave for a longer time.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tools
  • Large mug (microwaveable)
  • Microwave oven
  • Cooking spray
  • Fork
  • Spoon

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Sources and Citations