People say this fudgy chocolate mug cake recipe is the best mug cake they’ve ever tried. And you can make it in the microwave or oven!
The best chocolate cake in a mug
This is the chocolate mug cake recipe for chocolate lovers.
Rich, decadent, and delicious, the recipe has over two thousand positive reviews from readers who’ve made the chocolate cake and absolutely love it.
So if you’ve been disappointed with other chocolate mug cake recipes in the past, definitely be sure to give this one a try, because it will not disappoint!
Readers also love this Brownie in a Mug
Microwave chocolate mug cake recipe
I could tell you that I labored in front of a hot oven all day baking this cake.
But the reality is that the chocolate mug cake took only one minute.
Yes, really.
And it is made with pantry staple ingredients you can always keep on hand, with no eggs required.
Any time you are craving chocolate, now all you have to do is head to the kitchen and whip up this easy chocolate dessert in the microwave.
You can even portion out the dry ingredients ahead of time and store the chocolate cake mix in small Ziploc bags so the recipe will be even quicker to make when you’re ready to eat.
It’s like chocolate cake meal prep!
For a larger version, try this Vegan Chocolate Cake
Chocolate mug cake flavors
Chocolate Peanut Butter: Omit the oil in the recipe below, and stir in one or two tablespoons of peanut butter (or almond butter) in its place.
Nutella Mug Cake: Instead of oil, add a tablespoon of your favorite chocolate hazelnut spread. I like this Homemade Nutella Recipe. Top with more Nutella!
Chocolate Peppermint: Stir a fourth teaspoon of pure peppermint extract into the liquid ingredients before stirring everything together to form a batter.
Dark Chocolate Coconut: Use coconut oil, and top the finished mug cake with dark chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and a scoop of Coconut Ice Cream.
Mocha Mug Cake: Stir half a teaspoon of instant coffee granules, regular or decaf, in with the cake’s dry ingredients.
Chocolate Orange: Add one teaspoon of orange zest to the mug before stirring.
What is your dream single serving mug cake flavor? If there are any other ideas you’d like to see that I do not have listed above, definitely let me know!
Frosting options
Feel free to decorate your single serving chocolate cake with shredded coconut, chopped walnuts or pecans, mini chocolate chips, hot fudge sauce or caramel sauce.
I used this homemade Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.
Or you can frost the cake however you wish, such as with store bought or homemade vanilla or chocolate frosting, powdered sugar or melted chocolate, sliced bananas, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, or raspberry jam.
It’s also wonderful topped with Coconut Whipped Cream or Almond Milk Ice Cream.
Chocolate mug cake recipe video
Above, watch the step-by-step video
How to make a chocolate mug cake
Step One: Start by combining all of the dry ingredients in a cereal bowl or small dish. Stir very well, to ensure the salt and baking powder are evenly distributed.
Step Two: Add liquid, stir to form a chocolate cake batter, and pour the batter into a microwave or oven safe dish, ramekin, or coffee mug.
Especially if you are not planning to eat the cake straight out of the mug, be sure to grease the dish well before adding the batter.
Step Three: Microwave for thirty to forty seconds. Mine is always fluffy and cooked through after this time, but you may need to cook longer depending on your microwave’s wattage.
Or bake the mug cake in the oven for fourteen minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean.
Step Four: Frost the top of the chocolatey dessert and enjoy. To store leftovers… Wait, what leftovers?
Mug cake recipe ingredients
Here’s what you need to make the single serving recipe: cocoa, flour, sweetener, salt, baking powder, milk of choice, pure vanilla extract, and oil or banana.
Cocoa powder – Use regular unsweetened cocoa powder for the first tablespoon of cocoa. Dutch cocoa powder, hot chocolate mix, or additional regular unsweetened cocoa can be used for the two teaspoons.
Flour – The recipe works well with white flour, oat flour, all purpose gluten free flour, or spelt flour (my personal preference). I have not tried it with any other options such as whole wheat flour or pastry flour.
A keto mug cake version with almond flour is also included in the recipe box below.
Sweetener – This can be granulated sugar or unrefined coconut sugar or a liquid option like pure maple syrup or honey.
For a sugar free mug cake, use xylitol or granulated erythritol. Stevia technically works, but the flavor and texture are better if you go with one of the other options listed here.
Fat source – I think the cake tastes best made with coconut oil. My second favorite choice is peanut butter or almond butter. Vegetable oil is also fine to use.
If you want a low fat or fat free mug cake, many readers have written in to say it works to substitute applesauce, Greek yogurt, sweet potato, pumpkin, or mashed banana. I much prefer the taste with some fat added, but that is a personal taste preference.
Vegan chocolate mug cake
The mug cake is already naturally eggless, which means it is super easy to create a dairy free and vegan version.
Just use a plant based milk, such as coconut milk, soy milk, or almond milk. If topping with chocolate chips, ice cream, or frosting, choose vegan options for those as well.
For a gluten free chocolate mug cake, use either oat flour or gluten free all purpose flour. If you experiment with any other gluten free flours, let me know how it goes.
You may also like these Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Mug Cake
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp Dutch cocoa powder or additional regular
- 3 tbsp flour spelt, white, oat, or all purpose gluten free (or try this Keto Mug Cake Recipe)
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sweetener of choice
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 2 1/2 tsp oil or nut butter (While I much prefer the version with fat, many commenters say they love substituting applesauce or mashed banana here)
- 3 tbsp milk of choice
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- How to make a chocolate mug cake recipe: Combine dry ingredients and mix very, very well. Add liquid, stir, then transfer to a little dish, ramekin, or even a coffee mug. Either microwave 30-60 seconds (time will depend on your microwave's wattage) OR cook in a preheated 350 F oven for about 14 minutes. If you don’t want to eat it straight out of the dish, be sure to spray your dish first and then wait for the mug cake to cool before trying to remove it. Frosting ideas are listed above in the post!View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
Easy Chocolate Dessert Recipes
Best healthy mug cake I ever had! I added white chocolate chips and didn’t frost it. Part of it stayed a delicious lava like batter in the mug after 40 seconds but I didn’t mind since it has no eggs! Thank you!
I thought you’d appreciate that my two-year-old daughter has heard me verbally google your recipes so often that now she requests things like “Chocolate Covered Katie Chocolate Oatmeal please!” Seriously she uses your name almost daily! ?
I’m planning to make this recipe for her birthday…is one of your other cake recipes basically this? Otherwise I’ll juts multiply this by about 15 🙂 thank you!!!
Hmmm be sure to report back if you do try multiplying the recipe! Otherwise, here is Katie’s vegan chocolate cake recipe: https://lett-trim.today/2017/07/24/vegan-chocolate-cake-recipe/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I just made these because I was dying for some chocolate. My hopes were exceptionally low but these are so good!! I used coconut sugar and “misugaru” flour. YUM! <3
Hi Katie!!! You’re one of the sweetest bloggers ever!!
Wish you happiness in everything.
Small question: I’m not vegan, so will regular milk taste ok in your recipes?
Thanks!
Hi, anywhere it says “milk of choice” you can feel free to use whatever milk you normally drink or use 🙂
This was absolutely delicious, thank you I made it for myself and my daughter and we loved it, we didn’t even add any icing. Will be making this often.
I feel so behind the times! All these posts in 2011 and I’m just finding out about this in 2018. I read this and re-read this in shock and awe. I was almost ready to not believe this. But because of the 1 minute cook time I tried it…and…I cried. My Mother (God rest her soul) rarely allowed me to have birthday cake because I was too fat. She meant well. Now, some 40 years later, diabetic and Celiac, my hopes were dim to ever find a substitute that I could live with. I didn’t have any xylitol, but I had Ice Chips Candy made mostly from xylitol – peppermint flavored, so I crushed it up to a powder and measured it like it was sugar. I was a little worried since it had a slight amount of cream of tartar in the candy. But the recipe turned out delicious. (I also used gf oat flour.) I can’t tell you how healing this is to my soul that in 2 months when I have my birthday, I can make this and enjoy it! Thank you – thank you – thank you! In fact, I won’t be waiting 2 months!
delicious!! I used water instead of milk and it came out well. topped it with the avocado frosting as well. So, my favorite chocolate cake recipe so far ^_^ thank you ! ♡
I love this so much! Thank you! I did brown rice flour and a handful of chocolate chips on top after I cooked it instead of frosting. Delicious!
Hi Katie
I absolutely love this cake, simple yet delicious. I make everytime i need that chocolate fix. Thank you ❤
Hi all
Do you mean 1 more tsp sugar for extra sweetness? As written you suggest 1 more tbsp. Just checking.. can’t have it too sweet can we?
X
1 tbsp