The Ultimate Mug Cake

This is the absolute best chocolate mug cake recipe! Here’s how to make a mug cake in under 5 minutes that’s insanely fudgy.

Got 5 minutes? Let’s make a mug cake! We’ll admit, we’re a little late to this trend. But count us as firm believers! This genius method for going from 0 to cake in just a few minutes is absolutely worth a try. This Chocolate Mug Cake recipe comes out insanely fudgy and 100% delicious! It’s got a secret ingredient that makes a delightfully rich flavor. The hardest part? Waiting for it to cool until you can dig in. Here’s our tutorial: all you need to know about how to make a mug cake – and some variations for making it your own!

How to make a mug cake…in 5 minutes!

The mug cake is a viral internet sensation: simply place a few ingredients into a mug and microwave it! It sounds like one of those Pinterest experiments doomed to fail…only it isn’t. The cake comes out surprisingly moist and fluffy, with a fudgy interior. In fact: we prefer it to a traditional cake that takes hours to make. Here are the basic steps to make this easy mug cake:

Mix the dries, then stir in the wets. We designed our recipe so you have 2 tablespoons of all of the main ingredients. It makes it so easy to measure out!
Add mix-ins. Our base recipe uses chocolate chips. We have a few more ideas below!
Microwave for 1 minute, then about 20 seconds. The timing varies based on your microwave.
Important: cool it! It’s very, very important to cool your mug cake before digging in. Keep reading…

Timing varies based on microwave

The timing for cooking a mug cake really varies based on the power of your microwave. Here’s how to make this easy mug cake recipe fit any microwave:

Cook 60 seconds on high, then check. It’s possible that your cake could be done now, if you have a high powered appliance.
When is it done? It looks cooked and spring back when you touch it. It will still look fairly moist on top. But if it’s super gooey, keep going.
Cook 20 seconds, then another 10 if not cooked. Ours works with 60 seconds and then another 30 seconds: but find right’s right for you!

Why is it important to cool a mug cake?

Here’s the other most important thing about a mug cake recipe. Make sure to cool it for 2 to 3 minutes before digging in. Why?

Cooling the mug cake solidifies the texture. Take a bite too soon and it tastes super hot and well, microwave-y (if that’s a word). Ever taken a bite of something right out of the microwave? Then you know what we mean. You can also burn your tongue if you’re not careful (I know from experience).
After 2 to 3 minutes, it’s solidified and still warm. Don’t worry: it will still be warm after a few minutes! It will be amazingly fudgy and delicious…we promise.

Secret to this chocolate mug cake: Dutch process cocoa powder!

The other secret to this chocolate mug cake recipe is our favorite ingredient for baking chocolaty sweets: Dutch process cocoa powder. This special type of cocoa powder is easy to find and results in the best chocolaty, fudgy desserts. What is it?

Dutch process cocoa powder is a dark chocolate version of cocoa powder. It’s been treated with an alkali to make it pH neutral, which gives it a darker color and milder flavor.
Where to buy it? You should be able to find dark chocolate or Dutch process cocoa powder at your local grocery store, next to the regular cocoa powder. You can also find Dutch process cocoa powder online. We like Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder or Ghiradelli Dutch Process Cocoa Powder.
What else can you use it in? So many things! Try healthy chocolate pudding, bliss bites, flourless chocolate cake or chocolate banana muffins.

Don’t have or can’t find Dutch process cocoa powder? No problem: you can substitute regular cocoa powder! It still tastes incredibly delicious.

Mug cake mix-ins!

Another important thing to consider: how to customize your mug cake! The mix-ins in a mug cake recipe are important. They make the final texture and give you a little surprise on the inside! Here are a few ideas:

Dark chocolate chips: This is what we used! You can omit, but just 2 tablespoons chips makes a deliciously gooey texture.
Peanut butter: Add a dollop of peanut butter to the center of the batter.
Cookie dough: Add a ball of edible cookie dough to the center (room temp or frozen). Or try our chickpea cookie dough, a healthy-ish option.
Chocolate mint candies like Andes mints

Chocolate mug cake toppings

Last up: the topping! This chocolate mug cake is pretty rich, so you don’t really need the topping. But add a bit of melty vanilla ice cream and it’s heaven. The warm vs cold contrast is truly delightful! Here are a few more topping ideas:

Vanilla ice cream (naturally!)
Homemade whipped cream (try standard, vegan or rum-infused)
Raspberry sauce (this raspberry sauce or raspberry compote step it up a notch)
Fresh berries or cherries
Sprinkles
Chocolate sauce or caramel sauce

Makes 1 large or 2 small servings

If you’re looking for a big treat, make this easy mug cake recipe for yourself and go crazy! But honestly, it’s so rich that I could barely finish it. Alex and I split one and it was perfect! So feel free to serve this up with your significant other and two spoons.

This mug cake recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based and dairy-free.