There comes a time in every girl’s life when she needs a chocolate mug cake.
Perhaps it’s one of those days where you just want to curl up on the couch all day and watch bad Lifetime movies about stolen babies (ladies, you know what I’m talking about).
Or maybe you just ran four miles for the first time in your entire life and unless you counteract it immediately with a dessert, the universe will be thrown out of balance and implode, and the entire 2012 apocalypse will be all your fault.
Or maybe it’s your birthday and everyone forgot so there was no cake. Okay, sorry, that last one was kind of depressing. Anyway, my point is, sometimes you just need a bite of cake to make things right. Just a bite.
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Love peanut butter and chocolate? Check out my No-Bake Pretzel Peanut Butter Bars or Peanut Butter Fluff Cups.
What Makes This Mug Cake The Best?
I was never a fan of mug cakes because all of the versions I’ve tried have turned out rubbery and just not at all delightful. Until I found this recipe, which for me is the one. This is why I like it:
- It’s not overly sweet. (If you want it sweeter, add more sugar or some chocolate chips.)
- It’s small. Other recipes I’ve tried have just been too big and they make me feel like I just over indulged. This one is just a few, rich, delightful bites.
- There is no egg. I find that eggs make mug cakes rubbery or spongey and they also mean that you can’t scale the recipe in size. If you want a small cake, you can’t just split an egg in half, right?
- There are a lot of variations. Add chocolate chips, use nutella, jam, or caramel sauce in place of the peanut butter, vegan-ize it by using soy milk in place of cow’s milk… lots of options.
Don’t be tempted to leave out the peanut butter (or jam, or whatever you drop in the center) because it helps keep the cake moist and rich. It simply wouldn’t be the same without it.
Make it a Vegan (Dairy-Free Mug Cake)
With one simple swap, this Chocolate Mug Cake can be made vegan. Simply swap the milk with your favorite non-dairy milk and you’re good to go! Life is good.
So, shout out to Jessie at Made From Scratch for experimenting with mug cakes until finding this perfect mix. You just saved the universe from imploding!
“The One” Chocolate Mug Cake
Servings 1Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour ($0.02)
- 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder ($0.03)
- 2 tsp sugar ($0.01)
- 1/4 tsp baking powder ($0.02)
- a pinch salt ($0.01)
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.04)
- 2 Tbsp milk ($0.04)
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter ($0.13)
Instructions
- In your mug, stir together the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt). Make sure there are no clumps.
- Stir in the vegetable oil and milk until the mixture is smooth. Drop a tablespoon of peanut butter into the center and push it down into the batter.
- Microwave on high for one minute and then enjoy!
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Notes
Nutrition
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Love microwave mug cakes? Check out my Funfetti Mug Cake, or Cinnamon Nut Swirl Mug Cake!
How to Make a Chocolate Mug Cake – Step By Step Photos
Add 2 Tbsp flour, 1 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 tsp sugar, 1/4 tsp baking powder, and a pinch of salt to a microwave-safe mug. Stir them together very well.
Add 2 Tbsp milk and 1 Tbsp oil, then stir until it forms a batter.
Drop a dollop of peanut butter (about 1 Tbsp) down into the center of the batter.
Microwave on high for one minute and you’ve got yourself a cake with a melty, peanut butter center! The cake turns out extra light and fluffy and the peanut butter kind of sinks in as the cake rises up around it. So magical!
Every bite has a light cake and a gooey, rich bit of melty peanut butter. Absolutely perfect.
And then five or six delightful bites later, you’re done and you don’t feel like you do when you “accidentally” eat a whole pint of ice cream. …not that that ever happens. 👀
It’s good! I added chocolate chips on mine but I think I should have used pure maple syrup instead of raw cane sugar! It may make it a bit sweeter
Take this as a sign to make this for your Valentine’s Day treat. Doubled the recipe, but had separate mugs that we microwaved each for 45 seconds. Perfection.
Why pay 20 bucks for a lava cake at a restaurant when you can customize here! I had peanut butter in the middle of mine and my partner had cherry jam in his. Paired perfectly! Thanks Beth, this one is a keeper!
Can this recipe be doubled?
I would think so, but I haven’t tried it. My instincts say that the only adjustment you’d need is to increase the microwave time. But I’d need to test it before offering a suggested cook time.
This is unbelievably good and definitely the best mug cake I’ve ever made. 45 seconds was perfect for my microwave.
This is delicious and I’ve made it about 5 times now. Perfect for when I want a brownie but I don’t actually want to make brownies. I did not add extra sugar, just topped it off with a few chocolate chips and it was the perfect amount of sweetness. If yours is turning out dry, lower the microwave time. I do mine for 45 seconds and it’s just right.
The texture is spot on. I used almond milk as that is what I had on hand then a dollop of Nutella vs. peanut butter. Delicious!
This was simple and delicious. I used coconut oil and had a few mini chocolate chips on top. The only thing I would do differently next time is cook it a bit less. I love that it wasn’t overly sweet.
I knew I wanted it to be sweet, so I upped the sugar to 1 tbsp even before reading the comments. I also cannot recommend Nutella highly enough with this. Absolutely delicious, and so easy!
This was SOO gross! Definitely not my type, but the recipe was fine!
My sister loves this. i tried it without the chocolate and it was good!
This was so quick and easy to make and delicious! I made exactly as listed. It is not overly sweet but still satisfied my dessert craving. Maybe I will add a few chocolate chops on top for icing next time.
Good flavor but dry
I made this and shared it with my grandson. I put chocolate icing (homemade) in the middle. It was amazing! We loved it! 👍💞
Just tried this with marshmallow fluff instead of peanut butter and it was amazing!
Increase sugar to 1 Tablespoon
Decrease cocoa powder to 1/2 Tablespoon
Add chocolate chips
I added icream Carmel and a bit of icecream chocolate syrup
DELICIOUS! Love the texture.
Used almond milk & American Dream nut butter and omg this is amazing and way less calories than all the other ones I’ve seen.
fills that sweet tooth
Best mug cake recipe! Nice and fluffy chocolate cake. I like to switch it up and add chocolate chips and quick PB frosting on top! Thank you for the recipe!