Microwave mug cake
Chef DefneKitchen Studio chef · October 14, 2026A single-serving chocolate cake that cooks in a mug in the microwave, made with basic store-cupboard ingredients. Vanilla ice cream on the side makes a nice extra.
Ingredients · 8
1 servingTap what you already have; add the rest to your list in the app with one tap.
- Self-raising flour4 tbsp
- Caster sugar4 tbsp
- Cocoa powder2 tbsp
- Medium egg1
- Milk3 tbsp
- Vegetable or sunflower oil3 tbsp
- Vanilla essence (or orange or peppermint essence)A few drops
- Chocolate chips, nuts or raisinsOptional2 tbsp
Method · 4 steps
- 1
In the largest mug you own (the extra room stops the batter spilling over in the microwave), stir together the cocoa powder (2 tbsp), caster sugar (4 tbsp) and self-raising flour (4 tbsp).
- 2
Add the egg and blend as much of the dry mix as possible into it; a few dry patches are fine.
- 3
Stir in the milk (3 tbsp) and oil (3 tbsp), plus vanilla essence (just a few drops), until the batter is smooth. Mix in the chocolate chips, nuts or raisins (2 tbsp), if using.
- 4
Microwave at full power for 1½-2 mins, with the mug in the centre of the oven, until the cake has stopped rising and feels firm.
