Posted on Wednesday, 28th July 2010 by Grace Massa Langlois
Happy Wednesday everyone! I am a big food photography fan and you can usually find me drooling all over the food pics at FoodGawker. It’s amazing how many talented cooks and bakers there are out there. Last week a couple of pics stood out to me and apparently to everyone else too because they made the most gawked list for this month, 5 minute microwave cakes. Almost Bourdain did a gluten free version. If you ever do a search for these quick and easy chocolate sweet cakes in a mug they all seem to be centred around the same few ingredients and they are all baked for 3 to 5 minutes.
When we were planning my niece’s bridal shower we were on the hunt for perfect gifts for winners of the bridal shower games. I was out shopping one day and I visited one of my favourite kitchen shops, Kiss the Cook (what a perfect name!) and I ran across a 3-piece Sweet Cakes set, large latte mug, saucer and spoon and with it came a recipe for these quick and easy microwave cakes.
I quickly realized I’d forgotten to throw it in the mix of gifts we’d picked up for the shower. It was all ready to go, I’d wrapped it in cello and I had attached little cello bags, one with chocolate chips and another with all of the dry ingredients, the winner only had to add a few ingredients and they could satisfy their chocolate craving.
I am always craving chocolate so I set out to see if these little cakes would fit the bill. I tried the recipe that came with the box but I found the cake to be a little spongy and heavy, so I set out to tweak the recipe a little. The original recipe called for 4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons of cocoa, 3 tablespoons of oil and 3 tablespoons of milk along with the other ingredients. I love the taste of butter in my cakes so I switched out the oil. I was hoping by reducing the amount of cocoa, and adding the melted dark chocolate, that it would not only make the cake tastier but I was hoping to achieve a gooier centre. I used pastry flour and also increased the milk just a tad to achieve a lighter cake.
If you look at the second picture of the cake (original recipe), paying attention to the lines in the mug, and then the first picture (tweaked recipe) you’ll see the version of the tweaked recipe produced a higher cake. It was definitely lighter and it was much gooier inside and the taste was magnificent.
This recipe is perfect for testing out different flavour combinations, if you’re not happy with the taste you haven’t wasted the amount of ingredients that are required to make a larger cake. So get creative add different spices, add fruit, try it with white chocolate, so many possibilities and it takes so little time.
Lucky Me! I guess I was the biggest winner after all.
3 Minute Chocolate Sweet Cake In A Mug
*Special Equipment – 16.9 ounce mug
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 40 g good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), coarsely chopped, room temperature
- 3 1/2 tablespoons pastry flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 egg
- 3 1/2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips
- Place butter and chocolate in a small microwave safe bowl. Microwave at medium power for 8 seconds, stir. Repeat at 8 second intervals, stirring in between until chocolate and butter are melted. Set aside.
- Using a fine-mesh sieve, sift flour, sugar and cocoa into a small bowl. Add the egg and whisk until well combined. Add milk and vanilla and whisk to combine. Add chocolate mixture and whisk to combine.
- Add chocolate chips, using a wooden spoon, stir to combine.
- Pour batter into a microwave safe mug. Place mug in microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, don’t be alarmed, it will drop. Allow to cool a little. Eat straight from the mug or if you prefer tip onto a plate. Add yummy toppings (sweetened whipped cream, ice cream, fresh fruit, shaved chocolate, icing sugar). Enjoy!
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Tags: after school treat, afternoon tea, baked pudding, cake, cakes, chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate dessert, dessert, desserts, food, food photography, food photos, individual dessert, individual desserts, mini cakes, quick and easy desserts, quick desserts, small cakes
Posted in Baking & Pastry, Baking Mise en Place, Pastry Doughs & Batter, Recipes
Comments (27)
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July 28th, 2010 at 10:32 am
This recipe looks delicious. Another one to add to the list of things to make. Sigh, my scale! LOL FoodGawker is amazing!
July 28th, 2010 at 10:44 am
Cake in a mug. How cute! Is it safe to bake it like that? I would have never thought of that. Sounds absolutely delicious. I made some chocolate cookies yesterday that turned out really good. I’ll probably post the recipe soon…
July 28th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Hey Marly, can’t wait to see, I found a recipe for cute Fudge Drop cookies that I am dying to make, but are you ready for this, I do not have one ounce of chocolate left in the house, can’t believe it!
July 28th, 2010 at 11:02 am
p.s. make sure the mug is microwave safe – when it’s baking it looks like it will blow up but don’t worry it won’t
July 28th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Oh I so agree Marjorie, so many delicious treats!
July 28th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
You’ve made this post for me, right? Chocolate and strawberries!! So beautiful presentation and as a chocoholic, this is heavenly
Cheers,
Gera
July 28th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
I will have to try this when I am alone and craving chocolate! ;o) Which could be very soon! lol
July 28th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Of course I did Gera! Ah, someone else that loves chocolate & strawberries, mmm!
July 28th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
I am always craving chocolate! It is big enough to put into two smaller mugs if you’re feeling generous enough to share.
July 29th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Beautiful little cake, and beautiful mug, too! Very nice recipe and a lovely post. You take great photos.
July 29th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Thank you so much Jane and thank you for visiting.
July 29th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I love individual desserts like this and what a fun thing to use for prizes – lucky winners!
July 29th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Chocolate + Mug + 3 Minutes = Happy me. This looks delicious Grace.
July 29th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Happy me too! Thanks Ryan
July 30th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Thanks for sharing such fun recipes and for letting us know about that FoodGawker site. I love it!
July 30th, 2010 at 11:00 am
Another benefit of the mug is that it feels more like your own – you don’t have to share with anyone…unless you just want to. But who wants to do that? I had to come back today to see what others said about this dessert. I knew everyone else would love it too!
July 31st, 2010 at 9:24 pm
This recipe could be dangerous…it makes eating chocolate cake way too easy! Love it
July 31st, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Believe me it is, I’ve had it 3 times in the last week. I added some raspberries the other day and it was delicious. Enjoy Taylor
September 21st, 2010 at 10:49 am
This was delicious, i made it for my BF b-day and it was a success. Much lighter and tastier than the other ones i tried before. This is becoming one of my classics
thanks
September 21st, 2010 at 12:36 pm
You are most welcome Caroline!
February 14th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
[...] * Craving Chocolate? Quick and Easy 3 Minute Sweet Cake In A Mug [...]
October 22nd, 2011 at 10:05 am
no one must speak french because un petit gateau is a cookie not a small cake
October 22nd, 2011 at 11:55 am
Hi Jess I took french for years, had to part of the Canadian School curriculum, I’ve always understood petit gateau to be small cake. This is the first I’ve heard it referred to a cookie.
August 22nd, 2012 at 6:12 am
I use a delicious, easy and healthy recipe for a mug brownie, NO OIL OR BUTTER. I think it was along the lines of 4 T flour, 3 T dark cocoa, 3T brown sugar and just mix in enough milk to form a good consistency and microwave for about 3mins! A win for late night cravings. If you have vanilla ice-cream on hand, it makes all the difference (not so much healthy though!)
August 30th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Thank you Mariam I will have to try your version next time I am craving chocolate, hmmm, which is all the time!
February 7th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
What if we don’t have a microwave? My wife is an organic /fitness freak and won’t allow anything remotely cancerous anywhere near the house. Any suggestions on how to get this done the traditional oven way?
February 7th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
Hi Sean, I’ve not tested the microwave cakes in the oven but these chocolate fudge puddings have a cake-like texture and they are delicious – http://gracessweetlife.com/2010/08/chocolate-fudge-pudding-how-will-you-satisfy-your-next-chocolate-craving/.