All content copyright Katrina Hall 2008 through 2025

Monday, October 13, 2008

3 minute microwave chocolate cake-in-a-cup





Oh my gosh - I haven't had as much fun as this since I blew up marshmallows in a microwave last year with a 12 year old!


I got this in an email - and tossed it - and then went right back to my trash and rescued it.

I have now made it three times, and it isn't bad at all. You could even get away with it at your next dinner party, especially if you make some whipped cream on the side. Can you see it now - a prep line of beautifully dressed adults stirring their cake batter in mugs and microwaving it? What a hoot!

Care package for college students, or funny Christmas package with a cool mug and all the ingredients ( except the milk and egg, of course) - I'm sure you'll think of lots of ideas.


Take a mug or large microwavable cup.

Add:

4 T. flour

4 T. sugar

2 T. good, unsweetened cocoa powder


Mix dry ingredients well.


Add:

1 egg

3 T. milk

2 T. vegetable oil

3 T. semi-sweet chocolate chips ( or broken up good chocolate)

1/2 t. vanilla


Mix really, really well in cup. Microwave for 3 minutes on high. Remove and enjoy!

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

This does look fun! I particularly like the image of the fancy dinner party guests lining up to microwave their dessert.

Now I'd like to hear more about blowing up the marshmallows. . .hmmmmm- please do tell!

Anonymous said...

You've never blown up marshmallows, Barb? Tsk, tsk. All you do is take the large marshmallows, place one in the microwave, set it for one minute - and watch though the window!

Anonymous said...

Just how many marshmallows did you two blow up? Who knew all the endless possibilites of the microwave???

...And after all that fun, do I get to clean it all up too? Or did the 12 year old do that for you?

Anonymous said...

Gosh, this is TOO tempting - the thought that one can make and HAVE chocolate cake in a flash like this. I think my waistline is already expanding just reading this. ;)

Anonymous said...

Weird, Barb - my comment back to you disappeared. Anyway - I ( of course) ended up cleaning up the mess, but it was SO worth it! We blew up at least a dozen marshmallows, to my utter delight - and his!

Anonymous said...

YOUR waistline, Carolyn? Remember, I had to test this! That would be three, no, four little cakes - just to make sure. Quality assurance, y'know.

Anonymous said...

just made it (felt like a midnight snack and it looked interesting.

really nice cake if a little solid once it cooled down brilliant in a bowl with some choclate water icing

Anonymous said...

Charley - I'm dying to know what chocolate water icing is!
I found the chocolate chips made a huge difference between a rubbery cake and one that isn't half bad. 3 minutes to a midnight chocolate snack - not perfect, but hits the spot, right? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I just tried this recipe, followed it exactly and it turned out great!! I was a little worried it was going to explode in my microwave but I held in there and it was fine. Tastes like a rich dark dense chocolate cake... in three minutes...yummo!!
TFS!
Smiles,Deena

katrina said...

Hi Deena! Isn't it the funnest recipe? If I had chocolate chips around, today's dank, dreary, rainy day would send me straight to the microwave to make this! Delighted you enjoyed the recipe!

J Rodney said...

I bet my kids would love to try this out.

katrina said...

I'm sure they'd have a blast, Frugal Mom! I have to admit that I enjoyed making these - the taste wasn't that great, but it did in a "chocolate pinch".

Ms Muffin said...

Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! It made my day! I blogged about it here
http://muffinsnmore.blogspot.com/2010/04/anytime-chocolate-cake.html

katrina said...

Thanks for the link, Miss Muffin! And though it isn't anything remotely haute, like Reine de Saba, it sure works in a pinch ( late at night, chocolate attack, etc :)
Thanks so much!

Mother Rimmy said...

Love this! We are remodeling our home and I thought my hubby deserved a treat, but all I have is the microwave. He loved his chocolaty treat. If you don't mind, I'd like to post your recipe on my blog with a link back to your blog in the next week or so.

katrina said...

Kristi - absolutely feel free to link to this! Living with only a microwave must be a headache - and you must crave all the foods you can't make:) Glad your husband enjoyed his dessert, and good luck with the remodeling. It's tough living through the mess, but just think of how happy you'll be when it's finished!

Mehreen said...

I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

katrina said...

Thank you so much for finding and reading the blog, Mehreen! And letting me know you enjoy it just made my day, THANK YOU!

Michelle said...

Wow! I just made this and it was YUMMY! I had such a chocolate hankering and did not feel like baking so this was perfect! I even sprinkled more chocolate chips on top after so they melted and topped it off with whipped cream. Can't wait to tell my family and friends.

katrina said...

Michelle - I also made this during our latest snowstorm/ice pellets/yucky weather! I agree - it's perfect for those nights you want something sweet and comforting - and chocolate:) Glad you enjoyed the recipe!

Jad said...

i've just done it , its kinda tasty and cool for a 3 min desert! thank u :P

katrina said...

Jad, it's no gourmet pastry, but when it's late at night and you want something warm and chocolate, it fills the bill. Glad you enjoyed(ish).

Anonymous said...

Hi to all the chocolate and marshmallow fans. Take one Graham cracker, top with marshmallow, put 4 choc chips on top, micro wave, take out oven top with another Graham cracker, and voila - cookie that you can die for!
Suki

Anonymous said...

There are no eggs nor baking powder in my kitchen tonight, the winter wind is blowing outside, I am alone, not supposed to eat any oil, I am supposed to eat light, so : I just made it with 1 1/2 tablespoon of flour, 2 1/2 tablespoons of maiz stark (maizena), no oil, no egg, and instead of sugar I used a substitue powder 0 calories. My cocoa powder is swiss, mmmm, swiss chocolate powder, and the muffin is gorgeous. Instead of whipped cream I've putted some sweetener powder on a lactosa-free yagourt, and THIS IS HEAVEN. Thanks soooo much, Katrina!!!! C.M.

katrina said...

C.M. - I'm so delighted! This is how recipes are made - by real people using their noodles, and coming up with a dessert that works - if you have the ingredients:) Sounds like you came up with a perfect chocolate cake-in-a-cup, your way! Thanks so much for getting back to me, love it!

Magpie said...

im 11 and i tried this cause i was really craving chocolate cake and we had no ,ilk so i used water and it turned out yummy

Katrina said...

Wonderful, Magpie, and good to know! Thanks for the information - and happy cooking!

Anonymous said...

my other half was desperate for choc cake at 9pm tonight, as much as i love him i wasnt going to venture out in to the cold and wet to the shops, now i have heard of this before and tried it but it didnt come out very good. So when i came across your recipe the added choc pieces made it SO much nicer, a nice dense cake with melty choc pieces in it. He was so surprised 'How'd you do that in 5 mins?' YUM! thank you. Amanda

katrina said...

Amanda - thank you! I'm thrilled, and will keep working on the perfect microwave chocolate cake-in-a-cup!