Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake (Eggless & Dairy-Free)

Name: Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake (Eggless & Dairy-free)
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 5 Tablespoons all-purpose flour; 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons cocoa powder (see Recipe Notes); ¼ teaspoon baking soda; dash kosher salt; 2 teaspoons canola oil; ½ teaspoon white vinegar (or cider vinegar); ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 4½ Tablespoons water (boiling)

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Are you looking for a chocolate cake, but don't want to wait? Just whip up a quick and easy Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake that doesn't contain eggs or milk. It's a singe serving chocolate goodness in a snap!

[November, 2021: I've reworked the recipe and updated this post. Enjoy!]

Why this recipe works

A mug cake can be made in about 10 minutes, start to finish
The cake is made without eggs or dairy, so it's vegan-friendly
You can change the flavors and toppings to your liking

Sometimes I want chocolate cake, and I want it n-o-o-o-o-o-w. Nothing fancy, no gimmicks or frills…just give me cake.

I don’t even want to wait the 35 to 40 minutes it takes to bake a cake, or have leftovers to get stale. Not even something as easy as Kahlua Cake will fit the bill. Nope, just give me a good old-fashioned single serving of chocolate cake that I can eat almost immediately and almost anywhere, and no one will get hurt.

Enter, Chocolate Microwave Mug Cake, stage left.

(Wait, did you say microwave?)

Yes, you can bake a microwave chocolate cake in a coffee mug, and in five minutes you’ll have a something ready to quell that insistent cake monster. Well, maybe add a couple of minutes to let your mug cake cool, but that’s just the time it takes to wash the one bowl you need for the batter before digging in.

Jump to:

Why this recipe works
What you need
How to make a microwave mug cake
Questions asked and answered
Pro tip: Mug cake mix-ins and flavoring options
It's delicious chocolate cake in a snap
Related Recipes
Recipe
Comments

What you need

This eggless chocolate mug cake recipe uses basic ingredients that are probably in your pantry right now. You'll need the standards: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda (not baking powder!), canola oil, vanilla, and salt.

However, there's an ingredient you may not expect: white vinegar. This is what reacts with the baking soda to leaven the cake. A no-egg cake recipe works because the vinegar lightens the batter and the canola oil adds moisture. This cake is dairy-free and vegan to boot.

You can use regular cocoa powder like I did. But if you want a more intense chocolate flavor, you can substitute in dark chocolate cocoa powder and ¼ teaspoon of espresso powder.

Chocolate Mug Cake ingredients portioned into glass bowls from overhead. — All the usual cake ingredients, except there's white vinegar instead of eggs

How to make a microwave mug cake

This microwave chocolate mug cake recipe is so simple. Just measure, mix, and pour.

Step 1: Make the batter

Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. (photo 1). Add the canola oil, vinegar, and vanilla, then pour the hot water over everything and whisk until smooth (photo 2).

Collage of mixing chocolate mug cake batter. — The cake batter comes together in a snap

Step 2: Cook the cake

Pour the batter into a 10-ounce mug sprayed with baking spray (photo 3), then cook in the microwave on High for 1½ to 2 minutes (photo 4). Each microwave cooks differently, so adjust time accordingly. Be sure to watch as it bakes so it doesn’t overcook. Check your cake with a cake tester or toothpick for doneness. If it comes out clean, it's ready.

You can top the cake with chocolate chips or jam while it's still warm (photo 5). Try powdered sugar, frosting or whipped cream after the cake cools (if you can wait that long). The choice is yours.

Collage of mug cake before & after cooking and with chocolate chips on top. — Bake in the microwave, then add toppings to your liking

Questions asked and answered

Here are some questions that you might have...

Can I use a different type of oil and/or vinegar?

Sure! You can experiment with flavors for the oil, keeping in mind the effect will be subtle. Different vinegars will have different acidities, so while the flavor may or may not be altered much, the amount the cake rises can be affected.

Can I make a full-sized cake?

This chocolate microwave mug cake is a just a scaled down version of an Eggless Chocolate Cake, a simple yet satisfying recipe that bakes up in a 9- x 9-inch cake pan. If you want pre-portioned cake, then my One-Bowl Eggless Chocolate Cupcakes will fit the bill. Same recipe, different presentation.

Pro tip: Mug cake mix-ins and flavoring options

You can doll up your mug cake by mixing chocolate chips, jam (raspberry is my favorite), or even sprinkles into the batter before nuking it. Or you can play with toppings, like:

Top the baked cake with chocolate chips while the cake is still warm so they get all melty
Let the cake cool, then top it with powdered sugar, frosting, ice cream, caramel or whipped cream.

Can you make different mug cake flavors? Absolutely! Just a few alterations are needed. Here are a few examples:

Mocha: Replace the hot water with hot coffee
Vanilla: omit cocoa powder and increase the vanilla to 2 teaspoons
Spice cake: omit cocoa powder and add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon each nutmeg, cloves, and ginger
Pumpkin: omit cocoa powder and use the spices above & add 1 tablespoon pumpkin purée

Whatever suits your fancy.

It's delicious chocolate cake in a snap

Chocolate mug cakes are quick, easy, chocolate-y goodness that soothes that whiny child within. Usually my husband and I will share a mug. I find that half is enough to satisfy my cake cravings, but the original recipe says one serving.

I’ll leave that decision up to you.

(Table for 1, please!)

Chocolate mug cake with spoon lifting cake. — Chocolate cake, no waiting

So when that irresistible urge to have cake now strikes, reach for a bowl, a whisk, and a mug.

After all, why wait?

Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

Tammy

Remember, even though these recipes use dark chocolate, you can generally substitute the chocolate type of your choice. Go ahead and use your favorites!

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