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Rich, moist, and fudgy chocolate mug cake! Prepared in just 5 minutes in the microwave, this vegan mug cake is definitely one of the easiest desserts! Decadent, chocolatey, and topped with gooey chocolate chips, it’s perfect for a movie night!

Chocolate mug cake topped with chocolate chips and coconut cream.

Any mug cake lover out there? While mug cakes may throw you back to the 2000s, it’s still a must-have recipe and definitely one of my favorite 5-minute desserts. Who doesn’t love a warm single-serving chocolate dessert that is ready in no time?

⭐️ Why You Should Try This Recipe

  • It’s the ultimate last-minute movie snack. 5 minutes to prepare and 1 minute to cook, this mug cake makes a delicious sweet snack to enjoy anytime your chocolate cravings kick in.
  • It requires basic ingredients. You most probably already have everything on hand!
  • It’s gooey, moist, and SO delicious. The taste and texture of this mug cake seem like a lot of work, but it’s not!

📘 What is a Mug Cake

A mug cake is a single-serving cake that is microwaved (or sometimes baked) in a cup. The magic about this dessert is that it comes together in no time with just a few ingredients. Plus, there is no need to preheat your oven.

Ingredients like flour, cacao powder, oil, almond milk, and sugar.

🥛 Ingredient Notes

This mug cake recipe requires just 8 ingredients. Here are what you will need:

  • All-purpose flour – While I haven’t tried it yet, I believe it should work with 1:1 gluten-free flour as well.
  • Sugar – I went with granulated sugar, but you can use light brown sugar or even coconut sugar. Vanilla sugar is also a great option for extra vanilla flavor!
  • Cacao powder – Use unsweetened cacao powder. Both natural and Dutch-processed cacao powders will work.
  • Almond milk – Or your favorite plant-based milk.
  • Oil – Oil brings richness to the cake. Use a neutral oil like canola, grapeseed, or avocado oil.
  • Vanilla extract – Use high-quality store-bought vanilla extract, or homemade vanilla extract, to enhance the flavor.
  • Salt – A good pinch of salt always makes chocolate desserts taste better.
  • Baking powder – To help the mug cake rise.
Whisking cacao powder, flour, and almond milk in a small bowl.

🍫 How to Make Chocolate Mug Cake

  1. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Slowly pour in the liquid ingredients and whisk until smooth. You can use a small whisk or a fork for this step.
  3. Pour the batter into a microwave-safe cup. As the cake will rise during microwaving, you want to use a mug that is tall enough. The batter should fill about half of the mug.
  4. Microwave for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. The time will depend on the wattage of your microwave. Keep an eye on it and remove it from the microwave once the top of the cake is set.
  5. Add your favorite toppings! While this chocolate cake is delicious on its own, it gets even better with extra toppings like chocolate chips, coconut whipping cream, vegan ice cream, etc.
  6. Enjoy warm! Let the cake cool down for 2-5 minutes before digging into it!
Chocolate batter in a mug.

📔 Tips

  • Adjust the cooking time. All microwaves are different, so you may have to adjust the time. I personally cooked mine on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds, but you might have to reduce the time to 1 minute if your microwave is more powerful. The top of your mug cake should appear just set.
  • For an even more decadent mug cake: swirl in a tablespoon of vegan Nutella before microwaving.
  • You can easily double the recipe and divide it between two mugs if you want to share it.
Close up of chocolate mug cake topped with mini chocolate chips.

💬 FAQ

Can I bake it in the oven instead of using a microwave?

Yes, you can bake this mug cake in a 350°F (175°C) preheated oven for 15-17 minutes.

Can I omit the oil?

I do not recommend omitting the oil. Your cake will end up being dry.

Can I make this mug cake gluten-free?

Yes, simply replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

Close up of a spoonful of chocolate cake.

This chocolate mug cake is a very simple recipe, but one that everyone should have on hand! It’s incredibly fudgy, chocolatey, and SO decadent!

🍮 More Quick Desserts

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!

Chocolate mug cake topped with chocolate chips and coconut cream.
Recipe

Fudgy Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake

5 from 4 votes
Author: Thomas Pagot
Rich, moist, and fudgy chocolate mug cake! Prepared in just 5 minutes in the microwave, this vegan mug cake is definitely one of the easiest desserts! Decadent and SO chocolatey!
Prep Time : 5 minutes
Cook Time : 1 minute
Total Time : 6 minutes
Servings 1 serving
Calories 587 kcal

Ingredients
 

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cacao powder, baking powder, and salt.
  • Pour in the liquid ingredients: almond milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk using a small whisk or fork until the batter is smooth and has no more clumps.
  • Transfer the batter to a 12-ounce microwave-safe mug.
  • Microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds or until the top is set. Note: you might have to adjust the cooking time depending on the wattage of your microwave. See the notes below.
  • Top with chocolate chips and let it cool for 2-3 minutes before enjoying!

Notes

  • Adjust the cooking time. All microwaves are different, so you may have to adjust the time. I personally cooked mine on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds, but you might have to reduce the time to 1 minute if your microwave is more powerful. The top of your mug cake should appear just set.
  • For an even more decadent mug cake: swirl in a tablespoon of vegan Nutella before microwaving.
  • You can easily double the recipe and divide it between two mugs if you want to share it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 587 kcal | Carbohydrates: 76.6 g | Protein: 11.5 g | Fat: 36.4 g | Saturated Fat: 8.7 g | Sodium: 47 mg | Potassium: 209 mg | Fiber: 13.1 g | Sugar: 31.7 g | Calcium: 174 mg | Iron: 5 mg
Course : Dessert, Snack
Cuisine : American
Did you make this recipe? Tag @fullofplants on Instagram and hashtag it #fullofplants
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About the Author

Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.

Learn more ➜

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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Recipe came out great! Easy to make and the 1.5minute time was perfect consistency! We threw a vegan marshmallow and chips on top. Thanks!

  2. 5 stars
    One more winning recipe! This mug cake tasted so good. Perfect for someone who is lazy to prepare much for the snack time like me. Cheers!

  3. Bonsoir Thomas,
    Merci pour cette recette gourmande tellement simple et rapide à faire.
    Qui peut faire mieux ? 1mn20secondes et on se régale.
    J’ai mis du mélange à pain d’épices et 6 pistoles de chocolat noir.
    C’est amusant de voir le gâteau se soulever rapidement dans le bocal.
    A bientôt.

  4. 5 stars
    This is the best chocolate mug cake I’ve ever had! I’ve tried a lot and this one is just perfect — the right balance of everything — and so satisfying. We love all your recipes and always look forward to making them and seeing what new ones you put out. Your pictures are incredible as well. Thank you for everything!