Five Minute Mug Cake

This could be construed as a dangerous recipe. Just think, you're sitting on the couch, late at night, watching a movie and a sweet tooth attack strikes. You could be eating chocolate cake in five minutes. Pretty tempting! On the other hand, or so I tell myself, it's only a mug's worth. You could be snarfing through a 13 x 9 pan of chocolate cake. How much harm could a mug's worth of chocolate cake be really? Even topped with a quick confectioner's sugar and milk frosting, it's only one piece, right?!

Here it is:

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

A small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.

Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.

The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Notes: You really need to experiment with the cooking time in your microwave as that will seriously affect the texture. I find 2 minutes is the perfect amount of cooking time in my microwave.

I use brown sugar as it adds a little more moisture. I also add all sorts of additional flavorings, as the mood strikes me. A dash of mint extract is good. A pinch of expresso powder is delicious. Broken up Andes chocolate mint candies are fantastic.

Mixing the ingredients in a bowl and then pouring it into the mug works better for me. I usually don't even use a mug, I use a circular, shallow 4 or 5" ramekin, like you might use for creme brulee.

Experiment, have fun, squash your guilt!