finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

  • Recipes By Type
    • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Goodies
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes & Veggies
    • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
    • Snacks
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
    • Best Cocktail Gifts: For the At-Home Bartender or Mixologist
  • Foods I’m Obsessed With
    • 30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook
    • What Bread To Make (Based on Your Time)
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Super Healthy
    • Cooking for One
    • Soup
    • Unleavened Bread Recipes
  • About Me
    • Get In Touch!
    • How-Tos
    • Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With
    • Recipes Index
    • Food and Travel—Two of My Favorite Things
    • Bunion Surgery Recovery Tips

Too good to be true? No, too legit to quit (Microwave Mug Cakes)

May 20, 2012

I’m one of those people who believes that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There’s always a catch.

I also love dessert, but pretty much don’t keep anything in my apartment except raw ingredients. So that way, if I’m craving dessert, I either have to make something (which takes time and effort) or go out to get something (which also takes time and effort). Probably 98% of the time I talk myself out of it by sheer laziness because I can’t decide exactly what I want, which my waistline appreciates.

A few microwave mug cakes to try

So the idea of mug cakes is both brilliant and frightening, and also makes me a little skeptical. I love the single-serving aspect, since any time I bake a batch of cookies or cupcakes I end up eating half of them. I love the idea of something that takes less than 10 minutes to make. But is it legit? I decided to try a few out and see…

Regular Chocolate Mug Cake

First one I tried was a chocolate one from 2 Stews (the recipe is linked).

I went light on the sugar (only 2 T, maybe slightly under), and added peanut butter chips.

Overall good, though maybe needed a little but more sugar.

Didn’t cook evenly, bottom was too wet, top starting to get dry. I’m going to play around with differently-proportioned mugs to see if that fixes it—if maybe a slightly wider, shorter mug will cook more evenly. But overall can’t complain.

But it’s a dangerous path…now I delicious dessert is literally only a couple minutes away.

Peanut Butter Mug Cake

The second one I tried was a peanut butter mug cake ( recipe here http://kirbiecravings.com/2012/02/peanut-butter-mug-cake-low-fat-version.html).

Didn’t love the texture on it, too dry—and I under-sweetened a little. If I were going to re-try, I’d cook for less time.

I like the peanut butter taste but the texture needs improved upon.

Chocolate Lava Mug Cake

This one intrigued me, it’s a chocolate lava cake in a mug.  First time I tried it I did use the orange extract it called for, and overall I liked the cake. Also thought it was interesting that it called for a whole egg, where the other two just called for egg whites.

You can use the original recipe here, my thoughts/tweaks below…http://yellowbowlbakery.blogspot.com/2009/04/chocolate-lava-cake-in-mug-in-microwave.html

chocolate lava mug cake, microwave mug cakes

You drop the chopped-up chocolate (or chocolate chips, in my case) in the middle but don’t stir.

The taste was great (particularly the dark chocolate and orange), but I think I’d cut the cooking time for the first bit. It says to cook 1 minute, stir it up and then cook 20-30 seconds. I’d cook 40 seconds for the first bit, stir, then cook 20-30 seconds. Mine was too cooked, too dry—meant there was no lava, just cake. Update: I tried this recipe again, microwaved 40 seconds, 30 seconds, and 10 seconds, much better texture.

So, mug cakes…I’ll keep trying different recipes, but these are a few good ones to start with. Definitely err on the side of under-cooking, and over-sweeten a little.

3 Comments CATEGORIES // Cooking for One, Desserts

« Variation of a staple (Sauteed Kale & Scallions)
Best summer dessert ever (Taste of Home’s Fresh Berry Shortcake) »

Comments

  1. sk says

    June 13, 2015 at 5:21 am

    The chocolate mug cake used has too much liquid. If you don’t have chips or pb you can tru it by reducing the oil and milk by 2T and IT or if you don’t have milk make it with only egg(whole) and IT butter/oil.

    Reply
  2. sk says

    June 13, 2015 at 6:04 am

    *try
    i.e. if you don’t have the ingredients of the vegetarian cake which I do admit is better. I’ve tried 3-4 versions of it when it first came out, with 1T more flour, with 1T less sugar, with 1/2T less oil -there are quite a few of those versions floating around but I just thought I’ll give a tip based on my mug cake obsession.

    Reply
    • starshy926 says

      June 13, 2015 at 4:36 pm

      That’s weird that yours is too runny…mine tends to be a little on the dry/cakey side if anything. That’s why I always undercook. Glad you found some tweaks that work!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

Follow Along!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Recent IG Adventures!

This adult take on a cherry lemonade (with gin, my This adult take on a cherry lemonade (with gin, my true love) is so delicious and refreshing…and has a secret ingredient to get that intense cherry flavor! 

Get the recipe by tapping on the link in my IG bio and choosing this pic—> @findingtimeforcooking 
#cocktailrecipes #sanguemorlacco #cherrylemonade #gincocktails
I am OBSESSED with key lime pie, and never knew ho I am OBSESSED with key lime pie, and never knew how easy it is to make at home! This is the best key lime pie recipe around, a perfect balance of tart & sweet, the creamiest custardy filling, and a sweet, buttery graham cracker crust 😍 

Get the recipe yourself by tapping the link in my IG bio & choosing this photo —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#keylimepie #keylime #easydessert #classicdessert
Looking for a new healthy go-to dish?? This “loa Looking for a new healthy go-to dish?? This “loaded” Thai chicken salad only takes 15 minutes to whip up and is packed with veggies, texture, & flavor! What really makes the dish is the sweet-spicy-savory dressing… *chefs kiss* 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to see the recipe!
#healthyrecipes #thaiflavors #healthydinner #cabbagerecipe
These super easy jam & goat cheese phyllo cups mad These super easy jam & goat cheese phyllo cups made the perfect fancy appetizer for Night To Be…and they’re ready in just 15-ish minutes! 

Tap the link in my bio & click this photo to see the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#appetizers #phyllodough #goatcheese #easyrecipes
This crazy easy orange curd is the perfect balance This crazy easy orange curd is the perfect balance of sweet, tart, & just a hint of floral…and only takes 5-10 minutes to make! Perfect heaped on crepes, cakes, and more 💕

Tap the link in my bio & click on this photo to see the recipe —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#citrusfruit #orangecurd #glutenfree #cookingtips
Two kitchen hacks for the price of one!!! 🎉🐓 Two kitchen hacks for the price of one!!! 🎉🐓 How to make the easiest, juiciest (hands-off) poached chicken breasts, & then how to shred chicken in 10 seconds. YES, you read that right!! These two techniques combined have been a mainstay for me lately, critical in helping me have something healthy and fast around at all times. 

Check out my Reel in the feed as well, & click on the link in my bio then tap this pic to get the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#kitchenhacks #cookinghealthy #cookinghacks #shreddedchicken
I’m ready for the amaretto sour to make a comeba I’m ready for the amaretto sour to make a comeback! And this recipe (including bourbon) is just the ticket…a little sweet, a little bitter, and a little boozy. 

Tap the link in my IG bio then tap this photo to see the (super easy) recipe —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#amaretto #easycocktails #amarettosour #homebartender
These delicious spicy unleavened cheese straws are These delicious spicy unleavened cheese straws are my favorite new recipe for the Days of Unleavened Bread! They’re super easy, can be frozen before or after baking (make ahead!) and honestly would make an awesome appetizer any time of year. 

Tap the link in my IG bio (@findingtimeforcooking) then click on this photo to see the recipe post!
#unleavenedbread #cheeselover #appetizerideas #bakingfromscratch
The ultimate “don’t judge a book by its cover” recipe…these dark chocolate sables are maybe the best chocolate cookie ever! Complex, rich without being too sweet, melt in your mouth…and perfect for a late afternoon snack 😍 Shoutout #smittenkitchen for the recipe and reco!

Tap the link in my bio & choose this photo to see the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#bakingfromscratch #chocolatelovers #sablé #chocoholic
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Easy Basic Crepes Recipe

Tomato Grilled Chicken with Barley Corn Salad

Oatmeal Brown Soda Bread

Easy Almond Flour Pancakes (Naturally Gluten-Free, Keto, Low Carb)

Pastry-Wrapped Chicken Florentine

Recent Posts

  • Cherry & Lemon Gin Cocktail…a.k.a. Cher…
  • The (IMO) Best Homemade Key Lime Pie
  • Super Easy & Healthy “Loaded” Tha…

Categories

  • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
  • Bread Recipes
  • Breakfast Goodies
  • Cooking for One
  • Desserts
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
  • Eating Out
  • Family Secret Recipes
  • Food-Related Miscellany
  • Foods I'm Obsessed With
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Go-To Recipes
  • How-Tos
  • Kitchen Gear
  • Main Dishes
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Recipe Experimentation
  • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
  • Side Dishes & Veggies
  • Snacks
  • Soup
  • Super Healthy
  • Travel and Food

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

Copyright & Terms of Use

Copyright 2022 Finding Time For Cooking

0 shares