Jump to Recipe· 5 from 3 reviews

This vegan chocolate mug cake is the easiest and most delicious way to satisfy a craving for chocolate cake, in minutes!

Chocolate mug cake on a small plate with 2 spoons resting on plate.

Craving chocolate cake but don’t feel like, you know, making a whole chocolate cake? Mug cake it is!

Mug cakes are perfect for an easy single-serve dessert. They’re also ready in about 2 minutes and you can’t beat that for chocolate cake.

This cake is reminiscent of a lava cake and fudgy chocolate brownies. It’s firm and cakey on the outside with a soft, gooey and fudgy chocolate interior. You can even stuff a couple pieces of dark chocolate in the middle or mix in chocolate chips for the ultimate chocolate-lovers dessert!

Recipe Features

  • An easy, single-serve dessert you can make in 2 minutes with minimal effort.
  • Vegan (dairy-free & egg-free) and oil-free recipe.
  • Can be made sugar-free and gluten-free.
  • Can be made in the oven, if preferred.
  • Moist, fudgy texture that’s so yummy!

Ingredient & Substitution Notes

Visual list of ingredients for making a chocolate mug cake recipe. Each ingredient is labelled with text.

This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.

  • Flour: The recipe is written for all-purpose flour but 1:1 gluten-free baking flour, spelt flour and whole wheat flour also work.
  • Cocoa Powder: You can use cocoa powder or raw cacao powder. A good quality dark cocoa powder will make a big difference in the final flavour of the mug cake.
  • Maple Syrup: Can be substituted with a granulated sugar or for a sugar-free mug cake you can use stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
  • Plant-Based Milk: Use unsweetened almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk or oat milk. You can use sweetened milk just note it will add additional sugar and sweetness to the recipe.
  • Applesauce: Use unsweetened applesauce. Homemade or store-bought both work.
  • Chocolate: You can use a couple whole squares of dark chocolate, chopped dark chocolate or dairy-free chocolate chips.

How to Make a Mug Cake

Step 1. Mix up the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking powder. Give them a really good mix to make sure the baking powder and salt are well distributed.

Dry baking ingredients mixed together in a glass mixing bowl.

Step 2. Add the wet ingredients: milk, applesauce and maple syrup. Stir everything together until well combined.

Can’t I just mix it directly in the mug? Sure! You can mix everything up right in the mug you’ll be cooking it in, if you prefer. I just find it a little easier to mix in a larger mixing bowl.

Chocolate cake batter mixed together in a glass mixing bowl with a whisk.

Step 3: Prepare a mug with a light coating of non-sticking cooking spray (not totally necessary but makes it easier to clean), then add the batter to the mug. Microwave for 45-60 seconds and enjoy!

Don’t forget the chocolate! Either stick a few pieces of dark chocolate right into the batter in the mug, mix 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips throughout or sprinkle chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate on top.

Chocolate cake batter in a mug.
Chocolate mug cake on a small plate with 2 spoons resting on plate.

Notes & Tips

  • Make sure you use a large enough mug. The batter will roughly double in size so be sure to account for that so it doesn’t spill over. You can always place a plate under the mug in the microwave just in case.
  • Measure ingredients correctly. The best way to do this is use a kitchen scale to accurately measure ingredients.
  • Cooking time may vary. Deepening on your microwave, cooking times may vary from 45-60 seconds but I find 1 minute to be a pretty safe bet. It may take a bit longer than that in some microwaves.
  • Avoid overcooking. If you overcook the mug cake it will come out tough and chewy so it’s best to err on the side of under done. It will also continue to cook as it cools so I’d suggest cooking it for 1 minute then letting cool for 2-3 minutes before enjoying.

FAQs

Can I use gluten-free flour?

You can! To make this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour instead of all-purpose flour.

Do I have to use cooking spray?

You don’t have to the mug is just a little more difficult to clean afterwards without it. Up to you!

Spoon taking a spoonful of chocolate mug cake from a mug sitting on a small plate.

Serving Ideas

The mug cake is super yummy on its own but for a fancy, decadent dessert, try topping it with:

  • coconut whipped cream
  • dairy-free vanilla ice cream
  • powdered sugar
  • fresh raspberries or strawberries
  • jam
  • peanut butter or almond butter
  • sprinkles
  • homemade caramel sauce

Here are some more easy desserts to try:

You might also enjoy this collection of vegan desserts made with 6 ingredients or less and for some quick, healthy brownies, these 5-ingredient protein brownies and healthy black bean brownies.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Chocolate mug cake on a small plate with 2 spoons resting on plate.

Chocolate Mug Cake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 3 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 mins
  • Total Time: 4 minutes
  • Yield: 1
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

An easy, vegan chocolate mug cake that’s decadent, fudgy and the perfect quick fix for a chocolate cake craving. Ready in minutes!

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour (32 g)
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (10 g)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (30 mL)
  • 2 tablespoons plant-based milk (30 mL)
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce (30 g)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 small squares dark chocolate or 1 tablespoon chocolate chips (15 g)

Instructions

  1. Add everything except the chocolate chips to a bowl and mix well until you have a smooth batter.
  2. Spray a mug with a light coating of non-stick cooking spray then pour the batter into the mug.
  3. If you’re using squares of chocolate, place them in the middle. If you’re using chocolate chips, you can mix them throughout or sprinkle them over the top.
  4. Microwave for 45-60 seconds, depending on the texture you prefer. With less cooking time it will be gooey in the middle like a lava cake, with more cooking time it will cook throughout for a firmer cake texture.
  5. Let cool for 2-3 minutes then enjoy on its own or topped with whipped cream, ice cream powdered sugar and/or berries for a decadent treat.

Notes

The cake can also be made in a small over-safe container in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 F.

Sweetener: Maple syrup can be substituted with agave syrup or a dry sweetener like cane sugar, brown sugar or coconut sugar. You can also use a sugar-free sweetener such as stevia or monk fruit for a sugar-free mug cake. If you use sugar-free sweetener, the mug cake will be 247 calories per serving.

Flour: For a gluten-free mug cake, use 1:1 gluten-free baking flour instead of all-purpose flour. You can also use spelt flour or whole wheat flour.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 mug cake
  • Calories: 351
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 73 g
  • Fiber: 6 g
  • Protein: 6 g

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