Chocolate cake in a mug

ot really a "chocolate person," per se, I have learned to pay attention when the chocolate craving strikes. I like chocolate well enough, but given the choice most days, I'll pick a custard dessert over just about anything else. Sometimes fruity wins, sometimes nutty... but usually, it's custardy.

However, when a chocolate craving strikes, only chocolate will do. Yesterday was one of those days, and as I pondered what form my chocolate would take, I remembered a recipe I've seen floating around online and thought I'd give it a try.

Having (most) all the ingredients on hand, it was then just a matter of whipping it up. Five minutes later, my mug was spinning around in the microwave and 1.5 minutes later it was warm and in my hand. Ta-da.

If you have a chocolate craving, I highly recommend taking this out for a spin.

(Microwave) Chocolate cake in a mug
Serves one
4 tablespoons flour (cake flour; I didn't have, so I just sifted regular flour and it worked fine)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon baking powder (a pinch!)
1/8 teaspoon salt (a pinch!!)
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
2 -3 drops vanilla (optional)

In a small bowl, mix the flour, sugar, cocoa, tiny pinch baking powder and tiny pinch salt. (This can also be mixed directly into a large mug). Add egg and mix into dry mixture. Add oil and milk and mix well. Spray with non-stick cooking spray a tall, large mug, and pour in this mixture, scraping out with a spatula.

Place in microwave on high for 2.5 to 3 minutes. (Best slightly undercooked, so be careful).

I know our microwave to run fast, so I thought I'd start with 1.5 minutes, and next time around, I think I'll even start with just one minute and add seconds along as they seem needed. Remember that microwaved food continues to cook after you pull it out, and this cake could end up quite spongy/rubbery if you overdo it.

I doubled the recipe and divided between two mugs and husband gave his seal of approval as well!But, a bit part of the appeal of this method is that it's single serving. No big cake to think about leftovers to eat up... Leftovers are nice in theory, but if you're not aiming to eat dessert every night of the week, just seeing that cake sitting there, begging you to have another slice... you get my drift.

Oh, and I added a scoop of ice cream to the warm cake. And a few strawberry slices. It was quite divine.