Hot chocolate mug cake is a rich, warm and gooey mug cake made with hot cocoa mix. This easy to make hot cocoa mug cake takes 1- 2 minutes to mix and another minute to cook in the microwave. Top this cozy hot chocolate with freshly whipped cream or mini marshmallows for the perfect single serve dessert.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
Mug cakes are the easiest and best desserts ever. They’re versatile and endlessly adaptable based on your cravings and what you have in the pantry. My Pumpkin Mug Cake, Snickerdoodle Mug Cake, Chocolate Chip Mug Cake, Vanilla Mug Cake, 3 Ingredient Mug Cake and Peanut Butter Mug Cake are some of my favorite mug cake recipes on the blog. This simple hot cocoa mug cake is another fun and easy single serve dessert I know you will love.
- It’s quick and easy to make with a few ingredients. This hot chocolate dessert in a mug takes about 1- 2 minutes to mix up, using a handful of simple ingredients and 1 minutes to cook in the microwave.
- Perfect for 1 or 2: This mug cake with hot cocoa mix makes one perfect single serving of warm and gooey hot chocolate cake. Top with freshly whipped cream or marshmallows for a fun take on this classic hot chocolate dessert.
Ingredients
This hot chocolate cake in a mug is made from a handful of pantry basics. Here’s what you’ll need to make it.
Gather butter, milk, sugar, hot chocolate mix, vanilla extract, salt, baking powder and flour. To top the mug cake as pictured, gather whipped cream and powdered sugar.
Substitutions
This dessert cocoa mug cake is meant to be quick and easy, but sometimes you may not have everything on hand. If you need them, here are my recommended substitutions for this recipe.
- Butter: I like to use unsalted “sweet cream” butter in almost all my baking recipes. This is the most common and widely available butter in the US. If needed, use salted butter or a diary free butter you like. The same amount of oil can be used in place of the melted butter.
- Milk: The milk replaces the egg in this mug cake recipe to keep it egg free. Any type of milk will work well in this cocoa powder mug cake. If you don’t have any milk on hand, substitute all the milk in the recipe with water.
- Granulated Sugar: Maple sugar would be good refined sugar free substitute.
- Hot Chocolate Mix: Feel free to use your favorite hot cocoa mix. I love the Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa Mix. If you don’t have hot chocolate mix on hand and still want to make this mug cake, mix together 1 ½ tablespoons (6 teaspoons) with 3 tablespoons (38 g) sugar until well combined. This replaces the 4 tablespoons (48 g) hot chocolate mix.
- Vanilla Extract: Adding a splash of vanilla extract really makes this microwave chocolate chip cake shine.
- Salt: A pinch of salt enhanced the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Baking Powder: This leavener is recommended for this mug cake. Omit if needed. The texture of the cake will be denser and gooey verses lighter with a gooey center.
- Flour: Any flour works well in this dessert cocoa mug cake. I love using oat flour or all purpose flour. Feel free to use almond flour to make this grain free.
How To Make
Learn how to make hot chocolate mug cake in a few easy steps.
- Grab your favorite hot chocolate mug. It should hold at least 10 - 12 oz. (300 - 360 ml) of liquid. Place the butter and pour the milk in the mug. Microwave the butter and milk until the butter melted, about 30 seconds in the microwave. Stir to combine. If needed, heat again for 10 - 15 seconds until the butter has melted.
- Stir or whisk in the sugar followed by vanilla extract, salt and baking powder until smooth and well combined. Stir in the hot chocolate mix, followed by the flour until smooth and well combined. If you would like, stir in 1 tablespoon chocolate chips as well.
- Microwave the hot chocolate mix mug cake in the microwave for 60 - 90 seconds (1 - 1 ½ minutes). The mixture should puff up and resemble cake. If there is any liquid at the bottom or the cake seems underbaked, heat the mug cake in the microwave in additional 15 second increments until the cake is to your desired consistency. Allow the mug cake to cool for 2 - 3 minutes. Top the cooled mug cake with freshly whipped cream, mini marshmallows or chocolate chips if you like and enjoy.
How To Serve and Store
- Serve: I love topping this easy cocoa mug cake with freshly whipped cream or marshmallows and chocolate chips or melted chocolate.
- Store: This mug cake recipe is designed to be single serve and to be eaten as soon as it is made. I do not recommend storing this hot chocolate cake in a mug as the texture changes over time. It tastes so much better right after it is made.
M’s Expert Tips
- Mix in the suggested order. I love an easy one dish dessert. After trying a few different ways, I found whisking or mixing the wet ingredients first and then adding in the dry was the best and easiest way to make this gooey cocoa mix mug cake.
- Mix the ingredients well. The hot chocolate cake batter should be similar to a regular cake batter before baking.
- Check the wattage on your microwave. If your microwave is below 1100, you may need to add 20 - 30 seconds. If your microwave is above 1100, you may need to start at 90 seconds and add 20 - 30 more seconds as needed.
- Top the mug cake with your favorite toppings. My favorite way to enjoy this mug cake is with freshly whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate chips or melted chocolate.
FAQs
Hot chocolate is made by melting chocolate into warm milk or cream. Hot cocoa is made my dissolving sweetened cocoa powder into hot milk or water.
You absolutely can. Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Place the mugs or ramekins filled with the cocoa cake batter on a baking sheet. Bake the mug cakes for 10 - 15 minutes.
Yes, this hot chocolate cake in a mug can be made without hot chocolate mix. Simply mix together 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder with 3 tablespoons (38 g) sugar until well combined to make a the 4 tablespoons of hot chocolate mix written in the recipe. Follow the rest of the recipe as written.
An easy way to substitute an egg in a mug cake recipe is to replace it with milk. This chocolate cake in a mug uses 4 tablespoons (45 ml) milk in place of one large egg.
Personally I think the best is the one you like the most. However, one of the top rated store bought hot cocoa mixes is the Ghirardelli Hot Cocoa Mix.
More Hot Chocolate Inspired Recipes to Try
If you try this Hot Chocolate Mug Cake recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking!
Hot Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 1 10 - 12 oz. microwave safe mug
- 1 tablespoon measuring spoon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) milk
- 2 tablespoons (25 g) sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 4 tablespoons (48 g) hot chocolate mix
- 4 tablespoons (30 g) all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
- Grab your favorite hot chocolate mug. It should hold at least 10 - 12 oz. (300 - 360 ml) of liquid. Place the butter and pour the milk in the mug. Microwave the butter and milk until the butter melted, about 30 seconds in the microwave. Stir to combine. If needed, heat again for 10 - 15 seconds until the butter has melted.2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, 4 tablespoons (60 ml) milk
- Stir or whisk in the sugar followed by vanilla extract, salt and baking powder until smooth and well combined. Stir in the hot chocolate mix, followed by the flour until smooth and well combined. If you would like, stir in 1 tablespoon chocolate chips as well.2 tablespoons (25 g) sugar, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract , ⅛ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, 4 tablespoons (48 g) hot chocolate mix, 4 tablespoons (30 g) all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, optional
- Microwave the hot chocolate mix mug cake in the microwave for 60 - 90 seconds (1 - 1 ½ minutes). The mixture should puff up and resemble cake. If there is any liquid at the bottom or the cake seems underbaked, heat the mug cake in the microwave in additional 15 second increments until the cake is to your desired consistency.
- Allow the mug cake to cool for 2 - 3 minutes. Top the cooled mug cake with freshly whipped cream, mini marshmallows or chocolate chips if you like and enjoy.
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