A single serving of chocolate cake, made in 5 minutes w/o having to turn on the oven?? Sounds Fabulous. And wouldn’t a mug with a baggie of ingredients & recipe card attached make a creative Christmas gift for friends?
My mom and I decided to try the recipe before investing the time and money in Holiday Mugs pounds of sugar and flour… which was one of the best decisions we have made. The following is possibly the worst thing every created in a kitchen trying to pass itself off as “cake” or “edible.” Oh, and as it cools, it turns into a brick. So, in your disappointment/rage at the so called chocolate cake, please do not throw it at a window or anyone you care about. Just sayin’.
5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
Here is the “recipe” that has been forwarded via email to all ends of the Earth, somehow making its way to me:1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour (that’s plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) some nuts (optional)
Small splash of vanillaDirections
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, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.
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 share!)
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night.
I followed the directions exactly. You have to stir it because there are not a lot of liquid ingredients and all of the dry ingredients are at the bottom. You’ll end up with a think brown paste. Yum.
I figured it would probably turn out soufflé-like, since there was no real levening ingredients included. Too bad those missing ingredients help make things light and airy; instead, I got a dense, rubber-ish, disastrous excuse for food. It also could have used a tad, say a pound, more sugar to make it taste a little less bland.
The presentation is a bit lacking too. PS “Tipping” it over on a plate makes it look even less appetizing.

You may see this recipe in your inbox. If you do, delete it immediately.
You have been warned. 😐
There is a brownie mix similar to this that you make in the microwave… people at Weight Watchers insist it is “just like regular brownies” – LIES. I think it’s called Flying Pig or something? There is a pig on the box. But I did not pig out on them. yuck.
I fell for the same thing! I found a mug cake recipe like this on StumbleUpon, and since I was in the mood for some cake, thought there was no harm in it. WRONG. SO wrong! It was rubbery, nasty, and no amount of chocolate chips or icing could save it. Ick.