Mug Cakes

As it was my birthday recently, my best friend bought me a recipe book. She'd told me about a book of hers that she'd been using and I thought it sounded fabulous! Although she couldn't get me the same book as hers, they're pretty much the same thing. My book is called Mug Cakes: 40 Speedy Cakes To Make In A Microwave by Mima Sinclair.

I'd heard that you could make cakes in the microwave but ... in a mug ... in a few minutes ... genius! The cakes are split under four sections in the book; Classics, Occasions, Happy Hour and Treats & Puds. There are so many cakes I'd like to try from each section, such as carrot cake, gingerbread, triple chocolate cake, blueberry muffin, strawberries & cream Victoria sponge, rainbow cake, coke float, mojito, sticky toffee and the list could go on. There are even a couple of gluten free, egg free and dairy free cakes too!

We tend to have fruit after our tea but as its Sunday, and I usually have my shopping delivered on a Monday, we don't often have any fresh fruit in by Sunday. So what better time for a quick tasty treat?! Tonight I decided to start with a relatively simple looking recipe from the classics section, as it is my first one, Chocolate Brownie.

The ingredients were all things I had in the cupboard:

• 2 tablespoons soft butter
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 medium egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons self raising flour
• pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons chocolate chips

To make them, all I did was:

• Place the butter in a 250ml tea cup or small mug and microwave for 10-20 seconds until melted
• Add the caster sugar, brown sugar and cocoa powder and beat with a fork until thoroughly combined
• Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat together, then add the flour and salt and beat again until thoroughly combined and smooth.
• Stir through half the chocolate chips.
• Cook in the microwave for 50 seconds @ 600w, 30 seconds @ 800w or 25 seconds @ 1000w.
• Scatter remaining chocolate chips over top and heat in the microwave for a further 30 seconds.
• Leave to cool for about 15 minutes.

 

 

I was a little sceptical to say the least. Usually things like this don't tend to taste very good. I seem to spend ages making something only to find that I don't like it and neither does Dave (whose always very quick to complain). When the mug cakes came out of the microwave they didn't look particularly 'yummy' but you don't know until you try.

 

I have to say, I was totally surprised. The chocolate brownie mug cakes were absolutely delicious and they really did only take me five minutes to make, they're totally fool proof. If I can make these work, absolutely anybody can! You can even undercook these ones slightly for a gooey centre. Or you could make them in paper cups so you can pop them in your pack up or a picnic.

 

I'm now a total fan of the mug cake. What's not to love? You most probably have the ingredients in the cupboard, they take so little time, there's hardly any washing up and they're absolutely scrummy! So next time you need a quick pudding or you're feeling peckish in the evening (or anytime) give this a go, it really is perfect.

 

I hope you've all had a great weekend.

Nisha x