This Hot Chocolate Mug Cake recipe uses just a few simple ingredients and cooks in a mug right in the microwave. One of the ingredients... Hot Cocoa Mix! Hot chocolate in cake form is a fun single serving dessert. Don't forget the warm, gooey marshmallows on top.
Making a microwave dessert like this hot chocolate mug cake is the perfect treat! Some of my other favorite mug cake or cookie recipes are this Sugar Cookie in a Mug, Red Velvet Mug Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug, and this 3-Ingredient Nutella Mug Cake
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⭐Why I love this Recipe
- Ready in Minutes - It takes only a minute to mix up the Hot Cocoa cake batter and then just a minute to 'bake' in the microwave
- Single Serving Dessert - I love making mug desserts when I'm craving something sweet but don't want to make a whole batch and this Hot Chocolate Mug Cake fits the bill! For another festive single serving dessert, try this Gingerbread Mug Cake.
- Use Hot Chocolate Mix - It's a great way to use some of the hot cocoa mix in your pantry! Another way to use up hot cocoa mix are these Hot Chocolate Brownies!
🥘Ingredients
- All Purpose Flour
- Hot Cocoa Mix - use your favorite! Use a kind that can be mixed with water - not one that requires milk.
- White Sugar
- Baking Powder
- Milk - I like to use whole milk or 2% milk, but you can use any milk.
- Canola Oil - or another neutral oil like avocado oil.
- Mini Marshmallows - for topping
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
🔪Step by Step Instructions
Making a hot cocoa mug cake is easy! Just mix up the batter in a mug and microwave.
Photo 1 - Add all ingredients, except for mini marshmallows, to a microwave-safe mug. Use a fork to mix up until the batter is smooth. If desired, you can top with the marshmallows before baking - they will completely melt into the cake. Or, you can top at the end.
Photo 2 - Microwave cake for 45 seconds to 1 minute, until the cake is just set and cooked. Top with marshmallows. Cake is best eaten warm soon after making.
☕️When To Add Marshmallows
You can sprinkle the marshmallows on right after baking the hot cocoa mug cake and they will melt slightly from the hot cake, add them with about 10 seconds left of cook time so they get more melty, or you can add at the very beginning so they completely melt into the hot cocoa mug cake. Like in the picture below!
💭Recipe Tips
- Don't Over Cook - To make sure your mug cake stays soft, you don't want to over cook. I recommend checking it earlier in the cook time, because you can always microwave longer.
- Any Microwave Safe Dish Can Be Used - This recipe doesn't have to be made in a mug. You could use another dish like a ramekin or even small bowl - just keep in mind that using a different size may impact the microwave cook time.
👩🍳Recipe FAQs
You can swap in hot chocolate mix for cocoa powder in many baking recipes. Because hot cocoa mix is typically made up of cocoa powder, sugar, and milk powder the cake will not have as deep of a chocolate flavor as if you used only cocoa powder.
Either! You can sprinkle the marshmallows on right after baking and they will melt slightly from the hot cake, add them with about 10 seconds left of cook time so they get more melty, or you can add at the very beginning so they completely melt into the hot cocoa mug cake. Like in the picture below!
The most important part is to use a mix that says it can be mixed with just water, not one that requires mixing with milk. The mixes that can be mixed with water have powdered milk, which is important to this recipe.
Hot Chocolate mix and Cocoa Powder are not the same thing. Hot chocolate mix is made from cocoa powder, but typically has added sugar, powdered milk, and occasionally other flavorings.
This recipe is written for one mug cake, but you can easily double it to make two! You can either mix them up separately. Or mix up together and then divide the batter between two mugs. It’s best to microwave them separately, though.
Because you eat the cookie right out of the mug, you do not need to grease. Although, if you want easier clean up you could spray with cooking spray before mixing up and cooking. I do not grease and instead just soak the mug in some warm soapy water for a few minutes before cleaning to remove any cooked on bits.
🍪Related Dessert Recipes
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PrintRecipe
Hot Chocolate Mug Cake
This Hot Chocolate Mug Cake recipe uses just a few simple ingredients and cooks in a mug right in the microwave. One of the ingredients... Hot Cocoa Mix! Hot chocolate in cake form is a fun single serving dessert. Don't forget the warm, gooey marshmallows on top.
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 mug cake
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Microwave
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
- 2 tablespoons Hot Cocoa Mix
- 1 tablespoon Granulated White Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 tablespoons Milk
- 1 tablespoon Canola Oil
- 5 Mini Marshmallows, optional
Instructions
- Mix Batter. Add all ingredients, except for mini marshmallows, to a microwave-safe mug. Use a fork to mix up until the batter is smooth.
- Optional: If desired, you can top with the marshmallows before baking - they will completely melt into the cake. Or, you can top at the end. See post for picture differences.
- Microwave. Microwave cake for 45 seconds to 1 minute, until the cake is just set and cooked. Top with marshmallows. Cake is best eaten warm soon after making.
Notes
Hot Cocoa Mix - Make sure to use a mix that can be mixed with water, not one that must be mixed with milk. Use your favorite mix and have fun experimenting with different kinds.
Mug - Any standard size (8 ounces or larger) coffee mug works! The cake will puff up slightly and rise as it bakes. The most important piece is to use a mug that is microwave safe!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug cake
- Calories: 318
- Sugar: 21.4 g
- Sodium: 117.7 mg
- Fat: 16.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 42.1 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 3.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0.6 mg
RG says
Turned out very nice. I used a Grab-It bowl and cooked for 30 seconds and it seems perfect.
Kathleen Hansen says
So glad you loved!
Katie says
I always have hot cocoa mix lying around so this recipe was perfect!