The Five-Minute Mug Cake

A friend sent me this recipe the other day.  I've never liked the way baked goods turn out in the microwave, but I realized that you could frost it and not end up with something that looked exactly like a kitchen sponge.  

Also, the time factor and the easy clean-up appealed to me.   So... I decided to try it.  

Here is the recipe as sent to me by my pal, Ray.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

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 extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
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 feel slightly more virtuous). 

I only changed it a leeettle.

I used cake flour. You don't have to.

See my previous post about that.

I used Hershey's Dark Cocoa instead of regular, and I used three tablespoons.

 I used walnut oil, because I had some!

Also, I added a pinch of salt.

I was afraid it would be stuck in the mug, but it did come out pretty easily.  Yay!  Next time, tho, out comes the Pam.

It was plenty for two people, as you can see.  I cut it in half.  

I made a little chocolate ganache with chocolate and a little cream in the microwave for 20 seconds.  Stirred it up well.

And I poured the ganache on it and it was not beautiful, but it didn't look like a sponge.

As for the taste, it was good, but a little dry. *Choke*  Here's what I would do next time:

The chocolate chips in the original recipe were (supposedly) optional, and I didn't use any, but they would add more fat, which was needed.

If you don't add chocolate chips, use more oil.  I would say at least another tablespoon. Or two. 

Also, I mixed it up really well, but probably could have done some more, and should have banged it on the counter before popping it into the microwave, because it came out with a "tunnel" inside.

Worth trying, and worth trying again!

Thanks, Ray.  I'm all for chocolate.