Nutella Lava Mug Cake: 90-Second Microwave Recipe

Name: Nutella Lava Mug Cake
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 tbsp (60 ml) self rising flour, sifted; 3 tbsp (45 ml) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted?(I used Cadbury’s); 4 tbsp (60 ml) caster sugar; 1 medium egg; 3 tbsp (45 ml) Nutella; 3 tbsp (45 ml) milk; 3 tbsp (45 ml) olive, or vegetable oil (I used olive); 2-3 tsp chocolate chips (I used Hershey’s semi-sweet chocolate chips)

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I’m sure you have heard of cakes that can be made in the microwave in less than 5 minutes. I’m also sure you have seen, perhaps even tried a few recipes storming the web for quite sometime now.

I’ll be honest: I’ve tried two recipes before this one. But sadly, they turned out to be disasters—they were too dry, eggy and mostly tasted like a mug-shaped rubbery trash, eek. Even a good serving of vanilla ice-cream did nothing to improve the taste. My experience was so disappointing that I thought 5-minute cakes were a hoax.

So naturally, I was skeptical when I saw this recipe. Until I made it, that it. Man, I was sold in less than 5 minutes. The cake turned out so wonderfully—sinfully scrumptious with warm chocolate oozing out when I dug in with a spoon, mmm!

This recipe is incredible. Sinful. Gooey. Fluffy. Warm. Microwaved in less than 2 minutes. And, tastes like a dream! It’s so good, you won’t believe until you give it a try. It takes just a few basic ingredients—add nutella and you have a dreamy delight that yells to be devoured—something like a molten lava cake—by far one of the best I’ve tasted, 2 minute or 12 minute.

The only downside is the number of pounds it packs—it’s seriously high on the calories. So if you are calorie conscious, make smaller servings in small mugs so you can share it with others. I’d suggest doing three small mugs instead of 2 medium ones.

I sifted the flour and cocoa, stirred the ingredients in a bowl, and then poured the batter into mugs to ¾ full. I watched it like a hawk while microwaving, stopping every 30 seconds to check if it was done, plus whenever I thought it almost overflowed. Result? Irresistibly incredible!

The best part is, you don’t even need a topping like whipped cream or ice cream to enjoy this dish, it’s absolutely delish on its own. I did the cream topping just for the photographs—scooped it out before enjoying the cake with pieces of fresh strawberries, my style.

So go grab your jar of nutella and chocolate, and get to this crazy yummy recipe. It’s a must try!

Nutella Lava Mug Cake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4 from 9 reviews

Author: Nashira Usef
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2-3 1x

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Description

2-minute gooey, molten lava cake—the best chocolate treat ever! It’s splendidly simple, works like a dream and totally swoon-worthy.

Ingredients

Scale

4 tbsp (60 ml) self rising flour, sifted
3 tbsp (45 ml) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted?(I used Cadbury's)
4 tbsp (60 ml) caster sugar
1 medium egg
3 tbsp (45 ml) Nutella
3 tbsp (45 ml) milk
3 tbsp (45 ml) olive, or vegetable oil (I used olive)
2-3 tsp chocolate chips (I used Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips)

Instructions

Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips in a bowl. Beat well with a whisk until smooth and blended. Divide the batter between 3 small microwave safe mugs, or two medium mugs. Important thing is to fill mugs up to just 3/4 full, if not the cake will overflow when it rises. Then tip in 1 tsp chocolate chips into each cup and push it into the batter until completely covered.
Microwave on high power for anywhere between 30 seconds to 3 minutes—I did two cups, together. Please note that cooking time will depend on microwave wattage. Mine took 1 1/2 minutes (850 watts oven), whereas the original recipe says it was done in 30 seconds—so watch out. The key for the perfect lava cake is not to overcook the batter. The cake should rise a bit, ideally with a moist, fluffy, gooey texture, and glossy, fudgy top. The more you cook, the cake will toughen up and dry—so slightly undercook and keep an eye on it the whole time.
Top with whipped cream, if you like. And of course, serve with strawberries or raspberries—the perfect partner for chocolate. Enjoy!

Notes

*Heavily adapted from Nutella Mug Cake recipe at Family Kitchen

Prep Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 2 mins
Category: Chocolate
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 mug
Calories: 410

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I microwave the mug cake, and how do I know when to stop?

Microwaving time depends entirely on your microwave wattage — an 850-watt oven takes about 90 seconds, while a more powerful 1000-watt oven may need only 60 seconds. Watch it constantly. Stop when the cake has risen and the top looks glossy and set but still slightly underdone in the center. That glossy, fudgy top is exactly what you're aiming for.

Why does my mug cake turn out rubbery instead of fluffy?

Overcooking is the cause almost every time. The cake firms up and toughens the more you cook it. Slightly undercooking gives you the lava effect; overcooking gives you a rubber disc. Stop before it looks done. Fill the mug only to 3/4 full — overfilling means the batter overflows before the inside is cooked properly.

Can I use a different chocolate spread if I don't have Nutella?

Any hazelnut chocolate spread works in place of Nutella. Almond butter with a tablespoon of melted dark chocolate also produces a rich, fudgy result. Use the same 3 tablespoons the recipe calls for regardless of which spread you choose.